Ironton Ohio Business Blocks

IRONTON, OHIO, BUSINESS BLOCKS

Compiled by Sharon M. Kouns

BANK BLOCK

IR July 24, 1856 – J. Combs & Co., John Combs, and Jeremiah Davidson, book store, Bank block.

BERG’S BLOCK

BIXBY’S BLOCK

1914 picture – The Bixby Block, Third street near Center. F. A. Bixby, Jeweler, Established in 1854.
1R Nov. 12, 1885 – Esq. Belville has moved his office to the Bixby buildings near Esq. Polley’s office.

BLANDY’S BLOCK – 5th Street, later known as Davis Block…see Davis Block.

BLESSING’S BLOCK

BUCKEYE BLOCK

In existence 1852 – Oakes & Buskirk advertisement IR October 14, 1852, at No. 1 Buckeye Block.

CAMPBELL’S BLOCK

CENTER BLOCK

1855 – Center Block was built in the summer of 1855. S. Ward built Cohen & Brumberg’s and Lampman’s rooms. Barber & Edgerton the REGISTER portion, Phillip Barnhart, a Gallipolis jewelry peddler, Bixby’s part, John Newton built Neekamp’s and John Campbell, John P. Merrill and others, Burr’s bank. Mr. Bixby bought Barhart’s building before it was finished.

IR Dec. 29, 1859 – Esq. Polley has removed his office to the second story of Centre Block, upper end.
IR February 2, 1860 – Removal – Henry Wilson – has removed his Saddle and Harness Establishment to the Centre Block, one door below E. Bixby’s jewelry store, just above the Railroad Depot, where he will be happy to see his old customers…
IR January 11, 1866 – Neal and Dean have removed their Law Office to Center Block, over E. Ward’s store.
IR April 24, 1856 – For a very pleasant store room, see that of Ward, the upper end of the new block above the Railroad. The painting is in excellent style, done under the direction of Thos. H. Parker.]
IR March 16, 1871 – Temperance Hall, 3rd story of Alderman’s Building, Center Block.
IR June 11, 1873 – The Enta Iron Works have occupied their new office in Center block.
IR September 9, 1875 – S. Ward has rented his corner store room, Center Block, to Henry Clark and James Small, who will take possession on the 20th of this month. Messrs. Clark & Small will carry the Dry Goods business in all its branches. Mr. Ward will wholly retire from business and will move to Indiana. He has been in the dry goods business here for over twenty years.
IR Aug. 1877? – Clark & Small have dissolved. They divide their stock. Mr. Clark removes his share to the room occupied by Upp’s shoe business and takes the lower side of the room. Mr. Upp keeps the upper side of his stock. Mr. Small continues the dry goods trade at the old stand.
IR May 10, 1883 – The sign of “W. S. Forgey, Attorney at Law,” adorned the lower end of Centre block until today, when a Second-st tore it down. Merchant out of respect for the deceased.
IR October 6, 1887 – Thos. Lewis has moved his store to Centre block.

CHILD’S BLOCK – Built for Lawrence Mill Co. in 1853. Childs was one of the builders of the Lawrence Mill.

CLARK BLOCK – was built in 1905

IR March 23, 1905 – Bids Awarded – For C. B. Clark’s New Business Block on Center Street. – The bids were made late yesterday afternoon for the new block to be built by C. B. Clark to replace the building recently destroyed by fire. – The block is to be a two-story building as high as Mr. Clark’s oil building, making a solid block. The new building will be built of fine pressed brick, as used in Hon. A. R. Johnson’s residence on Park Avenue. The arches of the new building are to be trimmed with dark Orchard Knob brick. – Cooke Bros. has the contract (I do not have the end). [ C. B. Clark was the son of Dennis Hayes and Sarah Bowen Clark -smk]

COMMERCIAL BLOCK

IR April 27, 1871 – Commercial Block is to have another story one of these days.

DAVIS BLOCK – 5th Street, first known as “Blandy’s Block, erected in 1853

DAVIS CITY HALL and BLOCKS to Railroad street were built in 1865, just after the burning of that square.

DEMPSEY’S BLOCK – It was built in 1871.

IR July 26, 1871 – Albert Mackey fell from the 3rd story of Dempsey’s new building upon the joists of the 2nd last Saturday and fractured two ribs…
IR August 17, 1871 – Another story to the building adjoining Dempsey’s would have materially added to the beauty of the whole block.
IR December 28, 1871 – Splinters. – The Bookbindery is to be moved to Dempsey’s Block.
IR February 20, 1873 – W. H. Leete opened a law office in Dempsey block. Mr. Porter occupies the same quarters.

