This photo was found at the Williamson County Historical Society and is dated 1908. The shot was taken from the east side of the 200 block of N. Market looking across Market and to the south toward the court house catching the even numbered businesses in the 200 block on the other side of the street.
At the left side of the frame is the intersection of N. Market and W. Union Streets. The first building on the left at 200 N. Market St. is a one story building that, in this period, would have housed F.J. Haeberle Drugs (pronounced hay-barrel). The business was owned by Fred and Lillian Haeberle who lived at 800 N. Market Street. Only a short time after this photo was taken, they left the state and sold the business to Delos Duty. Duty had tutored under Haeberle to learn the trade and continued the business under Duty Drugs, only later to take up law and serve as the Williamson County State’s Attorney in the early 1920’s during the Herrin Massacre. When Duty gave up the drug business, this location was used by F.E. Parks to establish Park’s Pharmacy.
Next to the drug store was A. Levine’s store at 202 N. Market where he sold dry goods, specializing in men’s clothing, hats, and furnishing goods. Neither this location or the drug store exists any longer, having been replaced with a two story building that later housed Campbell’s Pharmacy. Also, squeezed into this location was the Leader Shoe Store.
At 204-206 N. Market Street was the J.B. Heyde building, which still exists today. Heyde sold just about everything, including agricultural implements, buggies, harnesses and oddly enough was one of the largest musical instrument dealers in Southern Illinois for decades. His inventory included a large assortment of sheet music, string and wind instruments, pianos and organs.
210 N. Market was the location of J.W. Wilder, studio photographer. If you look through your families studio photos from the turn of the century it is likely that Wilder’s name is on at least one of them and the photos were likely taken in this location. He suffered the loss of his studio to a fire around this time frame which was a total loss to him. He ended up later moving his family to Florida. An individual by the name of J.R. Lewis had a notary office above his studio where he also sold real estate and offered loans.
The business of Heyde-Cox-Townsend Hardware Company was located at 212 N. Market Street where one could not only buy hardware but also harnesses, saddles and tack. The Cox family in this business was the forerunner of Cox Hardware that would later occupy a spot on the Marion square.
The last business seen at the right of the frame is the William’s furniture store, owned by Otis Williams, city councilman. In this period, Williams was renting business space off of J.B. Heyde but in the early 1920’s would be involved in building his own building across the street in the 300 block. Williams was an entrepreneur. His advertisements of the day state that he sells furniture, does undertaking and embalming and sells wallpaper and window glass.
(Photo courtesy of the Williamson County Historical Society)