Parked outside of Paul Porter’s 140-year-old building is his electric car.
Not that I expected a horse and buggy. But the contrast reminded me of the challenge of bridging the physical and philosophical divides between eras.
“We enjoy being technologically forward. Our goal is to keep this building relevant for future generations,” Porter said as he gently bounced his 3-month-old daughter, Billie Jean, on his lap.
Porter is referring to he and his wife, Hayley Derryberry’s goal of installing an electric charging station for electric vehicles on the sidewalk west of the old Shannon Hardware building on the northwest corner of the square.
Porter plans to address Iola Council members Monday night to request permission to install the charging station.
The couple bought the building shortly after moving to Iola in 2021. For Porter it’s a return home. Derryberry hails from Tennessee.
The couple also is converting the building’s upstairs into five apartments that they intend to use as short-term stays. Two apartments are just about ready with access from a newly created entrance just to the east of the building’s main entrance on Jackson Avenue.
Hayley Derryberry at her bread baking workshop in Kentucky
a few years back. COURTESY PHOTO
The ambitious couple have pretty much gutted the building. Their dreams include a café, Derryberry Breadery, that features Hayley’s incredible breads. The kitchen is pretty much complete including enormous ovens shipped from Germany. Two garage doors on either side of the entrance will open to an expansive patio allowing for indoor/outdoor dining.
Once the summertime municipal band performances begin across the street, it’ll be a perfect venue to have a cool brew.
PORTER, owner of Big Square Media, said he feels energized about the investment from what he regards as a widespread momentum to improve the community.
“It’s happening faster than I thought it would,” he said, crediting an influx of new people in town.
“We’re all dreamers, trying to do stuff, especially around the square. We see the potential.”
It also requires handling a fair amount of stress.
“We’re risking everything, so we’re going all in,” Porter said of the commitment.
“This is where we live, and this is where we want to stay. We want to make Iola as good as possible for everyone, including us, our children, and generations to come.
