Belk Hudson Lofts
In the early 1900s, two buildings stood in the location we now know as the Belk Hudson Lofts. The first was the larger of the two buildings on the left, known as the Wiggs Building; it was two stories high, with a beautiful front made of pressed brick, iron, and plate glass.
Horkan & Murphy, a clothing store, could be found on the first floor in 1897; over the years, an array of doctors, dentists, and lawyers worked on the second floor.
One of the most noticeable uses for this building was when the City of Moultrie leased the second floor to be used as Moultrie’s City Hall; this happened around 1905. Around this same time, the Moultrie Rifles were using the upstairs hall and two rooms as an armory. At the time, the paper called it “one of the most convenient and vest-equipped armories in the state.”
In 1902 W. J. Matthews opened a department store, in 1927 D. O. Moore joined the business and Matthews-Moore Company was created.
In 1941 the Belk Hudson department store moved into the building and maintained its business for the next 25 years.
In 1966 major renovations costing more than $300,000 began. The facade was changed, the second-floor windows were bricked over, and the interior of the building was renovated. The newly renovated Belk-Hudson opened in 1967. During this interior renovation, the Wiggs building was combined with the building that had been to its right, most recently known as David’s Department Store.
Back in 1903, the business located where David’s was, was called The Globe Store. It sold an array of times, from embroideries to shoes, hats, clothing, and more.
Eventually, David’s Department Store opened in 1930. It remained in this location until 1964.
In 1966 a major renovation took place, and the building became one with the location next door, creating the Belk Hudson building. The facade was changed, the second-floor windows were bricked over, and the interior of the building was renovated. The façade was changed, the second-floor windows were bricked over, and the interior of the building was renovated.
In 1976, Belks relocated to the Sunset Shopping Plaza. Skinner’s Furniture took its place.
Then Harrell’s Treasure Chest Furniture.
The building was eventually donated to ABAC. After years of planning, it was decided the building would not be needed. In 2017, the ABAC Foundation donated the property to the Moultrie Downtown Development Authority. In 2018 Hal Carter reached an agreement. He then began work in 2019. By 2022 the renovation was complete. Currently, Southern Savvy Med Spa and Baba’s The Gathering Place occupy the storefronts. Ten apartments are located in the building, two downstairs and eight upstairs.
In terms of square footage, this is one of the largest retail properties in downtown Moultrie consisting of around 28,500 square feet. While the facade would suggest that it is of recent origin, the interior remnants of the old Wiggs Building make it the oldest standing structure on the downtown square.
Businesses that have been in the buildings over the years
Wiggs Building
1897: Horkan & Murphy
1899: Monk Murphy & Co.
1899: Oscar H. Morris, M.D.
N. M. Reynolds -Attorney at Law
T. W. Mattox (lawyer)
doctors, attorneys, and
1899: Lewis E. Calhoun (stenographer and typist)
1900: Dr. J J Williams
1900: Wynne & McRae
1900: McCall & Exum
1901: Dr. Everett Daniels, Physician and Surgeon
1901: J. I. Wilson, Physician and Surgeon
1901: John H. Smithwick, Attorney at Law
1901: H.C. McKenzie and J. D. McKenzie = McKenzie & McKenzie, Lawyers
1905: J. A. Wilkes, Attorney at law
1905: L.L. Moore, Attorney-at-law
1905: J. D. McKenzie, attorney at law
1910: H. C. & W. H. McKenzie attorneys at law
1910 – Matthews Trading Company.
1910: James Cotton Co.
1911: Dr. Butler (dentist)
1922: Matthew Trading Co.
1941: Belk Hudson Department Store
1979: Skinners
1998: Harrell’s Treasure Chest Furniture
The building was donated to ABAC as part of a future expansion of ABAC on the Square. After years of planning, it was decided the building would not be needed.
2017: ABAC Foundation donated the property to the Moultrie Downtown Development Authority.
2022: Southern Savvy Med Spa/ Baba’s The Gathering Place + loft apartments open
David’s Department Store
1903: The Globe Store
1922: Isadore Golden ( Department Store)
1930-1964: David’s Department Store
1967: Belk Hudson expanded (the wall between Belk-Hudson and David’s Department Store was removed and a partial basement was built under the David’s side to house heating, air-conditioning and other equipment. The store front to both buildings was redone, to the style we recognize today.)