Page 24 - Taverns Stands in Woodstock - for Flipbook_Neat

Shortly after the fire, the Cabot Blocks went up in 1869 and the Fairbanks block in 1873 (with a meat market
to the east). The Fairbanks Block (now referred to as the French Block) was made of brick, a sure sign of a previ-
ous fire. French’s Market was on the first floor with offices above. Eventually the Grand Army of the Republic
made its home on the second floor. Many businesses have come and gone over the years in this block.

In 1873, M.C. Fairbanks put up "a new and handsome building of brick and iron, two stories with Mansard
roof." "In procuring stone for his foundation walls, Fairbanks discovered a quarry from which blocks with natu-
ral and perfect faces are obtained with great ease." The quarry was located near A.B. Janquith's nursery on the
outskirts of the village (location to be determined).
The building is described in the July 17, 1873 edition of The Vermont Standard: "After some delay M.C. Fair-
banks has obtained the iron and brick for his store and work on it is being rapidly pressed forward. The build-
ing will be the most centrally located and one of the finest in town, and it merits some description. It is to be
built of iron and brick; in height two stories with a Mansard roof, making in reality a three-story building, only a
foot or two lower than Phoenix Block. On Elm street it has a front of twenty-two feet, on Central Street of sev-
enty-two feet with a depth partly of twenty-two feet and partly of fifty. The basement will be an unusually high
and airy one as the ground floor is considerably higher than the sidewalk. The ground floor will be arranged for
three stores of which Mr. Fairbanks will occupy the one towards the bridge. Rumor has it that Mrs. White, the
milliner, will occupy the corner one. The second and third floors will be divided into offices, ect. It will be fur-
nished in butternut, and let weak eyes rejoice in knowing that it is to have thirty-eight plate glass windows. Mr.
Fairbanks expects to have it ready for partial occupancy in six weeks."

M.C. Fairbanks moved his harness business into the basement (and sold Fairbanks scales). The store on the
easterly side of Central Street was leased by Mrs. D.S. White, who was a milliner. The second story of rooms
were filled by Dr. Baker (dentist) who had a large reception room, a large operating room and a laboratory. The
Woodstock Cornet Band negotiated the use of the entire third floor.

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