RIDLON BROTHERS’ STORE

 The earliest information we have about this building, located on the corner of Bridge and River Street on the Porter side of the river, is shown on the 1880 map as E.T. Edgecomb’s store.  In 1904 this general store was purchased by brothers, Walter and Benjamin Ridlon, and they started a family business that would remain for nearly 58 years.  Walter’s son, Joe joined the business in 1929.  After Ben died in 1935 his widow, Josie, continued it until her death in 1943.  Walter’s wife Bertha died in 1953 and Walter died in 1954 leaving Joe to carry on the business.  

                                             Ridlon Bros. Store – Circa 1907.  L – R: Benjamin Ridlon, Walter’s wife Bertha (Gilpatrick) Ridlon – seated, Benjamin’s daughter Bernice Ridlon (later Mrs. Bertrand Huber), Benjamin’s wife Josephine (Mason) Ridlon, 3 unknown customers, Benjamin’s daughter Iva Ridlon (later Mrs. Chauncey Cutting) and Walter S. Ridlon.

It was an IGA grocery chain store for many years but eventually became a Nation Wide Store.  This interior view was taken by George French circa 1950.

The second story of the store burned in the 1950’s, but the ground floor was rebuilt and business continued.  Joe Ridlon retired and sold the business to Norman Ray in 1962.  

Norman Ray and Joseph Ridlon.

When Mr. Ray’s wife died shortly thereafter, the business was closed, and Joseph Ridlon sold the building in 1969 to John Burbank.  John converted the building and started a public laundry business.  It was next owned by Vieira LLC who remodeled the building in 2003 as the Village Laundry.  

The laundry continues to this day.  The current owners FSH of Porter, LLC remodeled it again recently and it operates as the Riverside Wash.

This is another success story where an old village business building continues to serve our community in the 21st century. 

 

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FIRST VILLAGE SCHOOL?

Did last week’s post make you wonder about the 1st Village School?

The original K.F. Village Schoolhouse is one of the oldest buildings in Porter. It is said

to have been built and used as a schoolhouse on the Daniel Towle farm in Porter from

1829 – 1841. In 1842 the town of Porter moved it to its present location on the corner

of Chapel and School Street. It was the school for District #4 until 1889 when the new

Village School building was built on Main Street.

Village School Dist. #4 prior to 1889.

In December 1889 the building was purchased by the newly organized Advent

Christian Church (1887) and they remodeled it as a church.

Advent Christian Church - 1923

During the ministry of Rev. Lee Judkins (1969 – 1972) they left the Advent Church

Conference and changed the name to the Calvary Bible Church. By 1996 the church

membership had outgrown the building and, under the Rev. Barry Judd, made plans to

build a new church in So. Hiram. The first service in the new South Hiram church was

held on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005.

The old school/church building was sold and was renovated as a private residence and

is still located at #5 Chapel Street. The exterior looks much the same as this picture,

taken about 2004.