Dickson in Dickson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Dickson Theater Building
204 North Main Street
| | Built 1951 | |
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 27, 2026
1. Dickson Theater Building Marker
November 30, 1915 - Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Little and Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Helberg deeded a 46' x 125' vacant lot (Lot 2) to the First National Bank in consideration of the bank surrendering a $2,000 note. The bank then sold the lot to S. H. Bryan and W. G. Petty. In 1920, Bryan and Petty later purchased an additional 12 feet (Lot 1) from Mary Fitzhugh resulting in their owning a lot that was 58' wide. Bryan and Petty subsequently sold the lots to Elliott Brothers.
In the 1920s the Elliott Brothers operated an automobile garage from a building on this lot. They sold Chryslers and Studebakers and the building had a capacity of 45 automobiles. By June 1941, one Elliott brother and his wife were the sole owners of the property. On November 25, 1941, C.F. Elliott and wife, Ruth, deeded the property to the Dickson Theater Company Inc., owned by Helen Bruster, for $8,500. Bruster continued to lease the garage building out for several years. Following the Elliott Brothers Motor Company and prior to the 1950s, the Davis-Caldwell Tractor Company and the Mathis-Raymond-Walker Ford Tractor Dealership both leased the building.
October
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July 11, 1951 - The art deco styled Dickson Theater opened to the public with Helen Bruster as the president and manager. The building was designed by the Clarksville, Tennessee, architectural firm of Speight & Hibbs and constructed by the Crescent Amusement Company. The theater had a seating capacity of 850.
September 14, 1960 - The Dickson Theater property was purchased by the Dickson Real Estate Development Corp. (comprised of Henry V. Ragan, Tommy Hodges, Jess Walker Beasley, Stanley Fowlkes, and Dr. Walter A. Bell, II) for the sum of $50,000. It continued to operate as a theater for a short period of time before being remodeling into an office building known as the Dickson Arcade. Remodeling work began on December 19, 1960.
April 2, 1973 - The Dickson Real Estate Development Corp. sold the Dickson Arcade property to H. Dale Ragan and wife, Mavis.
November 7, 2017 - A-1 Signs began a full restoration of the old Dickson Theater/Arcade
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 27, 2026
2. Dickson Theater Building Marker
Over the years, the Arcade has served as a home to many businesses, some long-term and some moving on as their business grew and they needed more room. The variety of businesses include: real estate office, attorneys, chamber of commerce, real estate appraiser, title searchers, radio station, barbershop, beauty shop, bank, insurance agencies, surveyors, engineers, travel agencies, restaurants, photography studio, web design, communications, campaign headquarters, counseling, veterans affairs office, accountants, seamstress, home inspectors, builders, home healthcare, furniture store, computer repairs, museum archives, gift shop, congressman's office, credit bureau, television repair, florist, shoe repair, and more.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1973.
Location. 36° 4.619′ N, 87° 23.261′ W. Marker is in Dickson, Tennessee, in Dickson County. It is on North Main Street north of West College Street (U.S. 70E), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 204 N Main St, Dickson TN 37055, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee, in the Highland Rim, and in Greater Nashville. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Masonic/Pythian Building (here, next to this marker); Gossett/Ragan Building (a few steps from this marker); First National Bank (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil War Railroad (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Mile Post 42 (about 700 feet away); Craig Morgan (about 700 feet away); Frank Goad Clement (about 700 feet away); Francis Craig (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dickson.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Mile Post 42 (was about 700 feet away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 15, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
