Look for a tall, five-story brick building on the corner, topped with a light green cornice and a decorative “WELLMAN” crest-it’s right at the intersection, with big windows and a sturdy, classic style that's hard to miss.
Picture yourself in Jamestown in 1897-you’d be right where the hustle and bustle of the Wellman Building began! Imagine the sound of horses’ hooves clattering on the street and the buzz of people, all coming to this impressive new Renaissance Revival building to pick up medicine from the druggist or a birthday card at the stationery store downstairs. With five stories soaring above you, and that distinctive green trim along the roofline, this spot quickly became a hive of activity. Now, just so you know, back then, Jamestown had a bit of a reputation for unpredictable weather, so if you sniff the air, maybe you’ll catch a whiff of rain mixed with the scent of ink and spices drifting from the shops.
But hold on-something mysterious happened in 1910. The building magically grew! Well, not literally magic, but it got a steel frame upgrade and an addition, making it even more grand, all while keeping that Renaissance Revival charm. It wasn’t just a store-offices sprouted upstairs, and if these walls could talk, I bet they’d tell you stories of quick business deals, secret romances, and maybe a clerk accidentally spilling ink on the new carpet. Today, you’re standing before a piece of history-a celebrity among buildings, officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2009! How’s that for standing the test of time?
