People's Supply Company | |
![]() | |
Location | 21950 Broad Street, Silverhill, Baldwin County, Alabama, U.S. |
---|---|
Coordinates | 30°32′41″N87°45′03″W / 30.54472°N 87.75083°W |
Built | 1902 |
Architect | Theodore A. Johnson |
Architectural style | Gablefront |
NRHP reference No. | 97000096 [1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | February 21, 1997 |
Designated ARLH | March 13, 1996 |
People's Supply Company is a historic general store and building in Silverhill, Alabama, U.S. [2] It is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Alabama State Route 104 and Broad Street (also known Baldwin County Road 55). [3] The People's Supply Company was the only source of supply for dry goods and agricultural needs in the community starting in the early 20th-century. [3]
The building is no longer open to the public. [2] It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places since February 21, 1997, for its architecture and history of local commerce; [3] [4] and is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage since March 13, 1996. [5]
The People's Supply Company of Silverhill opened in June 1902, and was built and operated by Theodore A. Johnson. [3] Johnson had been a grocery in Paxton, Illinois, before moving to Alabama. [3] He was of no relations to Oscar Johnson, a city founder. The land was purchased by Theodore Johnson in September 1901 from Hanna and Carl Carlson of Chicago. [3] The Carlsons had bought the land from the Svea Land Company a few years prior. [3] Johnson would own and operate the store from 1902 to 1928, and he lived upstairs on the second floor. [3]
In 1928 the store was run by Greek immigrant George Marines, who had also been drawn to the area. [3] In 1947 he would purchase the building. It was then managed for him by Leslie Chandler and his wife, who raised their two children upstairs. [3] The Chandlers would run the store until 1972. [3]
Starting in the 1980s, the business struggled, in part due to large stores opening nearby. [3] The building had many owners between 1972 until 1993, and it stood vacant for several years before its purchase by Joe Spalding and his wife in 1993. [3] They did a major restoration effort, and reopened the building to the public as an antique and reproduction furniture shop in September 1995. [3]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Park Service .