ENTERPRISE BLOCK– was built in 1869.

Enterprise Block was built in 1869 (see Aug. 1884)
IJ June 4, 1873 – Mr. Sharp will occupy the room now fitting up in Enterprise Block between Hill Bros.’ notion store and Johnson & Gates’ grocery.
IR October 15, 1873 – The office of the “Hildist-Bund,” a German benevolent institution, is in Enterprise Block, Mr. Wiener, agent.
IR Aug. 1884 – The Enterprise Mfg. Co. has changed hands once more. J. G. Apele is now the owner, having bought the entire concern.
IR June 10, 1886 – Mr. Taylor, formerly of Pittsburgh, intends to open a new shoe store in Enterprise block next Saturday.
IR May 26, 1887 – The Iron City Atheneum, occupying rooms in Enterprise block, added a piano to the varied furnishings of its apartments last Saturday. Fourteen young men now belong to the organization. They have upholstered furniture, carpets, stringed instruments, pictures, & billiard tables, and gymnasium apparatus to suit them pleasantly, whittling away their leisure hours.
IR August 23, 1887 – Anderson & Miller have removed their law office to Enterprise block, over Hill’s store.
IR September 23, 1899 – ENTERPRISE BLOCK Has Been Purchased by Mr. F. L. McCauley and Mr. Stephen Englehart (need to copy)

EXCHANGE BLOCK – was built in 1853

IR November 29, 1866 – A part of the pavement in front of Exchange Block is to be laid with flagstone immediately …
IR October 10, 1872 – Mr. G. Frampton has bought from Jos. Davidson, the latter’s business house, in the Exchange Block.
IR March 20, 1879 – Death. – Martin Gillen, one of the oldest citizens of Ironton, died at his residence on the 13th…..Mr. Gillen was born in Beaver county, Penn., in 1812. He came to Ironton on November 1, 1849, and was consequently one of the first citizens. He went into the furniture business on the corner of Third and Lawrence and moved there when the Exchange block was built. He retired from business about ten years ago… He joined the Methodist Church in 1840, … His funeral took place at Spencer Chapel last Sunday morning.

GUTBERLET’S BLOCK

IR December 4, 1873 – In the Center, most of the business portion of Ironton, there is “a ratty” old house known as Gutberlet’s Block.
IR March 5, 1874 – Geo. Schachleiter has purchased the Gutberlet property on 3rd st. And will sometime in the future erect a substantial business house there.

HAYWARD BLOCK – was built in 1877

IR March 22, 1877 – Work on Hayward’s new business house commences next week.
IR July 21, 1887 – A Skeleton. Ghastly Find of Excavators. An Explanation Reviving the Scenes of Other Days. – Last Saturday afternoon, some of the workmen engaged in excavating the foundations of Hayward’s Block came upon the bones of a human skeleton… The point of discovery was at the north corner of the foundation, close to Rachel creek, and twelve feet below the surface…It was a sensation for the hour, and the grim fragments were removed to Hayward’s store and became the subject of many conjectures until somebody remembered a skeleton Dr. Cory once had in a stable that stood over the spot where the bones were found, which held to clear away the mystery.
The doctor had a small drug store in a frame building on the corner where Hayward’s grocery now stands. The post office was there also, and Dr. Cory was the postmaster. In the early sixties, he sold the property to Wm. Gonder, and for many years it was occupied by Gonder’s Bakery. Ed Bixby viewed the grim remains and laughed as he recalled how he used to climb with Will Gonder to the loft of the old stable where the skeleton was kept in a box behind the ladder…
The reporter sought out Dr. Cory soon after and asked him to give a history of the skeleton. … “Yes, I can tell you all about it, but I have seen the days when I would not. The skeleton is that of a man found drowned in the river, whom E. J. Folwell, who was then a township trustee, helped me carry up the bank from near the East Ironton landing over 25 years ago. The corpse was past recognition, and we buried it on the lot on upper 2nd street where Mr. Horschel lives.
John McMahon owned the property then. We had a great time keeping the matter quiet but succeeded admirably. When decomposition had progressed far enough, I dug up the bones and put them in a box in my stable, but never put them together. … Azro used to get the boys in the stable and have lectures on the skeleton. He was reported to me once for frightening some of them with the skull and a lighted candle.
I’ve got the same skull yet, I believe, out in my stable on the hill. Still, the rest of the skeleton I neglected to take with me when I moved from 3d and Centre, and when I inquired for the bones sometime afterward, I was informed by Gonder’s folks that the boys had buried them… you are the first person, besides ‘Lish Folwell, who ever knew where I got them. They were reinterred very near the spot where the workmen disturbed their long sleep.
IR November 10, 1887 – J. F. Peters and the Lawrence Furnace Co. have an office over Hayward’s store, the former having resumed his insurance business.
IR October 16, 1890 – Norton & Co. advertisement… H. E. Norton & Co. Hayward’s Bldg. 3rd-st.
IR April 28, 1892 – Dr. Keller has rented an office in Hayward’s block.
IR February 11, 1904 – Herbert Winkner will occupy one of Hayward’s rooms on Center street with his commission business.
PHLC – picture of Hayward Block. hird and Center streets.
IR October 17, 1895 – Ad – The Davidson Business College and School of Shorthand, Hayward building, 3rd, and Center Sts.

