Tyler

By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

The Tyler Woman's Building and Wood T. Brookshire, founder of the Brookshire Grocery Company, will become the fourth and fifth Half-Mile of History honorees.

City Council members approved adding the two at their regular meeting Wednesday.

"The Woman's Building and Mr. Brookshire have each made important contributions to Tyler's history," said Mayor Barbara Bass. "I am pleased that we have the Half-Mile of History Program to highlight their place in our past and their ongoing contributions to our future."

The Tyler Woman's Building has been a civic and social gathering place for Tyler residents for more than 75 years.

Located at 911 S. Broadway Ave., the Woman's Building opened its doors on June 13, 1932. Its inception was prompted by various charitable, social and education women's groups who met in the homes of prominent residents during the 1920s.

Several women decided to open a community building to address the needs of the expanding groups. In 1923, the Tyler Women's Forum organized, and the group, led by Mrs. Alex Woldert, went about finding a location for the Woman's Building.

In 1931, Judge and Mrs. Sam Lindsey donated the large wooded lot on South Broadway Ave. that would become the home to the Woman's Building.

The facility was designed to include a lounge, a library, a banquet hall, restrooms, a smoking den for men, a powder room for women, space to accommodate 13 club meetings simultaneously and apartments for the resident hostesses.

During World War II, the building served as a meeting place for volunteers to roll bandages and sell war bonds. The third floor was converted into apartments during this period for use by soldiers and their families.

In the 1950s, young women met in the building to be trained in etiquette and manners. For years, the building served as a municipal auditorium, with capacity to seat 300 people. Famous performers, speakers and politicians have all made use of the auditorium there.

The building has also served as the administrative offices for the East Texas Symphony Orchestra.

In 1990, The Tyler Woman's Building was designated as a Texas Historic Landmark. Today, the building is considered a regular stop along the Azalea and Spring Flower Trails and is a site for several events related to the Texas Rose Festival.

Wood T. Brookshire moved to Tyler in 1928 and opened his first grocery store on the east side of the downtown square. The 2,500-square-foot store would become the cornerstone for today's Brookshire Grocery Company.

Brookshire and five of his brothers operated several stores in East Texas until the partnership dissolved in 1939. At that time, Brookshire became sole owner of three stores in Tyler.

According to the company's Web site, Brookshire founded the company with a "people first" operating philosophy. He recognized the grocery business as a way to serve his fellow men by providing fair-priced products of the highest quality and a partner-style work environment for employees.�

Brookshire's made history in several ways during its early years. The store, on the corner of Broadway Ave. and Front Street, which opened in 1939, was the first air conditioned grocery store in East Texas. When Bergfeld Shopping Center opened in the 1940s, it featured a brand-new Brook-shire's store.�Brookshire's opened its first warehouse in 1953 after expanding its market across East Texas. The Tyler distribution center opened at its current location on South Loop 323 in 1968.

In addition to the grocery business, Brookshire served as director of the Tyler Chamber of Commerce in 1945 and was on the Tyler Independent School District Board from 1941 to 1950.

Brookshire also built the Brookshire's World of Wildlife Museum and Country Store in Tyler, which now hosts more than 40,000 visitors each year. His commitment to the Tyler community led to the Brookshire's Grocery Com-pany's involvement in local charities and schools.�

Today, Brookshire Grocery Company has more than 150 stores operating in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. The company also operates three distribution facilities -- two in Tyler and one in Monroe, La. -- with more than 2 million total square feet. The company's internal manufacturing facilities include bakery, dairy, ice cream, yogurt, fresh-cut plants, ice, water and drinks, all in the Tyler area.

Brookshire's currently employs approximately 12,000 people, 2,500 of which are in Smith County.

The program, launched in February, was a result of a recommendation from the Tyler 21 plan to promote aspects of Tyler's history. It is a permanent, outdoor, half-mile heritage trail that surrounds the downtown Tyler square. Stone monuments are embedded in to the sidewalk along the half-mile in recognition of people, places or events significant to Tyler's history.

For more information on making a nomination for the program, go to www.cityoftyler.org and visit the Planning and Zoning page, or call 903-531-1175.