About Our Building

In 1873, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge #303 (“IOOF”) erected the 3 story brick structure that still stands at 102 W. Main Street in New Paris, Ohio, and became home to the New Paris Antique Mall in 2008.

The IOOF encountered financial difficulties and was compelled to sell the property in 1899.   Following a succession of short-time owners, the structure was purchased by the Knights of Pythias (“K of P”) and became home to the Castle Hall of Harmony Lodge #396 in 1909.

Both the IOOF and K of P lodges utilized the third floor of the building for their lodge meetings.  The second floor served as the community opera house.  According to information printed in the New Paris Mirror in 1930, the opera house featured the Babetta singers and dancers, an eight-act vaudeville show, minstrel shows, medicine shows, and a dance and card party sponsored by Delta Theta Tau Sorority.  It was also the site of a 50-50 dance sponsored by J.J. (Jack) Simpson with music by Harry Kepler’s Harmony Four Orchestra with tickets priced at 25 cents and a crowd of 90 attending.

It has also been told that the Grand Army of the Republic (“G.A.R.”), Caleb Marker Post #646, used the second floor opera house for meetings and dinners.  See below for pictures of a ticket to a dinner held on New Years Day 1889, and some interesting history on the G.A.R. and Col. Caleb Marker.

Business establishments utilizing the first floor of the building over the years included:  L.J. Reid Hardware (1901); Earl Radford Hardware (1928); Fred Woods Grocery (1931); Denny Brothers; and Williams Brothers Market owned by S.A. (Bill) and Joe Williams from 1934 to the late 1950s.  In 1960, William Aker purchased the building and opened a furniture store.  Akers Furniture Store operated out of the building for 34 years until the store was closed and the building was sold at auction to a local New Paris businessman in September 1994.

The building then languished for 14 years and fell into serious disrepair until it was purchased in early 2008 by Keith and Linda Kelley and renovations commenced.  After six months of restoration work, the first and second floor of the mall opened for business.  Renovations continued and over time additional renovated spaces, including the basement, third floor, and adjoining one-story building, were added to the overall sales floor space.  Go to our gallery of building renovation pictures for a look at the restoration work that has been undertaken to date.

There’s still plenty to do, but we are proud of what has been accomplished so far in bringing this grand old building back to a state of usefulness.  Not only have we preserved a bit of history, but we are excited about how the antique mall has helped to revitalize business interests in the Village of New Paris.

 

Above are a couple of images from G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) tickets for a dinner that was held in our building back in 1889.  Check out the ticket drawing giveaways – those were some big ticket items for the day!!

 

The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), Marines, and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. It was started after the end of the Civil War and any person honorably discharged could join.

 

Caleb Marker G.A.R. Post No. 646 in New Paris was chartered August 6, 1887.  The post’s namesake, Col. Caleb Marker, was a Union Field Officer in the 156^th Oho Infantry Regiment.  He died in 1869 and is buried in the Old St. John Cemetery in New Paris. 

 

Here’s a little history on the 156^th Infantry Regiment which was organized in May 1864 at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati to serve for 100 days.  It was led by Col. Caleb Marker, Lt Col. William Sayler, and Maj. Alben L. Whiteman.  The regiment was composed of the Ohio National Guard 34^th Battalion from Preble County, the 80^th Battalion from Mercer County, and the 81^st Battalion from Auglaize County.  On May 20, 1864, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, and H proceeded to Cincinnati where they performed guard duty.  Companies G, I, and K remained at Camp Dennison on guard and patrol until Rebel raider Captain John Hunt Morgan appeared in the vicinity of Cynthiana and they were sent to Falmouth, KY.  The seven companies remained on duty at Cincinnati until July 18, 1864, when the entire regiment was brought back together at Covington, KY and moved to Paris, KY.  The regiment was soon ordered to Cumberland, MD, arriving on July 31^st and went into camp near that city.  On August 1, 1864, the regiment had an engagement with the enemy at the Battle of Folck’s Mill (also known at the Battle of Cumberland) in northern Maryland with slight loss.  The regiment was then mustered out on September 1, 1864, 108 days from its initial organization.