Gruwell and Crew General Store

Photos 

South (Front) Elevation

The museum is currently (as of this visit) closed for renovations and repairs.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in August 2013

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Map 

Street View 

Heritage Museum, 109 West Main Street 

This wood-frame building is one of four storefronts that remain as reminders of the early commercial era in downtown West Branch. It was constructed in 1894 by two prominent businessman: Mayor S.C. Gruwell and J.C. Crew, a dry good store owner.

Originally leased for a music store, it underwent several changes of ownership and commercial uses. In 1960 it was sold to a local physician, Dr. R.G. Stuelke, who leased it for use as a variety store.

Eventually deeded to the West Branch Heritage Foundation to house a museum, it retained most of its original features. The exception was the front steps that were added during the 1964-65 museum conversion.

The storefront was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 as an example of a well-preserved small town commercial structure.

National Register information 

Status

Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 1982

Reference number

82002610

Area of significance

Commerce

Level of significance

Local

Evaluation criteria

A - Event

Property type

Building

Historic function

Specialty store

Current function

Museum

Period of significance

1875-1899

Significant year

1894

Tags 

Update Log 

• May 1, 2017: New Street View added by Bill Eichelberger
• August 14, 2013: Essay added by J.R. Manning

Sources 

• Wikipedia
• J.R. Manning - thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
• Bill Eichelberger - wallyum [at] hotmail [dot] com
• National Register database - Reference number 82002610

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