Cory Building to be restored

By Karen Dye

The historic Cory Building, located at 127 N. Main, could be considered one of the grand matriarchs in Newkirk’s National Register District. Constructed in 1903 by Florence Cory, it is one of a very few buildings in the district that had a woman who owned the lot and had a building constructed.
During her 119 years, she has been home to many and varied enterprises, including a department store, a tailor, an insurance company, a millinery, a dress shop, a barber shop and most recently Strandz and Tanz, a beauty and tanning salon, owned by  Kimberley Coury-Swopes.  This brings the grand matriarch full circle in her rich life, from Florence to Kimberly.  The community loves this beautiful building and it is hoped that one day soon she will be restored to her former grandeur.

With this goal in mind, another woman, Dawn Brakey has taken title to the Cory building with the singular goal to restore her, making her once again structurally sound, economically viable and a beautiful asset to the community.

“The past 16 years, I’ve had the honor of being the owner of the Cory building that my kids and I called it home and my salon.  It was a blessing to be part of the Newkirk community.” Coury-Swopes said. “This building holds lots of memories for myself and my kids.  Lots of love, laughter, friendship, many first and lasts that will last a lifetime.”

To be a part of  this transition of transferring the title to Dawn Brakey, Kimberly Coury-Swopes will be a part of history gone by and remembered as part of a new beginning .