So, what was this place?
We know that in 1878, the property lots were sold to Mr. Raney and Mr. Sheal for $4,575.00, and they began enlarging it into a business house. It sold again in 1919 for $100,000.00 in what was the largest real estate deal in Jefferson County! The building has been home to over 75 different businesses!
The first floor became McClanes Grocery, Dever's art store ($.25 picture frames!), the "When" store (it featured coats and capes from New York, and advertised that their merchandise was made in FACTORIES!), a Dollar Store (1920), Isaly's Ice Cream (1936), and eventually Frank & Jerry's Appliances (1970).
The second floor original had a separate entrance and stairs (you can still see the line on the downstairs north wall). It was divided into six business office rooms and ad different tenants in each, including: The Clover Club (high society young men in 1890), hairdressers, coffee & teas, a Christmas shoppe, the IRS offices (1920), the electric Co., a watchmaker, and optician.
The third floor ballroom was originally finished around 1900 as the Modern Woodmen Fraternal Hall. It remained this until 1920 when it became the Florentine Ballroom, home at Mr. A.T. Loggie's dance studio. It was "the" place for high school dances through the 1960s.
Around 1972, the building was essentially closed with only sporadic businesses. We purchased the building two years ago to create a home for our Nutcracker Village, popcorn company, and coffeehouse. Our family has spent two long, full years restoring the original wood windows on the front and replaced and re-glazed 154 pieces of glass. We recently replaced the damaged upper cornice on the front facade with a historical reproduction, We hope you enjoy our space as much as we do!
The first floor became McClanes Grocery, Dever's art store ($.25 picture frames!), the "When" store (it featured coats and capes from New York, and advertised that their merchandise was made in FACTORIES!), a Dollar Store (1920), Isaly's Ice Cream (1936), and eventually Frank & Jerry's Appliances (1970).
The second floor original had a separate entrance and stairs (you can still see the line on the downstairs north wall). It was divided into six business office rooms and ad different tenants in each, including: The Clover Club (high society young men in 1890), hairdressers, coffee & teas, a Christmas shoppe, the IRS offices (1920), the electric Co., a watchmaker, and optician.
The third floor ballroom was originally finished around 1900 as the Modern Woodmen Fraternal Hall. It remained this until 1920 when it became the Florentine Ballroom, home at Mr. A.T. Loggie's dance studio. It was "the" place for high school dances through the 1960s.
Around 1972, the building was essentially closed with only sporadic businesses. We purchased the building two years ago to create a home for our Nutcracker Village, popcorn company, and coffeehouse. Our family has spent two long, full years restoring the original wood windows on the front and replaced and re-glazed 154 pieces of glass. We recently replaced the damaged upper cornice on the front facade with a historical reproduction, We hope you enjoy our space as much as we do!