1914 - 1931  R.G. DeWitt & Co.

1931 - 1997   Newberry’s Five and Dime Store

 Currently   Northville 5-10-25 Cent Store

 

Dr. John F. Blake married Minerva Resseguie on March 6, 1860. He had been married before and had two children. Minerva and Dr. Blake had three children. Dr. Blake built a house where the dime store is now located. That house burned in 1890. They replaced that house with a large Queen Anne style house at the same location. Dr. Blake died in 1896.

 

The Blakes daughter Lulu married James Willard. I’m assuming that Lulu and James inherited the house or at least joint ownership. James Willard desired to build a large 2 story commercial brick building where the Queen Ann Victorian house stood. In 1912  he had the house moved to the corner of Division and First Street, then built what became the Five and Dime Store, which shows the date of 1914 above the second story. You will note the name Willard Bros along the roof line below the 1914 date.

 

On the second floor there were offices in the front of the building and a huge room behind the offices. The room was used for numerous community activities, such as dances, parties, dinners, drama, etc. It was always advertised as Willard Hall.

 

J.J. Newberry (John Josiah Newberry) founded and opened his first store in 1911. The Northville store was not owned by Newberry until 1931. In 1972 Newberry and McCrory’s merged. 1997 found McCrorys closing their stores of which Northville was one.

 

The first dime store in Northville was R. G. Dewitt Co. General Store. The DeWitt Co. General Stores also known as 5-10-25 cent stores was founded by R. G. DeWitt in 1907. The company sold out to J.J. Newberry in 1931.

 

(Information provided by Gail Cramer, Northville Historian)

 

 

Northville 5 & 10               122 S. Main St.  Northville, NY 12134           (518) 863-4424