Legette and Fred Rivers Market
Western Auto Store
Kevin Lear's on Main
Cockrell Law Firm
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John Thomas Hurst:
Western Auto is a locally-owned franchise store. The Chesterfield store was opened originally in the early 1940’s by Roy L. Hurst and Bert S. Newsom, older son of Grace Hurst Newsom and Dr. R. M. Newsom. After a short partnership, Roy Hurst purchased Bert Newsom’s interest and was owner until his death in January, 1970. The business was first located in the last contiguous building on the west end of the south side of Main Street, and it operated at that location until 1957. Tommy and Lucy Nell Pate Davidson owned the building. Tommy was the son of the late Tell Davidson. Kevin Lear opened a floral business, Kevin Lear's on Main, at this location in the early 2000's.
John T. “Jeep” Hurst assisted his father on a part-time basis while in college, and in the latter part of 1956, he joined the business on a full-time basis. In 1957, the business was ready for expansion, and he moved to the north side of Main Street in the building now occupied by attorney Larry W. Knox. Sam Presson, who owned the building, had operated a grocery store at this location, but he had moved to a larger facility at the other end of Main Street. He owned the building until his death in the late 1960’s when the ownership passed to Julian and Billie Redfern Hopkins. “Jeep” became a partner in the business with his father in the early 60’s and, upon his father’s death, assumed the ownership of the business.
In March of 1972, “Jeep” contracted with Ted Pusser to purchase the property beside Chesterfield Presbyterian Church on which the present Western Auto is located. The new store was occupied for the first time in April of 1973. The property adjacent to the store was purchased from Ted Pusser’s heirs and used for parking. This was the same location where the Roy Hurst family lived when “Jeep” was a boy; so he had come full-circle. “Jeep” owned and operated the business until his retirement on January 1, 1998. Donald R. “Donnie” Gaskins purchased the business and operates the Western Auto today. “Jeep” died in 2006 but his widow, Donna Davis Hurst, still owns the building and adjacent property.
James W. Jenkins: I recall that the first time I saw a baseball game on TV was at the Western Auto Store. I was riding my bike home from school, and I saw a crowd in front of the store. As I got closer, I could tell they were watching something in the window of the store. I crawled under the adults so that I could get up close and saw a game on TV. I think it was 1950, and the Philiadelphia “Whiz Kids” were playing. I have been a TV baseball fan since that day. The Phillies lost in four straight to the dreaded Yankees.
Elizabeth Ann Gaddy Rivers: M. W. "Trey" Cockrell, Jr. has opened a law firm at this location and has given the building the name Barrister Building.
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