Hang out with us in Greenville.

It was in 1844 that John Green built a sawmill near a bend on the Flat River and a cabin for his family nearby. John Green’s Village soon became home to many sawmills, shingle mills, hotels, merchants, churches and families. As the Michigan white pine was logged off, fields were cleared of the pine stumps, and by the turn of the century Greenville was the center of a huge potato growing and marketing area. In addition, in the late 1800’s, it transformed from a logging town to an industrial city. (greenvillemi.org)

The three-story red brick building at 222 S. Lafayette was built in 1892 by Hugh Harris to accommodate his furniture and undertaking business. His store was known as the Harris Bazar because it also had a large stock of goods of multifarious kinds usually kept in a bazar store.

Percy Edsall purchased the red brick building at 222 S. Lafayette from Harris in 1908 and operated a book, stationery and wallpaper store there from 1908-1932. He added his name to the top of the building he had purchased. Percy was also Greenville’s postmaster from 1914-1922.

Many other businesses have occupied the building over time including a bowling alley, tavern and Wyckoff’s shoe store.