Dianna Borsi O'Brien, freelance writer

I’ve walked by this building countless times, but never knew it was a link to one of Columbia’s oldest businesses, the Parker Funeral Service.

Before Parker’s moved to 22 N. Tenth Street, it occupied 16 N. Tenth Street — as Parker Furniture Store. As was often the case when Parker built the circa 1907 building, furniture stores often made cabinets and caskets.

This building is now in the hands of Atkins Investments, which is planning renovate the building. This article published on April 1, 2011 in the Columbia Business Times, includes information on the four other historic buildings Atkins has renovated in Columbia and the importance of the company’s first project. That project involved the renovation – transformation really – of the Virginia Building, which was then called the Strollway Center. As one source put it, that renovation led the charge in downtown historic renovations.

What I love about journalism is getting to know about things I might never have known. Who knew the former Gold’s Gym was the former Parker Furniture Store? Who knew it would one day face renovation by the same company that renovated the downtown Virginia Building, where the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce used to meet? As well as the same company that renovated Columbia’s first attempt at luring business to the city, the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company.

All that and more is in this article.