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east
side - 1884
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south
side - 1888
By 1884, the Rose Livery Stable was occupying what would become 204
- 206 - 208 South Commercial Avenue. This 1884 photograph shows
204 and 206 South Commercial Avenue. |
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south
side - 1893
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By 1893, the earlier frame building housing Rose Livery Stable had
been removed, and J. C. Dibrell had built a stone hardware store at 200
South Commercial Avenue and was in the process of building another
stone store on the south side at 204 - 206 - 208 South Commercial Avenue.
As seen in this 1893 map, these were new stores ("New S."), and were not
finished. There were windows along the rear. |
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Dibrell Brothers and Newsom
south
and east side - taken about 1895
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"In 1929, the Gray
Mercantile Company (Inc.) was located at 204 - 206 - 208 South Commercial
Avenue. R. W. Gray, residing in Proctor, Texas was the president,
and Cecil Gray was the secretary and manager. They offered complete
furnishing for men, women and children, dry goods, draperies, shoes, luggage,
hardware, implements, Crosley and Majestic radios and supplies, sporting
goods, washing machines, Kelvinator electric refrigerators, stoves, harness,
power farm machinery. Their telephone numbers were: dry goods - 250,
hardware - 244." (Coleman City Directory, 1929
- Hudspeth.)
Between 1923 and 1930, the area between the
rear of the building and the alley was bricked in and roofed, to occupy
the full area of Lots 3, 4 and 5, making the building 100 feet long.
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south
side - 1930 map
alley to left (west) --- South
Commercial Avenue to right (east)
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Gray Mercantile Was Established In City in 1908
The Gray Mercantile Company was founded in the year 1903 by the late
Mr. R. W. Gray of Proctor, Texas. The firm was then known as The
Gray-Hicks Company. At that time, they dealt in hardware, dry goods
and groceries but in 1928 the dry goods and grocery departments were discontinued
and sold out to another firm. From the beginning of this business
until 1921, it was under the management of Mr. S. H. Gray who left the
firm in that year to take a position with The First Coleman National Bank.
Following in his tracks as manager, came Mr. Cecil Gray, the present manager
who also came from Proctor, Texas where he was in the service of the U.S.
government. Throughout the existence of The Gray Mercantile Company
it has remained under the management of the Gray family and likewise the
same business principles and policies apply today as have been practiced
in the past.
This establishment carries an enormous line of merchandise that is used
by the farmers and ranchers of this section. They have for sale a
large assortment of farming and ranching tools and implements, a complete
line of sporting goods such as guns, ammunition, fishing tackle and equipment.
Their stock includes athletic goods such as football, baseball, tennis
and Speed bicycles. They also carry kitchen-ware, many items are
shown in enamel, aluminum and china. The electrical display shows
among other things, toasters, waffles irons, coffee percolators and ornamental
lamps. They are exclusive dealers for R. C. A. radios, Frigidaire
ice boxes, Perfection oil ranges and Maytag washing machines.
They Gray Mercantile Company has played a great part in supplying the
needs of the people in this section of the country and hope of continued
service to them in the future.
(Coleman Democrat-Voice, Coleman, Texas,
1936.)
(transcribed by Pam Sanders,
February 2006.)
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south
side - 1948 map
alley to left (west) --- South
Commercial Avenue to right (east)
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In 1930, Sturges & Gibbs moved from 400 South Commercial Avenue to 208 South Commercial Avenue, purchasing the stock of Lang - Crawford. Two years later, Sturges & Gibbs moved to 108 South Commercial Avenue. This building was vacant in 1939 when Strurges & Gibbs opened at 108 South Commercial Avenue, but had been occupied by City Drug Store prior to 1939.
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Gray Building To Be New Home of Perry Bros.
The Gray building, formerly occupied by Sturges & Gibbs, and Allen - Durham, is now being remodeled and enlarged to fit the needs of Perry Bros. who will occupy the building in a few weeks.
Modern fixtures are being installed and floor arrangements will make it
possible for much larger stock of merchandise, according to Rex Holder,
manager of the store. Mr. Holder also states that this new store
location, when completed, will be unusually commodious for a town this
size. Perry Bros. came to Coleman about ten years ago, and evidently have prospered, as their business now demands a larger building.
Bill Dean of Frederick, Oklahoma, arrived this week to assume the
position of assistant manager. he is a young married man, and has
his wife with him. The removal and formal opening in new location
will be announced later, it is stated.
(Coleman County Chronicle, April 6, 1939.)
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"In 1962, Perry Brothers,
Inc. (generally known as Perry's) was located at 204 Commercial
Avenue (actually 204, 206 and 208). John W. Summers and the manager
of this variety store. Their telephone number was 625-4016." (Polk's
- Coleman City Directory, 1962.)
After J. C. Penney Company closed down in the 1960's, Perry Brothers
leased the building at 200 - 202 South
Commercial, and expanded Perry's into that building by opening up two
large doors at the front and rear of the wall between the two buildings.
Eric and Kay Joffrion purchased this building and enlarged
the Commercial Avenue Antiques Mall into it, making it part of
200
South Commercial Avenue.
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