(49) 237 Main Street

237 Main"The large brick building on the corner was built by James Roper. There Rob Randhan had a meat market in the downstairs rooms. This was later Roper's Market and then Carstensen's market. Remodeled, it became the American Trust and Savings Bank. When banks closed during the Depression, Peter Bates opened a saloon and candy store. Into these rooms the Hobart Federal Savings and Loan moved from space in the 300 block of Main Street. Now Matt Seling's Jewel Shop is here."

Images (links open in a new window):
♦ Views of the building and its interior as well as a portrait of James Roper, Jr., all circa 1898.
This image is undated, but must be prior to 1926 (when the building was remodeled with its current Neoclassical façade).
♦ A 1971 newspaper article that talks about the soda-bottling works operated in the basement of the Roper building by Hugo Zobject (or Zobjeck) between 1904 and 1908. (I do not have the photograph that accompanied the article.)
♦ Photographed outside the Bates restaurant and candy store, this float took second prize in the Labor Day parade of 1931 (according to notes on the back of the original).
♦ A bank on the main floor, the Peddicord law offices upstairs, in 1964 and 1965.
♦ A 1973 street view that includes The Jewel Shop at 237 Main; an interior view of The Jewel Shop in 1971.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I grew up in Hobart and moved west over 50 years ago. I found this information to be very interesting. Missing however, are any photos of the old grist mill that was destroyed by fire in the early 1950s. Also missing are any photos of the brickyard. These were the cornerstone of Hobart's existence.

Ainsworthiana said...

Thanks! You can find a number of photos of the mill in item (41):
http://hobarthistory.blogspot.com/2011/07/41-northwest-corner-of-main-and-front.html

For brickyard photos, please click on the "Brickyard and Other Locations" tab at the top of the page, below the blog title. The first item features some pictures of the Kulage and Natco yards.

http://hobarthistory.blogspot.com/p/brickyard-and-other-locations.html

Paul said...

This is an absolutely wonderful site! I will be back often.

Lora said...

I am the great-granddaughter of Hugo Zobjeck (correctly spelled with a K). My grandfather was the Hugo who moved to the farm in Kentucky, and his daughter Marjorie was my mother. I would love to connect with you, sir ... please contact me at contact@dcps.org Thank you so much for keeping history alive!