E.C. Barton and Co., headquartered in Jonesboro, Ark., has purchased 74 West Building Supply and Home Center in Cape Girardeau, from Herb Annis and Gary Helwege.

Niel Crowson, president and chief executive officer of E.C. Barton, announced the purchase of the Cape Girardeau company Tuesday. The 74 West Building Supply and Home center at 4680 state Highway 74.

Greg Hufford, who joined Barton in 1992, is manager of the Cape Girardeau store.

Barton, the oldest employee-owned company of its kind in Arkansas, operates 24 Barton retail stores in Missouri -- including Cape Girardeau and Sikeston -- and Arkansas.

The company, which employs about 400 people, also operates 18 discount stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and a wholesale distribution company and a brokerage company in Jonesboro.