Southern Belle Restaurant 2007
Downstairs:
Bank of Chesterfield
Chesterfield Police Department
The Southern Belle
George Laney Law Office
Upstairs:
J. Arthur Knight Law Office
ASC Office
Masonic Lodge # 220
Walter Douglass Insurance Agency
Elizabeth Ann Gaddy Rivers: I recall that Mr. George Laney had an office in the back part of this building. It was always dark and musty-smelling. I would deliver his grocery bill here each month. Mr. Laney always wore a black suit and red tie, and if he went out, he wore a black hat.
Mr. Walter Douglass also had an insurance agency here. I delivered his grocery bill each month as well as that of Mr. Tom Eddins to his County Auditor's office which was located in the back of the old courthouse. I would have to sit in the outer room and wait for him to go over every item "Miss Nezzie" had orderd for the month and to check Mama's math before he wrote the check.
Copied: Chesterfield Advertiser
Newspaper accounts from the early 1900’s cite several businesses that are no longer in existence. (Not every item could be distinguished because of the quality of the paper). Several businesses were noted. The People’s Bank opened for business in 1911. Mr. C. P. Mangum was the first officer of the bank. Hurst and Streater began operation in 1906. They had general merchandise, which included buggies and farm implements. They operated a farm near Patrick, and they bought and sold cotton. They built the building known today as Welsh Apartments. H. J. Sellers Company was a general merchandise and cotton operation as well. It was stated that Mr. Sellers was one of the oldest merchants in town. Chesterfield Dry Goods Co. opened in 1910 and carried clothing for men and women. Mr. T. R. Eddins was the manager. The Bee Hive was started by H. W. Pusser and carried women’s and men’s clothing. Custom suits for men were provided through the Royal Tailoring Company of New York. Odom Brothers Company was operated by W. P. Odom, who served in the State House of Representatives. The company carried general merchandise and bought and sold cotton. Moore Hardware was a second business, absorbing an earlier operation by the Moore family. That business was started by A. M. Moore. In addition to being the only hardware store at the time, the store offered farming implements as well. Mr. E. Armfield and Rufus Armfield were the operators. Chesterfield Drug Store was listed and continues to operate under that name today, although several changes of ownership have occurred.
Elizabeth Ann Gaddy Rivers: This end of Main Street has changed dramatically in the latter half of the century and into the 21st Century. Town Hall has moved from Green Street into a remodeled building that once housed First Citizens Bank. The Southern Belle, a charming little Southern restaurant named for Mary Belle Campbell Owen, was opened by her daughter Lib Owen in 2005. The Chesterfield Police Department, which had been housed here, was moved adjacent to the Town Hall.