Perry Area Historical Society seeks community support

The Perry City Council is soon to decide on what to do with the building located at 706 Carroll Street. It was formally occupied by the restaurant Mrs. Peggy’s BBQ. The building was first built as a filling station (gas station) in 1931. Perry Area Historical Society president Ellie Loudermilk said the society is seeking the interest of the community of whether the building should be saved or not.

“There is such a rich history with this building,” Loudermilk said. “We know through an interview with Mattie Lou Matthews, who was the wife of Henry Matthews, owner and builder of the building, that it was constructed in 1931. It was a Sinclair gas station with a second story. That second story was to be an apartment or home for them to live in, but they never did because his parents lived next door and decided to divide their house with them.”

Loudermilk said Matthews probably ran the gas station for 40 years, but was not sure because his family sold the building to Richard Goodroe in 1978. Over recent years the city had decided that the building was unstable for any business to operate out of it and is now deciding on what to do with it.

“There’s more to this than it just being one of the first gas stations that was built in Perry,” Loudermilk said. “In 1925 the Dixie Highway was paved through downtown Perry and it was a prime location for a gas station to be built. The first car dealership did not come to Perry until 1917. So not many people went out right away to buy a car. There were still dirt roads and people using horse and buggies. The Dixie Highway was a big deal from north to south when people began to travel. Train tickers were expensive so only the wealthy could travel, but when the Dixie Highway opened anyone with a motor vehicle could travel.”

Loudermilk went on to say that a lot of people converted their cars and trucks into campers because motels didn’t really exist yet. Hotels however were about and only again the wealthy could afford that. Later on she said motor courts where then created, which is like a motel, but all the buildings are separate. Not long after motels were created.

“Not only was the travel industry booming, but so was the hospitality industry,” Loudermilk said. “With the history of this, this building is our only icon from that era and this is our only chance to save it. With that in mind, the Perry Area Historical Society believes it’s worth saving. We have found that people in town and visitors like vintage things, and we are now making a conservation effort to save this building. We want those who have an interest to express it. If there is not an interest than it won’t be saved. So we have started a petition here at the Perry Area Historical Museum. It will be ongoing, but we would like to have an initial number by next Monday Feb.5 to present to the Perry City Council.”

Loudermilk said she plans to ask the city for an additional 90 days before they make their decision. In 2009 the Rehoboth Baptist Church offered the Spring Hill School building to the historical society. Loudermilk said that it too was in jeopardy, but due to the interest and donations of the community it was saved.

“After the school building was offered to us I went before the Houston County Board of Education to present a preservation plan,” Loudermilk said. “They provided the land for it to be placed and the society took over the finances and with the interest and kind donations of the community, $25,000 was collected to save it. It took $6,000 to move the building and the rest was spent on plumbing, electricity, heating and air. Since then it has been used well and we have received so many compliments. So it’s a great example, but I understand many people may not be interested in saving the Sinclair gas station. I respect that, but we still want to reach out to see if there is an interest.

If anyone is interested in saving the building, Loudermilk said they could sign the petition at the museum Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2 p.m. – 4p.m. She said for those who can’t make it to the museum they can call 478-224-4442, email info@perryhistoricalsociety.org or mail P.O. Box 2174, Perry, GA 31069. Loudermilk is also asking those who are interested in saving the building to write a ‘letter to the editor’ at the Houston Home Journal to cadams@hhjnews.com or kristinm@hhjnews.com and also to join her at the Perry City Council meeting Feb.5 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.