119 E. Main

119 E. Main

The first building on this site was built before 1885. It was the furniture store of Goodrich Kopf during the 1870s. He, as well as his brother John Kopf, were makers of quality furniture. They were craftsmen who immigrated to Lowell from Germany in 1854. Goodrich Kopf’s furniture factory was on the southeast corner of S. Monroe and Kent St. and his retail store was on the Bridge. John Kopf’s furniture factory was south of the Grand River; he built his retail store at 212 E. Main in 1873.

From 1885 to 1900, the building at 119 E. Main was used as a barber shop. The Charles Brothers were the barbers working there in 1903 when A.L. Weyrick purchased the building. A smaller building on the east side shows up in 1892 as a harness shop and in 1900 as a shoe shop.

Mr. Abe and Mrs. Ida Weyrick moved to Lowell in 1901 and began operating a meat market here. An ad in Dec. 1902 shows their gratitude for their Lowell trade:  THANKS. We wish to thank our many friends for the magnificent Thanksgiving- trade we enjoyed. It certainly was "great." We shall continue at all times to be ready for the regular every day meat trade and also for special occasions. Yours for good meat at all times, A. L. WEYRICK & CO.  "If you buy it of Weyrick, it's right."

Two years later, in December 1903, A. L. Weyrick tore down the old buildings (the old barber and shoe shops) to build a new meat market. He covered his new building with steel and installed a plate glass front. The footprint was 22’x 60’.  At the Grand Opening of his store in March, 1904, he gave away 300 carnations to the lady visitors and cigars to the men.

A flood from March 24 to April 2, 1904 caused the loss of some of Weyrick’s merchandise. Further tragedy occurred in October of that year (1904) when his 33-year-old wife, Ida, passed away. She had been in business too.  She had sold potted Easter lilies and seasonal plants from their store.

Only a year after the opening of the new building, it was destroyed in a great fire in 1905 which started in Boylan’s Hardware to the east where Flat River Grill is today. The fire set off dynamite and gasoline stored in the back room and sent explosions and debris flying. Nine businesses to the East were burned out besides professionals and families living upstairs, and to the West, A.L. Weyrick’s Meat Market and two other buildings.

In spite of the many catastrophes, Mr. Weyrick continued his meat market business in Lee’s old meat market where the Main Street Inn is today for a few years.​

Images:

Photo was taken minutes before fire destroyed Weyrick’s new store on April 11, 1905.

Goodrich Kopf Ad Lowell Journal, Nov. 6, 1878

From March 24 to April 2, 1904, the highest waters ever known in Lowell continued to rise 14 inches after this photo was taken. The new building of Weyrick’s is on the far left.
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Weyrick Ad  April, 1904