What Was It? Church Street Industrial Building
Decatur Metro | November 16, 2010 | 10:06 amI don’t have many brag-able skills, but I’m usually pretty good at identifying a building.
But here’s one that’s piqued my interest for the last 12 months or so. This building, which sits behind the ReMax building along Church Street is some sort of old industrial building, I believe. And while it’s interesting in itself, what’s really intriguing about it to me is the fact that it’s attached to a commercial building along Church.
So, some questions. What industrial company used to occupy this space? Also, what are the commercial buildings at either end? Why are they there? Are they original?
Does anyone know?
One more pic of the other side of the building after the jump. That one shows where the ReMax building attaches to the old industrial space.
I believe this building was occupied by the Bowen Press until the early 1970s
Thanks Walt! No wonder I liked it. I seem to be drawn to old printing press buildings, like the old Smith and Hawkin on Peachtree.
So, was the ReMax portion a retail building for Bowen?
Also, do you know of any available history on Bowen?
“Piqued,” not “peaked.”
How many times have I done that now?
WAY too many to count.
I normally don’t like to be the grammar police, but sometimes I can’t control myself.
No worries, though. We all love you, warts and all.
Homophones are not your friends. But nobody likes grammar cops, so I try to shut up.
Yeah well, specifics of any kind have never been my strength.
Unless, of course, DM was suggesting that, for the past 12 months, nothing has interested him as much as this building. In that instance, “peaked” would be correct.
You da man Sug!
A peek at the past.
Pun intended???
The Re/Max building was their office space. The barrel roof building was the printing press and Big Peach Running Shoes building was the loading dock, which of course is now enclosed.
I remember the printing company there. I wonder if everyone in the photo is an employee. I guess there is no way of knowing, but if so, it indicates to me that more small industrial buildings would help with our unemployment rate!
“Decatur, 1943. Bowen Press exterior. Sixth from right is J.O. Bowen, Jr. Fifth from right is J.O. Bowen, Sr. Located on 312 Church St.” – field notes, Digital Library of Georgia. I believe that it is an employee picture.
I hear that it will soon open as the second location to the immensely popular Decatur Diner. Can’t wait, because – well, because I’m STARVING.
I, for one, love grammar cops.