East Side of Pulaski Square

The East side of Pulaski's square has long been home to thriving businesses and community institutions. The Antoinette Hall Opera House has been the centerpiece of this block since its erection in 1868. (See contributing entry on Antoinette Hall.) This block was rebuilt in 1868 after a fire destroyed the entire east side of the square.

(see below for additional information)

Odd Fellows Hall - 100 W. Jefferson St., northeast corner of Jefferson St. & 1st St.

• The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows is the African-American counterpart to the Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal group. The GUOOF was a fraternal group complete with regalia and ranks, and also offered insurance benefits to its members in an era when African-Americans were often denied life and burial insurance. The first GUOOF lodge in Tennessee was established in 1872 in Memphis.
• The GUOOF lodge in Pulaski was located on the upper floor of this building in 1891, according to the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map.
• By the 1910s, the GUOOF had a national membership of over 300,000, representing more than 11% of all African-American men.
• This building is currently home to People's Choice Realty.

North corner of East side of square

• Once home to First National Bank, from its founding in 1937 until 1986. Previously it had been home to the Commerce Bank.

Reeve's Drug Store, 125 N. 1st St.

• Reeve's Drug Store opened in 1893, and soon moved to its present-day medical supply space where it stayed until 1982, when it expanded into its present-day location. It is still open today serving as a pharmacy, deli, and ice cream shop.
• Other drug stores on the square included the Dickson-Ragsdale Drug Co. on the west side of the square, and Loyd Drug Store on the south side of the square.

Union Bank, 107 S. 1st St.

• The Union Bank building is the empty facade on the block southeast of the square on S. 1st St. When this space burned, they relocated to the current county annex/Truist Bank building.
• This bank was originally located underneath Antoinette Hall, where the Pierchowski law office is located today.

Giles County Historical Society