1885 BAKER’S NEW BRICK BLOCK

After a large section of Main Street burned in February 1885, including Warren Block (Middle Ground), Rockwell’s Wooden Block (Penny Hanley), and Baker’s Central Hall Block (ESP Pottery), decisions were made to rebuild the Warren and Baker Central blocks quickly with more fire-withstanding brick structures.

G. H. Baker owned the 45 x 85 foot Central Hall Block (also called Baker’s Block or Baker’s Wooden Block) and chose to rebuild five adjoining shops in a one storey two-part building that followed the elevation of Main Street. Upon completion six months after the fire, these elegant shops with thirteen foot beaded ceilings, wallpapered plaster walls, maple floors, stained glass transoms, and full basements were ready to rent to some of the previous businesses on the street.

In order from East to West, these first shops were: Anthony Adams’ stove store, Medbery’s tea store, Arnold’s jewelry, Crane’s harness store, and Whitman’s bakery.

Construction began as soon as the weather broke in early Spring (within one to two months after the fire), and by May 7th the basement walls were finished, by June 11th the walls were done, and by mid-August the shops began to open. This new block was called Baker’s Block or Baker’s Brick Block.

During construction as many of the former tenants of the damaged or destroyed blocks that were able to withstand the financial loss were temporarily relocated around town. During construction the businesses contracted with the owners of the new blocks and moved in as soon as the shops were completed . Some tenants stayed in the same general location of their former shops, but there was a good amount of location shuffling.

Fortunately for us, The Press of Stafford Springs cataloged all new happenings, and much of this information is available in The Library of Congress online. We now know the quick timeline progression of this rebuild of Baker’s Block as well as who did the building, stone work, and brickwork, and what the initial businesses were.

1885 THE FIRST FIVE SHOPS

East to West: Anthony Adams’ Stoves, Medbery’s Oriental Tea Store, L. Arnold Jeweler, F. N. Crane’s Harness Shop, Whitman’s Bakery.

66 Main (now 58, ESP Pottery) opened by mid-August with Adams and Medbery, and 68 Main (now 64 Main) followed by late August with Arnold, Crane, and Whitman.