Old Country Store (then and now)

[Digital]

Another view of the side road #12


This shot was taken earlier in the evening. We just had a rain shower. This was shot at 18mm, photo #10 was zoomed in at 105 mm. I was standing in approximately the same spot when these pics were taken. My vehicle is just to my right.
I believe this pic adds a little more mystery than the one in photo #10.

[IzzieK]

To develop that store again will be a boon but it will be out of place as it looks like the area around is residentially zoned. In the old days it is quite easy without the zoning rules, one can just open up a place and it did not matter as long as the owner was making money and the community gains from it too. Maybe the family who owns that property has to sort out the proper ownership of the place, who really owns it. If the former owner did not leave it to anyone specifically named, then everyone in the family owns it and so they can toss you around to find your own way as to the story of the place. I wonder how much property is in that area? 'Would it cost how much fortune? It looks like a viable property.

[Digital]

Thank you all for viewing, and/or commenting. Part of this weekend was traversing the side road to get a better layout of the land. Part of it is residential, there are a lot of chicken farms on this road, I saw one place where cattle were grazing.
The houses at the old country store end are well spaced out. As the road terminates on the east end, it appears that that area is all residential.
At this point, I do not expect to gather any information that is relevant until Ralph's family situation resolves itself. If I do not post everyday it is because I have nothing new to add.
Again, thank you for your patience.

Bruce (Sleuth)

[IzzieK]

Just revive this post when you find out something new...we will be waiting at each of our end. You have been very persistent...I admire your tenacity.

[Digital]

I just want you guys, and gals to know that I have not forgotten this thread. This past week I have been working on a new lead, which if it works out may resolve the history of the old country store. Have been hesitant to tell you this, since I did not want to get your hopes up.

Bruce (Sleuth)

[IzzieK]

I just want you guys, and gals to know that I have not forgotten this thread. This past week I have been working on a new lead, which if it works out may resolve the history of the old country store. Have been hesitant to tell you this, since I did not want to get your hopes up.

Bruce (Sleuth)

My thanks, wholeheartedly, for this project...for it sparks my interest.
Well, at least it was not related to the murder of a guy in Carollton as reported in the news...

[Mike Buckley]

Have been hesitant to tell you this, since I did not want to get your hopes up.

You've now got my hopes up.

[Donald]

Have been hesitant to tell you this, since I did not want to get your hopes up.

Happy to wait.

[Digital]

Carrollton Senior Citizens Center #13


Since I have mentioned the Senior Citizens Center in this thread, I thought I would show you a pic of it.
Most of my leads about the history of the old country store have come from persons I have met inside this building.
Note: I took this pic today (Sunday). The Center is closed on weekends, hence the empty parking lot.

Bruce (Sleuth)

[Digital]

The lead that I mentioned in post #105 was not forthcoming about the history of the old store, I was referred to another grandchild. I was told that the grandchild has a cell number; however the source related that they did not know it. This same source related that they did not get my email giving then the web address of CiC. I received no indication on my end of a failed email.
This has been a strange day starting with the disappointment with not being able to find out more information; however the day ended on a positive note. I contacted another source who is not related to the original owner. This person, and their spouse live in the area where the store is located. The information they supplied with was more about the Caldwell family then about information related to the store. I will share some information with you that they shared with me: there is a possibility that the Caldwells were not the original owners of the store. In addition there may have been two owners of this store prior to Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell taking over the ownership of said store. Although they could not give me an exact date of when the store opened under the Caldwell name, based on one of the spouse's age it was estimated to be about 70 years ago. That would be in the neighborhood of 1946 or 1947.
I consider this couple's information to be reliable since their name was given to me by a person I trust. Also, another prominent business man in the Carrollton community gave this couple a good recommendation.
One of the spouses related something to me that I fault myself for not figuring out earlier: a lot of the people who knew the answers to the questions I am posing are now deceased.
As far as the family history is concerned, I will hopefully give that information out near the completion of this thread, whenever that occurs.
On another note, a former colleague of mine who at one time owned his own advertising business related to me in a phone conversation that the family may be receiving compensation from the "Coke Cola" company for allowing them to advertise on the store. He felt his theory was strengthened by the fact that the other side of the store was still unfinished (refer to photo #9). As a side note regarding this, I have heard at least two different versions of the rationale behind the recent repairs.
In conclusion, if I had a journalism background, I may have learned that some stories are like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. I was naïve enough to think that someone would present the entire story of this store to me in one interview or maybe two interviews. I would then share this information with you. I really do not think this is going to happen in this case. I believe that this story will come together by direct, and indirect means from various sources. This was partly due to my inexperience as a journalist (if I may use this term), and my own laziness. For this, I apologize to you all. So I will try the local newspaper again, will visit the clerk's office at the Carroll Co. Court House (as Mike suggested when I first started this thread), and the History department at the University of West Georgia for starters.
Thanks for reading this post. Stay tuned.

Bruce ("Inexperienced" Sleuth)

[Mike Buckley]

Fascinating stuff! Keep it coming!

[Digital]

Fascinating stuff! Keep it coming!

Thanks Mike. Coming from you means a lot.


Bruce

[gregj1763]

Just joined this mystery, a very interesting read and I admire your tenacity Bruce.
I also am puzzled with peoples seeming reluctance to part with information which makes this story even more intriguing.
Keep up the good sleuthing.
Greg

[Digital]

Just joined this mystery, a very interesting read and I admire your tenacity Bruce.
I also am puzzled with peoples seeming reluctance to part with information which makes this story even more intriguing.
Keep up the good sleuthing.
Greg

Thank you Greg for your kind comments. It is fellow photographers like you, Mike, Izzie, Donald, and Dave as well as all the others who have viewed and/or commented on this thread that makes all the work on finding out information on this store worthwhile.

