The T.B. (Ben) Sutton Store dates back to 1880 when the building was purchased by W.H. Ragland at a Chancery Court sale. On June 7, 1880, W.H. Ragland sold the store to A.S. Cooper and James Hargis for $100.00. For the next 45 years, the store was owned by the Cooper family and several other individuals. In the 1890’s, it was named Hargis and Son General Merchandise and Country Produce. In 1901, it was changed to Shepard and Cooper, in 1906 Cooper and Brown, and later B.F. Cooper General Merchandise. In May of 1925, B.F. Cooper sold the store to A.H. Willoughby, who sold it on May 7, 1925 to Ben Sutton. Sutton operated the store for over 45 years, closing it shortly before his death. John Clemons operated the store for a short period of time in the early 1970’s. Throughout its years of service, the T.B. Sutton General Store sold everything from clothing and food, to furniture. A barbershop was located in the back of the building. While there were other general stores that operated in Granville, Sutton Store had the longest period of operation, was the most popular, and most likely was the first commercial entity in Granville. It was a catalyst to the modern department store and was a one stop shop for any item that a person could want or need. The store served as a gathering place throughout its years of operation for residents of the Granville community. The store remained closed for 25 years, becoming run down and in need of repair and restoration.
In May of 2000, Harold and Beverly Sutton, no relation to Ben Sutton, attended the annual Heritage Day Festival in Granville and discovered the old store. The Suttons fell in love with the old store, and on July 11, 2000, they purchased it and its contents. It was nearly in ruin and almost beyond restoration. The feed room housed many of the original store fixtures and had nearly collapsed. Sutton began restoring the facility by raising the feed room 37 1/2 inches to repair the foundation and wood siding. Sutton is heralded for maintaining the character and charm of the old general store. After months of restoration work, the store opened again on May 26, 2001, as part of the Heritage Day celebration. By selling gift items, ice cream, chips, and cokes, and hosting Saturday night Bluegrass music, life returned to the store. In September 2007, the Suttons donated the store to the Granville Museum, who continue to operate it as a tourist attraction and a restaurant. Weekly Bluegrass shows are taped every Saturday night inside Sutton Store, and the store serves meals in conjunction with these shows. Hand dipped ice cream and sodas are served at the original lunch counter. The store has been named by Country Living magazine as “One of the most charming general stores in America.” In a very real sense, it can be stated that the T.B. Sutton General Store was and continues to be the heartbeat and main attraction of the Granville community. This fact makes it historically significant for its overall history on a local level.
When looking at the architecture of the T.B. Sutton General Store one cannot help but notice its large size. When comparing it to other rural general stores throughout the Upper Cumberland its size is the most imposing feature of Sutton Store. The size of the store puts it in the category of an early department store. There are no other general stores in the Upper Cumberland of the same size as Sutton Store. One feature that Sutton Store has in common with other rural general stores is the porch on the facade. This porch spans the entire facade and served as the main gathering place for Granville residents. The facade also features a parapet at its top which hides the gabled metal roof. The east and west elevations are identical, but the rear (South) elevation features modern vinyl siding and eleven windows. The exterior of Sutton Store retains much of its original materials, but features such as glass in the windows, and the metal on the roof had to be changed during the 2000 restoration.
Upon entering Sutton Store the most notable feature is the balcony that spans the top of the sales floor. The interior of the store primarily features wood trim on the floors, ceiling, and walls. All of this wood trim remained unchanged during the 2000 restoration. On either side of the main room of the store are sales counters. Behind these counters are shelving used for the display of various goods. At the rear of the main room is a lunch counter also original to the store. The upstairs features display shelving on the east and west side of the balcony. More sales space is located to the east of the open main sales room. Below this additional sales room is the feed room. This room has been carpeted and features a series of six horizontal support beams on the roof. These beams act as reinforcements for the original ceiling, as this portion of Sutton Store had to be raised approximately 37 1/2 inches. Located directly behind the feed room is a modern industrial kitchen. This kitchen historically functioned as a barber shop during the store’s operation, but was converted into a kitchen to accommodate the food items that are sold to tourists. In short, the T.B. Sutton General Store served a variety of functions during its operation. It acted as a department store, featured a barber shop, and served as the largest commercial and social hub of the Granville community. The store retains much of its original features both in its construction, as well as its fixtures. This is admirable, because as one drives through the Jackson County countryside it is common to see rural general stores that are in ruins. This fact also makes Sutton Store one of a kind. The T.B. Sutton Store should be considered architecturally significant at a local level.
What you just read were the results of a recent National Register of Historic Places survey that Moore Historical Consulting's Carver Moore preformed on the T.B. Sutton General Store in Granville, Tennessee, which will determine if the store is indeed eligible for listing in the National Register. At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own a historic home, commercial building, or farm? If so contact me today to learn more about the historic preservation strategies I offer. These include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, nominations for a Permanent Conservation Easement, nominations to the Century Farms program, and writing text for historic makers. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.
Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday presented by Moore Historical Consulting.
