Recently one of our Hall House volunteers, Al Johnson, asked me what I knew about the Arcade Building. Specifically, he was interested in what businesses were there over the years. After a brief discussion we set out to solve the mystery. I found research done by Karen Livsey, former Librarian and Archivist for the Fenton, and Norman Carlson, County Historian, and a number of newspaper articles regarding the building in our vertical files. Al set to work in the City Directories. Between us we found a great deal of information.
While there is some controversy on the specific date that the Arcade was built, the 1890s seem to be the correct time period. There have been various suggestions regarding the architectural style. One suggests that it is copied after a similar building in Cleveland Ohio and another that it is patterned after the famous Burnham’s Rookery in Chicago. There was even a suggestion that the arcade style was a precursor to modern-day shopping malls. Whatever the origins of the architectural style, the Arcade occupied a landmark position in the city of Jamestown for more than a century. Even in its current state of decay it retains some of its earlier elegance.
I mentioned Al’s work in the City Directories. He did a fantastic job of tracing most of the businesses that occupied the Arcade, organizing them chronologically beginning in 1901 and ending in 1961.
Karen Livsey and Norman Carlson’s research in the 1895-1896 City Directory listed several businesses that were not noted as being located in the Arcade Building but had Main St. addresses that indicate that they probably were. These businesses were:
John D. Johnson, 26 Main St., a manufacturer of Blinds and Sashes
Edna & J.B. Dawkins 28 Main St. Boarding House
John F. Peterson 32 Main – Boot & Shoe Dealer
George White, 28 Main, Fish & Oyster Dealer & Grocer
Benjami Merz 26 Main St. Furniture Dealer & Pictures & Picture Framing
Carlson & Anderson, 30 Main, Jeweler
William M. Edmond 24 Main, Jeweler
Lee Tueng, 24 Main, Laundries
John D. Maloy, over 32 Man, Physician
Beginning with the earliest available information in the 1901-1902 Directory that indicates that these businesses were in the Arcade Building we find:
Harris, Underwood & Dorring Wholesale Crockery at #24
E. H. Kethum Paper & Stationary at #24
E.B. Smith Tailor at #24
F. L. Scudder Jewelry Shop at #24
Dr. Guy E. Ridgeway, Rm. 1
Jamestown Awning, Malony & Hanson
Hilma Nielson Rm. 12
JA Hulquist & Co. Insurance Loans, and Ocean Tickets Rm. 2
Cook & Treat Grocery # 30-32
James Hanson Electric Supplies & Electricians Rm 7
What an interesting variety of establishments including what appears to be one room occupied as a residence. Some of these businesses remained there for many years such as Hultquist Insurance.
Plan to continue this discussion in the April issue of the Walnut Grove Press focusing on some of the more unique occupants of the building as well as the attempts to bring it back to life.
