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Ashland Brewery

117 10th Avenue East

Dating back to 1888 the Ashland Brewery brewed "Ashland Beer". During prohibition, they switched to soft drinks. After prohibition they resumed brewing "Ashland Beer" for a while.

Today the building no longer stands.

Dhooges Store

1201-1207 West 3rd Street

Frank Dhooge operated his Grocery/General Store from this location for many years in the early 1900's.

After Mayor Dhooges death, the building became a hardware store and later Casperson Heating.

The building is presently being remodeled and will

serve as an Artist Studio.

FC Smith Floral

319 West 2nd Street

Fred C Smith moved his Floral Business from his home at 218 7th Avenue East to this location about 1924 and remained her until 1971. He had his Nursery and Green house on the corner of Vaughn Avenue and 11th Street.

New England Store

Knight Hotel Building

The name, New England Store, has been around for many years. Beginning in 1897, the store was located in the Knight Hotel and was a Dry Goods & Notions store. It later added ladies clothing to it's inventory.

About 1940 it relocated to 404 W 2nd St. 1969 found the store at 216 4th Ave W as a Gift & Yarn Store. In 1996 the New England Gift Store moved into it's present location in the Bardon Building at 518 West Main Street.

Beil Drug Store

701 East 2nd Street

This building has been home to a variety of businesses. Beil Drugs occupied the building in the 1930's and 40's. Before then, it was a meat market, candy kitchen, liqour store &, Ice Co. Since then, it has been K Pharmacy, cafe and presently it is an apartment building.

Saxes Department Store

300-302 West 2nd Street

Saxes occupied this building from 1924-1931. Montgomery Wards was next door to them and moved into Saxes building when Saxes moved a block East.

It is now the Mini-Mall, home to Maurices and Gliks.

Johnson Studios

411 West 2nd Street

Built by the Pabst Brewing Co. prior to 1888, this building has served Ashland residents in many ways.

It has housed Saloons, Restaurants, Bowling Alley, and a Grocery Store. Johnson Studio occupied the building from 1926-1965. Since then it has been an Office Building, Sewing Machine Store, Fitness Center, Funtastic Novelty Store and is presently occupied by JC Moon.

Ashland Shoe Store

313 West 2nd Street

This building dates back to 1897 when Schillers Ashland Shoe Store came into being.

The business went by the name of Schillers until purchased by the Watlands. The Watland Shoe Store has recently gone out of business.

What will be the fate of this downtown landmark?

J. C. Penneys

301 West 2nd Street

Penneys came to Ashland in 1926. Their first store was at 301 W 2nd. They soon grew out of this small space and moved into the FG May building at 320 W 2nd where they remained until they built their present building in 1959. This building at 301 was originally the Ashland Cigar Store and has been home to Coast to Coast, EC Crafts and is presently Book World.

Lew Anderson Men's Store

Lew Anderson Men's Store

315 West 2nd Street

Lew Anderson's sold men's clothing and shoes in Ashland from 1903 until 1960 in the Bristol Block.

Since then, the Bristol Block has been home to Meyers Drugs which later became Snyder Drugs.

Today the Bristol Block has been remodeled and serves as an office building.

American Hospital

American Hospital

NW corner of Stuntz & St Claire

One of Ashland's first hospitals. Built in 1889, this was Dr Rinehart's first hospital building.

The second building is the Hosmer Hospital. The Hosmers sold out to Dr Rinehart. By 1891 Dr Rhinehart built a new hospital and these buildings became boarding houses.

Royal Theatre 513 West 2nd Street

Movie theatre and stage for Ashland's Home Talent shows. Whatever happened to that beautiful Marquee?Today the building houses "One on One Hair Design" and "Snap Fitness."

Montgomery & Stocks

509 West Main Street

This little frame structure was the home of Montgomery & Stocks Wallpaper & Paint store in 1888. Later this building was torn down and the 3 story Brownstone Pabst Building was erected. Today the first floor of the building is occupied by Johnson Flower Shop and the Ashland Historical Museum.

Bay City Service Station 1022 E. 2nd St

This quaint little gas station owned by Frank Chingo, has grown over the years. It eventually was purchased by the Tomlinson family, which operates its towing service from this location.

