H. R. Jordan & Son Building

Henry Rufus Jordan was born in Alabama in 1835.  His Parents came as settlers to the area after the Choctaw Indians were removed.  H. R. became a farmer and he and his wife, Susan, had five children.  Their son, John D., born in 1874, became a merchant and purchased the Main Street property from J. L. Hightower in 1903.  Mr. “Did” Jordan and his father, H. R. operated a general mercantile business in the two story brick building for many years.  A notebook published by Nashville Fertilizer Co. containing 1903 and 1904 calendars was a complimentary gift to customers of H. R. Jordan.  McElroy’s Meat Market operated from this location for several years.

In 1945, J. D. Jordan sold the building to R. E. Cagle who operated a café.  Other owners and occupants have been Charles Cook, Henry Carter, who operated a parts store; Johnny Gray, who ran a video store and Lawrence Williams used the building for rental property.  Vanessa Chambers, Sheila Herring and Mamie Moore purchased the property in 2004 and began an extensive renovation and restoration project that still continues.   The second floor, which had been divided into apartments years ago, had more recently been used for storage.  Birds, insects and rodents made it uninhabitable for humans.  Downstairs was not quite so deplorable since in recent years had been a game room and still more recently a pawn shop.

These three ladies had a vision.  They designed the interior with the help of John Morgan III, hired carpenters and did some of the work themselves.  The renovated first floor now houses a retail business selling hand made items from Africa and other countries marketed by missionaries who serve in these countries.  In the rear section, a professional embroidery business operates and the second floor is home to Nessa’s Catering.

Still visible is the stairwell that was once the outside entrance to the second floor.  Also, plaster has been removed from the walls revealing the old brick.  Chimney flues, support columns and sections of old brick remind one of early days of a building that survived the fire of 1900.

An asset to Main Street and the Town of Collinsville, the renovated Jordan Building has been enjoyed by many people since opening six months ago.  Collinsville Historical Association congratulates the owners for this achievement and it is with much pleasure we award you our Restoration Project Award 2006.