Rollin Sprague Building
Date Visited: July 21, 2019
Stop: #27
It was approaching late afternoon and we knew that we only had a few minutes left to continue our quest before David would have to return to Grand Rapids. A visit to our intended winery that day didn’t make sense at this point since a) we didn’t have the time to relax and really enjoy the visit, and b) David would not be able to imbibe in any wine since he would have to drive nearly two and a half hours back to GR. So, our decision was relatively easy at that point – time enough to visit one last historical marker, postponing our winery visit to another day. After taking our requisite number of photos of the Rochester Opera House, we headed south on Main Street by foot.
We walked a block to East 3rd Street, and there, on the northeast corner of East 3rd and Main was our next destination – the Rollin Sprague Building. The historical marker itself is located on East 3rd and sits atop a post under the outdoor stairway leading to the second floor, surrounded by shrubs and flowers. The building itself is very unique in appearance. In fact, it is the only commercial building of its kind in the state of Michigan.
The building was constructed in 1849 and done in a construction common in the region of New York state from which Rollin Sprague was raised. The building was constructed out of coursed cobblestone by Thomas Anscomb, a stonemason of English birth living at the time in Troy Township. Because of its cobblestone construction, the building is also known as the Old Stone Store.
So, who was Rollin Sprague and why did he commission this building? Guess what? I have the answer for you!!! Rollin was born in Ontario County, New York, in 1806. He and his family moved to Oakland County, Michigan, in 1821. By 1831, Rollin had become a well-known local physician. In that same year, he, in partnership with his father-in-law, opened a drugstore in a building that was originally the first schoolhouse in Rochester. Rollin ran his business in this building until 1849 when he commissioned the construction of the Old Stone Store. The original façade of the Old Stone Store is believed to have been of early Greek Revival style and probably was constructed of the same coursed cobblestone that dominates the south and east walls of the current building. The façade was replaced in 1899 in a Victorian style. In the early 1960’s, the façade was again changed, this time to a Colonial Revival style. Finally, the façade was returned to its original 1899 appearance in 1995-96 (the year 1899 is prominently displayed in the center gable peak of the façade). There is a single storefront on the first floor, and 5 tall double-hung windows on the second floor (this past Halloween, the current owners celebrated the upcoming final episode of Star Wars with a life-sized Darth Vader in the center window and a stormtrooper in each of the two windows on each side of Darth Vader!!!).
Rollin passed away in 1872 and his wife continued to run his business until 1875. She sold the building in 1875 and the new owners turned it into a general store and ran their business there until 1904, which by that time was being run as a dry goods store and drugstore. Between 1904 and 1930, the building housed the Rochester Era newspaper, a grocery store, a restaurant, a used-auto dealership, and a dairy. In 1930, the building changed owners again and it became a bakery. The building still houses that same bakery – the Home Bakery.
Having had our fill of history for the day (7 stops!!), and no wine, we called it a day and headed home. Wine will have to wait for another day.
We walked a block to East 3rd Street, and there, on the northeast corner of East 3rd and Main was our next destination – the Rollin Sprague Building. The historical marker itself is located on East 3rd and sits atop a post under the outdoor stairway leading to the second floor, surrounded by shrubs and flowers. The building itself is very unique in appearance. In fact, it is the only commercial building of its kind in the state of Michigan.
The building was constructed in 1849 and done in a construction common in the region of New York state from which Rollin Sprague was raised. The building was constructed out of coursed cobblestone by Thomas Anscomb, a stonemason of English birth living at the time in Troy Township. Because of its cobblestone construction, the building is also known as the Old Stone Store.
So, who was Rollin Sprague and why did he commission this building? Guess what? I have the answer for you!!! Rollin was born in Ontario County, New York, in 1806. He and his family moved to Oakland County, Michigan, in 1821. By 1831, Rollin had become a well-known local physician. In that same year, he, in partnership with his father-in-law, opened a drugstore in a building that was originally the first schoolhouse in Rochester. Rollin ran his business in this building until 1849 when he commissioned the construction of the Old Stone Store. The original façade of the Old Stone Store is believed to have been of early Greek Revival style and probably was constructed of the same coursed cobblestone that dominates the south and east walls of the current building. The façade was replaced in 1899 in a Victorian style. In the early 1960’s, the façade was again changed, this time to a Colonial Revival style. Finally, the façade was returned to its original 1899 appearance in 1995-96 (the year 1899 is prominently displayed in the center gable peak of the façade). There is a single storefront on the first floor, and 5 tall double-hung windows on the second floor (this past Halloween, the current owners celebrated the upcoming final episode of Star Wars with a life-sized Darth Vader in the center window and a stormtrooper in each of the two windows on each side of Darth Vader!!!).
Rollin passed away in 1872 and his wife continued to run his business until 1875. She sold the building in 1875 and the new owners turned it into a general store and ran their business there until 1904, which by that time was being run as a dry goods store and drugstore. Between 1904 and 1930, the building housed the Rochester Era newspaper, a grocery store, a restaurant, a used-auto dealership, and a dairy. In 1930, the building changed owners again and it became a bakery. The building still houses that same bakery – the Home Bakery.
Having had our fill of history for the day (7 stops!!), and no wine, we called it a day and headed home. Wine will have to wait for another day.
#michiganwinesandsigns #michigan #history #michiganhistory #wine #michiganwine #winetasting #historyisbetterwithwine
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