The building used to stand on the back street and housed a creamery. John CURTH moved it to its present location on Main Street. It was a two-story building. The upper story was all bedrooms. The lower story housed Dr. STEARNS' Drug Store. Bill YOUNGS bought it from him in 1906. Mr. YOUNGS sold books and maintained a book store for the school pupils nearby. Mary YOUNGS, his wife carried a line of notions. She was always helpful to any youngster who happened to tear his clothes or had the misfortune to take a fall. A word of consolation or advice was forthcoming if asked for. Mary cared for and about people. Will operated a printing press in the backroom and printed public announcements and sale bills. After Mr. YOUNGS passed away, and she became unable to handle it, the building was sold to Pat MALONE.
In the 1948 tornado the building west of it fell against this house and did quite a bit of damage to it. Pat tore the top story off the house after this and made a nice one story home. He cleared the building away to the west of it which was, once, three stories and housed a grocery store. After the debris was cleared away, he built a cement barber shop in it's place. Pat sold the two properties to Dean HARVEY, who now owns them.
Durbins' Store
To most people's recollection, Jim and Sam CROW were the first persons to own this property. In 1899 Jim and Sam bought the corner lot at Montgomery Road and Short Street, Frontier. Shortly thereafter they had a two-story building constructed on the lot. Sam handled International Harvester farm equipment and accessories. Jim did eavespout work and tinning. These two men were well-known and well-liked in the community. Sam was instrumental in starting the Democratic party in this township. In 1900, Jim sold out to Sam and Sam carried on for many years with a hardware business. He sold Deal buggies also. When cars became the thing to buy, Sam became acquainted with the president of the Auburn Car Company and sold cars for him. The first gas pump in town was installed in front of this store and has continued through the years.
The upstairs of the building was used for public meetings such as plays and boxing matches. There was an outside stairway on the west going to the upper floor.
The building was bought in turn by Frank ARNOLD, BOHNER and DRAKE selling out to Drake and the present owners, Charles and Idella DURBIN. They purchased it in 1951. Since the world is changing so rapidly, they have tried to maintain the old-fashioned atmosphere with the help of antiques.
Former Country Kitchen
This building was known as the Benny HAGERMAN building. Port BURROUGHS had a shoe store there. Henry BAILY had a grocery store next. It stood idle for a few years and then Fred MOHR bought it and held wrestling matches there. Ober CRAMTON operated a pool room in it. Ralph BLOUNT bought it and Avis OBERLIN ran a bakery in it. Howdy PRESTON used to work in the bakery. He would start his bread about four in the morning so he would have bread to sell when he opened up. When this business was discontinued, Ralph BLOUNT bought it and chickens were bought from there. In 1925 Etta and Ernie CRAMTON bought the building. Ernie had a barber shop in front and Etta had a beauty shop in back. They had living quarters in the upstairs. In 1955 Ernie retired from the barber trade and she took her beauty shop to their home in the west part of town. The building made living quarters for several families after that. About 1960 Louanna LANGE bought it and made it into a restaurant, the "Country Kitchen" for about ten years.
Harvey's Store
On the site of Harvey's store used to stand a sawmill and feed store owned by John SEBRING and William SAVAGE. They sawed native timber into lumber. After this operation was discontinued about 1925, Harry TEAL bought another building and joined it to the mill, placing it on a cellar and foundation. Harry ran a business along with a post office until 1955 when he retired. Dan RYAN ran a soft ice-cream store a couple years. It was sold to Juniata WILLIAMS and Doris TRACY for living quarters. They had it three years when it was sold to the present owners, Dean and Margaret HARVEY. They hold bingo games in the building and sell sale merchandise.
Floris MILLARD Home
The Floris MILLARD home had to be built in the early 1900's attesting to the different stores that were housed there. The first recorded store in this building was a boot and shoe store. Hank BUCKNER, next, had a cigar factory in the building. Charley ROBINSON, Fern WILLIAMS's father, had a pool room and livery barn there. They were bought by Monroe GARVER. He also had a hotel there. When horses gave way to cars, Abe RICHARDSON who owned it then, installed gas pumps in front of the store. Erma BARNES purchased the property and put ice-cream parlor equipment in. It was run by Barney and Letha BARNES.
Bill and Peg MILLARD next bought the establishment and ran the ice-cream confectionery store. Bill sold hunting and fishing licenses and equipment. They also pumped gas for the public. They were open seven days a week. Mr. MILLARD passed away, and several years later, Peg discontinued business.
