Category Archives: Bob’s photos
The Last of the Big Store
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In November, 1985, the building that once housed The Big Store burned down. The Big Store was an all-in-one place; even the Post Office was there. It was said you could go from birth to death at The Big Store. J. Fred Johnson’s, which is now a furniture store on the west corner of Broad and Center, was a spin off, as was Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home.
Judging from the shadows, I must have gotten there early in the morning, but it appears the firefighters had everything pretty much under control by then.
Plaza Say Gone
As you know, they’ve torn down
This was one of our first strip malls, on Lynn Garden Drive, when it was still the main way to Gate City. Had a Grant’s…had a Kroger…had my stepbrother’s barbershop. It even had a decent common area:
Those trees in back, striving for the sunlight, survived, I hope. Probably just bulldozed over, though. All compound things are impermanent.
Down On The Corner
This is on the corner of Fairview and West Sullivan. Back in the 50s, this was Barker’s Grocery. The owners lived upstairs. Down from it somewhere was a Yellow Front Market. There were a number of homes and small businesses here once, before the city decided that the increase in traffic warranted a complete redo of that area where Sullivan Street goes under the railroad. The roads in the area; West Sullivan Street, West Center Street and Ft. Robinson Drive, were also rerouted slightly.
The home next to the building is of the period, also. It’s not in this picture, but if you look carefully, should you be idly passing by this area sometime, you’ll see a stonework gatepost with the original iron still in it just west of the brick house. I suspect it was the entrance once to the Roller property.
Excellent Litho Post Card
This is a 1907 or so post card. The postmark is Nov 11, 1908.
Before World War I, quality post cards were lithographed in Germany. They’re just excellent cards. Remember, color film was not made commercially available in the United States until around 1936, with the introduction of 35mm size Kodachrome. This was a factory-colored black & white positive, probably sent in with color notations from the photographer. It’s a beautiful card. (Note that some uncaring dealer has defaced that card back with a penciled-in price)
The divided back post card only became acceptable for postal use in 1907.
In the card, there’s not a car in sight, but there is a Coca-Cola sign.
It was published by Souvenir Post Card Co. in New York.
Piercy – Baker Realtors
Piercy – Baker opened this office in 1953. It was at 1701 Ft. Henry Drive at Brooks Circle.
Behind it are, as you may have noticed, Cherokee Boat Company and Motor Sales Company of Kingsport, both presided over by Myrtle C. King, with Clifford V. Bryant Sec Treas. John L. Mitchell was in charge of boats, motors and fishing equipment at Cherokee, while Mrs. Anna A. Hester was asst. sec trucks at Motor Sales. That building is listed as being on Eastman Road. The Pot O’ Gold, then just a delicatessen, presided over by James A. Brockman, was at 1713 Ft. Henry Drive.
The postcard picture was taken by Fred W. Stanley of Johnson City, printed by our old friends Dexter Press on West Nayak NY. Inventory number 73775.
Interestingly, it appears that Kingsport was recovering from a snow storm when this picture was taken. Note the wet asphalt and, to the left, what appears to be leftover snow.
Porterfield City Feed
This is 469 West Sullivan Street. In 1959, this was Porterfield City Feed Company, next to City Poultry and Egg Company. CP&ECo was on the corner of Sullivan and what was then Island Street (It’s now Mission Street). The buildings are currently derelict.
When I was a kid, I had a paper route in downtown Kingsport. One year, the Kingsport Times-News, then located on Market Street, held some sort of contest and I ended up winning a certificate for a turkey from CP&Eco, just in time for Thanksgiving. It was, as I recall, a mingy turkey, but it was quite welcome, since my stepdad wasn’t having a particularly good year. My stepdad never had a particularly good year.
Old Kingsport Drug Stores
Couple of Kingsport drug store pill boxes I picked up somewhere.
Pen staff, Kingsport Inn
I rescued this pen staff (it’s just one; I rotated it so you could see the whole graphic on the staff) as the Kingsport Inn was being demolished. A buddy and I, we both lived downtown, went over one evening to explore the building. It was partially razed, but the lobby and some of the rooms were still accessible. There was no security that we saw. We wandered around and looked at stuff. I remember finding a room rate card, but it’s been lost in one of many transitions.
To use this, one would insert a steel nib, dip the pen in an inkwell, and sign your name with a scratchy flourish, or not. Really, casual handwriting has hardly improved.
From “Holston Heights”
When I first spied this card, I thought it was maybe 50s. Then I saw the old City Hall/Public Library on the left and revised my estimate of the printing date. Later, I scored this specific card, which is dated, sort of.
“Holston Heights”? We always called it “Cement Hill”.
This is an E.C. Kropp card, printed in Milwaukee. Plate #4844-N. 333 miles is about right for Washington, D.C. (and a million other places).
Bob Lawrence's Kingsport 