| 216 South Commercial Avenue is another evolution of addresses and a
combining of buildings. What would become 216 Commercial Avenue in
2006 began as 214 and 216 Commercial Avenue. Even though the northern
most part of the building still retains the 214 South Commercial Avenue
address, it is now only a small part of the entire building.
south side - 1923 map As shown on this 1923 map, Block 7, lots 8 and 9 of the Original Townsite of Coleman were two partitioned buildings, being addressed as 214 South Commercial Avenue (with an alternate or previous address of 105 South Commercial Avenue, and 216 South Commercial Avenue (with an alternate or previous address of 103 South Commercial Avenue). At this time, a cobbler is shown occupying 216 South Commercial Avenue.
"In 1929, Ashmore and Jones, Grocers was located at 216 South Commercial Avenue. It was owned by James H. Ashmore and W. C. Jones." (Coleman City Directory, 1929 - Hudspeth.)
south side - 1930 map After the F. W Woolworth Company leased the buildings at what was then called 216 and 218 South Commercial Avenue, the center partition wall was removed and one large 50 feet by 100 feet building was created. A second story, to be used as offices and storerooms, was added to the west part measuring 50 feet by 66 feet. An rope pulled elevator was added to the northwest corner. The front (east) and rear (west) was faced with new red brick, was well as the north and south walls of the second story. The map of 1948 (below) indicates the northeast part was partitioned into a separate space. This actually occurred in 1930 when the F. W. Woolworth Company added the second story on the west side. (More detail about the remodeling into Woolworth's will be added later.)
Sometime after 1948, the address that had been 216 and 218 South Commercial Avenue in 1930 and 1948, was changed and the large south portion of the building was again addressed as 216 South Commercial Avenue and the northeast part measuring 10 feet by 50 feet became 214 South Commercial Avenue. F. W. Woolworth's closed in the late 1940's or early 1950's. It was soon replaced by Ben Franklin, another department store. I am researching when Ben Franklin closed, but it seems it was in the 1970's. I do not know at this time if other businesses were at this location before 1979.
In 1979, the building as again remodeled into The Man's Shop, owned by Ray Don and Pat Johnson. A new pink brick front was added to the front (east) side and arched window and door openings added to create a symmetrical look. A copper covering was place over the old window openings. On the south side, a separate space of about 10 feet by 30 feet was created. The center part was recessed about 8 feet for a more modern look. The second story is a part of 216 South Commercial Avenue. The business to the north is addressed as 214 South Commercial Avenue; the business in the center is addressed as 216 South Commercial Avenue; and the business to the south is addressed as 216 1/2 South Commercial Avenue. The Man's Shop closed in the late 1980's or early 1990's. The building was occupied by several business, which I am researching, including a video rental store, a "stout" women's clothing store and a florist, which was here until about 1997.
In November 1998, Judia and Ralph Terry purchased Block 7, lots 8 and 9 of the Original Townsite of Coleman and moved their art and photography studios and custom picture framing shop, known as Terry Studio, into 216 South Commercial Avenue, from their previous location at 302 West College Avenue.
216 1/2 South Commercial Avenue (left),
 Ralph
Terry digital image
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