Along Main Street: 220 W. 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: 220 W. Main
Date Built: 1902
Builder: Vard S. Raymond
1st business: H. W. Hakes, undertaker

There was a small building at this site by 1885. It was a saloon (1885) and George Fuller’s harness shop (1892-1900).

In 1902, Vard Raymond built a new, larger building to be a funeral parlor for H. W. Hakes. Hakes had been a traveling salesman for 20 years and now decided to change vocations. He bought McConnell Furniture and Undertaking out in April 1902, and immediately went to Embalming School. He earned his Embalming license and opened before the end of 1902. In 1906, Hakes leased the front of the building to U. B. Williams, Jeweler, and retained the rear and upstairs. Orlo Yeiter Furniture occupied the building from c. 1918 to 1927 and Brezina & Roth, then Roth Furniture, Mortuary & Ambulance from 1927-1937.

The building on the far right is 220 W. Main. Notice it had three floors.

Orlo Yeiter bagged a moose and hung it between his furniture Store and McQueen’s Chevrolet. The hunting party included Orlo Yeiter to the left of the moose and E. D. McQueen to the right. V.E. Ashley was the photographer.

F. J. Hosley purchased the building from Vard Raymond in 1920 and Al Hermans purchased it in 1944. Originally the building had three stories. A fire in January 1945 destroyed the top floor and it was never rebuilt.

At the time Mr. Hermans was getting ready to open a Gambles store in February. The fire raged up the elevator shaft setting the entire rear of the building ablaze. It was during a snowstorm and a strong wind from the East which made fighting the fire difficult. After 5 hours, the fire was put out. Smoke and water damaged the furniture stored on the 2nd and 3rd floors by Roth Furniture. Servicemen who were stationed overseas also had belongings stored here that were damaged. Neighboring businesses R. E. Springett and Hill’s Shoes and B. A. McQueen Garage sustained damage too.

This photo taken after the fire of 1945 destroyed the 3rd floor. Van’s Super Market had moved out and Al Hermans was trying to prepare for a Gambles store. The front reads “American Dealers M.F.G. Co.”

This building housed Gouls Self-Serve Grocery (1938) and Van’s Supermarket (1940s). Al Hermans repaired the building after the fire and opened his Gambles Store in December,1945, operating it for twenty years, until 1965. Next it was Pat & Neals’ Antiques (1971), Gray’s Carpet & Upholstery (1975-1986), Lowell Waterbeds (1985-1995), D & L Tax (2000), and The Lily Pad, a candle business, joined D & L in 2005. D & L Tax Service has continued at this location since 2000. There is an apartment on the 2nd floor.

Here’s what the building looked like as Gambles, which operated from 1945-1965.

And here’s 220 W. Main Street today: