The New Pattie Inn

When I was growing up here in the 40s the road from Tryon to Columbus (Hwy 108) came into Columbus by a circuitous route, and included what is now White Road (by the Outreach Ministry building, behind and below Food Lion) and part of Houston Road. There really was a right-angle turn where the traffic light is now, and Donald David Pattie built a gas station there (where WWE Realty is now) that also included a restaurant and a public bath. It was called the Blue Goose and sold Shell gasoline while Pattie owned it.

Yes, the gas pumps had glass tops and a big handle to pump the gas up there, to drain into your car by gravity. You can see one of these gas pumps at Mack Henson's delightful little restored Esso station on the left just after you enter South Carolina on US 176 south of Tryon.

Pattie also built the Pattie Building at the corner of Peak Street and Mills Street (Hwy 108). According to his son, Donald A. Pattie, the building "was constructed of blocks made from coke cinders. They were lighter than concrete and considered to be better insulation. Along with the tile imbedded on the front it made a very attractive building. Large concrete letters 'D D PATTIE' were mounted on the front edge of the roof facing Mills Street, but my father had them taken down for fear they might fall in a storm and injure or kill someone."

The large building housed five retail stores along the front and Gibson's (Pete's father) Barber Shop at the right rear, facing Peak Street. Pattie was a pharmacist and put his drug store on the corner in the first floor. His family lived in the rooms on the far east end of the second floor. Don also told me that a large squirrel cage with tree limbs for their pet squirrel to climb was attached to the back of the building, and that "soil samples indicated that a small vein of gold ran under the building, but it was not rich enough to warrant mining."

Again quoting from Don's book, "In 1920, my father was advised that my mother's poor health mandated the family move to a warmer climate. . . After nearly a year of roaming throughout the South, he finally selected Polk County, North Carolina, as a suitable location and returned to Michigan to sell his property and move the family.

"By 1925, Mr. Pattie had erected… the Pattie Building… and also the 'Blue Goose…'

"When the great depression of the 1930s occurred, the local bank closed and he lost all his savings… Often the store took in less than 25 cents all day… With his savings gone, he was forced to return to Michigan, where, with the help of friends, he got a new start…"

Fran gave a photo of the original building and some of the above information to Jeff Tempest after a meeting of the Columbus merchants, and he decided to call his building The Pattie Inn. Both Don and his sister, Mary Pattie Trucks, are pleased to see the building being restored and their family name once more attached to it.