Raymond Block

The Raymond Block, located at the easternmost edge of four commercial buildings at the city block of of Main Street, Union and Park Avenue, was built in the early 1910s as an apartment complex with four commercial storefronts on the ground floor. These types of apartment buildings, common on Main Street, often feature porches or balconies, and the Raymond Block still shows shadow outlines where these structures were once attached. In the early 20th century, a movement to improve urban living conditions led to a greater focus on air circulation in apartments, prompting the inclusion of features like porches and balconies. Adjacent to the Raymond Block is a commercial building that hides an Italianate-style mansion, originally a family residence, which later became a boarding house; its facade, added in the 1920s, illustrates the evolving trends and needs in urban architecture.

The Raymond Block is located at the easternmost edge of the last cluster of four commercial buildings at the intersection of Union and Park Avenue. This building was constructed in the early 1910s as an apartment complex with four commercial storefronts on the ground level. The downtown area on Main Street, where several buildings also feature apartments, is easily recognized. These apartment buildings are primarily situated on the western side of Main Street and often have porches or balconies. Presently, you can still see the shadow outlines on the Raymond Block's facade where the porches were once attached. The building also features a window well on its east side.

In the early 20th century, in response to nationwide concerns over poor urban living conditions, there was a movement advocating for better air circulation in apartment buildings to improve health and quality of life for downtown residents. This led to the incorporation of balconies and porches in many residential buildings.

Adjacent to the Raymond Block is another early 20th-century commercial building. However, this structure is unique because it is essentially a facade built around one of the few remaining mansions on East Main Street. This mansion, owned by the Sourbeck sisters, is an Italianate-style house that originally served as their family residence before becoming a boarding house in the late 1890s. The commercial facade that now obscures the mansion was added in the 1920s. This transformation reflects the evolving architectural and urban development trends of the period.