GENTRY — A motion to purchase the old “Sugar Shack” for $7,000, plus closing costs of about $500, failed at Monday night’s council meeting.

The building, thought to be the oldest building on Main Street and a one-ofa-kind store-front building in the area and possibly the state, was offered to the city for $7,000. The city offered to pay $5,000, but the building’s owner remained firm in the asking price.

The council had considered purchasing the building which once housed a popular eating establishment in the city to preserve it and make it usable as a business location on Main Street.

The council vote was 3-3, with James Furgason abstaining in the vote (Council members Janice Arnold, Janie Parks and Michael Crawford voted in favor of the purchase. Jason Barrett, Warren Norman and Todd Wagner voted against the purchase. Kyle Jordan was absent.)

Furgason said that if theproperty owner decides to demolish the old building, the city might be able to obtain the building and move it to the park or another location to preserve it.

Some council members informally discussed the possibility of yet purchasing the building and preserving it through a community effort rather than a city purchase.

Though accounts vary on the origins of the building, they agree that the building was moved to Gentry on a mule-drawn cart in the late 1800s or early 1900s.

News, Pages 3 on 12/07/2011