Returning to Roost (or Roast)

About a year ago, we posted on the Mooresville Public Library's Facebook page about the old Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant that was located on the northeast corner of South Indiana and East South Streets in Mooresville from the late 1960s through spring 2011.  Since earlier this year (2022), a new KFC restaurant has been under construction about a half-block south, at the far north end of the Village Shopping Center (just south of the McDonalds restaurant).  Learn more here.

2022 construction photo by Peter Blanchard, Martinsville Reporter-Times, February 4, 2022

(Click Images to Enlarge)

New KFC Restaurant on South Indiana Street (Looking North)

(Photo Above & Next Eight Photos by William R. Buckley) (August 11, 2022)

 

In the photo above, you can see KFC's original location in the middle-right background.

New KFC Restaurant on South Indiana Street (Looking South)

(Intersection Cross-Street is South Street)

The photo above (looking south) was taken next to KFC's original location on the northeast corner of South Indiana and East South Streets.

So, what's now (2022) located at the old KFC site (360 South Indiana Street)?  Let's have a look.

Sal's Famous Pizzeria Express Is Now Located on the Old KFC Site

(Looking North Across East South Street) 

Sal's Famous Pizzeria Express (Looking Southeast Across South Indiana Street)

Originally, the KFC restaurant was situated at 360 South Indiana Street, just northeast of its new (2022) location.  Here's what it looked like when it closed in 2011, from about the same vantage point as the picture above:

KFC Restaurant Closed (Spring, 2011)

(After Over 40 Years at This Location)

(Looking South)

(Photo by William R. Buckley, May, 2011)

 

Kentucky Fried Chicken had been a Mooresville landmark on South Indiana Street for decades.  This was where my wife was first employed, if you don't count babysitting.  It was upon this establishment's floor in the mid-1970s that fruit drink was spilled, removing the tile's finish.  (In fairness, any sugary or carbonated beverage would have done that, if left too long on the floor.)  Cherished coming-of-age stories have been exchanged over the years about working there, when we lived in more carefree, prosperous times (isn't that the way we often see the past?).  In those days, long ago, you could get fried chicken AND beef & ham sandwiches there.  Employees occasionally exchanged chicken buckets, slaw, mashed potatoes, etc. for pizza (from staff working at a nearby pizza parlor), which was obviously frowned-upon by management.  There were many regular customers who would phone-in their carryout orders--you could set your watch by them, always on the same days and times.  Sometimes, employees could take home extra chicken wings for their families (and dogs or cats) to enjoy.

 

Take a look at this vintage photo below, which my wife, who, let us not forget, was born and bred in Mooresville (or, maybe, "breaded" is a better word, since she worked with the chicken batter), has identified as circa 1973 or 1974.  My limited knowledge of C-41 print photography color processing confirms this estimate.

KFC Restaurant on South Indiana Street (circa 1973-1974)

(View Looking North)

 

Drop by the new place sometime.  Use the drive-through or come inside.  You will get the same friendly service you would have received if you had visited a third of a century ago, when my wife dressed in something like this.

KFC Ad from 1974 Mooresville High School Yearbook, Wagon Trails

(Not My Wife in This Photo)

 

A few years before my wife worked at KFC, uniforms looked like this.

 

Vintage KFC Uniform (circa late 1960s)

That's not my wife in that photo, either.  She has red hair, and her posture is straighter.  She's also much prettier.  Plus her hands don't detach at the wrists.

Taggart Bakery & Restaurant (1888-1930) and Beyond

In 1888, John Allen Taggart and Lena Taggart started their bakery/restaurant at 15 West Main Street in downtown Mooresville.  In 1896 they replaced their wood-frame structure with a two-story brick building that still stands today.  Our video below summarizes the history of restaurants that served the public at this location for well over half a century.

Taggart Bakery (Mooresville Moments #24)

by Mooresville Public Library

We had some leftover images that didn't make the cut for the video, which we'd like to share here.  This 1919 photo (below) shows Lena Taggart with her brother-in-law and his wife, Joseph and Florence Taggart, who lived in Pasadena, California, according to the 1920 U.S. Census.  The front and back of the photo are shown below.  (Click images to enlarge.)

The enlarged portion of J. A. Taggart's obituary appeared in the video, but here's the part of the front page in which the article appeared.

Mooresville Times, January 3, 1908

John Allen Taggart's headstone at

Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis

At the turn of the 20th century, John and Lena Taggart lived in a fine home on the northeast corner of the intersection of North Monroe Street and West Morgan Street, across from the Academy School (which added, in 1909, Mooresville High School; in 1921, the high school gymnasium; and, in 1937, Newby Memorial Elementary School).  Four decades later, this home was owned by Butch Brown's parents, who operated Brown's Rexall Drugstore at 13 East Main Street in downtown Mooresville.

Here's a summary of owners of Taggarts' Bakery/Restaurant over the years:

Under the name Taggarts' Bakery and Restaurant

• 1888-1907:  John A. & Lena Taggart
• 1907-1913:  Lena Taggart
• 1913-1918:  Ross C. "Dinty" Moore
• 1918-1928:  Frank Hadley & Pete Culbertson
• 1928-1930:  William Tincher

Under the name "Dinty" Moore's Cafe:

• 1930-1936:  Ross C. "Dinty" Moore

Under the name Hadley Restaurant:

• 1936-1944:  Frank Hadley

Under the name Head Inn Restaurant:

• 1944-circa 1950:  Mr. & Mrs. Clayr (?) Ward

Under the name Taylor's Restaurant:

• Circa 1950-circa 1959

Under the name Clark's Restaurant"

• Circa 1959-circa 1966

During the 1990s and 2000s, I recall that Pat's Tavern was located in the Taggart building at 15 West Main Street.  Since 2016, it has been the site of Bran N Shorts Coffee House.

Mooresville-Decatur Times, January 30, 2016

McCracken House (1870-1951)

In this installment of Mooresville Moments, our local history video series, we learn about McCracken House, once a popular downtown destination for 80 years.

Click Above to Play Video

McCracken House was originally numbered as 23 West Main Street (in the late 1890s-early 1900s). This designation was subsequently changed to 25 West Main Street. McCrackens owned land surrounding their hotel/restaurant, leasing a building (just to the east of their hotel/restaurant) that was designated 23 West Main Street.  This became Dorsett Insurance Agency in the 1950s. After McCracken House was demolished in 1951, the lot remained vacant for a few years, becoming Worrall Propane Company in the early 1960s (see the 1962 Robinson's Mooresville, Indiana City Directory).

To watch other videos in this series, please visit our YouTube channel local history playlist.

Bobby Helms' Mooresville Connections

Hoosier native Bobby Helms (Robert Lee Helms) (1933-1997)–perhaps best known for the songs “Fraulien” (1957), “Jingle Bell Rock” (1957), and “My Special Angel” (1957)–was born in Bloomington, but, in later years, was a resident of Martinsville (he’s buried there in Hilldale cemetery).  He is a member of the Morgan County Hall of Fame.  His Mooresville connection comes from the 1970s, when he owned a restaurant/nightclub, the Special Angel Club, which was situated at Five Points (between Mooresville and Waverly), where State Road 144, Kitchen Road, and Orchard Road converge.  Learn more about Helms from this official website.  (Click the images below to enlarge.)

Bobby Helms publicity photo (circa 1957)

Advertisement from the 1977 Mooresville High School yearbook, Wagon Trails

Advertisement from the Mooresville Times, February 22, 1979