Thursday, May 8, 2008

Speir Land Company

A lot of elbow grease went into cleaning up this historic downtown structure to transform it into Speir Land Company. The circa 1920' s building still has original, beaded heart pine on the ceiling inside and under the awning outside. Carpet and hardwood were added for interior flooring. Shutters, ceiling fans,a few relics from an old store, and professional landscaping completed the new look. Now, it's like a little oasis just one block off Broad Street. (Note: This is the single-story, painted building in front of the multi-story brick building which used to be a furniture store.)
So what did this building used to be?

10 comments:

Tanya Breese said...

They sure did tidy it up! It's lovely! What did the building used to be?

Jim Klenke said...

I like the windows on the ground floor. Have the top floors been turned into lofts?

Janet said...

Hi Jim. The brick building you are talking about is actually behind the Speir Land Co. building (in front just behind the tree). speir is the single-story, painted building.
Thanks for mentioning that.

selma.ghost.cat said...

i would be AWESOME if they put some lofts downtown, like they're doing in Atlanta and other places. it's become trendy to make use of the great architecture of old buildings for upscale dining, shopping, and living. selma would be ideal.

Halcyon said...

I don't know what it used to be, but today it looks great! I am always happy when towns decide to preserve their heritage instead of knocking everything down to make more strip malls. :s

Janet said...

Hey Ghost Cat, don't I know you?
Lofts would be a good idea, and it's an idea that I've heard for years and years...just need a lot of action!

Anonymous said...

I like the windows on the ground floor and the greens!

Janet said...

The trees have so shaded this structure that it is hard to tell what it might have been, but it was a service station. It was built in 1924 by Standard Oil of Kentucky (the Rockefeller group). I used to buy gasoline here when I worked downtown, and this place was Miller Chevron owned by Fred Miller.
Thanks to all of you for visiting!

Ming the Merciless said...

Was it used as a tourist information center? A lot of the tourist centers in the south look like the building.

To respond to your question about my dinner, I didn't get dessert. I had rigatoni bolognese foe the entrée so that was enough to fill me up.

suziq said...

it was a gas station