Sadly Saying Good Bye
By H.D. Overholt,
Staff Writer
Russell Davis from Pellie’s Construction operated the excavator that demolished the historic building. Being a Scottsville-native, Davis felt that it was saddening to see a building with such history be torn down. “It’s a shame, really, but you’ve got to have funds to remodel something like this, it’d cost quite a bit,” Davis explained. “They had somebody come in to look at it, and just the way it was though, with the structure, they advised to just tear it down because of the structure itself.” Photo by Damon Stone.
As time passes and needed modernization is instigated within society, a sad goodbye is often lifted within the heart as a simple icon is compromised and becomes a memory. Serving as a residence, apartments, undertaking and floral business through past decades, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024 arrived with demolition at 210 East Main Street.
In February 2022, Allen County Extension District Board purchased the property as their current building at 200 East Main is needing expansion. The board reviewed options of restoration or demolition with an engineer along with consideration of adaptation of future goals within the Extension program goals. Equipment arrived and began the demolition last Tuesday on the structure housing at least three additions to the original building.
One block from the center of town, the edifice has seen Scottsville develop from dirt roads and horse and buggy transportation into the central commercial center of Allen County. Time has come to add it to the memory book of life as renovation costs for modern standards were extensive. Photo by H.D. Overholt.
Reviewing historical content, the structure is dating to 1890s as a residence with many well known Scottsville business professionals within deed search. Formally known as the Anthony Drane homestead and being lots 93, 94 and 97 of the Scottsville City plot, was owned by the well known Garrison family before the 1890 sale to Buford and wife Nancy E. Bradburn.
The lots became divided as R.S. and Lena Welch, Maggie M. and G.C. Dalton, B.S. and Bessie Huntsman and J. M. and Mollie Shive were owners in a point of time before 1916. Lot 94 became the Hobdy and Read enterprise as lot 93 was occupied next door with the house.
What remains of the old Hobdys Florist building is now debris and dust. “The lady that owned it said that it was built in 1890 as a funeral home, and the Crows built it, before they sold it and went to (where they are now),” Russell Davis, the operator of the excavator, said. “(…) I remember when I was a little boy, that building was a Hobdy-Donn Reed Tractor Dealer, and they had all their tractors right here.” Photo by Damon Stone.
J. M. Shive died in September 1926 leaving his widow Mollie and daughter Myrtle Shive Porter at the residence. Miss Sallie Edmonds recorded a historical sketch of Scottsville and listed J. M. Shive as one of Allen County’s best Sheriffs. The Allen County jail was located next door at East Main and South First Street.
In July 1930, H.H. Guy and T.W. Crow purchased the structure from the Shive family and the Crow and Guy undertaking business was housed at the East Main Street location.
Tuesday, Aug. 20, removal and excavation began on the latest addition at 210 East Main Street, revealing the older time endured structure. Witnessing the progression of modernism on all sides of its existence, its use seem to be exhausted. During the demolition, construction technics, as well as materials, from more than 100 years ago accented the endurance of ages as well as some of the modern additions. Photo by H.D. Overholt.
T.W. Crow sold to Allan Russel Read the lot and house with apartments being created for a rental venture. The building is known as Hobdy’s Florist with today’s population as Nym Hobdy, Sue Carol Read and Kelly Sisk each have owned business pursuits accounting for more than 50 years of floral offerings. Hobdy’s Too Florist moved in the spring of 2024 to their new location at 218 North Court Street.
Even with a vast historical past, undertaking the regulations mandating public access with handicap pathways, restroom accommodations and climate control amenities along with fire codes can cause eye opening figures in construction cost. The future of the area and building plans has not been decided at the present time.
By Friday, Aug. 23, final clean up by Pellie Construction, LLC, will open a new era for Lot 93 on the old Scottsville plot map. While a need for community class and activity rooms within Allen County Extension Service programs is being evaluated, no decision has been finalized for the site at the current time. Photo by H.D. Overholt.
