Building History

The building that now houses the law firm of Bach Hamilton LLP has existed since the late 19th Century. It actually began its existence as two buildings located at 108 and 110 North Main Street. During its long life, it has been the home of many enterprises.

Sanborn fire insurance maps from 1885 indicate an open lot at 108 and 110 North Main Street, but there was a promise of “brick stores to be built here” on the lot. By 1892, 108 North Main housed a “Queensware and Hardware” store, and a jewelry store and confectionery counter were in business next door at 110 North Main. The 1889-1890 Henderson City Directory lists Blackwell, Branch & Son as the proprietor of 110 North Main Street, where they sold stoves, fine china and “queens ware” (pots, pans, and crockery). Next door at 108 North Main, J.W. Moore & Co. operated a saloon.

By 1897, 108 and 110 North Main contained a hardware business and a home furnishings store, respectively. Two years later, a tin shop operated by H.F. Dade, Jr. was located at 108 and Sam J. Heilbronner conducted business at a china and glass shop next door at 110. The hardware store at 108 eventually changed hands and became the B.L. Powell & Company store sometime before 1909. Around the same time, the first chain store appeared. F.M. Kirby Co., one of the first five-and-dime stores and a precursor to F.W. Woolworth’s Company, was located at 110 North Main.

A 1912-1913 City Business Directory contains an advertisement for I.B. Walker Hardware located at 108 North Main Street. The business sold stoves, furnaces, and mantels and also advertised tin and sheet metal work. 1912 also saw the merging of F.M. Kirby Company’s interests with the Woolworth Company. At some point between 1912 and 1921, the two buildings on the lot were combined and a new Red Front five-and-dime store was opened at 108-110 North Main Street.

The Woolworth’s store continued in business at the location for the next several years. A photograph from the early 1930’s of the J.C. Penney store shows Woolworth’s just to the left. The Sanborn maps from the period indicate a brick wall dividing the building on the second floor and iron posts on the main floor. Presumably, the decorative tin ceiling, which would later be restored by Bach Hamilton LLP, was prominently displayed.