Chelsea council to discuss dismantling, removal of Weldon building
The future of the Weldon building in Chelsea may be decided at tonight's Chelsea City Council meeting. The building, located at the corner of County roads 47 and 39, once housed the Weldon General Store, which opened in the early 1900s.
According to the agenda for the Jan. 17 meeting, the council will vote on a proposed resolution to "authorize the mayor of Chelsea to sign a contract with Clements Dean Building Company for the dismantling and removal of the Weldon Building located on Hwy 47." On the city's Facebook page, a post about the meeting mentions preserving any salvageable materials from the building.
In recent months, Chelsea resident Judy Isbell Galamore has worked to gather signatures on an online and written petition asking to preserve the Weldon building. She had gathered around 500 signatures as of Jan. 11 and said she was hoping to get 1,000 before approaching the city council.
“I love history, and once it’s gone, it’s gone,” Galamore said, who is the granddaughter of George Weldon, the man who built and owned the store from 1901 to 1951. “And it’s not just that it’s my family, but it’s the whole community’s history.”
Galamore also applied to have the store listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. Her application was approved in early December.
“That’s the best Christmas present I had, was for that to pass,” Galamore said.
The site was approved under two criteria — its association with events of state or local significance and the fact it is representative of a type, style or period of architecture, according to the approval letter from the commission.
“An Alabama Register listing is an honorary designation, carries no restrictions or financial incentives, and exists to bring attention to and promote the property’s historical significance, thereby encouraging its long-term preservation,” according to the Alabama Historical Commission. This means a property can be listed on the register without permission of the owner, in this case the city of Chelsea. It also means the owner is not required to take any steps to preserve the property.
Other agenda items include:
- The introduction of a proposed ordinance to annex a 9-acre property on Old Highway 280.
- A proposed resolution to authorize the mayor to sign a contract with Kellis Vegetation Management, Inc., for Chelsea Sports Parks vegetation services.
- Paying the city's bills.
Tonight's pre-council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public. The regular council meeting starts at 6 p.m. The meeting will also be live-streamed on the city's Facebook page.
Check back to 280living.com tonight for coverage following the meeting.