421-423-425 W Main
1915 - W.R. Griffin Block
Neo-Classical style
The Griffin Block is one of a number of distinguished west end buildings. It is one of two downtown buildings to
utilize second floor bay windows. Few downtown buildings combined upper level housing with commercial uses,
but this one provided upper level apartments. The new building was judged to be innovative for its extensive use of
steel girders to support the upper floor. It is also exceptional for its brickwork. It was felt that this would protect
firelighters from sudden collapse. A unique buff pressed brick with tapered edges was used. Contrasting brick
colors define string courses and the parapet. A carved stone infilled panel is set above the two middle windows, and
is framed with the pinkish-purple brick. Three stones proclaim "19-W. R. Griffin-15." This building also
represented an early use (at least in downtown Cherokee) of concrete, which formed its foundation walls.
The storefront has four potentially reused cast iron columns in lieu of expected steel supports. These are marked
"HADERY INTERNATIONAL STEEL & IRON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY-EVANSVILLE INDIANA."
The original storefront survives complete with the long transom windows. Some storefront remodeling was done in
1978. The windows were replaced.
This building best represents the substantial efforts of builder-developer W. R. Griffin who single-handedly pushed
the commercial development of Main Street west of the Illinois Central Railroad tracks. This building, constructed
in 1915, was his first major construction effort in this area, and it would set the architectural tone for this western
commercial district. W. R. Griffin (7-1947) was an early promoter of the city and ran a meat market, then ran a road
show prior to relocating to South Dakota. He returned to Cherokee in 1912 and he went into his old business on the
west side of town. He is responsible for the erection of a number of commercial buildings on West Main and North
Fifth, including this building, Swanson's Supermarket, the Hillside Hotel and others. Griffin's Meat Market was the
original tenant in the new building and the family occupied one of the four apartments (styled the "Griffin
Apartments"). The Western Union Telegraph Office was here from 1915 through 1930 (Obituary, unidentified
newspaper, June 30, 1947).
Neo-Classical style
The Griffin Block is one of a number of distinguished west end buildings. It is one of two downtown buildings to
utilize second floor bay windows. Few downtown buildings combined upper level housing with commercial uses,
but this one provided upper level apartments. The new building was judged to be innovative for its extensive use of
steel girders to support the upper floor. It is also exceptional for its brickwork. It was felt that this would protect
firelighters from sudden collapse. A unique buff pressed brick with tapered edges was used. Contrasting brick
colors define string courses and the parapet. A carved stone infilled panel is set above the two middle windows, and
is framed with the pinkish-purple brick. Three stones proclaim "19-W. R. Griffin-15." This building also
represented an early use (at least in downtown Cherokee) of concrete, which formed its foundation walls.
The storefront has four potentially reused cast iron columns in lieu of expected steel supports. These are marked
"HADERY INTERNATIONAL STEEL & IRON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY-EVANSVILLE INDIANA."
The original storefront survives complete with the long transom windows. Some storefront remodeling was done in
1978. The windows were replaced.
This building best represents the substantial efforts of builder-developer W. R. Griffin who single-handedly pushed
the commercial development of Main Street west of the Illinois Central Railroad tracks. This building, constructed
in 1915, was his first major construction effort in this area, and it would set the architectural tone for this western
commercial district. W. R. Griffin (7-1947) was an early promoter of the city and ran a meat market, then ran a road
show prior to relocating to South Dakota. He returned to Cherokee in 1912 and he went into his old business on the
west side of town. He is responsible for the erection of a number of commercial buildings on West Main and North
Fifth, including this building, Swanson's Supermarket, the Hillside Hotel and others. Griffin's Meat Market was the
original tenant in the new building and the family occupied one of the four apartments (styled the "Griffin
Apartments"). The Western Union Telegraph Office was here from 1915 through 1930 (Obituary, unidentified
newspaper, June 30, 1947).