The former Dyer McDermott building, located on downtown Wauseon’s Beech Street, has been acquired by the Wauseon Downtown Association (WDA). The WDA supports downtown businesses and brings cultural and educational events to the downtown area.
“We’re very proud of our downtown,” said James Kerr, President of the WDA since 2012, “We need to promote the history of the former Dyer McDermott building in context of preserving downtown Wauseon.”
In the early 1900s this building was known as the station for the Toledo and Indiana Railway and its trolley cars were a primary source of transportation. Inside the building the floor was raised up so patrons could easily step onto the street cars. The raised platform in the building has never been altered. Additionally, Wauseon’s Christmas Star was first seen on the front of the T & I Station.
The WDA is in the process of listing the former Dyer McDermott building on the National Registry of Historic Places. Wauseon’s Fulton County Courthouse, Jones Reed Touvelle House, the George S. Clemet building, and the Railroad Depot, which served the Lakeshore and Michigan Southern Railroad, are already on the registry.
Intended uses for the building by the WDA include community based meetings, sponsored events, or even an art gallery. Currently, the WDA helps bring the community together using downtown Wauseon as the stage to host three annual family events; the Amazing Race, Farmers’ Market and the Christmas Parade.
Matching grant money to rebuild the roof and other necessary repairs on the former Dyer McDermott building is being pursued by the WDA. These repairs will help keep the rich heritage of Wauseon’s downtown alive for future generations.