In 1929, Warrenton was located on Highways 40 and 47 at the crossroads of the United States. At that time a man by the name of Harry McGee owned the property later to be known as Bilmac Plaza. McGee …
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History of former Bilmac Press building
Posted
In 1929, Warrenton was located on Highways 40 and 47 at the crossroads of the United States. At that time a man by the name of Harry McGee owned the property later to be known as Bilmac Plaza.McGee owned this vacant land on the southwest corner of the highway and he also owned and operated McGee’s Service Station and Restaurant on the southeast corner of Highways 40 and 47.He later served as mayor of Warrenton. In the fall of 1929 McGee built a two-story brick building on that plot to establish a hotel for travelers. Shortly before the completion of the building, a man who owned property situated next door, by the name of Louis Kurtz, advised McGee that he was constructing his building on 4 feet of his land.As I recall, they entered a gentlemen’s legal agreement for a 99-year lease on a commercially zoned strip of land adjacent to McGee’s land at $400 a year, which was a sizeable amount at that time.As I recall, although my memory is somewhat fuzzy, McGee never opened the building for business and it stayed vacant. Mr. William Binkley came to Warrenton and established The Binkley Company on west Main Street and in the beginning specialized in the manufacture of The Binkley Furnace. As World War II came along, Binkley purchased the land from McGee on which the building was situated and also assumed the lease with Mr. Kurtz for the purpose of manufacturing curtain rods.Some time later after the war ended, Mr. and Mrs. Binkley renovated the interior of the building and opened an upscale retail establishment consisting primarily of brass and copper antiques from around the world. The name of their business was “Wayfarers.” They took many extensive trips to foreign lands to acquire exotic items for resale to the traveling public.I cannot recall the date, but Mr. Binkley passed away suddenly and Mrs. Binkley operated Wayfarers for a short period of time thereafter. She decided to sell all of the inventory to Famous Barr (Macy’s) and she then placed the building for sale.On Jan. 28, 1970, I purchased the land consisting of the building situated on 1.972 acres from Mrs. Binkley and assumed the 99-year lease with Mr. Kurtz. I remodeled and upgraded both the interior and exterior of the building for Bilmac Press Inc. and to create additional office space for sub-leasing to the public. I then moved my printing and office products business from two adjacent properties located on Main Street in downtown Warrenton to the new Bilmac Plaza.After Mr. Kurtz passed away, I purchased this property from his son and daughter, therefore nullifying this lease.I sold my business and a portion of Bilmac Plaza on Dec. 30, 1986, to Mr. and Mrs. Dean Wilcoxin and I retired on that day. The Wilcoxins later sold their investment to Josephine Pilla and she was the last owner to my knowledge.The portion of the property that I retained, I later sold to US Bank upon which they built a new bank facility to serve Warrenton and the surrounding community.Submitted by William C. McCracken
A building on the corner of Highway 47 and Veterans Memorial Parkway in Warrenton was recently razed. The property was formerly known at the Bilmac Plaza. Submitted photo.