IRONTON RAILROAD BLOCK

IR November 19, 1896 – J. L. Anderson rented the third story of the Iron Railroad block for his home and office. Three large rooms are heated by steam and provided with all conveniences. He intends to have a front and back office combined with a sitting and bedroom. If there is any glory in solitude, Mr. Anderson proposes to get a share of it.
IR August 1, 1889 – the death of Mrs. Juliet Savage Anderson, wife of J. L. Anderson, at her home in Ironton…
IR October 21, 1909 – Death of Louis H. Anderson at French Lick Springs, Ind., … son of Atty. J. L. Anderson…(J. L. had remarried by this time. he was the son of the first wife)]
PHLC – picture of Detroit, Toledo, and Ironton Railroad office at Second and Railroad streets in Ironton.

JENKIN’S BLOCK – was built in 1851

IR February 23, 1871 – The widow of Gen’l Jenkins has entered suit for dower in the buildings in Rodgers’ block, owned by the Second National Bank, and {Jeremiah} Davidson and Carlile. note from smk – His widow married George Curtis Brown; another article said she was suing for a dower in the First National Bank property. interesting that the widow sued for the dower of the property in 1871, but the children didn’t bring suit until 1882 see below]
IR July 30, 1891 – The lower building in Jenkins’ block has been declared unsafe, and D. W. Richards, as agent for the Jones heirs, is having a new front and sills put in.

KERR’S BLOCK

KETTER BLOCK – Built in 1880

IR January 15, 1880 – Ketter’s Building. – Mr. Ketter’s building to be erected, corner 3rd and Adams, will be a two-story brick, 44 x 54, cellar under all. It is to be a fine building and will cost between $4,000 and $5,000. He contracts have been let to the following persons: Carpenter work, T. R. Hall; brickwork, W. C. Rice at $6.00 per thousand in the wall; stonework, free _____ Reitz & Bode, Portsmouth; tin work, J. A. Witman, painting, W. H. Bowen; plastering, John Jones. The bids on the carpenter work were as follows: Geo. Hamilton – (need a better copy of the paper for figures), Geo. Haines – J. R. Thomas – J. B. Jarvis – W. E. R. Kemp, John Porter, T. R. Hall
IR February 5, 1880 – The buildings at the corner of Adams and Third-sts. are being removed to give place for Ketter’s new building.
1914 picture – The Ketter Buggy Company Third and Ellison Avenue. They are manufacturers of Buggies and Spring Wagons.

MCCAULLEY’S BLOCK – It may have been the Enterprise Block

September 2323, 1899 – ENTERPRISE BLOCK Has Been Purchased by Mr. F. L. McCauley and Mr. Stephen Englehart (need to copy)
1914 picture – The McCauley Block, Second and Center Streets. . L. McCauley, Ironton’s largest Furniture dealer.
1927 publication – McCauley Furniture and Rug House. Third and Center streets.

