Images of the Past: Hill Block, 1869 | Columnists | bdemo.com – bdemo.com

The three storefronts from 112114 S. Madison St.comprise what is historically known as the Hill Block (Images of the Past, Feb. 1, 2017), and the buildingshave been part of Bloomfields business history for more than150 years. The question now facing community leaders is how long two of the three business fronts will remain part of the citys economic landscape.

About three years after the close of the Civil War, the Hill Block was constructed as a unified structure that was divided into three storefronts.The block isseen above in a vignette from the 1869 Bloomfield birds-eye lithograph by August Koch.

During the century and a halfit has occupied a prominent location in Bloomfield commerce, the building has weathered the transition from horse-and-buggy to the Model T, and then to todays cars and trucks. The transition has gone beyond just the mode of transportation. The changes include moving from wooden walks and dirt streets to concrete sidewalks and paved streets. Over the decades, there have been changes in buildings themselves. The imposing facade was minimized when the raised central parapet was removed, probably at the end of the 19th century. The individual store facades werepainted to look unique,and 112 S. MadisonSt.,lostits arched windows and arcaded ground floor entry.

Various businesses occupied 112 S. Madison from dry goods, hardware and drug stores. Many people will remember it as the West Side Grill and News Stand. The store at 113 S. Madison had been a grocery store since at least 1883. Tudo and Hazel Nardini operated Nardinis Model Market at this addressandlived above the store. Hazel was later mayor of Bloomfield. The connection to people connected to the citys administration does not stop with Hazel. Councilman Jake Bohis great-grandfather, Mark Henson, had his grocery store at this address,too, in the 1930s.

Two other buildings in the vignette are still standing today:108 S. Madison, the 3-story building, lost its top floor in a 1917 fire thatresulted in the facade being remodeled, and itnow houses Making Memories. The building at far right, 107 S. Madison, is the home of CJs Family Restaurant.

Rudy Evans | revans1953@gmail.com

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Images of the Past: Hill Block, 1869 | Columnists | bdemo.com - bdemo.com