"Paul Newman and his son, Mickey, operated a hardware store in a long frame building on this corner. Later he converted the Third Street part to be a garage and car sales (Newman Motor and Hardware Sales, 601 E. Third St.). They sold Krit and Brisco cars. He also had agencies for Pontiac, Ford and Chevrolet. After Mickey Newman's death, American Tire Company used the building. Epperson's Furniture rented the building from Hobart Development Corporation at one time after it had been extensively remodeled. It is now occupied by Nature's Way. In the rear of the building is the Hobart Beauty College (315 Center St.). Dick Wheaton briefly had his appliance store in this room. Apartments are upstairs."Images (links open in a new window):
♦ The interior of Paul Newman's hardware store (undated, but probably circa 1907-1912).
♦ Directly behind the horse and carriage in this July 1947 photo, you can see the Newman store; note the vertical Chevrolet sign on the Third Street side of its façade.
"A wagon shop was next to Batterman's machine shop in the late 1800s. Later a new building housed Dell Beach's jewelry shop. Beach sold to Rod Cubberley and moved to Valparaiso. Cubberly subsequently moved to Main Street and Dick Wheaton had an appliance store here until the Harvey Dime Store fire. Since then it has been a liquor store. On the alley was situated a motorcycle shop, then a saloon, later a barber shop before it became Dollstedt's meat market, then Maurer's Market."
"Hillman's saloon, The Hub, was at the alley and Third Street and was later operated by Henry Ittel. Bob Wheaton opened an electric shop here and then again it was a saloon and pool hall. A dancing school and nursery school used the building before Shorei Goju Karate. Living quarters are upstairs."
"Frame homes were razed when the Ben Ack Building was erected in the 1920s. All of Downtown Hobart was once owned by Chief Ben Ack of the Potawatomi Indians. This area was one of the floats awarded him when the U.S. Government purchased Northwest Indiana from the Potawatomi in the 1832 Treaty of Tippecanoe. Most of his land was bought by George Earle. The second story of the Ben Ack building is apartments, three stores make up the first floor. These stores have been occupied by various businesses. NIPSCO's first business office used one, Dick Wheaton sold TVs before he moved to Third Street. An auto agency, a chicken franchise, a newspaper store, Mundell's Flower Shop (1940-1947) (218 Main St.), a realty office and a children's wear shop were briefly here. Now Henri's Dress Shop (216 Main St.) has two rooms, and Nawrocki's Hobart Liquor Store the third (220 Main St.)."