Newton, NJ - Spring Street Store-Houses, Northwest of Moran Street

Spring Street Store-Houses, Northwest of Moran Street

This postcard view of the intersection of Spring and Moran Streets, taken about 1907, presents an excellent view of the southwest side of Spring Street. A granite tombstone at the left edge of the photograph marks O’Donnell’s Granite Works. In 1912, Fred Quick employed Thomas Farrell to build a Romanesque Revival three-story "concrete and brick" building at 116- 118 Spring Street on the site of O’Donnell’s stone cutting yard. Plaza Restaurant opened in the Quick Building in 1936.

In 1894, Simeon Cook’s carpenters added the attractive plate-glass storefront to the Hopkins Building at 112 Spring Street for Pinkney Brothers. Sarah Doyle bought the Hopkins Building in January 1906 and moved her bakery here from 120 Spring Street. She sold her business and store to Solomon and Nathan Fogelson in March 1918.

On the corner of Spring and Moran Streets, the McCarter Building, 115 Spring Street, is a brick row storehouse with Italianate elaboration, built for John McCarter, Jr. in 1864. In March 1864, Reuben Hayne opened the Newton Photographic Gallery on the "third story of John McCarter’s new brick building."

In April 1864, James Decker opened a grocery, provision and liquor store, continuing until John McCarter and George Harden purchased his stock in August 1865 and entered trade. At that time, J. Percival advertised a "Photo graphic Gallery" upstairs. In December 1865, a shooting gallery opened in the Sussex Billiard Room over McCarter & Harden. The partnership dissolved in February 1866, with John McCarter continuing at the old stand. In December 1871, Benjamin Stewart’s stove and tin shop occupied the main store room.

In January 1872, John and Catherine McCarter conveyed the storehouse to Jacob Swayze. Job Woodruff opened a hardware store here on April 1, 1872. In November 1873, a Masonic lodge leased a room over Woodruff s Hardware Store that was "fitted with an arched ceiling, closets and ante rooms, etc." The new Masonic Hall was dedicated February 12, 1874.

Joseph Hill and William Howell succeeded Lawrence & Hill, hardware merchants, on February 1, 1881, continuing the trade established by Job Woodruff. In May 1881, Hill & Howell tore down the old wooden awning in front and erected a new one to correspond with the front of Hough’s adjoining storehouse. They also added a window to the side of the building to provide more light. In July 1895, Hill & Howell put in two show windows with a recessed entry in their store front: the front glass panels measured 62 by 94 inches each and the side glass panels, 69 by 94 inches each. This was the deepest entry flanked by show windows in Newton. The old store front, installed by Meeker & Hedder of Newark in 1862, was built of black walnut with glass panes measuring 24 by 26 inches. Hill & Howell dissolved their partnership on February 1, 1897, with William Howell continuing at the old stand. In April 1939, E. A. Muir Company removed to 115 Spring Street, after thirty years at Park Block.

William Howell died September 16, 1941. In November 1944, the Howell building was sold to E. A. Muir Company. The front room on the second floor was occupied by the Newton Town Committee, while the Police Chiefs office was in the rear room. Ivy Lodge No. 221 was located on the third floor. Muir’s store closed in 1970. The plate glass storefront was then removed and replaced by the present neo-colonial front.

The Hough-Carber Store House, 109-111 Spring Street, is a brick row storehouse, built two stories in height by Captain James Fitts in 1869. On December 23, 1869, James Fitts sold to Seely Howell. In January 1871, Frank M. Hough purchased this building, then occupied by Dr. Charles Nelden as a Drug Store and by Thomas Smith as a hat store. Frank Hough and brother, Lester, opened for trade in September 1871 as Hough Brothers. In 1878, Lester departed and Frank Hough continued on his own.

In May 1891, Mr. Hough added another story to the main part of his storehouse and built a 44-foot extension to (7) Moran Street, thus creating an "L-shaped" structure. Frank Hough retired in January 1896. The third floor was then occupied by the Ivy Lodge, No. 221.

