Early Tenants

The location and appearance of the building must have appealed to the public, as Patton had no trouble attracting tenants and opted for the three-story plan. The first floor would be split into two rooms, with an exterior stairway to the second floor located in between. The west room would be occupied by a baker, Non Hood (his oven was in the basement); while a dry goods dealer from Kansas would open a store in the east room. The second floor would contain office suites, with sisters Anna, Ida and Kate Moore operating a dressmaking business in the southwest room. The Jeffersonian Social Club, a Democratic organization with 300 members, would rent the three east rooms. Attorney Almon Kidder would have the room immediately behind the Moore sisters.

The crowning glory would be the third floor, which would be outfitted as an elegant meeting hall for Washington Camp No. 60 of the Patriotic Order Sons of America--organized a year before and already grown in membership to 125-one of the largest camps in the state outside of Chicago. The hall would rival the meeting rooms of the literary societies of Monmouth College in décor and furnishings.

The Patton Block was completed just before Christmas 1891, and the Sons of America celebrated by dedicating their hall on December 17 with a gala ceremony, including an address by the president of the order, who had come from Chicago for the occasion.

The 1890s were a restless period for Monmouth, full of activity and change. Many new businesses were born, with the successful ones quickly moving to larger quarters and the failures closing up shop. As a consequence, the Patton Block almost immediately saw a steady stream of new tenants, including a cigar store, a meat market, a grocer and a variety of physicians and lawyers. The Sons of America vacated for different quarters and were replaced on the third floor by a business college.

Back 07.25.2006.