30 First Avenue SE

Below you see one of the oldest photos of Moultrie. This photo, taken in 1895, shows the results of Moultrie’s heaviest snowfall – approximately ten inches.

This photo, taken around 1900, shows the corner where Griner Jewelry is located today. The Sanburn Fire Map from 1899 shows a Grocery Store and General Store were located in this area.

Hick’s Drug Store, Moultrie’s oldest drug store, was open for business in 1898 by Dr. W. T. Hicks.  Later Dr. W. A. Blasingame joined the business. Blasingame served as County Commissioner and Director of the Chamber of Commerce.

In 1901, Dr. C. G. Watson partnered with his father-in-law, Hicks, and the name was changed to Watson Drug Store. Dr. Watson was a leader in the community and served as mayor and member of the Moultrie City Council.  The last owners were Max Hancock and Fred Colson. This corner drug store was known for its soda fountain booths and its delicious milkshakes.

Above Watson’s Drug Company was the Little Art Studio.  It was established in 1929 by Dobson Hancock and offered modern cameras.  When Dobson was stationed in England during World War II, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hancock, operated it for him.  It was known for being one of the best equipped camera studios in the state in part due to the lighting effects from the constructed sky light.

In 1937 on the second floor of this building, law offices of Riddenspurger and Cranford; Dentist offices of Thomas, Tison, and Hitchcock; Insurance office of John Lawson and Physician office of Dr. John Lanier were operating.

In 1976 Watson Drug Store moved.

Faye Gisi from Doerun, Georgia who majored in textiles at UGA worked in ladies’ apparel as a former buyer in Atlanta and locally for Friedlander’s, opened a ladies’ dress shop, “Gisi’s – Fashion with a Flair” in 1977.  Dressing ladies in the latest fashions and helping husbands choose just the right outfit for special occasions was her passion.  In 1983, she relocated.

In 1995 Daryl and Yvonne Griner purchased the property at 30 1st Avenue and opened Griner’s Jewelry Store.

Griner started in the jewelry business when he was sixteen and was a watchmaker for over 40 years.  He opened Griner Jewelry when he was twenty-five years old.  He moved his business to its present location in 1995.  Their store specializes in fine jewelry and diamonds.

 

1898 – Hick’s Drug Store

1902 – Hicks and Watson

1937 upstairs: Layers Riddenspurger & Robert Cranford

Dentist Thomas & Tinson

Insurance John P Lawson

Physician John Lanier

Dentist W G Hitchcock 

1977- Gisi’s

1979 – Sid’s Fashions for Men and Women

1996 – Griner Jewelry

Beth Brown, Judy Mobley, and Caroline Barber conducted research on this building as part of the NSCDA-GA Moultrie Town Committee’s project for America’s 250th birthday. If you have a photo you think would look good on this page, or have missing information, please email mediarequest@moultriega.com.