Maurer's Hardware Store

Maurer's Hardware Store. . During 1855-1856 Jacob Maurer from Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, constructed a three-story building with two ground-floor storefronts and residences above. He opened for business in 1856, selling hardware on the west side of the building and dry goods on the east side. In 1863 he sold the east side to Jacob Stoltz for a dry goods and grocery store while continuing to own the west storefront for his hardware business. Subsequently ownership of the east and west sides of the building was often split between different property owners, and different businesses occupied each side., Maurer added onto the west storefront in 1863, changing the building's configuration. Further additions followed. In 1937 the New Era Oil Company's lubrication garage was added behind the east storefront. In 1939 building owner John T. Thomas removed the top two stores of the original building. , Diverse businesses occupied the storefronts during the building's first hundred years. These included the Francis Stoltz hardware store, shoemaker Charles Deobald, grocer and dry goods merchant Julius C. Koska, tinsmith J.H. Doering, Mayer Marglous's dry goods, Star Tire Store, Sutton's Sweet Shop, Lill's Wall Paper and Stationery, Char-Main Tavern, Kohl's Sweet Shop, and Belleville Office Supply. , By 1959 Paul Reis moved Grimm and Gorly Florist into the east side of the building and bought that property in 1962. He connected the storefront with the garage after purchasing New Era Oil's "grease palace" in 1967. In 1999 Jeffrey Bair bought Grimm and Gorly and its building. , Travel agencies arrived at the building's west side in 1972, with travel agent David Bollone buying the storefront in 1986 and subsequently selling the business and property to Kenneth Fischer. The Bairs restored unitary ownership to the building in 2011, when Zachary Bair bought the west side and opened the Pour@322 and Cupcakes Too coffee shop there in 2014.