The Jackson block’s Victorian tower was a flamboyant statement on the corner of Franklin and Twiggs Streets. It had a similar sister on the corner of Franklin and Zack Street at the National City Bank Building. Even in old blurry photos, the turrets stand out as strong landmarks. In this photo, the way the man and woman are dressed is also a testament to 1920, when it was taken. This corner was involved in retail drug sales all the way back to 1905 when Mosely and Curry had a shop here. By 1908, it was Taylor’s Drugs, and by 1909, it had joined the Rexall family as The Rexall Store, Taylor Drug Co. In 1920, it became Liggett’s Rexall Drugs.

By the 1930s, retail giant Maas Brothers started taking over the block's north end, moving into the building once occupied by Twomey’s Millinery. In 1937, Duval Jewelry moved into 604 Franklin St., where the Western Union office was. Mangel’s, a New York retailer, moved into 606 Franklin in 1927. In 1949, the building was renovated, removing the signature Victorian tower. Stein’s Department store took the corner at 602 while Mangel’s occupied 606 and 608. As retail evolved to shopping malls and away from downtown, attempts were made to make Franklin Street more pedestrian-friendly to increase traffic and interest. The plan failed. After sitting empty for 15 years, the Mass Brothers store and the entire block were demolished in 2006. It is now a parking lot.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved