The remaining two corners of Brighton’s Main Street/ Grand River Intersection are harder to track the history of.
On the South-east corner, across Main Street from where the Eastern House Hotel stood, there is currently a two story jewelry store. (The building itself looks too expensive for someone like me…) I missed my chances to get the last shots of the former building when it was torn down a few years ago.
Before the jewelry store, for a good many years– back into the 60s or 70s if I’m not mistaken– this corner was home to Cap’n Corky’s (sp?). It was a liquor store– probably what we call a Party Store around here. The terminology matches what my students use to define a party: not a party without alcohol. Anyway, with the opening of the CVS, as well as a good many other chain stores in the vicinity, it appears that the Cap’n Corky store couldn’t really keep up. Add to that the ever-present problem in the downtown: parking.
The store closed. And– I wish I’d had time to stop and take pix– the construction crews gutted the buildings. I believe only the two walls that abut the neighboring buildings were left standing. Then they added the second story, the new front facade, and all the fanciness.
I have to wonder how long the jewelry store will last in this economy… especially since a long time local favorite is about two doors down. Or will locals go for the “brand name” over the locally owned and operated place. (Sadly, I’m voting for people to go with “brand name” over local. It’s happening in so many other places. But I wish it wasn’t so.)
Going back through history, all I can find is that this corner was home to Brighton’s Foundry for a while. Though, there’s some indication that the foundry was actually not right on the corner. Other records indicate that some part of the time, this corner was a private residence. It’s a little mind boggling for me to think of people living in houses on Grand River… in my life time, Grand River has always been the main business drag through Brighton. Only when you get out WAY past the edge of Brighton’s business stretch are there houses.
More My Town Monday!
