One by one, people in the Riverdale community spontaneously stopped their vehicles along Thorngrove Pike to visit a dying friend on Friday.
The visitors openly reminisced about the times they would visit this friend for a Coca-Cola during recess at school. Others bragged about how their friend played a starring role on the silver screen.
The friend visitors celebrated and mourned is the old H&H Serve Mart. At least, that was its name for the last few decades. Before that it was known as J.A. Brooks Grocery and Feed. Whatever its moniker, the "old store" has been a landmark in the community since it was constructed around 1880.
"It just breaks my heart," said neighbor Jaime Dunn. "I really wish they would save it because there aren't many of these buildings left. It is a historic building and it was in a movie shoot."
Jane Fonda won an Emmy for her performance in the 1984 TV movie The Dollmaker. Many of its scenes were filmed at the historic store. However, it will take a lot more than movie magic to save the old building.
"The new owner is our neighbor and he is a good man," said Wayne Whitehead, a Knox County lawyer who lives on Thorngrove Pike and restored the old Riverdale School. "I'm sad that he wants to tear it down. I think the whole community is sad he wants to tear it down. But he is the one who bought the property and can do what he wants. I just wish he would change his mind."
Lifelong resident John Hickman purchased the property after its previous owner died. Hickman has already removed the front porch that was rotting away in recent years. He also removed the mobile home that was placed directly behind the historic building by the previous owner. The greatest expense so far has been the removal of underground fuel tanks from the front of the former gas station and test the soil for any contamination caused by the deteriorating tanks.
"The building was unoccupied for three to four years. It is in disrepair to the point it is not safe to be on the second floor," said Hickman. "My wife and I took the financial risk of buying the property with its old underground fuel tanks because the land is zoned as commercial property. I grew up with the old store, but the expense would be too much to restore it for use as a commercial building with today's codes. We just disconnected the power today because I'm afraid the old wiring is a fire risk."
Reporter's note: This story includes photos of the interior of the building taken by Hickman.
Hickman said he eventually wants to construct some type of commercial structure on the property. The new building will not be a replica of the original store, but Hickman said he envisions something pleasing to the neighborhood.
"I live in this neighborhood, too. I don't want to build anything that is going to be an eyesore. If we ever build something we'd like to have it resemble a country store from the front and have a porch where folks can still come sit down like with the old store," said Hickman.
Whitehead said he is still holding out hope that Hickman will have a change of heart before pulling the plug on a neighborhood friend.
"I know it would be a big expense to restore it. I also know that I can't afford to do it with everything we've invested in the old school. But I think it [the old store] has some historic value and once the building is gone it is gone forever," said Whitehead.
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