Lees Creek Places
HISTORY OF THE LEES CREEK STORE
In 1876 the IOOF [Independent Order of the Odd Fellows] built the two-story 20 x 25 feet wood frame building at the southwest corner of the intersections of State Route 729 and Larrick Road. The upper story was the Hall for the Odd Fellows and the Rebekas – the sister organization. The lot was purchased from Mrs. Stotler for $25. Cost was $36.80 for the foundation and $850 for framework. Lime and stone for the basement cost $17.50, paid to John Caniff. The Hall was insured for three years for $30. Cost for the Lodge Hall furniture (desks and chairs) and a rug was $144.79.
It appears from the IOOF record book that finishing of the ground-level story continued at a leisurely pace into year 1878. In Feb 1880 George Pencil tried to rent the lower floor for a shoe shop. First note of an actual renter was the next year, 1881, to Mr. Molenpage for $65 per year for the next three years. No mention of Mr. Molenpage’s business, but it is thought that he or one of the next two merchants operated a clothing store. Community oral history has it that the first business was the clothing store. This is probably true because the two-story brick building next door was apparently built earlier and housed the “general store”. Various merchants and renters of this brick building were Oscar Canter, then O. D. Armstrong in 1896, Oscar Jones, Chancy Cox. The village physician Dr. Shaffer had his office there.
Subsequent merchants after Mr. Molenpage were Daniel Theobald in 1885 and G. W. Syfred in 1886.
The above information is from Mary Louise Leslie’s recollections and her research into the records of the IOOF Lodge.
The Babb brothers were the next and general store merchants for sure. The following information is from Janie Babb Warehime and her cousin Dave Lieurance (his mother was Opal Babb). The Babbs owned the store from 1900 to 1920, but Dave is not positive of the dates [the date on the store safe was 1892]. Both he and Janie think Franklin Babb, Forest Babb and Eva Babb Willis Hodson were the owners, the “Babb Bros”. Eva’s second husband was Cyrus Hodson and they resided on Larrick Road across from the store. Brother Franklin Babb was the Lees Creek Postmaster.
At one time, the Babbs owned eleven stores in Clinton County but eventually went bankrupt. The safe in the store at Lees Creek had “Babb Bros. Store No. 1 - 1892” printed in gold ink and remained at this location until the building was removed in 2003.
Mary Louise’s information picks up again. Canter and Nunn operated the general store from 1920 to 1927; then Harry Nunn continued from 1934 until 1942. The store had a variety of merchandise including groceries. Mary mentions that her brother Alexander Rhonemus and Barney Nunn drove the store’s huckster wagon one summer, probably 1934 or 1935. The wagon was stored in a shed between the IOOF building and the brick building next door.
Brothers William and Thomas Leslie, who clerked there for Harry Nunn, bought the store and continued operation until 1971. During WW II Mary Louise Leslie, wife of William, and his father Al Leslie kept the store going while the two brothers served their country - Tom was not married until after the War. Succeeding operators were:
Don and Nancy Chambers, 1971 – 1974; Seegers 1974 – 1975; Mark and Julia Essleman 1975 – ca 1979/80 ?
Brian and - Garber 1979/80 - Dec 1989; John Stamm
The IOOF Lodge disbanded to New Vienna in 1979 and the building remained vacant after the Garber Bros. Needed improvements and new EPA regulations proved too costly for operation. The below ground gasoline tank would have to be removed – partially under Route 729 – and the soil checked for contamination, and water and sewer lines had to be installed.
The Township (Wayne) eventually bought the property and soon realized the building had to be removed for community safety.
The “store” was opened for one last time on Sunday June 29, 2003 for a community Good Bye party.
The building was destroyed July 5, 2003 and a small park marks the spot of this locally historic site.
In 1876 the IOOF [Independent Order of the Odd Fellows] built the two-story 20 x 25 feet wood frame building at the southwest corner of the intersections of State Route 729 and Larrick Road. The upper story was the Hall for the Odd Fellows and the Rebekas – the sister organization. The lot was purchased from Mrs. Stotler for $25. Cost was $36.80 for the foundation and $850 for framework. Lime and stone for the basement cost $17.50, paid to John Caniff. The Hall was insured for three years for $30. Cost for the Lodge Hall furniture (desks and chairs) and a rug was $144.79.
It appears from the IOOF record book that finishing of the ground-level story continued at a leisurely pace into year 1878. In Feb 1880 George Pencil tried to rent the lower floor for a shoe shop. First note of an actual renter was the next year, 1881, to Mr. Molenpage for $65 per year for the next three years. No mention of Mr. Molenpage’s business, but it is thought that he or one of the next two merchants operated a clothing store. Community oral history has it that the first business was the clothing store. This is probably true because the two-story brick building next door was apparently built earlier and housed the “general store”. Various merchants and renters of this brick building were Oscar Canter, then O. D. Armstrong in 1896, Oscar Jones, Chancy Cox. The village physician Dr. Shaffer had his office there.
Subsequent merchants after Mr. Molenpage were Daniel Theobald in 1885 and G. W. Syfred in 1886.
The above information is from Mary Louise Leslie’s recollections and her research into the records of the IOOF Lodge.
The Babb brothers were the next and general store merchants for sure. The following information is from Janie Babb Warehime and her cousin Dave Lieurance (his mother was Opal Babb). The Babbs owned the store from 1900 to 1920, but Dave is not positive of the dates [the date on the store safe was 1892]. Both he and Janie think Franklin Babb, Forest Babb and Eva Babb Willis Hodson were the owners, the “Babb Bros”. Eva’s second husband was Cyrus Hodson and they resided on Larrick Road across from the store. Brother Franklin Babb was the Lees Creek Postmaster.
At one time, the Babbs owned eleven stores in Clinton County but eventually went bankrupt. The safe in the store at Lees Creek had “Babb Bros. Store No. 1 - 1892” printed in gold ink and remained at this location until the building was removed in 2003.
Mary Louise’s information picks up again. Canter and Nunn operated the general store from 1920 to 1927; then Harry Nunn continued from 1934 until 1942. The store had a variety of merchandise including groceries. Mary mentions that her brother Alexander Rhonemus and Barney Nunn drove the store’s huckster wagon one summer, probably 1934 or 1935. The wagon was stored in a shed between the IOOF building and the brick building next door.
Brothers William and Thomas Leslie, who clerked there for Harry Nunn, bought the store and continued operation until 1971. During WW II Mary Louise Leslie, wife of William, and his father Al Leslie kept the store going while the two brothers served their country - Tom was not married until after the War. Succeeding operators were:
Don and Nancy Chambers, 1971 – 1974; Seegers 1974 – 1975; Mark and Julia Essleman 1975 – ca 1979/80 ?
Brian and - Garber 1979/80 - Dec 1989; John Stamm
The IOOF Lodge disbanded to New Vienna in 1979 and the building remained vacant after the Garber Bros. Needed improvements and new EPA regulations proved too costly for operation. The below ground gasoline tank would have to be removed – partially under Route 729 – and the soil checked for contamination, and water and sewer lines had to be installed.
The Township (Wayne) eventually bought the property and soon realized the building had to be removed for community safety.
The “store” was opened for one last time on Sunday June 29, 2003 for a community Good Bye party.
The building was destroyed July 5, 2003 and a small park marks the spot of this locally historic site.