Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1902 — “Liberal Corner” Being Demolished. [ARTICLE]

“Liberal Corner” Being Demolished.

Another of Rensselaer’s few re- | maining historic buildings is now l in process of demolition. The building on the north corner of Washington and Front streets, long known as Liberal Corner, is now being torn down to make room for the Knights of Pythias’ proposed “Castle Hall.” The corner portion of the building, that which has its gable towards Front street, is the only part just now being torn down. This building was erected in 1850 by Amariah Tharp, who intended it for a hotel. That year Wesley Webster came and contracted for it for a drug store. Mr, Tharp cancelled that contract, however, and it was occupied for. some time as a residence, but by whom we are unable to say. About the earliest, if not the very earliest business in the building was a store by E. T. Harding and D. T. Halstead in 1853, the latter still a resident of our town. Later Mr. Harding went ont and Wesley Webster went in. In 1856 Webster was down to New York buying goods for the firm, and he then had printed on his wrapping paper the name “Liberal Corner,” that being when the building was first named. The tough Democratic times of 1857 used up Harding & Halstead, and they have had many successors. The eastern part of the building soon also to be- torn down, that with its gable towards Washington street was built by Tom Clark. Opinions differ as to the exact time, but probably as early as ’52 or ’53. Tom, John and Walter Clark ran a big store in it until they broke up by speculating in cattle. Jake Troxell had a store in the building about 1853, and sold it to his brother John. John Austin, father of W. B. Austin had a store in one of the other of these rooms when the civil war broke out, and C- C. Starr clerked for him in 1861, going into the artpy in 1862. Up stain in the corner building Mr. McCarthy started the Jasper Banner, Rensselaer’s first newspaper in 1853. In the third or attic story of the east building the Masons had their lodge room, for a number of yearsThe corner was the leading business place of the town for many years,