Along Main Street: 301 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: 301 E. Main
Date Built: Built 1909-10
Architect: George L. Stone
Builder: Wright & Pratt of Ionia
Building name Lowell City Hall

The Pullen barn was built in 1867 and was later connected to the brick building to the east of it via a double door on the 2nd floor leading to the William Pullen family home. In 1873, Wooding and Fuller’s draught horse and harness business was in the barn. From 1874-1893, Robertson & Son Boot and Shoe operated a shoe store opening onto Main Street with a cobbler shop behind it. Next a corner of it was a barber shop and the remainder the Livery of D. H. Watters.

This is Monroe Street during the Flood of 1904. You can see a portion of the Pullen barn building on the right which existed prior to the City Hall.

The wooden Pullen barn burned to the ground in March 1909. Pullen had smoke and water damage in his apartment but was able to save his 3 horses, a cow, fat steer and vehicles. By July, the Village Council had plans to build a city hall and had bonded the village for $13,500. The plans included: a council room, vault for village documents, committee room, library room, toilets, band room, Fire Dept., hose tower, jail with four cells in the rear; on the 2nd floor: an auditorium with 500 seats plus additional seating in a gallery at the south end, a stage, property room, dressing rooms, and kitchen.

The photo above shows the cornerstone ceremony for the planned Lowell City Hall was held on Oct. 12, 1909, amidst rain and snow.

In spite of fierce wind and snow, a huge procession of people paraded down Main Street to the site headed by the Lowell Band. Groups walking were: Masons, Oddfellows, Grand Army, Maccabees, Woodmen, Foresters, Eastern Star, Rebekahs, Lady Maccabees and finally the school children (schools were closed for the day). The copper box that was buried contained lists of people in all the then current organizations, churches and schools plus a copy of the Lowell Journal and the Lowell Ledger.

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The City Hall was dedicated on June 2, 1910, with much fanfare. Palms and ferns were rented for the occasion. Those posing in front were the Village Council: D. G. Look, W. S. Winegar, J. A. Mattern, A. H. Peckham, E. D. McQueen, H. S. Taylor, R. E. Springett, T. A. Murphy, F. J. McMahon, and Chris Bergin.

There were refreshment booths, potted plants and a flag given by the Cutter Company covered the table on the stage. The ceremony was held in the auditorium with singing and speeches. Village President D. G. Look accepted the building. An evening ball was held with Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Hooker leading the event. It was hoped that the City Hall would become the social center of the village as well as home to the village business offices, fire, police and library facilities. Musicals were performed on the stage in the auditorium. The fire tower was used as a space to hang the linen fire hoses up to dry after each fire. Later the police and the Rod and Gun Club used the upstairs auditorium as a firing range.

Here is the stage on the second floor as it was just before the remodeling of the City Hall in 2002. The City Hall was completely renovated and rededicated on July 12, 2003. It no longer houses the fire department or the library but has retained much of its historical charm.

Here’s what 301 E. Main Street looked like then:

And now: