Few things do my heart more good than to watch spirited participation and debate on what Ed Waggener would have truly enjoyed--the history of Columbia and Adair County! There have been some great and thoughtful remarks and our communal love for our history continues to thrive in this modern moment.

As to the little canine, my thought is that in the era of 1922 to 1930, the time when this photo had to have been made, there was not much vehicular traffic on the Square. At a quiet time, someone made this great photograph. The dog, I think, may have been an incidental addition. He or she appears to be lying in the dirt--not much gravel I'd wager--with the right front leg extended, as dogs often do.

As to the year range for the photo, I would hazard closer to 1930 than 1922 as the new Bank of Columbia building already shows some signs of dirt and wear along the walls, just above the side walk. Oh well, just my thought, but it is a great photo!

And the little shop to the right, the Maupin building, had an interesting history as explained in several comments, particularly Lee Ann Dohoney Sullivan's. --Mike