W.R. Lee and Ralph Rahn had the feed and seed business behind the warehouse on Laurel Street just north of the old theatre building discussed last week. A large rolling back door allowed farmers to deliver produce. Many remember unloading potatoes there.

Apparently, produce was stored and sold there. Many buyers and sellers were in and out of this building with their crops.

When Ijon Tigleth Webb and his sons Tom and Henry began the concrete block plant discussed in Echoes last week, they opened Concrete Builders Supply in 1946 in the warehouse building where produce had been sold. Concrete and brixment, a trademarked mortar, was sold in the store. The store sold a wide variety of Valspar paints. Lumber, trim and sheetrock was among the many items available. Concrete Builders delivered blocks and supplies to Savannah, South Carolina and many counties in the region. The store had five or more trucks delivering block and other supplies in its heyday.

In 1956-57, the Webbs ceased to make blocks and sold the Concrete Builders Supply to Elbert and Paul Weitman. They took over while the Webb brothers had the flu and had to train themselves on the job. Paul moved on to a different job with the ASCS. Emory Arnsdorff and Herman Weitman were involved in the business later on. The business operated for a number of years. Emory moved to another job and Herman became unable to work due to health issues. Eventually Elbert went to work in Savannah for Builderama when the business closed.

By 1970, Julie G. Harrelson (Weddle) had purchased the building and she is the current owner. She moved the Springfield Herald from the site next door into the south part of the building. The large building had been divided to provide storefronts for several small businesses. Julie also established an office supply business there and for a short time a dress shop in the store space on the north end. Many tenants have occupied the spaces. Beauty salons, an optometrist, Saseen Bonding Company, small retail stores and many others have all been tenants over the years.

You cannot buy a nail, paint, bolt, board or concrete block today in Springfield, but in the past it was easy to find these things in town.

This was written by Susan Exley of Historic Effingham Society. If you have photos, comments or information to share, contact her at 754-6681 or hesheraldexley@aol.com.