Businesses and Buildings in Downtown Marietta

Marshall House

The Marietta Register, October 2, 1863:

The old Brophy House, Ohio Street above Second, has just been opened as a house of public entertainment under the name of "Marshall House," by Henry Lighter.

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Improvements on Front Street

The Marietta Register, September 28, 1865:

The easterly side of Front Street is improving in a very satisfactory manner - except that old frame between Phillip Schramm's shoe store and the store of Andrew Ross. That work going on there can hardly be called an "improvement," considering its fine business location on which ought to be a handsome and substantial brick block.

The new building of the First National Bank, corner of Front and Greene streets, is well nigh completed. It is a very find building - handsome and substantial, inside and out - one that would attract the attention of strangers, and one in which our citizens may take a just pride. The work has been done under the plans and supervision of M. H. Needham. Stone work - which is of the first-class - by N. S. Alcock. Painting by Klintworth. The first floor will be occupied by the Bank itself - main business room, 24 by 36; a large Director's room, and a massive vault. The second story - two rooms occupied by the Petroleum Exchange and another by the Agency office of S. Newton & Son. Third story - one room occupied by the Book Agency of James P. Matthew. What the other two rooms are occupied for we are not advised.

Messrs. Buell & Bro. began to lay the foundation of their new building Tuesday morning of this week for a first-class Drug Store on the ground so long occupied by T. P. Harshberger. It will be a brick, a nice front, three stories in height - the first 14 feet high, 27 feet wide, and 80 feet deep. It is expected to be ready for occupancy in February next.

John W. Stanley's new building, farther up street, approaches completion. It is a brick of three stories, 20 feet front and 80 feet deep, admirably arranged for a Furniture Store, with six floors rising from one to another by an easy ascent, whereon will be dealt out House Furnishing, Carpets, Sewing Machines, etc. Mr. Stanley will occupy it in course of two or three weeks.

W. F. Curtis has his new and handsome building, just below Butler Street, close upon completion - brick, ornamented with stone work by N. S. Alcock, three stories in height, 20 feet wide, 60 feet deep. It will be the handsomest front of any building of its size in Marietta. It is already rented to Le Roy Brown for a Dry Goods and Clothing Store.

The very handsome building of Bosworth, Wells & Co. - a business house "hard to head" in any other city of the size of Marietta - on the westerly side of the street, has recently been "touched up" and now looks as "bright as new," as indeed, it is nearly new. That Cincinnati scrub who lately wrote that "Marietta has nothing to offer in the shape of a handsome, modern building, public or private," could not possibly have seen the store of Bosworth, Wells & Co.

And generally, there is a "brushing up" along Front Street. The business corner of Front and Putnam is beginning to present altogether a different appearance by its present proprietors, West & Varley. The Post Office has been recently painted, improved, and now shows creditably. The Biszantz House, but one building from Front, greatly improved. Donahoe's China Store and Morse's Clothing Store, painted a short time since, etc. Besides, the "frog-ponds" in the gutters begin to disappear.