History, or Scrap Lumber?

History, or Scrap Lumber?
By Valerie Morris Dodson

Should we euthanize an old building that represents part of our town's history? That's probably the question on the minds of Chelsea residents regarding the The Old Weldon Store. The building's age, over 80 years old, has some residents wanting to see it preserved, restored, but there are plans for a new road to go through its current location. The store's ugly white chipped paint and that it looks like its falling apart and deserted has others begging for it to just be torn down.

A meeting was held to consider the citizen's suggestions on what to do with the Old Weldon Store. Many said this building is history, and it cannot be replaced. Some thought it should be moved up hill. Others said their first memories of Chelsea involved the store. Many more said it was a burden on the city. Some said it should be torn down and plans for the new road should move ahead. As of press time the position at City Hall was "No decision has yet been made on the Old Weldon Store."

I am pushing for the general store to be saved because, even though many people may not think so, I believe it has historical significance. I'm sure that many of Chelsea's founding families and government officials walked in and out of the store's front door, bought their flour, asked about how each other's mother was, and how was your sister doing, They talked to their neighbors about new, strange inventions, like the automobile. A storekeeper's son. was President of the United States of America then. Did they talk about what Calvin Coolidge was doing at the White House? Two Bits was 25 cents back then. Ever wonder what that would have brought at the store? What about when they heard the first radio broadcast? Did it knock their socks off? Were the kids hanging around talking about Babe Ruth's 60th home run or the new cartoon Mickey Mouse? How was Chelsea effected by the Great Depression? Did the citizens band together in a crisis like they do today? It was the age of prohibition, it was the age of prosperity, and it was the age of downfall. It was the age of everything.

I think the problem is that the store's history has not been stressed or made readily available to the residents of Chelsea. This could be why many residents do not have "deep feelings" for the structure and don't care if it gets demolished. It seems like too much concentration has been going into building Chelsea's future rather than maintaining the roots of its past and what attracted us to Chelsea in the first place. The Old Weldon Store, no matter how dilapidated it may appear right now, is one of these roots. Most of us moved here because we loved the small town feel and the loving and humble people who lived here. Who shaped these people? A local preacher? The Great Depression? What events made this town what it is today? Our children may never know the answers to these questions if the history of the area is not preserved. Even the history of the growth of Chelsea over just the past five years needs to be preserved. We have a new city park, a youth ball field, and a new City Hall. Don't these memories and those people that brought these new and good things to Chelsea need to be remembered in some form or fashion? It's kind of funny because I just started to get to know Chelsea about five years ago and already I have strong feelings for the town and it's unexplored history. I can not tell you the amount of pride I felt after 9-11 when I came around that corner and saw the old building with the American Flag proudly displayed with God Bless America and Chelsea, Alabama displayed next to it. My heart was proud of Chelsea that day.

I would like to see the building restored to the way it used to be, to be a visible representation of how Chelsea grew from tiny farm community into the prosperous town it now is. Maybe many current residents don't feel too strongly about the store, but maybe if enough work goes into it, the building can become a true "jewel," a remembered trademark of the past for future generations of Chelsea. After all one day the children who are growing up here today safe and happy will go away to college, they will have kids and families and business to attend to. When they are ready they will come looking for what made them the salt of the earth and the caring people they turned into. They will remember how wonderful it was to grow up here. When they come home to the town of Chelsea looking for their roots will be they be able to find it? Chelsea needs to work on making more residents aware of their community's history. A committee needs to be formed to save the old store. Money can be raised so that the cost of preserving the Old Weldon Store does not fall on tax payer's shoulders. There is a lot of building in the works in this growing town of over 3000 citizens. None of this building helps the conservation of Chelsea's resources. Building recycling means real conservation. We save energy, dollars, and we preserve history. While it won't be the end of Chelsea if the building doesn't get preserved or moved, it will certainly be a sad day for the city and it's citizens.

TO REPLY TO THIS ARTICLE please email Chelsea E-Times at
the editor.

Posted 09/24/2004