E. Front Street is located south of the railroad tracks and north of E. Main Street. Not much is there today, but at one time it was a busy commercial district.
In the above photo, from left to right:
1. L.N Riter Hardware Store (extreme left). Mr. Riter is standing on the porch holding something. This building later housed Jim & Tom's Saloon, and even later Daugherty's Grocer. The stairwell on the left led to a local hangout where folks played cards.
2. I.M. Crowder's Repair Shop, later Tillman Autz's Boot Shop.
3. Our Drug Store, Dr. W.M. Garrett, proprietor. Later the business was sold to T.H. Hefner. Those are Dr. Garret's horses tied to the post in the front.
4. Forney Cooperative Association, but at the time of this photo, it may have been occupied by J.W. Daugherty's Fancy Grocery & Cold Drink Stand.
5. Forney Register office, W.T. Jones, proprietor.
6. Wiley McIntire & John W. Walker's Furniture & Undertaking.
7. Forney Hotel, Tarkington Lindsey, proprieter. This was a popular place to eat and Aunt Minerva Lindsey was known far and wide for her good cooking. Look closely and you can see Aunt Minerva standing in the doorway, and Uncle "Tark" standing outside.
8. Forney Cooperative Store, general merchandise, located in the southeast half of the Thomas Layden Building, the first brick structure in Forney. Later became the R.P. Rhea Company.
9. Reagin & Company, general merchandise, operated by Drayton D. Reagin and Charles H. Alexander. Located in the northwest half of the Thomas Layden Building.
10. Daily & McKellar Opera Hall (extreme right), built by T.H. Daily & Yancy McKellar in 1886, Forney's second brick structure. The McDowell's Hardware Store was on the bottom floor of this building.
