302 E. Main

112 South Monroe

There was a two-story building facing Monroe Street just south of Main Street. It was built prior to 1885 and constructed of concrete brick. It was listed as a warehouse on Sanborn maps from 1885-1900. From 1910 to 1919, it housed Harley Maynard’s Plumbing business. Maynard’s first account statement read “Harley Maynard, Successor to Porter Carr, Plumbing.” His advertisements read “all work in connection with City Water System” 1910 and “Harley Maynard, Superintendent Waterworks” 1912.

Gus Liebbe came to Lowell in 1932 and operated a button factory in this building. He purchased clam shells from local clam fishermen and drilled clamshell buttons out of them. He operated the business until 1946, when he was forced to retire due to ill health.

The Lowell Area Historical Museum has a deed from Carl Albert Maynard and his wife to Gus Liebbe in 1944 for the button factory property. There is also a deed from Gus Liebbe to Harold J. and Mildred T. Englehardt transferring the property in 1945 with an agreement for Gus Liebbe to have free rental of the same property for the next 18 months from July 2, 1945.

Gus Liebbe passed away at the age of 73 in 1951. He was listed as having three sons and six grandchildren as survivors. He lived with one of his sons after the agreement period.
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Until a few years ago, the raised cement foundation/floor remained and the Lowell Granite Company stored their monument stones on top of it.

Images:

112 S. Monroe is the building on the right behind Guy Monk’s Showboat wagon. The building in the center back is part of the Lowell Cutter Company-King Milling feed mill and directly to the left of the mules is the Fairchild filling station. Photo, 1958.

Clam fishing boat.

Clam shell used to make buttons.