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: 210 E. Main
Date Built: 1873
Builder: Sylvester Brower
1st business: Hunt and Hunter, Druggists
Leonard Hunt and Arvine Hunter formed a partnership as druggists in 1866 when they returned from the Civil War. Hunt and Hunter moved into their new building at 210 E. Main as soon as it was completed in 1873. From 1889 to 1895, it was A. P. Hunter & Son (H. H. Hunter) Druggists. From 1895-1901, it was L. H. Hunt & Co., Drugs and Stationery. A soda fountain was installed in 1896. The Lowell State Bank began in a corner of this drug store as a private bank. It moved down the block to the “Bank” building in 1891 after the National Bank folded.
The G. A. or G. A. R. used the 3rd floor as a meeting place for veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War) from 1885 to 1900. The Lowell G.A.R. was organized in 1882 and called Joseph Wilson Post No. 87 because Wilson and two of his sons had served in the Grand Army, Civil War. Some commanders of the post included: Lyman Sayles, Capt. Judd, Ben Morse, Len Hunt, William Eddy, S.P. Hicks, David Shear, William Andrews, Al Knee and Merritt Sayles. The Lowell G.A.R. disbanded in 1956 when the last member died.
The Woodmen, whose philosophy was “to help fellow man”, also met on the upper floors.
In 1901, Edgar Wadsworth purchased the building from the A. P. Hunter Estate.
The Lowell Ledger, one of Lowell’s weekly newspapers, was printed by F. M. Johnson from this building from 1907-1930. That’s his photo above, taken in 1893, the year he established The Lowell Ledger.
The above image shows F. M. Johnson, proprietor of The Lowell Ledger from 1893-1930, writing in the cozy corner of his office using the alias Uncle Marcus in 1928. By using this alias, Johnson could fearlessly champion his causes. According to Don MacNaughton, who was the printer of the Lowell Ledger for 39 years, “Johnson was a strict prohibitionist. His editorializing made people mad. That is why he kept the bat next to his desk. He was just a small little guy.”
Here’s the Lowell Citizen’s Band lined up on the sidewalk in front of the Lowell Ledger office, 1909. Claude Warner is identified in the 2nd row behind the bass drum. The sign above the door on the right reads, “Dr. Tousley” so his office must have been upstairs.
R. G. Jefferies took over the Ledger from 1930-1951 when the office was moved to its current location on S. Broadway. The Lowell Ledger office was on the 1st floor. Ola M. Johnson, daughter of Frank and Myrtilla, worked at the Ledger office as a “Public Stenographer and Typewriter.”
Three Island Lodge No. 809, Loyal Order of MOOSE, was organized in 1912 with 203 charter members. The MOOSE bought the building in 1916 and occupied the second and third floors. Their name was changed to “Lowell Lodge” in 1923. In 1965, the MOOSE Lodge expanded to the first floor of both 210 and 212 E. Main. They continued using the building until 2011.
In 2015, 210 E. Main and 212 E. Main were totally renovated. The Main Street BBQ restaurant moved into this double storefront in 2016.
Below is what the street looked like around 1906-1908. There is a banner advertising the Lowell Ledger hanging in the middle of the street, and the office at 210 E. Main is behind the poles on the right.
And here’s the view of that block today. 210 E. Main Street is the second tan building (to the right) in the center of the block.
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