This block is of red and white brick and stands on the ground burned over by the great "Mason House" fire of 1879, fronts 200 feet on Michigan Avenue and 150 feet on Maple Street. The first 25 feet, adjoining the Currents office , was erected in 1878 by Henry A. Smith of New York at a cost of about 7,000 dollars, and it constituted the firewall which stopped the fire in its onward march. It is occupied principally as a book and stationery establishment, and the Old Fellow's Lodge rooms are in the third story. The Fairman and Newton Block was erected in 1880 by F. Fairman at a cos of about 40,000 dollars The banking office of Fairman and Newton is located in the corener basement; the first floor is used for stores, some of which are the most extensive in the city; the second story is used for business offices and the third floor is used principally for lodging rooms. The Stickney Block was built in 1882 by Wilson Stickney, an extensive lumberman, at a cost of about 12,000 dollars. The first floor and basement are occupied by the most extensive jewelry establishment in the city; the Chatauqua Literary and Scientific Circle has a room in the second story, handsomely decorated and generously assigned to their use by Mr. Stickney, free of cost. The third floor is used for lodging rooms. The Morrissey Block was erected in 1882 by Mr. M. Morrissey at a cost of about 12,000 dollars. The first floor and basement are used as a music store, and the second and third stories are used for offices and lodging rooms. That part of the Smith Block designated as the "CURRENT office" was erected in 1882 by Henry A. Smith of New York, at a cost of about 10,000 dollars. The first floor and basement are occupied by the most extensive drug store in northern Michigan; the Current printing office is located in the second story and the Knights of Columbus of Pythius have their lodge rooms in the third story.
