As the new Sweet Frog emerges on Cary Street, please join me in a voyage back in time…

Courtesy of neighbor Charles Pool:

The historic district report lists the construction date for 815 W. Cary as the 1890s. According to the city directory records, this was a residential address until 1893, so either a residential building was torn down at that location and replaced with what we see today or else a residential building was changed into a storefront.

According to the City Directories 815 W. Cary was utilized as a grocery and confectionery from 1893 until 1940. In 1942 the Royal Cafe was at this address. Harvey Hardware is first listed at this address in 1948.

1893 – 1915 W. M. Rankin – grocer
1921-1922 Lee M. Ellis – grocer (home – 2239 W. Grace)
1926 Edward H. Palmer – grocer
1936-1939 David Lieberman – confectionery (home – 2720 W. Grace, Apt. 6)
1942 Royal Cafe
1948 — until recently Harvey Hardware

Of the occupants at this address before it was a storefront, it is interesting to note that in 1888 and 1883 it was an integrated dwelling with both black and white occupants living in the same dwelling. (The early directories indicated black residents with an asterisk) . Also it is interesting that in 1885 a harnessmaker lived in the building; I would guess that he may have worked in one of the two livery stables that were on Green Alley on the 900 block behind the city auditorium. The following are the residents listed as occupants of this address:

Continue reading →