In 1901, Jacob W. C. Carber (1859-1936) purchased the business of Savacool & Brother, successors to Frank Hough. Carber’s Store traded in silk and cotton goods, dry goods, rugs, window shades, wall papers, an;d linoleum. On September 9, 1922, Jacob Carber purchased the Hough Building. On January 1, 1929, Jacob Carber leased his store room on Spring Street to the A&P Company. Desiring retirement, he formed Carber’s Inc., which included his clerks, Lewis Willson, Lowell Bent, Amelia Julier, Miss Leona Kymer and Mrs. Harry Setterfield. The corporation moved their stock around the corner to 7 Moran Street. Jacob Carber died April 16, 1936.

In April 1945, Carber’s Store returned to 111 Spring Street. Business continued at this location, under management of Lowell Bent, until January 1991.

The Oliver D. Beeves Store House, 103-105 Spring Street, is a brick row storehouse with Italianate elaboration erected in 1881 by Walker Brothers of Newton, general contractors, and by Absolom Price, mason, for Oliver D. Peeves, clothier. The new storehouse was three stories in height, 24 feet in front, of "fire-proof construction with a pressed brick front." It had a large plate-glass store front with rolling shutters. In December 1883, James Lewis had a hardware store at this address. Oliver Peeve’s clothing shop was located on the second floor.

In August 1885, Dick Smith opened an oyster saloon in the basement that was successively managed by Andrew Brickner and Aaron Wilson. In October 1885, Hercules Engine Company #2 rented a clubroom upstairs.

In February 1908, former Sheriff John Hotalen leased the basement under George Harris’s meat market and installed box ball alleys and pool tables. In March 1908, C. J. Hinds purchased the Harris Meat Market.

Oliver Peeves died September 3, 1908, aged 87 years. Charles Walker, proprietor of the Grey Horse and Harness Store, leased the storeroom at 105 Spring Street in 1908.

On February 7, 1922, the executors of Luticia Reeve’s estate conveyed the building to Charles Walker. [n February 1925, W.K. Wintermute Hardware Store :formerly Charles A. Walker) was located here. John Coats Jewelry Store moved here in 1947.

The Martin-Newmann Building 99-101 Spring Street, was built upon a lot leased by James G. Fitts from Dr. Franklin Smith on June 7, 1867. The New Jersey Herald located on the third story in March 1868 and remained until March 1873. In February 1869, Lebbeus Martin purchased the Herald building from Capt. Fitts. Dr. Smith deeded the lot to Mr. Martin on November 24, 1869. In October 1876, the store room was occupied by Jacobs & Brothers Clothing Store. On April 1, 1877, Gabriel Dunning moved his drugstore to the Martin building. In April 1879, the Young Men’s Social Club moved to rooms over the Drug Store. Ex-Surrogate Charles Roe took possession of Dunning’s Drug Store in May 1879. In October 1884, the "spacious hall" over Roe’s Drug Store was outfitted as a roller skating rink by D. M. Wingate.

On March 17, 1886, Lebbeus Martin sold the storehouse occupied by Roe’s Drug Store to Arminda Newmann. In 1906, the French Millinery and Department Store, with Adolph Weiss as proprietor, located here. On May 2, 1910, Miss Newmann sold to Bernard F. Boglioli, fruit and confectionery dealer. Mr. Boglioli immediately improved his property, then occupied by the French Millinery & Department Store, by addition of a plate glass front.

In February 1920, Weiss Dry Goods Co. sold its stock to Harry Kaye of New York City who established the Bon Ton Store, occupying this store room until 1925 when it was purchased by the Sussex & Merchants National Bank. In July 1925, the Newton Jewelry Store, operated by Philip Friedman, located at 101 Spring Street.

In 1962, the Sussex & Merchants National Bank remade the facade of this storehouse to match the adjoining bank and installed a sidewalk cashier’s window.

On the southwest side of Spring Street, a granite tombstone at the left edge of the photograph marks O’Donnell’s Granite Works. In 1912, Fred Quick employed Thomas Farrell to build a Romanesque Revival three-story "concrete and brick" building at 116- 118 Spring Street on the site of O’Donnell’s stone cutting yard. Plaza Restaurant opened in the Quick Building in 1936.