A deed states that on the sixth day of March in 1925, E.L. Vernon and Margaret Vernon sold lots 2 and 3 in Block 14 of the west side of the creek, in the City of Salem to L.N. Coffman. The purchase price was not listed but another document states it was purchased for around $14,000.
The building stood as is until it was destroyed by fire early in 1954.
“Salem’s biggest and most costly fire in many years wiped out the stores of American Sales and Fleming Hardware and badly damaged the building of the Dillon Dry Goods Store,” declared The Salem Post and The Democrat-Bulletin dated Feb. 4.
“$250,000 Fire Razes 2 stores,” said The Salem News in a 190-point bold font.
The two-story brick building was the one purchased about 30 years earlier by Coffman. The structure was built sometime before 1890 and was one of the oldest business buildings in Salem. It was appraised for around $75,000, and the Coffman wholesale company had an estimated $10,000 of goods stored in the rear of the building at the time of the fire.
The blaze was discovered after the conclusion of a March of Dimes program at the City Hall on the winter night in 1954.
“The alarm was turned in by Mrs. Roy Mitchell and Troy Land, among others. Most of Salem turned out to see the heroic work of volunteer firemen as they fought valiantly to keep the disastrous fire from spreading,” according to The Salem News article.
There was fear the entire block would burn as the inferno seemed to be too much to handle.
“Flames leaped to the L.N. Coffman Co. building across Washington Street. A small fire burning around an upstairs was extinguished.”
The heat was so intense that front plate glass windows in stores across Fourth Street were cracked.
Only one wall remained at the conclusion of the fire. Plans soon began to construct a replacement.
Following the fire, Dr. M.M. Hart offered $30,000 for the vacant lot. The offer was rejected and plans for construction moved forward. The structure cost approximately $40,000 to build and was the “most modern building in Salem,” according to a document from the time.
Over 2,000 bags of cement were used; 30,000 face bricks; 7,000 common bricks; 1,000 roman bricks; 7,000 haydite blocks; 20,000 feet of lumber for the roof; and $8,500 of steel.
Design of the building was by Edwin Hodge, an architect from Rolla who was assisted by James B. Fairclough, manager of Roberts-Judson Lumber Company, Cuba.
Those involved as workmen on the project included foremen Cody Morton and John Duckworth, each paid $2 per hour. Carpenters at the building were paid $1.25, included Otho Boyd, Henry Dixon, Adam Warfel, Donald Pewitt and Paul Flett. Laborers were Lee Bailey, Lee DeNoon, Ralph Walker, and Harry Parks, paid 75 cents per hour. Ernest Parks finished the floor; Chas B. Jeffries completed electric work; and Clyde Elmer and Bill Harrison were contracted for brick work. Other casual laborers and special laborers included Robert J. Coffman and Billy Jim McNeill.
In December of 1954, a time capsule was laid in the bricks of the building. The box was made of sealed copper, fabricated by Victor Furnace Company. Items included a 1954 telephone directory, family papers and mementos, newspapers, a 1954 quarter by electrician Charlie Jeffries (to be paid to his descendants when the box was opened).
A cornerstone was placed to mark the location of the time capsule. Four generations of the L.N. Coffman family posed for a photo at the cornerstone in 1954 as the box was placed.
Mrs. S.N. Ball, Jr., Max J. Coffman, Sammy Ball, Sanborn Ball, L.N. Coffman, James L. Coffman, and Susan Ball were in the photo that was published in both newspapers serving Salem at the time.
Fast forward to almost exactly 68 years later – and L.N. Coffman’s great-great-grandson S.N. Ball and father, Sandy Ball, began the process to remove the time capsule. The building was sold to Sylvia Self, who owns Sylvia’s Antiques, the current tenant of the building. The sale marks the first time since March of 1925 that a Coffman family member has not owned the building at the corner of Fourth and Washington.
The removal process proved to be more tedious than anticipated, taking hours to complete. The Balls were assisted by Brandon Snider, manager of Roberts-Judson Lumber Company, and husband of Carrie Coffman, another descendant of L.N. Coffman.
With the crank of hand tools, a few bloody knuckles, and the assistance of a drill, the time capsule was removed on Nov. 14, 2022. The mystery of what was in the box was kept for a few more days as it was not opened until the sale was final on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.
Descendants of L.N. Coffman were present as well as Self, and others who were interested in the unveiling. Jack Todd, owner of Victor Heating and Cooling, opened the box originally created by Victor Furnace 68 years prior.
Sandy Ball was present at the placement of the time capsule in 1954 and said a few words before it was opened, offering history of the building and other anecdotes.
The box was opened, and it was apparent that moisture had made its way through the sealed copper as mold was present. Several items were ruined but many remained intact and legible.
A wallet, change, photos, a ring, newspaper, building documents, a calendar, phone directory, and many more items were viewed in wonderment as the family explored the contents.
Being a small part of the unearthing of the capsule and seeing it unsealed was a delight. More and more in our modern age of cameras in our pockets and social media, we tend to live more in the moment, always looking forward to what is coming next. Our ancestors were more insightful and kept documents and photos among other items to share with future generations. Be mindful of photos and don’t forget to print a few to share with your descendants a few decades from now. Or at the least save a few digital albums and don’t forget to share the passwords! See more photos here
