The History of 700 Willow Street History
The Springfield Herald and Robertson County news.
Tax Assessor records give 1920 as the build date for 700 Willow, however, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map for 1921 shows two residences at the site. According to sources, J.W. Hayes may have built this building in 1923 with his son-in-law Turnley Rudolph as manager of the J.W. Hayes Tobacco Co.
July 1925, Deed book 78 page 112 and pg 146 shows J.W. Hayes & Turnley Rudolph purchasing this property.
1928 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the building listed as J.W. Hayes Tobacco Co.
1935 City Directory lists J.W. Hayes Tobacco Co., Inc. at 700 Willow St. phone #569, T.T. Rudolph manager
1937 J.W. Hayes dies at Clarksville and his obituary says he owned the Company in Springfield and one in Clarksville Tennessee.
October 1937, Deed Book 88 pg. 419 J.W. Hayes Tobacco Co. deeds it to Mary Elizabeth Hayes.
1947 City Directory lists Hayes Tobacco Co., 700 Willow, phone 569
1948 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the building listed as J.W. Hayes Tobacco Co.
1954 Mrs. J.W. Hayes/ Mary Elizabeth Anderson Hayes called “Lillie” dies at Clarksville
1957 City Directory lists Hayes Tobacco Co., Turnley Rudolph, 700 Willow, phone 569
1959 City Directory lists Hayes Tobacco Co., Turnley T. Rudolph, 700 Willow, phone 569
1961 City Directory – no listing for Hayes Tobacco, no listing for 700 Willow Street
1964 Deed Book 133 pg 146 and Deed Book 134 pg. 110 Springfield Housing Authority sells to The Tobacco Supply Co. which they had obtained via condemnation suit from the Estate of Lillie Hayes Montgomery (deceased daughter of J.W. & Mary Elizabeth Hayes) The condemnation suit was multiple parcels, multiple owners as part of Urban Renewal when owners did not agree to the price offered. NOT an indication of a building being condemned for structural problems.
1969 City Directory – no listing for 700 Willow. The Tobacco Supply Co. listed as 704 Willow
1973 City Directory – no listing for 700 Willow. The Tobacco Supply Co. listed as 704 Willow (This is the last City Directory made)
1992, Deed Book 313 pg. 775, The Tobacco Supply Co. sold to William Hadley, Jr.
2000, Record Book 630 pg. 130 Foreclosure by Farmers & Merchants Bank due to Hadley defaulting
2001, Record Book 702 pg. 201 Farmers & Merchants Bank to Janice & Max Nichols
2009, Record Book 1339 pg. 588 Janice Nichols deeded to Brett Nichols
2009, Record Book 1344 pg. 483 Brett Nichols deeded to Larry Whitworth, the most recent owner of the mall.
Source: Yolanda Reid Robertson, County Historian
