Main Street Columbus

            Alford Building

            423 Main Street

            Building Rehabilitation

 

425 Main Street, more commonly known as the Alford Building, is a brick structure originally occupied by Weaver & Harrington Druggists, constructed in the eighteen hundreds.  The unique features of the building include the small paned blocks of glass in the transom and a large, still functional sky light.  After Alford Drug Company closed for business the Guynup family purchased the building in 2009.

       The general contractor on the project was Gene Reid, Reid & Company. Ms. Penny Bowen provided technical assistance. The project manager and leasing agent was Royce Hudspeth from Rhett Real Estate. Gayle Guynup noted the superb cooperation and accessibility provided by Kenneth Wiegel and the City of Columbus to ensure the success of the project. The building is presently the home of Main Stream Technologies, Patrick Linley, proprietor.

       The present owners plan to restore the second story apartment to highlight the fireplace, sky light and interior glass paneled wall that helped define the front living room that overlooks Main Street. In the recent renovation a separate entrance from the street to the upstairs was added, consistent with the original use of the building.

       Thirty years ago the Guynup family purchased the Gateway Shopping Center. In recent years the family has embraced the rebirth of downtown Columbus.  In addition to the Alford Building, The Guynups have renovated the Columbus Odd Fellow Building, 515-519 Main Street and are in the midst of restorations of the former Henrys’ and Parkers’ buildings on 5^th Street and College Streets.

 

Chris Chain, Renovations of MS
Lawyers’ Row, 2^nd Avenue North

In partnership with Lawyer’s Row, LLC -
David Campbell & Doug Darylmple
 

The Sam Kaye Award was started last year in honor of Sam Kaye and for exemplarily achievements and dedication toward the Downtown Historic District and towards the mission of Main Street Columbus.

 

This year it seems only appropriate that the first recipient to receive this award other than Sam himself be the CCVB and their excellence in restoration of the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center located at 300 Main Street.

The 1875 Victorian childhood home of America's greatest playwright,

Tennessee Williams was moved to its present location at 300 Main Street

in 1995. The home, which once served as the rectory of St. Paul's

Episcopal Church, was Tennessee Williams' home until he was three years

old. He was born in a Columbus hospital on March 26, 1911 and later

moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi. Because of the significance of the

home as a Mississippi Landmark, a National Literary Landmark, and a National

Historic Register Property, but mostly the provenance of it being

Tennessee's childhood home, the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation

had the desire to historically restore the home. With consultations

with Dr. Roger Moss, internationally-known expert in the field of

preservation and historic paint colors of Philadelphia, PA and Dr. Gail

Caskey Winkler also of Philadelphia as a consultant on the interior, the

home has brought much acclaim to the corner of Main Street and Third

Street South.

 

The Project was managed by Nancy Carpenter, acting executive director of

the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau,

collaborating with Chris Morrow and Mike Taylor of Pryor and Morrow

Architects, and Ted and Lance Conn of Conn Construction Company.

Carpenter also accepted pieces from area donors from a period of 1875 to

1913. All furnishings are from the state of Mississippi. A significant

artifact which hangs on the parlor wall is a framed laurel wreath which

rested on Williams' casket during viewing in 1983. An engraved gold

cross which once belonged to Rev. Walter Dakin, Tennessee's grandfather,

will soon be on display.

 

Funding for the restoration was made possible, in part, with a grant

from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Board

of Directors of the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation and the

Columbus/Lowndes County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

 

The Tennessee Williams Home which also serves as the Welcome Center is

open daily, Monday through Sunday.    

 

 

Main Street 2010 Service Awards-

CAFB –  This group of men of women pass through our community and take the time while they are here to give back, from running the gates at MSF to directing Christmas Parade floats, and the list goes on and on - we certainly appreciate our friends at CAFB who we always count on to help us get the job done.

 

Buddy Easley – He’s never more than 5 minutes away and I can literally say that the show would not go on without him; he always makes sure we are powered up and ready to go no matter how large or small the occasion. Buddy is a great supporter of MSC and his love for the community shows in his selfless willingness to step in and get the job done whenever needed.

 

Mike Pratt – It’s more than clean up and maintenance; it’s a partnership that assists Main Street Columbus in all of our endeavors – from numerous design and beautifications projects to running smooth events and festivals both large and small – Mike leads the public works department well and is a great partner that we could not do without.

 

Chief Joe St. John – Safety is one of the main things that helps keep Downtown Columbus a desirable destination to locals and visitors alike; with the assistance and partnership of the CPD; particularly Chief Joe St. John – we are able to keep DT safe and work closely to plan safe events and keep a safe atmosphere EVERY day for our DT. We appreciate your attentiveness and for your always being there.

 

George Irby – The next award really needs no explanation; The Riverwalk and  DT improvements and just a few things on his long list of accomplishments, while he may be officially retired as of 2010; we hope we can count on him for many more years to come. Thanks for your many years of continued service!

  

Chuck & Barbara Bigelow – This dynamic duo is always there working to make sure the job gets done. You can always count on them to be there 100%, with a great attitude and smiles on their faces. Thanks for all you do!

 

Julie Heintz – The behind the scenes worker that you may not always know is there, but believe me she is. From the most glamorous or to the most labor intensive task, she never hesitates to step in and do whatever is necessary. We appreciate you!

 

Quinn Brislin -  Well each year this name comes up for deserving an award, and after much urging of the board, well it’s about time he receive one.  He’s actually never missed an event that I can think of and is the official ‘hauler’ and ‘unpaid assistant’ for all MSC endeavors.

 

Thanks for all you do; even though you don’t really have a choice. Seriously your hard work does not go unnoticed and the job would be impossible without you!

 

This year’s president’s choice award goes to someone very deserving of this title for his many, many years of service for our organization.

 

He actually began his volunteerism with Main Street while still in college with the first Market Street Festival back in 1996; He has been a member of the Market Street Festival Executive Committee since 1998; served as vice chairman in 2003 and chairman in both 2004 & 2005; He has been a member of the Main Street Columbus board of directors since 2003 and served as board president in 2009.

 

Brad Belue is a Columbus native and a long time supporter of Downtown Columbus, we appreciate all of his past efforts and those to come.