Downtown Moultrie Welcome Center

The Downtown Moultrie Welcome Center is housed in the white building at the end of the block on East Central Avenue, but that wasn’t always the case. In 1897, an old wooden building stood on the corner. Little is known about this building or what occupied it, but it is briefly mentioned in an old Moultrie Observer article that states it will be torn down to make way for two new buildings. The article says the new building will be occupied by Z.T. Knight and Company, who will conduct a big saloon business with pool and billiard tables connected. Based on the photograph below, we know at one point, H. V. Westbrook and Bro and H J Finch Bar stood in this location. 

In 1907, the two buildings were torn out and replaced by the building we know today. Its first occupant was the Horne & Henderson furniture house and undertaking business. Today, we wouldn’t dream of combining a furniture store with a funeral home, but in the early 1900s, the funeral business was less sophisticated than it is today, and making wooden caskets was not that different from making wooden furniture. The furniture part of the business was located in the front, while the funeral home operated in a building in the rear-facing First Street.

In 1909 Horne sold to Henderson and the business took on the name G. G. Henderson Furniture Co.

In 1930 the funeral home moved into a building directly across the street. In 1954, the Henderson Furniture Company moved out. In 1955 the J. C. Penney Department Store moved in and stayed until 1987.

Then for a brief time in 1988 The Russell Building Executive Complex was located here. A few years passed, and Southwest Georgia Bank donated the old Penny’s building to ABAC; subsequentially, the Georgia Board of Regents and Colquitt County funded the building’s renovation. The new facility became known as ABAC on the Square and, in 1997, began offering classes. In 2020 during the height of Covid ABAC shut its downtown Moultrie doors.
In 2021 the Main Street office moved into the building, creating the Downtown Moultrie Welcome Center. Now the building is used by the Downtown Economic Development Department of the City and the Moultrie Convention and Visitors Bureau. Visitor information can be found here, along with a vast knowledge of our town. These offices organize popular community events, such as Second Saturday, Spring Fling & Backyard BBQ Festival, Lights! Lights! Thanksgiving Night!, the Christmas Parade, and much more. Community members frequently visit the Welcome Center to meet in one of the many free meeting spaces. For more information, call 229-890-5455.

Businesses that have been in the buildings over the years

Previous Buildings:

early 1900s (exact date unclear): H. V. Westbrook and Bro

early 1900s (exact date unclear): H J Finch Bar

Building that is here today:

1907: G. G. Henderson Furniture Company & Funeral Home moved into this building
1930: funeral home moved across the street
early 50s: Henderson Furniture Company moved into the rear occupied by the funeral home.
1954: J.C. Penny Department Store
1987: ABAC
2021: Downtown Moultrie Welcome Center

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.