City losing another historical structure

4 Comments / Articles, Logan County History / / Dwight Williamson

By Dwight Williamson

Guyan Supply Company Building (1912-2014)Another relic of the town of Logan is in the process of disappearing. URCO Incorporated purchased the property from the State Auditor’s Office for taxes and employees are currently razing the 102-year-old structure located on Hudgins Street across from the Logan Post Office.

The building was built and opened in 1912 as Guyan Supply Company just as the local coal industry started to boom. Located next to the railroad tracks, it was convenient for the unloading of goods from trains which the fast growing area needed. Incorporated in 1904, the business was started prior to the building’s construction with 250 shares at $1 00 each for “the purpose of dealing in wholesale and retail; specifically, feed, flour, sewer tile, miners’ supplies, iron pipes and to acquire, own and lease real estate necessary for said purposes” as noted in County Clerk records.

U.B. Buskirk, who had built and originally lived in what became known as the “Hinchman House” that now is a parking lot at the end of Hudgins Street, was one of the stockholders, as was attorney J. Carey Alderson, who opened the first bank in the county (Guyan Valley Bank).

In 1913 there was a new agreement for the purposes of “enlarging and modifying the incorporation.” Capital stock was listed at $25,000 with the new stockholders being J.R. Godby (50.43 shares), S.B. Browning (101.86), Mary Browning (1), J.C. Elkins (17.14), Ella Godby (1) and T .E. Browning (68.57 shares). Added to the certificate was the ability of the company to “lease and sell real estate and to operate and mine coal.”

In 1914, the stockholders, with S.B. Robertson serving as president of the company, voted to change the name of the company to Browning Land Company. The site has served many purposes over the years, including the Galleria flower shop; the last business being the Closet Swap now located on Main Street.

Mike Urioste, owner and operator of HURCO, who is responsible for the demolition of many area structures, noted there are no steel beams in the building as wood was used in its place.

“The building might have been saved,’’ he said, “but the flat roof was the main problem and it would cost a considerable amount to repair.”

Urioste said his immediate plans once demolition is completed are to put down a paved parking lot.

Dwight Williamson is a contributing writer and a former reporter for The Logan Banner. He currently serves as a Logan County Magistrate.

*Published with permission.

Articles by Dwight Williamson on this site.

4 thoughts on “City losing another historical structure”

  1. Sherrie Mullins

    I wonder if th S Browning was Samuel? I think he was grandpas dad. Grandmas baby brother was Ted, but he would not have been old enough to be a shareholder.

    Jan, are the Godby’s related to you?

    Reply
    1. Bob Piros

      Doug, I live in California but years
      ago I got involved with a Church in Man
      to help them with donations to clean
      up Man Cemetery. So I would suggest
      that you contact all of the Pastors in
      the Churches in Logan County, there’s
      lots of people who would probably like
      to get involved. You could also check
      your local Boy & Girl Scout organizations,
      & the many schools for help.
      Doug you have the vision to start fund
      raisers & people power will get the work done.

      Reply

Comment