112 Walnut Street

112 Walnut Street. Hudson, Wisconsin. This Italianite structure at 112 Walnut Street is one of the oldest commercial sites in Hudson. The pre-Civil War Building first housed a dry goods store and later a harness and leather shop. At one time the property was owned by Jesse Grant of Galena, Illinois, the father of General Ulysses S. Grant. The stone building was the only structure in the business district to survive the devastating Great Fire of 1866., When the Star and Times newspaper moved into the building in 1894, the imposing cast iron columns that flank the front entrance were put in place. These columns were a local product manufactured by Henry Orme's North Hudson Foundry. The facade was also updated and large front windows were installed, including a stained glass "star" above the front door. After 93 years at that location, the newspaper (now the Star Observer) moved to Locust Street., In 1989, Hollis and Sylvia Grubb purchased the building and opened the Valley Bookseller which later became Downtown Books., In 1998, Rebecca Erickson and John Mingo became the new owners of this historic building. In 2002 the facade of the building which had been painted in the 1940's, was restored to the original brick and mortar of the late 1800's., Dedicated to Hudson's friend Willis "Willy" Miller