Past
In 1882, Joe Smith Purchased the lot with Dr. Sylvester Mann, who owned the adjoining lot on the south. The two men constructed the 50x100-foot-three-story building which was known as the "Marble Block." Made with Sumner County Marble quarried southeast of town.
The building was completed in 1884, the south half was occupied by the Mann drug store and the north half by Smith's Clothing firm. The second floor was fitted for offices and occupied by various physicians and dentists. The third floor was a hall for the Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges
Present
Construction and renovations on the building's exterior will be on-going for, roughly, the next six weeks according to the City of Wellington. Street parking will be unavailable on the north side for an estimated four weeks. Parking on the east side will be obstructed for an additional two weeks.
It is thought to be the oldest building in Wellington, yet it has been turned down for historical grant money; leading owner Karl Braddick to take a different avenue with the renovation process.
Future
The building is being renovated so that someone might lease or purchase it once the work is complete on the outside. Hutchison Construction is the General Contractor on the project. Dale Hutchison plans on maintaining the historical feel and value of the Smith building.
"We're going to build the original store front that was there when the building was built," Hutchison explained. "And we're going take off the white gypsum stone that's existing now...and put on put on the new External Insulating Foam System (EIFS)"
He compared the final product to looking like the yellow building across the street. Currently there are no plans to renovate the inside, Hutchison said.
Stay with the Wellington News as the project continues.