Bruce

[Dave Humphries]

I am still following this Bruce (in case you wondered)

[shreds]

HI

Only just started following the six page saga(!) For what it is worth and in response to post 17, the whole of the flank (Coca Cola) wall has been pushed out by by the collapse/failure of the roof timbers - likely a longitudinal purlin or ridge timber that ran from front to rear. This in turn has possibly damaged a vertical timber at its base and lead to the distortion of the door frame.

It is likely the replacement roof has been carried out in corrugated metal as this is one of the lightest and cheapest coverings possible and therefore avoids any additional stress on remaining vertical wall timbers, whilst achieving the desired objective of making the structure weathertight.

(Regrettable in some respects....I would have repaired the vertical wall timbers and renewed the roof in timber to restore the original look of the building rather than messing with the Coca Cola sign, but maybe it has significance).

At least the building is now weatherproof and is just looking for a new or renewed use.

PS A grist mill and ice house suggests some kind of previous brewing or distillation function perhaps?

Ian
(Building Engineer/Surveyor)

I just wonder whether the property owners realise that they now have people from all over the world Tasmania >UK>US>Canada>Australia>Scotland etc etc following this thread, thanks to the power of the internet?

[ccphoto]

I shot that same building earlier this year. Let me go see if I can find it - reorganizing my 2016 files and its a bit of chaos right now with images on three different drives.

[Digital]

I am still following this Bruce (in case you wondered)

Dave, I have not forgotten you.


Bruce

[Digital]

Today has been interesting: went to the Carroll Co. Court House. Found the clerk's office in order to locate the deeds of the property that the Caldwell store is located on. Apparently during its years of operation, it was not under the name Caldwell store. As a result the Clerk's office could not assist me until I gave them the proper name of the store. According to the clerk, another option would be a title search. Apparently I need an attorney for this option. Not ready to go that route.
Went back to the Senior Citizen Center. Started asking people who patronized the store when they were younger if the remembered the official name of the store. No luck there; however, another member of the Center, who does genealogy for other members offered his services in locating the proper name of the store. As luck would have it, another member offered her services in finding additional information regarding the store's history. Both of these persons have ties to the community, and probably could gather information easier than I have been able to. I have a strong feeling that one or both of these "operatives" will succeed in their fact finding quest.
Later this morning, I spoke to Ralph (the brother-in-law of one of the Caldwell grandsons), who is dealing with medical issues in his family. When Ralph learned that I was still seeking information on the old country store, he informed me that his brother-in-law had medical issues as well, and that is probably why he had not gotten back in touch with me. I told Ralph of my disappointment that another grandchild had not been forthcoming about the history of the store. Ralph then told me something that I had long suspected maybe the case of why I was having difficulty in obtaining information. Ralph stated: "you're an outsider". This is true in that I am originally from Louisville, Ky. Although I have lived in Carrollton for almost 16 1/2 years , my family was not from this area of the country. When I moved to Georgia in 2000, the only person I knew in this state was a lady who I met when I was a freshmen in college. She resides in another city in Georgia, and who has never lived in Carrollton. However my history with this said lady is another story.
Back to the history of the store: somewhere in my research I discovered that a student, apparently from the History Department at the University of West Georgia, had done some research on the store several years ago. Am hoping to locate this student and/or his research in order to reference it for this thread. I believe that this information about the student, and his research to be accurate. To this end, I attempted to contact the History Department via phone abut four times today by calling the campus' main number. Three of the four tries I received a recording informing me "that my call would be answered in the order it was received". In this case, I was basically put on ignore. One time the phone was actually answered by a homo sapiens. I asked for the History Department. When connected, there was no answer. So much for higher education.
Will attempt another go on Monday.
In regards to the "Times-Georgian" newspaper, I was told by another person I met at the Center that I would have more luck in obtaining the information I sought by visiting the library. Apparently this person was seeking information on another topic, and in his quest he discovered the library was the best place to go to obtain the information he sought. Apparently, the library houses the archives for the newspaper. So it is off to the Carroll Co. Library I go. Fortunately, this library is located in Carrollton.
The day ended with yours truly at "Applebee's Restaurant". I sought consolation at the bar. In keeping with the old traditions of the South, my drink of choice was (you guessed it) sweet tea- this one is for you Mike. Being the friendly person, that I think I am, I struck up a conversation with one of the bartenders. Turns out he is in his last year at the University of West Georgia. Although not his major this young man was able to give me the name of a professor in the History Department. As a result I may have a potential contact if I can ever get through to said department.
Finally, I had planned to give you the information regarding the store all on one post. Included in the post, would be the names of the original owners, and how many children their marriage produced. I do not plan to give you the children's names: however I am planning to give you information on whether these children are living or not. There will be no information given on any of the grandchildren- in my quest I have obviously learned some of the grandchildren's names. I wanted to give you all this information on the owners, and their offspring for background purposes only. Wanted to keep the emphasis on the store's history as my primary focus. If I learn that there were previous owner(s) of the store, I will share this information with you.
I am in a round about way informing you that I have all the information about the Caldwell family I need. All my attention now will be on the store itself.

Bruce ("The" Sleuth)

[Mike Buckley]

You seem to be getting very close, Bruce.