City Station

J. L. Dillard constructed this building, shown in this 1924 photograph, at the southeast corner of Dillard and Plant Streets. Called City Station, it was a combination gas station and grocery store with upstairs apartments, a common characteristic of many early buildings. Just to the rear of the car, a gasoline pump can be seen. Dillard is pictured here with his second wife (both were widowed), Frances “Fannie” Bedingfield. In the left background is the Wilson and Toomer Fertilizer building and at right, through the arch, is the packing house owned by the Roper Brothers. This building was torn down to make way for a new building, now the site of two restaurants.