CLAYTON — The town will buy a piece of Clayton’s history.
The Town Council on Dec. 16 agreed to pay $1 million for the former B.M. Robertson Mule Co. building at 114 S. Lombard St. The purchase includes a neighboring lot.
“This is an exciting step for our community,” Town Manager Rich Cappola said during the council meeting.
“This is an iconic building standing proudly at the corner of Second and Lombard streets,” he added. “It has served Clayton for over a hundred years, and now we have a unique opportunity to honor our past while building for our future.”
Battle Moore “Batt” Robertson built the brick building in 1914 to house mules, which he sold to farmers in the decades before tractors became commonplace. After their father’s death, brothers John and Sam Robertson ran the business, overseeing the transition from mules to machinery sales after World War II.
Clayton leaders envision the building as a public space for cultural events, community meetings, educational exhibits and the like. But first, the town will do its due diligence, Cappola said.