Vaughn Avenue Texaco

Vaughn Avenue & 2nd Street

This corner of Ashland has seen several changovers. First it was a drugstore with the American Express Office located in the building and the Ashland Press in the back. Later it was a gas station for many years. Moore's Clothes'n Things has occupied the corner since 1992.

Ashland County Home

1319 Beaser Avenu
e

This building has served area seniors since 1928. It operated as the Ashland County Home until it was sold to private ownership in 1960. It has since operated under the names of Ashland Nursing Home, Ashland Health Care Center and presently is known as the Ashland Health & Rehab Center.

Powers & Fossage Grocery

720 West 2nd Street

Built in about 1890, this building has been a grocery store, clothing store, hotel and restaurant, dry good store and is presently Tim & Sandy's Bar.

Chicago & Northwestern Depot

419 7th Avenue West

This Depot served Ashland residents for many years, ending its passenger service to Chicago about 1971.

After sitting vacant for several years,the building was restored and is now the Chequamegon Health & Fitness Center

FW Woolworth

506 West 2nd Street

Photo shows the Grand Opening in 1907. The first location of the business. This building, along with the adjoining building now house the Robert Oien Furniture Co.

Vaughn Library

500 West Main


Built in 1888 in memory of SS Vaughn, the building housed the library on the second floor and rented out business space "to pay the rent." As the library grew, it moved to the first floor and now rents out space on the third floor.

Dodd Hospital

610 Ellis Avenue

Originally a "House of Ill Repute"

Dr Dodd bought the building for his hospital - it was all set up with many individual rooms plus a large room for a dining hall. When Dr Dodd closed the hospital and joined St Joseph's, he tore down this building and built his family home on the same property.

The family home is now Frost Home for Funerals.

Wallie Motor Co.

2nd Street & 9th Avenue West

Since this building was a garage/Car Dealership, it has been a floor covering business, produce store and presently is the home of both "Star Liquor" and "Northern Photographics"

Can anyone ID the vehicles and/or their year?

Wilmarth Block #1, 808 West 2nd Street

Wilmarth Block #1, was the first of five blocks built by LC Wilmarth in downtown Ashland. This building housed the Wilmarth Grocery with apartments upstairs. It later housed OK Auto Parts and is the present home of the Deep Water Grille.

The Security Savings Bank at 212 West 2nd Street

The Security Savings Bank was built in 1889 by JS Ellis. By 1901 it was realized that there was no need for another bank in Ashland. Since then the building has been used for various offices. The facade was remodeled many years ago.

The Menard Hotel was a section of the original Hotel Chequamegon which was moved to 2nd Street and 7th Avenue West when the Chequamegon was dismantled. The Menard burned to the ground on New Years Eve 1956. Today the Menard Park graces the corner.

Columbia Furniture - 700 West Main St

Originally the Glass Block Department Store run by Schutt & Rowe. The name of the block (Wilmarth Block #4 - built by Lewis C Wilmarth) was changed to Sherbocov block after Sam Sherbocov bought it and started the Columbia Furniture Co.

Fountain Theatre

108-110 2nd Avenue West

Originally the Olympic Theatre, it became the Fountain Theatre in 1891 and existed for only a year or two. Located about where the parking lot of the old A&P & Super Valu Grocery Stores.

City Hall - 215 2nd Avenue East

Built in 1888 as Ashland High School, then became Ashland City Hall. Demolished in the early 1960's to make room for Telephone Company Building.

The Colby House was one of Ashland's first hotels, operating from 1879-1901. It was located on the corner of Vaughn Avenue and 2nd Street. That corner has seen a variety of businesses over the years. The Cash Store is on that corner today.

The Elks Town House stood where the New China Cafe is now. The club house was built in 1906 and dismantled in 1968 to make way for the Tastee Freez. The Elks no longer used the building since moving to their new clubhouse at the golf course.

The Platter Restaurant, as we know it today, was originally built in 1880 by Frederick Prentice as a brothel to accommodate visiting businessmen and wealthier locals. Note the outbuildings clustered in a U-shape to discreetly "hide" their buggies.

This building has been home to various gas stations and a trolling service office. It is presently Heritage Realty.

 

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