If you choose to begin your tour on the Northeast Side of Downtown Bowling Green you will not be disappointed as the building here date from the earliest beginnings of the Crystal City.

102 N. Main Street Thurstins General Store This building narrowly avoided destruction in the great fire of 1887. It marks the southernmost extent of that fire along the east side of Main Street. While the Main Street face of this building is not original, the side on Wooster Street demonstrates the Italiante style. Note the heavy hoodmolds on the second floor windows and the brick corbelling below the cornice. The building was built in 1874 with a residence in the rear and remodelled in 1889 for Dr. Lincoln. This corner was the location for Thurstin's General Store. Alvaro Thurstin was born in 1836. Alvaro Thurstin was married to Amanda Clough and had one son, Frank. The son of Alfred E. Thurstin, one of Bowling Green's founders, Alvaro went on to become one of the city's pioneer merchants. He owned a block on the east side of Main Street where he operated a general store. He also made money as a banker and landlord. Alvaro Thurstin's daybook for the years 1883 to 1886 survived and is archived in Bowling Green's library. The store itself narrowly escaped destruction in the fire of 1887, marking the southern border of the fire's progress. The store remained in operation well into the 1890s and in the later years crockery and queensware were sold there.

Corner of East Wooster and Prospect Street Methodist Episcopal Church Dating from 1872 this imposing brick building stood one block east from Thurstins grocery on the corner of East Wooster and Prospect Street. Orginaly charted at a Methodist Church the congregation in 1964 chose to move further East on Wooster. Unfortunately the church was torn down to make way for a gasoline station built on this site. However, since you have arrived on Prospect Street a brief walk North on Prospect will take you to the Wood County Courthouse.

160 North Main Street New Ross Hotel This three story brick structure was built in 1890 for G. M. Brown, Paul J. Brown, and Charles Ross. George Murray Brown was the Wood County Sheriff for two terms and some items from his office are currently on display in the Wood County Historical Museum. Sheriff Brown had a farm on Conneaut Avenue and extensive oil interests. Originally called "The New Ross" until 1892, the Brown hotel retained its name although it passed through a series of owners. The design is Queen Anne and features extensive brick and tin work along the roof line and raised brick hoodmolds above the windows. The current entrances are not original to the structure. The hotel cost $19,000 to build.

206 North Main Street Lincoln and Tuller Block This commercial Queen Anne style building was built in 1887 for Dr. J. C. Lincoln and Dr. Willis Tuller. Tuller was mayor of Bowling Green from 1884 to 1885. He also served as clerk and director of the school board and as director and officer of the Wood County Savings Bank. Both doctors had their offices upstairs.,BR. The corbel at the top of the building is brick and the second floor windows have elaborate hoodmolds. The first floor entrance is not original to the structure.

206 North Main The Biggs Block The Oriental Saloon and Billard Parlor was located in the Biggs Block on the East Side of North Main between Court and Oak Streets. Today the building houses a popular book store serving the Bowling Green and University community.

Northwest Quarter || Northeast Quadrant || Southwest Quadrant
Southeast Quarter

			BOWLING GREEN 1890S TIMELINE
1890s WOOD COUNTY FARM LIFE AND CULTURE	ANALYSIS OF "CITY" LIFE AND CULTURE IN 1890s BOWLING GREEN	The Development of Public Education in Bowling Green	The Economic and Social Impact of Bowling Green's Oil and Gas Industry in the surrounding Wood County area.
Analysis of Bowling Greens Glass Industry, aka, "The Crystal City"	Oral Memories of Bowling Green in the 1890s