(3) 550 E. Fourth Street

"This two-story brick building was built by Dr. Andrew Willing in 1887 and was where he and his daughter, Dr. Mary Willing, practiced medicine. Dr. Andrew Willing moved his practice to Wheeler. Dr. Mary married W. Leonard Owen, son of W.B. Owen, who also became a doctor and they moved to South Bend. The building was bought by Mr. Bullock and used as a home and rental property. Sam Routes later owned the buildings and his son, John, had his dental office here. It is now occupied by Manis Transmission."

Images (links open in a new window):
♦ Dr. Mary Willing circa 1898.
♦ In the right background of this 1953 photo, to the right of the house with the trellis on its porch (which is still standing), you can just make out the two-story brick building described above.

(57) 236 Main Street

"The building just south was the Colonial Theater owned by Ed Spencer who sold to Pliny J. Truesdell who sold to H.T. Coons of Chicago, August 19, 1913. The Theater was called "The Gem" until Sam Routes bought it and renamed it "The Strand." In 1913 the program listed three one-reel movies and two acts of vaudeville. Prusieckis took over The Strand in 1939. It is now a saloon. This building and the next one on the corner were built in 1893."

Images (links open in a new window):
♦ A Dash to Death, which came out in 1909, was playing at the theater when this photo (otherwise undated) was taken.
♦ An early-20th-century postcard that takes in the northwest corner of Main and Third.
♦ You can see the Gem Theater with its elegant arched entryway in this undated image at Third and Main Streets, and this 1913 image.