Along Main Street: 414 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: 414 East Main
Date built: 1960
Built by: Dan Vos General Contractor
Date Opened: Jan. 1961
1st business: State Savings Bank
Bank President: Harold Englehardt

The Randall building was built on this site in 1854 by Joshia Randall. It was the first three-story frame building in Lowell and had many uses throughout time. The 2nd floor was used for offices of Dr. Arvine Peck, Dr. McDannell and other doctors, dentists and attorneys. At other times, it was occupied as a dwelling. The third floor was used as a Masonic room and by the Wide-Awakes, a Republican club to get Lincoln elected. The first floor held stores. The building was moved away to use as a stable and finally torn down (1908).

The brick part of the building was constructed about 1868 and became the Clifton House Hotel. Three traveling groups signed their names in the Clifton House Registry in 1876—the New Orleans Minstrels, the Tennessee Jubilee Singers and half of the Adam Forepaugh Circus (36 members). The Forepaugh Circus was as famous as P.T. Barnum and the Ringling Bros. in the 1870s and 1880s. Forepaugh organized his circus under two tents, one was the big ring production and the other held the menagerie of exotic animals. The circus traveled in specially designed railroad cars. Forepaugh’s son was the elephant trainer and performer. The elder Forepaugh died in the flu epidemic of 1890 and the circus was disbanded.

This 1870 Lithograph shows the 3-story Clifton House at the far left and the Jones Building on the corner of Bridge (Main) and Washington Streets with smaller buildings in between. One half of the members of The Adam Forepaugh Circus stayed at the Clifton House while in Lowell.

The Tennessee Jubilee Singers from Fisk University toured the nation and sang spirituals and other songs as a fundraising concert tour. They stopped at the Clifton House in Lowell in 1876.

Here’s a 1885 Sanborn map. The Huntington Bank area (414 E. Main) included the Clifton House (1870s), later called the Commercial House. The Jones Building is labeled Offices. Notice that the Town’s Well and Pump for the East side was located in the street. Half of the hotel building was moved to the street behind it in 1881 to be used as a tenement house.

After the Clifton House, the building became known as the Commercial House. In 1882 Drs. Peck and McDannell bought the Commercial House. In 1883, it was noted that Mrs. S. J. Taylor would start a boarding house in the Commercial House. About 1887, Dr. McDannell disposed of the building and built a new house on this site for his residence. After Dr. McDannell died in the Flu Epidemic of 1918, Fred and Julia Hosley purchased the residence. They rented out some of the rooms; “Hosley House Tourist Rooms” were advertised in the 1936 Showboat Program. Fred had owned and operated Hotel Waverly (1911-1918), had a shoe store and later became Lowell’s Postmaster (1936-1945).

Dr. and Mrs. McDannell built this spacious house on the site of the Commercial Hotel c. 1887. The photo above dates to 1893.

In 1959, the State Savings Bank purchased the Mrs. Julia Hosley residence, the Dean property on Washington St. and a 22’right-of-way to Kent St. The Hosley house was razed (1959). The bank building was erected by Dan Vos Construction Co. during 1960.

The State Savings Bank moved into their new building at 414 E. Main from their former location at 218 E. Main in January of 1961. Features of the new structure included: a modern vault, larger safety deposit boxes, spacious lobby with five teller windows, cushioned seating along the front windows, bookkeeping room, kitchenette for employees and a ladies’ lounge. Officers of the Bank at that time were: Harold J. Englehardt, President; Dan A. Wingeier, Vice President; Herbert Elzinga, Cashier; Herman J. Stukkie, Head Teller; Charlotte Siciliano, Secretary; Marva Hartley, Teller; Ruth Ann Shade, Bookkeeper; Betsy Rinard, Bookkeeper; Joan Briggs, Bookkeeper. The Board of Directors included Harold J. Englehardt, D. A. Wingeier, C.H. Runciman, E. C. Foreman, Roland M. Shivel, M. W. Gee, Lee E. Lamkin, W. Roth and Herbert Elzinga
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The State Savings Bank became FMB bank in 1986 and Huntington Bank in 1998.

Here’s what the building looked like as the State Savings Bank:

And here’s what 414 E. Main Street looks like now:

 

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