The History that Made Us
The floor just in front of the door at 116 W. Van Buren Street is a treasured piece of history that connects this building to two long-time businessmen in Columbia City – the Rhoads Brothers.
Albert F Rhoads was born June 2, 1888 in LaOtto to parents John and Anvilla. His brother Jesse W. Rhoads was born the year before in January 1887. By the 1900s, the family was living in Columbia City. Their father John reported in that year’s census his occupation was a saloon keeper, but later census reports show he was a retail merchant. Both Albert and Jesse would decide to enter into their own business, and would end up purchasing the building at 116 West Van Buren Street to run a Pool Room and Soft Drink Parlor.
Before the two would open their establishment though, the building had already been a place of business. Directories go back to 1897 and indicate there were three business listed at this address at that time. Among them were Hemmick & Jones Hardware, Van Orsdall Cigar Factory and Columbia Dry Goods. The building accommodated these various interests with two floors and a dividing wall on the main floor for two business spaces. The one to the rear of the building had a door to the alley.
By 1909, businesses located here included the Dennis Galvan Saloon and Solomon Stine’s “Bee Hive.” Lillich Bakery was located for a time in the back room.
The Rhoads Brothers purchased the building May 5, 1920 from Harmon Schaper. They maintained a successful billiard hall for a number of years. What has been verified is that at one point a hotel was located here, and it was also a tavern owned by the Rhoads Brothers (Stag Tavern) for a number of years. Could it have also been a spot for gambling back in the day or for other ill-purposes? The secrets and tales this building may have held continue to be told throughout the community, but no official reports can verify their truth.
The Rhoads would continue to own and operate from this building until 1969. Albert Rhoads had passed away in 1968. Jesse Rhoads would be killed in an accident in 1971. After this, different restaurants would call this location home.
Some may remember The Alley Restaurant in the 1970s. This supper club and bar utilized furnishings from the Rhoads’ tavern, along with numerous antiques telling the story of the building itself, as well as from Columbia City. Among the items decorating the space, as reported in the local newspaper, were posters, newspapers of the Columbia State Bank robbery, Currier and Ives prints, a 1909 pot bellied heating stove, slot machines, and bottles from the Raupfer Brewery and Columbia City Beverage Company.
Other readers may remember The Columbia restaurant in the late 1980s and 1990s. It was also the Northside Grille for a number of years.
More recently, the building has experienced significant restoration. The upstairs is now used as apartments, while the downstairs retail space is home to Tokyo Restaurant.
Thank you to the Whitley County Historical Museum for sharing photos from their collection and for their outstanding research and writing of the article.
The Architecture that Made Us
Unlike most that we’ve posted over the past year and a half, this “where is it” is one that you will need to watch your step to find! This floor mosaic proclaiming the name of the long-gone “Rhoads Brothers” store is located at the front door of 116 West Van Buren Street, now home to Tokyo Steak House.
Mosaic tile floors have been used since ancient times—some famous examples are in the ruins of Pompeii—and so transcend any specific architectural style. This particular building is a late 19th-century functional style, possibly dating from as early as 1880. Through this unique architectural feature, the building continues to hint at the story of the Rhoads Brothers.
Thank you to Nathan Bilger for providing the recent photos and valuable insights into the architectural history.
