Written by Ben Cox – A historic building in downtown Brownwood is piece by piece revealing its past while getting a new lease on life.
Jeff Tucker is a man with a vision in his head, and a heart for all things old. His current project is the restoration and reimagining of the Weakley Watson building at 102 Fisk Avenue.
An old iron fly-wheel that Tucker believes to be part of the original elevator system sits just above the old sporting goods showroom.
As he and his crew clear out all the old hardware store fixtures to make way for his micro-pub/restaurant, they are finding little reminders of the buildings past.
Tucker has found many items repurposed, such as this old sign that was turned into the ceiling of a stairway.
From a hand painted Santa Claus display to what Tucker believes to what “had to be a gigantic fishing pole display”, the walls (and ceiling and crawl spaces) are full of “what was”.
Top: A display and storage chest for silk ribbon. Bottom, Left: Made by the Ideal company of Toledo Ohio, this chest was used to keep hot and cold foods at temperature, and early cooler of sorts. Bottom Right: A set of large scales made by the Buffalo company will be reassembled for display in the new business
Some of the treasures are unique in their design and some are unique to the building, like original glass windows from the back of the building that were removed to install air conditioning.
One of the largest items is an antique hand-operated elevator that still works. “It’s so easy to use, you just touch it and the wheel turns” says Tucker. He has even ridden it, but will not permit anyone else from using it. “It’ll be on display, but we will have it roped off and secured so no one gets hurt.”
Jeff Tucker shows off the antique hand-cranked elevator that still works
Ledgers from the 1920’s and beyond are some of the business items found in the building. A desk full of old advertising copy, promoting the latest in Zebco reels, sits in the corner of a third floor room collecting dust.
One of many ledgers found in the building, this one from 1927, shows goods and services purchased and paid for, and who paid for them. Many of the last names are of families still in Brownwood today.
“This will all get used again in some way. We will make sure of that. All this stuff is great and we plan to make sure it gets seen.”
There is so much space in the lofty reaches of the building, that Tucker is not sure what he will eventually do with all of it. “It’s huge, we won’t be able to use all of it, not right away anyway. But we will find a use for it eventually.”
This old desk had all this advertising copy sitting on it when Tucker took possession of the building
The old buggy room, still lined with all the shelves that held tack and other equipment is still up there. Markings on the floor show where employees would measure out rope.
A fan of Teddy Roosevelt, Tucker says one of his favorite quotes is appropriate for the re-purposing of the antiques found in the building. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Eyeing a 2019 opening date, Tucker is not certain when things will be up and running, but is anxious for Brownwood to see his plans come to fruition and for residents to lay their eyes on local history that had all but been forgotten, sealed up in the very walls that will be used to display it.
