U.S. Grant Homestead Association Christmas Home Tour
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The Christmas Home Tour, sponsored by the U.S. Grant Homestead Association, will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon-5 p.m. The tour begins at the Thompson House Gallery, 203 East Grant Avenue where you can buy tickets and pick up a brochure.
Tickets are $10 and are available at Donohoo’s Pharmacy on the west side of the courthouse square or by phone at 937-378-3087. All ticket purchasers will be entered in the drawing for a special John Ruthven-Thompson House Basket with a retail value of over $125. You do not have to be present to win.
Included on the tour is the Klosterman home on S.R. 221, Ulysses Grant's first school at 208 East Grant Avenue, the Colonel David Ammen home at 115 South Apple Street, and the restored U.S. Grant Homestead at 219 East Grant Avenue.
Also on the tour is the Stock Company Building at 107 South Apple Street. This three-story brick building was erected in 1849 by a stock company formed by several members of Georgetown Masonic Lodge who named the building The Masonic Block although the building was not a lodge project. The lodge moved to the third floor of the building soon after it was completed and remained there until about 1902. A painted Masonic symbol is still on the ceiling of the old meeting room.
The first floor of the Stock Company building housed various businesses including a hardware store which specialized in cooking and heating stoves. Lawrence Arzeno, a native of Italy, owned this store as well as a jewelry, watch, and clock business on Commercial Row. He was also responsible for winding the town clock, which required a daily climb up the steep stairs to the courthouse cupola.
J.W. Pearce bought the Stock Company building in 1884 and established a bakery and restaurant where you could get "a square meal for 25 cents." He lived on the second floor.
Later, Dr. Dean Moe bought the building and rebuilt the front entrance. Dr. George McCarley owned the building next and had his optometry practice there. He was followed by Covert Optometry. The building has been vacant for the past several years but has been purchased by Jim and Bernice Johnson who are remodeling the space as a private residence.
Tickets are $10 and are available at Donohoo’s Pharmacy on the west side of the courthouse square or by phone at 937-378-3087. All ticket purchasers will be entered in the drawing for a special John Ruthven-Thompson House Basket with a retail value of over $125. You do not have to be present to win.
Included on the tour is the Klosterman home on S.R. 221, Ulysses Grant's first school at 208 East Grant Avenue, the Colonel David Ammen home at 115 South Apple Street, and the restored U.S. Grant Homestead at 219 East Grant Avenue.
Also on the tour is the Stock Company Building at 107 South Apple Street. This three-story brick building was erected in 1849 by a stock company formed by several members of Georgetown Masonic Lodge who named the building The Masonic Block although the building was not a lodge project. The lodge moved to the third floor of the building soon after it was completed and remained there until about 1902. A painted Masonic symbol is still on the ceiling of the old meeting room.
The first floor of the Stock Company building housed various businesses including a hardware store which specialized in cooking and heating stoves. Lawrence Arzeno, a native of Italy, owned this store as well as a jewelry, watch, and clock business on Commercial Row. He was also responsible for winding the town clock, which required a daily climb up the steep stairs to the courthouse cupola.
J.W. Pearce bought the Stock Company building in 1884 and established a bakery and restaurant where you could get "a square meal for 25 cents." He lived on the second floor.
Later, Dr. Dean Moe bought the building and rebuilt the front entrance. Dr. George McCarley owned the building next and had his optometry practice there. He was followed by Covert Optometry. The building has been vacant for the past several years but has been purchased by Jim and Bernice Johnson who are remodeling the space as a private residence.