Grafton in Taylor County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Colerider Block

Photographed by Bradley Owen, June 21, 2021

1. Colerider Block Marker

Inscription. Henry Clay Colerider came to Grafton in 1875 and opened a shoe shop. He further expanded into the leather and finding business with partners Messrs. Duncan and McClean in 1885 and in 1888 continued the enterprise alone after buying their shares. This building is the remaining of two that made up the Colerider Block and contained the shoe shop. Also housed in the block was the Gilt Edge Cash Grocery, run by Miss Pearl Colerider, which was known for its bananas, strawberries, and ice cream. Gerkin and Smith had their custom tailoring shop in one of the Colerider buildings and in 1898 Anderson and Burcher opened a business school.

In 1894, the town's first telephone system that did not require a switchboard operator was installed in the Colerider Block. Calls were made directly from phone to phone via buttons on the machines and an electric switchboard. Colerider's shoe shop closed in 1901.

(Photo Captions):
Henry C. Colerider
The right most building is the one that stands today.

Erected by West Virginia Humanities Council and Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society.

Topics. This historical

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 39° 20.486′ N, 80° 1.286′ W. Marker is in Grafton, West Virginia, in Taylor County. It is on West Main Street (U.S. 119) west of Latrobe Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 121 W Main St, Grafton WV 26354, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Central West Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Loar Building (a few steps from this marker); Jolliffe Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Merchants & Mechanics Savings Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Brinkman Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Grafton

Photographed by Bradley Owen, June 21, 2021

2. Colerider Block Marker

The marker can be seen at the far left of the building.

(within shouting distance of this marker); The First Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome To Historic Grafton West Virginia (within shouting distance of this marker); Gough Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grafton.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 323 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 7, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.