Sheridan Block

308-310 South Summit Street

The Sheridan Block building was built in the late 1880s.

In 1890, this three-story stone building was occupied by a harness business at 308 S. Summit St. and an agricultural implements store at 310 S. Summit St.

A central stairway was installed inside the building on the Summit Street side, between the two businesses.

A number of different businesses have occupied the building through the years, but it probably is known best as having housed women’s clothing stores — first, Bridges Style Shop, which moved to 310 S. Summit St. in 1937; and second, Harvey’s Fashions, which opened in 1960 and continued to operate until July 2002, when Denim to Lace announced it was moving north to the 310 address from a few doors south on the same side of the street.

Denim to Lace continued in business through 2006.

Previous occupants include, in 1920, the Arkansas Valley Gas Co.

It occupied 308, while 310 was divided into two stores — a flower shop and shoeshine business.

By that year, the upper floors of the building had rooms for rent.

The Ark Valley Gas Co. remained through 1930, but by 1938, the Kemp Sales Co. and an optometrist occupied 308 S. Summit St.

The American Café occupied the 310 location by 1925, but left the building by 1928.

Bridge’s Style Shop was in business at 310 S. Summit St. from 1937 until 1960, when Harvey’s moved in.

The building, most recently home to the now-closed Special Threads dress/tuxedo shop at 308 and M’s Used Furniture Store at 310, has elements of the Richardsonian Romanesque, Romanesque Revival, Sullivanesque Influence and Italianate styles.

It has a rock-faced stone façade with a band of round-arched window openings on the second floor and segmentally arched windows on the third floor.

Historic views illustrate that a pressed-metal cornice and other features have been removed from upper façade.

In addition to its rustication and arch work, this building features rosettes in cast-iron trim.