south
and east sides - about 1879
|
Coleman, Simpson and Company - Dry Goods and Groceries.
It was owned by James B. Coleman and William B. Simpson.
The Coleman Masonic Hall was located on the second floor.
(Note: This image was taken from the earliest
known photograph of a street scene of Coleman, about 1879.) |
east
side - 1882
Note the Masonic emblem cornerstone at top
of building.
|
south
side - 1888 map
The dry goods store still occupied the front
of the building, but the First National Bank now was located in the rear.
"J. B. Coleman was president of the first bank
in the county, the First National. It was organized in 1886, and
was located in the back portion of what is now the Bowen Drug Store.
J. H. Babington was the bank's cashier." (A
History of Coleman County and Its People, "Coleman," compiled by Ralph
Terry, 1985.) (Note the bank vault in
the rear of the store and the outside staircase. There was also a
staircase on the inside, in the rear of the building.)
south
side - 1893 map
By 1893, a grocery and hardward store was located
in the front of the building, and a tinshop in the rear. Note the
addition of a porch on the south side. |
south
side - 1898 map
By 1898, J. R. Chadwell Drug Store had moved
to 118 South Commercial Avenue. The rear is shown was selling oils
and paints.
|
J. R. Chadwell Drug Store - first floor
Masonic Hall - second floor
east
side - 1900
|
"In 1929, Bowen's
Drug Store was located at 118 South Commercial Avenue. It was
owned by Robert I. Bowen and John B. Warren, Jr. Their telephone
numbers were 22 and 23. Vernon Heard (colored) was a porter at Bowen's
Drug Store, with no residence address given. R. Bailey, a physician
and surgeon, also had his office at this address. His office telephone
number was 95. (Note: The office of Dr.
Bailey was in the rear of the Drug Store, with an entrance on Live Oak
Street. The outside stair on Live Oak Street went to 118
1/2 South Commercial Avenue.)" (Coleman
City Directory, 1929 - Hudspeth.)
south
side - 1930
|
|
south and east sides - January 2003
|
east side - January 2003
|
"In 2002, the building
located at 118 South Commercial Avenue was owned by the Robert I. Bowen
Estate. (Coleman
County, Texas Tax Records.)
"In October 2002, Bowen
Drug Store at located at 118 South Commercial Avenue. Their telephone
number was 625-4138. Their prescription department's telephone number
was 625-2840. This business was owned by Jim Stokes." (Verizon
Telephone Directory - Coleman, Texas, October 2002.) |
