Along Main Street: 208 E. Main Street

The Lowell Area Historical Museum is taking us on a stroll along Main Street and sharing the history of buildings in Lowell’s historic downtown. To learn more about Lowell history, visit the museum website to explore its collection of local artifacts and records.

Address: 208 E. Main
Date Built: 1873
Builder: Sylvester Brower
1st business: Nathan L. McCarty Grocery

Nathan L. McCarty was an ambitious young man. He joined the gold rush to California via covered wagon and afoot, being one of the original forty-niners. He returned to Lowell in 1866 and established a grocery store. He had this building built for his grocery store in 1873. He was a Mason and Knights Templar, and in the photo below, McCarty’s is the storefront with the huge American flag.

In 1877, he met with a serious accident –He “was suddenly thrown from his sulky (2-wheeled cart with a seat) while driving around a street corner and his right leg catching in the wheel, he was dragged some distance on the ground. Both bones of his leg, just below the knee, were badly broken.”

In 1878, due to feeble health, he sold his business to his younger brother Charles McCarty and W. J. Young. Nathan died at the age of 43. Charles McCarty purchased the mansion on top of Reservoir Hill for Nathan McCarty’s widow and family of 4 children; it was torn down in 1935. Charles continued to operate the store at 208 E. Main until 1897 when he moved down the block to 216 E. Main.

McCarty grocery was followed by other grocery stores including Verne Chubb, Grocery and Glen E. Denise, Grocery.

Bakeries were the next occupants. F. E. Howk, operated Howk’s Bakery from 1918-1925. A. K. Bjork operated the Mity Nice Bakery; R. A. Stuart Bakery – 1927; Clay’s Bakery; Frank Dettling’s Bakery.

In 1931, W.E. Hall leased this building for an implement business. Doors of 9-foot width were put in the rear and the elevator was equipped for electrical operation. He continued his feed, egg and cream business in the same location as before, the two stores being only 4 doors apart.

In 1932, Kropf’s Cream Station and Implement Store, owned by Delbert Kropf and L. W. Rutherford opened here. Massey-Harris farm machinery such as forks, rakes, hoes, shovels, planters, lawn mowers, oil, grease, cultivators, and manure spreaders were sold as well as the buying and selling of cream and eggs. Kropf’s was followed by The Lowell Creamery which was first owned by Ed Compagner (1934-1946) and next by Newton Grimwood (1946-1951). In 1951, Grimwood merged his business with Highland Hill Dairy becoming a partner with Arie Leeman until 1954 when he sold his interest to Arie’s brother Peter Leeman.

“No Clue is found in the disappearance of Lowell Creamery Proprietor Newton Grimwood” (age 28), reads a sub headline in the Grand Rapids Herald in June, 1947. Grimwood was injured when several bricks from the creamery building fell, one of them striking him on the head. He had been standing on a ladder repairing a sign at the rear of the building. He then told his wife that he would hitch-hike to Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids to have x-rays of his injury taken. Peter Speerstra gave him a lift as far as Ada; after that his trail was lost. The wife says the local physician feels sure Grimwood is a victim of amnesia.

“Lost Lowell Man Found” nine weeks later. Grimwood walked into the Monmouth, Illinois, police station, put his wallet on the counter and fainted. After he was revived, he seemed well, although in a weakened condition. His father picked him up and returned him to his wife and two small sons in Lowell. He had no memory of what he had done during those missing 9 weeks but he had callouses on his hands so perhaps farmwork.

In 1953, Leona Borgerson opened a retail antique glass and China store here. She named it the Cranberry Urn. Leona began by operating a wholesale antique glass business out of her home in the 1930s. This was a high-volume business. By the 1950s, she was receiving and selling a box-car load of antique glass from Europe each month. Viola Murray, Borgerson’s manager, purchased the business after her death, 1975-2001.

Julie DeVoe purchased the building in 2002 and opened her jewelry store. Chimera Design remains a vibrant part of downtown.

Here’s what 208 E. Main Street looked like during a flood sometime between 1901-1905. It is the second door from the right.

And here’s what it looks like now: