Town’s Oldest Business Gets First Facade Grant  By Matt Pedigo, The Citizens-Times News Editor

As part of the ongoing “Heart of Scottsville” downtown revitalization process, project organizers have hoped commercial property owners around Scottsville’s public square would be encouraged to add spruced-up facades to the new landscaping, brickwork and streetlights.

Public work on two quadrants of the Heart projet are nearly compete, and the city has applied for an additional $90,000 in federal Transportation Enhancement funding to begin work on the Dollar General quadrant of the square, City Clerk Gayle Davis said.  A responce is expected by July or August, she said.

Carpenter-Dent was established in 1875 near its current location; it moved to its current location in 1881 and would later become the roots for the well-know CDS pharmaceutical chain. After studying historic photos of the business, Meador said he wants to retuurn the store to a nostalgic, small-town pharmacy look and feel.

The building’s awnings will be removed, as will as its hanging cube-like sign. Instead, Carpenter Dent banners will be painted along the builiding’s top, facing the square, and farther down the brick wall facing East Main Street.  The store featured similar painted banner signs in past decades. The store’s front windows and doors will be reworked in historic style, Meador said, and the buildings old windows, now walled in and covered with vinyl siding, will be replaced.

Eventually, Meador said, he’d like to restore exterior stair access to the building’s upper floor. The second level is currently used for storage but, with the windows restored, would offer an expansive view of the square.

“I’d eventually like to rent the upstairs for professional offices, but that would take some remodeling, too,” Meador said.

He’d also make some changes inside.  A photo of the store’s interior in the early 1970’s shows floor-to-ceiling shelving with a variety of goods and the the pharmacy department toward the rear.  Meador said he eventually may return to that floor plan.

In past decades, small-town pharmacies were also know for their soda fountains; Carpenter-Dent last featured one in 1972. Replacing that may be anouther possiblitiy, Meador said, but it’s a “long shot” for now.

In any case, Meador said, he hopes the rrenovations will encourage others to follow suit, eventually bringng a new look and new life to the downtown area.  Success will depend on bringing customers to the square, he said.

“We’re very thankful for the customers we have, and we’re doing this for our city, so when I’m gone, the next generation can have it,” Meador said.  “Hopefully, we’ll leave it better than it was when I came.

“For my bottom line, I could just as easily keep the money and not do a lot,” Meador said. “But for the sake of the city, we’re going to do our part to make the square attractive to residents and visitors alike.  We’re hoping, if we build it, thew will come.’ We want to restore some pride in our downtown area.  Without our customers, we’re doomed.”

The Citizen-Times, Scottsville, Ky., Thursday, June 12, 2003, p21

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