MERCHANT’S BLOCK – was built in 1872July 4ly 4, 1872 – The new business block of Steece, Wilson and Bartram, and Peters will be called Merchant’s Block. September 4t. 4, 1872 – Dots. – The merchants of Center Block have an easy time of afternoons sitting in the shade, watching the new Merchant’s Block across the street rising upwards – and wishing it was theirs. October 17. 17, 1872 -The stone front to Merchant’s Block is completed.October 31. 31, 1872 – Mortar beds surround Merchant’s block.May 1ay 1, 1879 – The three inside business houses of Merchant’s Block were offered at Sheriff’s sale last Saturday. hey were bidders present to take them in singly, but the Sheriff, on instructions, offered them and the old flour mill on Front-st. Together, and hence there were no bidders. The property is again advertised. March 17. 17, 1881 – Dr. ARNOLD has opened an office in Merchants Block. February 16. 16, 1888 – The Great Fire. – Two Business Blocks in Ruins – The Most Destructive Fire Ironton Ever Had. Incidents, Losses, Prospects, and PersonalsJune 7une 7, 1888 – Merchants Block – W. E. R. Kemp has the contract for rebuilding Merchant’s Block. Our store buildings will have no connections and firewalls to separate the roofs so that space will be left between the new buildings and the Opera House block. Each store, except where the stone front stands, will have cast and galvanized iron fronts, large plate glass windows, and recess entrances. His design provides a grand center staircase in the back of each store room except the corner room and big skylights over the stair landing. The arrangement is that each store shall occupy both the first and second Floor. The corner building will have two double offices on the second floor, with an entrance on Center street.

MORRIS BLOCK – It was built in 1873 and burned down in 1892.

IR Mar. 16, 1871 – Dr. Jona Morris intends tMarch 16 a two-story brick business house on Centre between Third and Fourth-sts. t will contain two store-rooms.
IJ Oct. 13, 1887 – We observe that Dr. Jona Morris has just completed a sidewalk on Centre Street of 225 feet in length, which is being extended up Fourth. The city needs about 10,000 more feet of such walks before the wet weather sets in. …
Ironton Semi-weekly Tribune, Feb. 3, 1935 excerpt obituary of Dr. D. C. (DeWitt Clinton) Wilson – After completing his medical course Dr. Wilson located in Ironton, and for many years his office was at the corner of Fourth and Center streets in what was then known as the Morris building. He was associated in medicine with Dr. Jonathan Morris, his brother-in-law, who married Dr. Wilson’s favorite sister. From this location, Dr. Wilson moved to a smaller office building that stood where Dr. George Hunter’s office is now located and later to the brick building on the corner now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. John Rist and his family. Finally, Dr. Wilson built a palatial residence at the corner of Sixth and Adams and had his offices in the home building until his removal from Ironton….]
IR Aug. 14, 1873 –The occupants for Morris’ new block are Mrs. Rodgers and Mrs. Drury, both millinery, and W. H. Sharp, groceries.
IR Dec. 2, 1875 – Mrs. Rodgers sold her millinery establishment to L. Herbert.
IR Feb. 10, 1887 – W. T. McKnight as Assistant P.M. [post master] to go into the furniture business with his father, the ex-Recorder. They propose to open out at once in Morris’s block. Will Ellsberry of Brown Co. takes Mr. McKnight’s place at the post office.
IR Jan. 14, 1892 – Morris Block Destroyed … On the 4th, January 14, Morris’s block was extinguished before it did a great deal of harm. n the 8th, the fire broke out again and destroyed the block.
IR Jan. 14, 1892 – Morris block fired died hard. The firemen threw water on January 14, last Monday, while it was raining.
IR Jan. 21, 1892 – Dr. Morris has not decided what he will do about rebuilding his block. The ruins are still smoking.
IR Jan. 21, 1892 – Squire Henry’s office, crushed by the fall of Morris block, is January 21econstructed for his occupancy.
IR June 8, 1882 – Important Sale. – At the Sheriff sales last Saturday, T. B. Ball purchased the brick business houses belonging to the Morris estate, lying immediately north of the Iron Railroad, including the rooms formerly occupied by Kirker & Otten’s drug store, the one now occupied by Silliman’s queensware store, and all the property, lying between the railroad and T. B. Ball’s line and between Second and Third streets; price paid $6,666. Aaron Winters bought the triangle where his drugstore is for $3100.
IR Jan. 28, 1892 – Insurance. – Dr. Morris gets $6477.10 for his loss on the Morris block. He is reached by making an estimate of the cost of rebuilding the block and deducting amounts for depreciation and the portion of the block still standing. Weiler’s loss has been adjusted at $344.72, and E. Bixby, for his loss to Squire Henry’s office by falling walls, gets $162.73.
IR Feb. 11, 1892 – Workmen are engaged in removing the remaining building of Morris block.

