Cobweb Express

Memories of Main Street
by Mel McFarland

I recently, just to look back, stood on Main in front of Aragon, and thought about the way it looked in 1976. It sure is different! After two blocks it looks almost the same, but these blocks are certainly different. From the Library up past City Hall, the east side is all less than a hand full of years old. When I started doing this one of the things that raised a huge question for me, was a statement from a 1920's newspaper. "The High School Graduation was held at the Fountain Theater." Where was the theater?

I found a map with some of the businesses indicated for 1914 and there was nothing like a theater. I did start to research the stores on Main. I started at the south at the intersection with Illinois, looking around where there were just houses. Between here and Missouri there were five houses on the west side of the street. On the east were two houses and two businesses. Running through where the south side Aragon is, and the Library parking, was an alley. On the east side of the street, where the Library parking lot lot is, a Farm Implement shop stood. On the corner at Missouri was a Black Smith's Shop where the parking lot starts. Where the City Hall stands, in 1914 the First National Bank of Fountain had a small stone building. The General Store across the street, with its Flour and Feed warehouse is still standing. At the alley was a small paint shop. Across the alley was the barber shop and billiard hall, with a furniture and hardware store on the corner. On the east side of the street, starting at the alley was a garage, grocery store, bakery and on the corner at Ohio a laundry. The garage had one of the few gas pumps in town.

On the northwest corner of Main and Ohio was a little drug store. The Woodmen of the World Hall used the second floor of the Clothing Store on the northeast corner. Just north was a jeweler, doctor's office and restaurant. There were a number of vacant lots in the business district in 1914, but also a number of interesting things. Fountain had several lumberyards along Walnut Street, north and south of Ohio. The Congregational Church was in the middle of the block on the north side of Ohio, between Main and Race. Across the street, on the south side were a couple small businesses and a Farm Supply yard. The theater was where the paint shop was on the south side of the alley. It was built in about 1919. The building is still there, but hardly a scar to show of its days in lights!

CONTACT THE WRITER • MCMIDLAND@YAHOO.COM

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