06/15/2026
Yes, This Was Once the Original BabyLand General Clinic.
What got us really excited about this building was that it was once the Cabbage Patch Kid’s BabyLand General Clinic from 1981-1985. But also, the modest modernist architecture of 402 E. Howard (1959).
Modernist architecture can be flashy and dramatic with skyscrapers or landmark buildings, but more often than not, it's these smaller commercial structures where we see the first wave of modernism reach cities and towns across America.
During the mid-twentieth century, buildings were evolving from utilitarian spaces into “Machines for Selling,” the phrase popularized by the 1946 published work “Machines for Selling: the Modern Store Designs by Kawneer.”
Aluminum and steel framing systems allowed for large plate-glass storefront windows, blurring the line between sidewalk and store interior. Opaque-backed window displays disappeared, removing visual barriers so passersby had a wide view into the store. Windows could also be asymmetrical and/or angled to reduce glare while creating visual interest that drew shoppers into the store. Brick and stone facades provided texture and contrast against the sloped metal framing. The results were striking, a new way of design for the consumer.
We see all of these characteristics in this 1959 commercial building at 204 East Howard in Decatur. It was Lewis Feed Store from 1959-1967, Spencer Tires and Sales 1970-1981, and finally BabyLand General Clinic from 1981-1985.
