Bud Rees' store, last holdout of the 1950s South Washington Street widening- and later moved to Jefferson Street, is torn down on Friday

The tearing down of a condemned house at 208 South Jefferson Street in "the grove" might not seem significant--but in the mid-1950s the building was Rees' Store on South Washington Street and stood in the way of a then-brick Washington Street being widened from two lanes to four lanes.

The building began as a storefront on the southwest corner of the intersection of South Washington Street and East Jackson Street. It was one of no fewer than 18 neighborhood groceries that existed back in the day.

There were gas stations, grocery stores, tire shops and homes lining Washington. Most were set back far enough where it would not interfere with the planned widening. Today, you can see where there are no longer large boulevards in front of the homes and businesses.

Owner Bud Rees was in adamant opposition to the widening. Finally, the city took possession of the store property to facilitate the widening. Instead of the store being torn down, it was jacked up and moved two blocks southeast of where it stood into the grove. At one time the empty lot where the house now stands was an empty lot that John Terry grew strawberries on.

In recent years the house had a clogged sewer line beneath it and water backed up underneath of house (store) and dry-rotted the floors. The owner walked away from it and in recent weeks the City of Du Quoin condemned the house.

On Friday, George's Excavating of Du Quoin, began tearing down the house. Outwardly, the house looked in reasonable condition.

Inside, the floors were all rotted and brittle. In the weeks ahead, the city will clear up outstanding liens and legal issues that are a cloud hanging over the property. It's future is not known.

But the store's place in almost standing in the way of Du Quoin's growth is another historic treasure to be shared with readers.