Dickson in Dickson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Gossett/Ragan Building
200 North Main Street
| | Built 1905 | |
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 27, 2026
1. Gossett/Ragan Building Marker
June 23, 1905 - W. E. Cullum and wife, Katie, sold this 25'x125' lot to John M. Gossett and wife, Mattie for $950. Once the existing small frame residence was removed, Mr. Gossett erected the current building. The October 19, 1905, edition of the Nashville Banner stated, "Mr. Gossett is completing a splendid two-story brick business house on the corner of Main and College Streets, in which he will conduct a general store."
November 24, 1905 - Downtown Dickson was almost completely destroyed by fire. The most disastrous fire in the town's history started in the Berry-Seay Candy Kitchen at about 2:00 o'clock in the morning. Twenty-one brick business buildings burned to the ground in the block between the railroad and College Street. The newly completed Gossett building survived the 1905 fire, making this building one of the four oldest brick business buildings on North Main Street. In addition to the grocery business, Gossett later added gas pumps out front. The building had a balcony that extended out over the sidewalk. The balcony was accessed by a second-floor door on the front of the building... now the second-floor
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Following Mr. Gossett's tenure at this location, G. T. Scott operated a grocery store here before moving his business to South Main Street. H. A. Scott also had an office on the first floor with a College Street entrance. During this time, a one-story building was constructed on the same lot, behind this two-story building, and the new building fronted West College Street. This second building has had several uses over the years. auto repair shop, Ruby's Beauty Shop (Ruby Scott), warehouse, etc.
November 28, 1947 - An announcement was made that Dr. L.C. Jackson and W.F. "Bill" Bruster would remodel the Gossett Building to open a "new and modern drug store". The City Drug Store opened in 1948. Dr. Linnes Delisle began as the pharmacist and Dr. Slayden Weaver later joined the store. The soda fountain served Midwest Golden Royal ice cream and an advertisement for the ice cream brand was painted on the side of the building. The building still makes use of the terrazzo floors installed by the drug store.
June 5, 1969 - Jewell Gossett, an heir of J. M. Gossett, sold the building to Henry V. Ragan and wife, Nancy.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 27, 2026
2. Gossett/Ragan Building Marker
March 1, 1991 - Henry V. Ragan and wife, Nancy, conveyed to H. Dale Ragan and wife, Mavis, the two properties at 200 and 202 North Main Street. This conveyance was a property exchange with Dale and Mavis conveying to Henry and Nancy the old Coca Cola building at 211 North Main Street which had been used as the Friendly Neighbor Store warehouse and service center.
June 26, 2023 - Construction work began to remodel the facade of 200 North Main Street, reinstalling windows and exposing the brick that had been covered for over 50 years. Since 1905, the building has been owned by just two families, the Gossetts and the Ragans.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1991.
Location. 36° 4.614′ N, 87° 23.269′ W. Marker is in Dickson, Tennessee, in Dickson County. It is at the intersection of North Main Street and West College Street (U.S. 70E), on the right when traveling west on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 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 (a few steps from this marker); Dickson Theater Building (a few steps from this marker); First National Bank (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil War Railroad (about 600 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 600 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 15 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.
