Photo provided by Jonathan Wilson
For the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, an upcoming project in north Cadiz will provide safety improvements for area residents.
The project, however, comes at the cost of razing the former Wilson’s Market building, a Trigg County business that left a lasting legacy.
KYTC District One spokeswoman Carrie Dillard said that demolition of the building at the intersection of Kentucky 139/Jefferson Street and Kentucky 124/Cerulean Road will begin Monday. Dillard added that the over $872,000 project to reconstruct the intersection will be completed by Jim Smith Contracting Company, LLC.
During the demolition, minimal traffic impacts are expected. However, flaggers will be present to assist motorists when equipment enters or exits Kentucky 139.
According to a history article written by Kim Fortner, the building dates back to the early 1930s when O.C. Dyer built a Gulf gas station/service station. Fortner added that during that time, Kentucky was going through a process to reroute highways and construct new ones to make travel easier.
As the business evolved, more products were added, and shelves were constructed to accommodate the need for a grocery store in the area.
In 1952, Homer Wilson, a relative of Dyer, became his business partner. The store would be renamed Wilson’s Market in 1969, upon Dyer’s retirement.
Many locals fondly remember a deli counter where fresh sandwiches were made during lunch, deep coolers were filled with sodas, and shelves were filled with snacks, toys, various hardware items, and local wares.
Wilson would retire in 2002, as Wilson’s Market was the oldest “Mom and Pop” store in Trigg County.
In recent years, the building served as Debbie Kaye’s Restaurant. The restaurant closed in December 2024.
The Kentucky 139/Kentucky 124 realignment project is expected to be completed by November 15.
