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We recently showed you the west side of Main Street at the turn of an earlier century. Now we show you the east side from the same era. In this view, the photographer was standing in front of what today is Citizens National Bank, looking toward the town hall.
It doesn't appear that the street has bricks, although the Western Ohio interurban tracks are in the center of the street, which places this photograph no earlier than 1906. One horse-less carriage is in front of what today is Common Grounds. The store sign below the second story windows reads "Hauenstein's Drug Store."
A horse-pulled carriage (or wagon) is heading south on Main Street in front of the Presbyterian Church. What another horse left behind may be seen on the west side of the street.
Notice the many hitching posts for horses along both sides of the street. Wouldn't it be interesting to own one of the posts today?
The building housing Forever In Stitches appears to be a restaurant in this photo. Today's Food Store was E. Jones Furniture and undertaking, so reads the sign.
What do you notice about the Presbyterian Church that is missing today? Answer: a church steeple.
The unknown photographer of this postcard photo knew what he was doing. The photo was taken around noontime, thus there are no shadows. Check out the shadow "under" the vehicle on the east side of Main.
One more observation. Notice that there is a step "down" from businesses onto the Main Street sidewalk. That "step" is missing today. The sidewalks on Main Street are higher than they were in this photograph.
(From the collection of Fred Steiner)
