27 Mercantile High Street Commercial Block – 228, 232 and 236 High Street The three 3-story buildings, known as Mercantile Buildings, were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in March 2004. “Hidden under the false front at 226 High Street are actually two buildings,” wrote Sherry Corbett, a successful local preservationist, in a March 7, 1999, guest column in the JournalNews. “Nestled up against the limestone-faced Second National Building, built first in 1870, is the T. V. Howell & Son dry goods store, which was built circa 1880 along with the McCrory store at 236 High Street.” Corbett described the McCrory building “as a fine example of the First Renaissance Revival style.” The McCrory building previously housed two department stores, Strauss & Co. and Blair & Co.
28 Ryan’s Tavern – 235 High Street Renovation for Ryan’s Tavern, an authentic Irish Pub, began in 2007 within the combination of three buildings with multiple addresses on several floors that historically contained a wide variety of businesses. The 1892 city directory recorded the 231 property with Myers & Co. Paints, Dory Bourne Grocer, a druggist and Gus Lados Boot and Shoe Shining. The property at 233 High housed attorney James See (1892); Mathes Sohngen’s Dry Goods Store (1920-1922); and Shoupe’s Band, business and home of a music teacher (1922-1967). The kitchen side of the pub, the 235 building, housed Winkler & Straub Men’s Furnishers & Hatters (1892); Tom Buganis Boot & Shoe Shining Parlor and Fred Mayer Music (1912); and then Jonson Brothers confectioners (1931), which became Jonson Brothers Restaurant (1938-1970). A loft, built as a private dining room, still stands and is used as an office over the kitchen. Other restaurants located here included Gold Star Chili, Skyline Chili, High Street Chili, Weber’s Grill, and Cozy Café. The restaurant side of the pub, originally 237-241 High Street, was home to Seidensticker, a seller of silver and plated ware (1892-1920), F.W. Woolworth (1922-1954), Martin’s Town and Country Fashions (1955-1983), Dunlap’s Clothing (1985-2001) and Extravagant Bargains (2001-2007). Other businesses associated with the property have included a paper hanger, dentist, optician painter, bookkeeper, furniture store, and several photographers.
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