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: 214 W. Main (current address 216 W. Main Unit 2)
Built: 1867
Builder: John Giles
1st business: John Giles & Co. Grocery
John Giles & Co. Grocery was in this block, the Union block, prior to 1883 when he built 223 W. Main across the street and moved there. He is listed in this, the Union block in 1870, 1875, and 1881. Because he built this building, we believe this is where he was located and was probably the building’s first business.
Dexter Look operated a drug store in this building for 50 years from 1882 until 1932. During the first four years, he had a partner and operated under the name Yeiter (J. B.) and Look; then the business became D. G. Look Drugs. The pharmacy was affiliated with the Rexall brand and advertised drugs, books, wallpapers, and paints.
Dexter G. Look began his career working for his older half-brother, J. Q. Look, who operated a drug store directly across the street. J. Q. retired in 1888 but his drugstore continued as W. S. Winegar Drugs.
Dexter Look went on to serve in local politics as well as five terms as a State Representative. He had the freedom to serve because he had hired Verne Ashley as pharmacist. Ashley was affiliated with Look’s Drug store for 20 years. Look was the father of Helen Look Dailey who bequeathed her inheritance to the City of Lowell.
The Citizen’s Telephone Switchboard was on the 2nd floor; Michigan Bell and Citizen’s Telephone Companies merged in 1923 so that it became Michigan Bell Telephone Company. After the merger, a person could call anyone who had a telephone not only those who had telephones from the same company. In the photo above, notice the telephone cables enter/exit from the window between the 3rd and 4th storefronts. Entry to the switchboard upstairs is from the door on the street below.
In the image above, you can see all of the telephone poles in town. In 1912, Citizen’s Telephone Company laid wires underground from Hudson St. to the old Baptist church so they would be able to pave Main Street.
In 1921, the operators were rescued from the smoke of a fire in their building but returned an hour later to resume telephone service. The operators were important to the town. They knew of the emergencies and summoned the doctor, police or firemen. Michigan Bell erected a new building on N. Hudson in 1952 in preparation for the new do-it-yourself system. The automatic dialing system went into operation in 1953 making the switchboard and “call girls” obsolete.
J. M. Hilderley purchased Look’s drug store in 1932. It was Ken’s Billiard Hall in 1943. The House of Townsend occupied the three adjoining storefronts (212, 214, and 216 W. Main) from the 1950s to 1981. In 1987, it became part of the Flat River Antique Mall. Today the Lowell Hemp Co wellness center, established in 2011, offers CBD, bath and body, flower, edibles, lotion, bath bombs and soap.
Here’s what the building looked like in 1961:
And here’s 214 W. Main Street (now part of No. 216) today:
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