Continuing east across Ford Street is the building that originally
housed Henry Palmer's Hardware store. It was built in 1867 and later
became the home for a number of furniture stores and undertakers: G. F.
Herald & Son, F. S. Dunklee, R. D. Blackmarr, Beam & Miller, Shumackers.
Strode and Knight operated a jewelry store inside the furniture store in
the 1880s. The Anamosa Euerka printing office was located on the second
floor for a number of years.
William T. Shaw built the next
building. A store selling books, music, toys and notions was operated by
Ross Hanna. He was succeeded by Charles H. Poore, Mr. McCarn, Mr.
Ebersole and C. H. Oeffinger. The second floor was the location of the
Stella International Order of Odd Fellows Lodge
Next was the 1890
Post Office built by A. H. Sherman.
Between
the Post Office and the alley was the Grand Opera House built in 1889.
Financiers were C. L. Niles, George Watters, William T. Shaw, Lawrence
Schoonover and James Winscott. The grand opening in 1890 featured the
popular actress and playwright Ullie Akerstrom in a comedy/drama. The
buildign later became the Niles Motion Picture Theatre.
The two
stores on the main floor were occupied by C. R. Howard's Opera House
Pharmacy and H. E. M. Niles who sold notions and ladies furnishings.
This space was later taken over by E. S. Stone's Jewelry.