This circa 1910 photograph shows a six-horse hitch from James A. Elder’s livery and sale stable pausing in the 100 block of Bryan’s South Lynn Street (west side of the courthouse square).
Elder ran a livery from circa 1901 to 1917 in the 100 block of North Lynn Street. Before automobiles and improved roads, Williams County was home to numerous liveries. Elder sold horses and automobiles before closing his livery.
Kerr Brothers 5 and 10-Cent Bargain Store was a general store started circa 1898 by Mel D. Kerr. In 1903, his brother Joseph joined the firm, which operated until about 1939. This two-story brick structure later housed K & R Cleaners and The Sound Shoppe.
The white wooden frame structure to the right of Kerr Brothers’ store was built circa 1844 and was occupied for many years by attorney Schuyler E. Blakeslee, who maintained his office on the first floor and lived on the second floor. Blakeslee Avenue in Bryan and the village of Blakeslee in Florence Township are named after him. When the Bryan Theater was built in 1940, Blakeslee’s former residence was moved to 530 South Cherry Street.
This colorized vintage image is from the Williams County Public Library Huffman Photographic Archives. Do you have a Williams County historic photo you would like to share? Email: publisher@thevillagereporter.com.