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 W. Main
Built: 1867
Built as 2-story block with five separate buildings
This is the easternmost building of the five building-row forming the center of the block known as the “Union Block.” Luther F. Severy opened a Tin, Copper and Sheet-Iron Jobbing Shop here in 1890. Eave Troughs and Furnace Work were a specialty. J. M. Hutchinson purchased this building after a fire damaged his printing equipment at his former location on the 2nd floor of Train’s Opera House where he had been since the 1870s.
In the photo above, Cora Adams, left, is representing Luther Severy’s Tin Shop in the Businessmen’s Carnival which was held at Train’s Opera House in 1890. She has items made of tin attached to her dress. Mary Wright, right, is representing J. E. Lee’s Meats with sausages attached to her dress.
This became The Lowell Journal printing office in 1910 until 1932 when he retired and suspended publication. Mr. Hutchinson continued at this location as a job printing business.
In 1933, fire broke out in the partition separating the barber shop and the printing shop and gutted the building. All of the equipment in Harvey Haysmer’s Barber shop on the east half of the building were destroyed. The printing equipment of Hutchinson was destroyed as well as the contents of his living quarters on the 2nd floor. Damage was also done to machinery in the carpenter shop of J. C. Hatch, located on the 2nd floor at the rear.
The building was sold to the Michigan Masonic Lodge who had it extensively remodeled in 1941. The improvements included a new storefront, strengthening of the foundation walls, a new roof and remodeling of the second floor for living quarters.
Rittenger Insurance Service was here from 1943-1958; Richmond Real Estate, 1959; Sortex, 1960s; Hallmark and Story & Thorne Mobil Oil, 1969-1971; Century 21 Office of Reedy Real Estate, c. 1975-1985; W. J. Wheeler CPA; and the Flat River Antique Mall had expanded to this building by 1998.
In the photo below, 210 W. Main was the 1st building to the right of Train’s Opera House. On this photo in 1908, it is labeled Pool Room.
And here’s what 210 W. Main Street looks like today:
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