February 11OUSE BLOCK – Masonic Temple

IR Feb. 5, 1880 – We learn that there is a vague, indefinite talk among the Masonic brothers of erecting a building to contain store rooms, Masonic hall, and Opera house, on their lots, corner of Third and Centre-sts. It is a commendable idea and should their talk develop into definite plans. hey should, and, we doubt not, would receive substantial encouragement from the citizens in general.
IR Mar. 10, 1881 – The Masonic Fraternity of this city has resolved to erect a magnificent opera house on 3rd Sts. the 1st Floor will be for stores, the 2nd for Opera, and the 3rd for their Hall. Plans are now being perfected.
IR Apr. 28, 1881 – The bids for building the Masonic Opera House were opened last Monday. Eighteen bids and April 28 of Enterprise Manufacturing Co (Mrsers. BARROW, WILLIAMS & THOMAS) were found to be the lowest bid of $14 256 for the building complete.
IR Feb. 10, 1887 – When the Masonic fraternity built the opera house block, there was a bond debt of $20,000 February 10property. Now, the indebtedness is only $12,000, a $1000 bond having been redeemed a few days ago.
IR July 28, 1887 – Dr. J. M. White has rented the rooms in the Opera House block that Mack Davidson vacated on July 28 to move his office there.
IR Feb. 23, 1888 – The firefighters were paid $163.70 for services at the Opera House fire.
IR Apr. 19, 1888 – A worker in the Opera House was standing in a window opening catching brick when he lost his foothold and fell backward toward the sidewalk. He made a desperate lunge and saw himself on the sill but was bruised considerably.
IR June 28, 1888 – They are now working on the Opera House auditorium. Laters are busy on the roof.
IR AugusJune 28888 – B. V. Hicks is frescoing the Opera House in elegant style. He will put the finishing touch on August 23 freize outside the building under the cornice. The cement work will be done up in fancy scrolls. The words “Masonic Temple” stand out in raised letters on the front.
IR April 7, 1892 – This Wednesday afternoon, there is a Hamlet matinee at the Masonic, with Miss Dudley as Ophelia tonight. Mr. Hennig as Richard and Miss Dudley as Queen Anne. Go and see it.
IWR Jan. 26, 1917 – Bank Leases Quarters. – At the meeting of the directors of the Iron City Savings Bank Tuesday evening, the least January 26he entire center street frontage of the new Masonic Temple was signed. The bank will occupy these spacious quarters making one of the centers of banking rooms in this section of the country. Just what the bank plans to do in connection with the big increase in their floor space is not announced. Until Mr. Egerton, the cashier and acting bank head of the banks, says that the bank will soon announce a new feature of its progressive policy that he feels will make a hit with the Ironton People.

RODGER’S BLOCK – Second National Bank was built-in 1853 by Henry Rogers, A. P. Kouns, and Drake Murdock.

IR May 6, 1869 – Bank Building – The upper end of Rodger’s Block will shortly be torn down to make way for the splendid structure in contemplation. W. E. R. Kemp has the contract to build the whole thing and is rapidly perfecting his arrangements. (See also lawsuit of children of Confederate General A. G. Jenkins – Jenkins Block above – did it become Rodger’s Block? – smk)

STEECE BLOCK – Built in 1870

IR July 7, 1870 – Mr. James Haskell, of Ashland, has rented a store room in Steece’s new block and will open a store there.
IR Feb. 2, 1871 – New Buildings. – S. B. Steece intends to duplicate his brick block in the Spring. And immediately above McQuigg & Dempsey will erect a large business house. See Merchant’s Block.

SYNDICATE BLOCK – It was built in 1887.

IR Oct. 13, 1887 – The new block now building on the corner of Second and Olive is to be called the Syndicate block.
October 1327, 1887 – Shannon & Miller have the contract for painting Syndicate Block.
IR Dec. 22, 1887 – Syndicate block is finished and handsome. Now, but wait till you see the fine roof and the tower. The City Engineer has nice quarters in Syndicate Block.

UNION BLOCK – It was built in 1850 but was rebuilt the same year.

WARD’S BLOCK

IR Mar. 26, 1891 – Hugh Russell has rented Brumberg’s old stand in Ward’s block and will remove his saddle and harness establishment there next week. It will make an attractive stand.
IR June 9, 1887 – Hugh Russell is an agent for a contrivance to put on a buggy axle to show how far it has sled. He’s a friend of the liveryman.

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