1890 – 420 1st Street
Erected about 1890, this building at 420 1st Street first housed a general merchandise store. The one-story, 25 by 90 foot flat-roof building originally had brick cornices, large display windows flanking a central entry door, with a row of windows above. A cloth awning provided shade from the summer sun.
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1883 – 416 1st Street
This building is believed to be the oldest brick commercial building in Cheney, though our pioneer ancestors would not recognize it today. Only a few details from the original building remain on the front façade. Erected in 1883 by Wellington W. Griswold after having seen the damage to the business district from several fires, Griswold's building was a fine 2-story brick structure which housed his Gem Saloon on the ground floor with a large hall on the second floor.
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1890 – Pomeroy Building 407 – 411 1st Street
Called the Pomeroy Building or Moose Hall, this two-story building was erected in 1890 by Dr. Francis A. Pomeroy with partner and first tenant, George Gale Mobley, a general merchandise vendor. The timing was fortuitous, for when the Cheney Normal School was destroyed by fire in August 1891, the newly completed building had space on the second floor to accommodate some of its classes.
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1900 – 414 1st Street
This one-story 30 by 90 foot building at 414 1st was erected about 1900. The first tenant of the building appears to be Houck & Monk general store. Louis Houck operated a very successful business, developing it into the first true department store in town. He also served on the city council and as mayor of Cheney.
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1908 – 412 1st Street
This building at 412 1st Street was erected by L. Jack Riddle in 1908 to house his full-service barber shop with baths. Jack Riddle had operated a barber shop in Cheney for two years. Construction of the 20 by 75 foot building began in October 1908 and was completed before year’s end.
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1904 – 405 1st Street
This building at 405 1st Street was erected in 1904 to house the Farmers & Merchants bank by Dr. Francis Pomeroy, physician and real estate developer. That same year, Pomeroy had a brick warehouse building erected facing F Street at the rear of this building. That building also housed a plumbing business for a time. The wall between the two was opened up around 1916 creating the L-shaped space we see today.
1912 – 410 1st Street
This building houses three addresses: 406, 408, and 410. It was erected in 1912 after a fire destroyed two wood frame business buildings in July of that year. Like the building on the corner, this one has a single exterior façade with interior walls that divide it into three business spaces. 410 has had the most varied business use. The upper façade of the building is original, but the lower storefront of each space has been altered.
1912 – 408 1st Street
This building houses three addresses: 406, 408, and 410. It was erected in 1912 after a fire destroyed two wood frame business buildings in July of that year. Similar to the building on the corner, this one has a single exterior façade with interior walls that divide it into three business spaces. 408 1st is the smallest space with 406 wrapping around behind it. The upper façade of the building is original, but the lower storefront of each space has been altered.
1912 – 406 1st Street
This building houses three addresses: 406, 408, and 410 1st. It was erected in 1912 after a fire destroyed two wood-frame buildings in July of that year. Similar to the building on the corner, this one has a single exterior façade with interior walls that divide it into three business spaces.
1897 – 401 1st Street
This small one-story brick building has seen a variety of businesses during its 125+ year history. Originally built to be a bank it has a reinforced concrete pad for a vault along its eastern wall. The exterior has been altered quite a lot, though the outlines of original widows can still be seen on the F Street side of the building.
