Koch Building
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Located on the east side of Prohibition Alley at 436 E. Main Street, the Koch Building was built in approximately 1910 in the Neoclassical Two-Part Commercial style. The building is constructed with blond bricks and was designed by Cleveland and Massillon architects Albrecht, Wilhelm & Kelly. A contemporary signboard with "SEARS" was added when the Sears Roebuck Company moved into the building in 1961. The Sears store remained here until 1978 when it moved to the College Plaza. The name "KOCH" is engraved on the projecting cornice and raised parapet. The exterior wall on the east side of the building is referred to as a brick party wall. At one time it separated the Koch building from the adjoining building. Now it serves as an exterior wall facing the pocket park to the east.
Images
Koch Building with F. & W. Grand Store
Koch Building was the home of Sears
Detail of the Koch Block
The Koch Building, in this 1980s photo, is pictured on the far left and was known as the Sears store for many years
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Located on the east side of Prohibition Alley at 436 E. Main Street, the Koch Building was built in approximately 1910 in the Neoclassical Two-Part Commercial style. The building is constructed with blond bricks and was designed by Cleveland and Massillon architects Albrecht, Wilhelm & Kelly. The Koch Clothing Store operated by Isadore and Joseph Koch, was founded by their grandfather in Alliance in 1858 and was one of the foremost textile stores in the area.
The F. & W. Grand 5-10-25 Cent Store occupied the building in 1924 and an annex was constructed on the rear of the building that same year by builder A. F. Wendling of Massillon. The Upan-Inn Billiard Room was located on the second floor.
A contemporary signboard with "SEARS" was added when the Sears Roebuck Company moved into the building in 1961. The Sears store remained here until 1978 when it moved to the College Plaza. The name "KOCH" is engraved on the projecting cornice and raised parapet. The exterior wall on the east side of the building is referred to as a brick party wall. At one time it separated the Koch building from the adjoining building. Now it serves as an exterior wall facing the pocket park to the east.
Sources
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. "Alliance East Main Street Historic District." 2017.
Bara, Craig and Crist, Lyle. Images of America Alliance. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 1998, p. 69
Bara, Craig and Crist, Lyle. Images of America Alliance. p. 69
Alliance Historical Society. Photo by Karen Perone
Alliance Historical Society. Photo by Karen Perone
Alliance Historical Society collection