The Favorite Saloon Building

This Italianate-style building at 709 Water Street is very likely the oldest building in town.  It is thought to be an early design by architect Alfred Giles, who also designed the Charles Schreiner Mansion and the Masonic Building. Construction was started in 1874 by F. J. Hamer.
William Heuermann bought the building on March 2, 1876, and opened a saloon and grocery store.  Later known as the Favorite Saloon, operated by Mack Weston and Ernest Schwethelm, it continued as a saloon until Prohibition closed its doors on January 1, 1920.  Since then a series of retail businesses have occupied the space.
It was restored in 1995.