When Union moved from Old Town to its present location around 1905, Dr. Felix Horne built a large home where Brad’s Service Station sits today. Across from his home, he built a livery. Then in 1928, E.J. Edgar built a two-story wholesale grocery business at 204 Jackson Road where the livery had once been located.
History’s next record shows that on May 1, 1937, Dees Funeral Home, owner Jim Dees of Philadelphia, opened in that building for a few months before moving to the J.F. Nutt home at 306 Main Street. When he moved out, Dr. W.S. Polk, grandfather of Bill Cassel, moved his medical office into the building.
Then, on March 20, 1941, Cliff Ogletree bought the building and opened Ogletree Grocery, Fertilizer, and Feed. In the upstairs area, his sister Ella Grace Hinton opened a beauty shop on May 15, 1941. Cara Heflin bought Ella Grace’s shop in 1946 when Ella Grace moved her shop to her home. The upstairs then had an apartment that people rented. For example, Cliff’s son Bill and his wife Nancy Ogletree lived there until the early 1960s. At some point, possibly in the 1950s, a one level addition was added on the east side of the original two-story structure. The grocery store was moved into it.
In 1961, Ed Ogletree, who had been working with his father in the grocery business, bought the grocery section while his brother Bill bought the fertilizer and feed part of the business when his father reached retirement. Bill then built warehouses on Front Street and moved his business near the railroad tracks while Ed remained in the original building. In the early 1970s, Ed bought the land east from his store to Pine Street, cleared off the old Dowdle store building, and built a new Piggly-Wiggly grocery store at 206 Jackson Road. He moved into his new store on March 27, 1975.
After Ogletree left the 204 Jackson Road building, several businesses have occupied the store. From 1975-1977, Ogletree’s Garden Center was begun in the back section with Ed’s youngest brother Freddie Ogletree as manager.
In June 1975, the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor opened in the front part where the grocery store had once been located. Irvin Cook, former owner of the Sunflower, was proprietor. Next, Joyce Darby opened a Sears Mail Order store in the west side of the building. The Gulf Transport Co. busses also made a passenger stop there beginning in 1975 after Shepard’s Grocery closed.
In 1977, Buddy Langley’s Buddy’s Fried Chicken made its debut here in conjunction with the Ice Cream Parlor. Then in 1978, Kate Thomas’ Kate’s Plants and Things opened with an entrance through the Sears Agency. Also, in 1978, Econo Tax opened inside the Sears catalog store but left in 1979. Later, that year, Kate also took over the Sears Agency, and it moved into the eastern part of the store. In 1986, Sears management changed to Tracy Gryner and Mary Cleveland. Then in 1986, Don Massey took ownership of the business.
Meanwhile, Bill Provost opened an Accounting and Tax Service adjoining the Sears Agency in the back facing the parking lot in 1982. When he moved away in 1986, White’s Body Shop opened an office there. In later years, Dr. Neal Luke opened a veterinary office in this section of the building. In 2012, Jim Ogletree opened a lunch restaurant for a short time in 2012, and then in 2017, he began cooking and serving steak plates on Friday nights, a business that is still active.
In 1992, the Beauty and Beau Shop opened in the old Sears location with owners Pam Goss and Linda Crossland. Then in 1993, Linda Beckham’s Beauty Shop opened there. Nelda Kennedy opened Nelda’s Corner, an alteration business, inside the beauty shop. In 1994, Nelda’s added tanning beds and in 1995, she took the Merle Norman business at 202A Jackson Road. In 1997, Nelda added a dry cleaning and laundry pick up service for Barry Clark’s ‘Fluff and Fold’ of Philadelphia. Next, in 1998, Eric and Tamara Kennedy moved their Deep South Candle business from Starkville and began working in the 202A or west side of the store before moving to another building.
In 1998, Renee Adkins bought Nelda’s business and opened Renee’s, which carried Merle Norman, fine clothing, gifts, and accessories. Also serving as Chamber of Commerce secretary at the time, Renee moved that office into the store.
In 2005, Nelda moved back to the 204 Jackson Road store to open Pok-a-Dots, a ladies’ boutique. The last store to occupy the building, Pok-a-Dots closed in August 2019 to prepare for the razing of the building. Finally, Steve Milling began the demolition process on November 4, 2019, with the razing completed the next day. Jim Ogletree, owner of the property, plans to continue his Friday night steaks cooking in the same area with the remainder of the vacant lot to be made into parking area for his Piggly-Wiggly.
Beginning Monday afternoon, a crowd of Union residents gathered at the Jackson Road/North Street intersection to watch as the 91-year-old piece of Union’s history, a building that had been in the Ogletree family for almost 80 years, came to its end.
If you have additions, corrections, or memories, contact me at teresablount26@yahoo.com or 601-774-5564.
