Carey's Hall

John W. Carey, noted builder and businessman, was a prominent figure in the early history of Sidney, Ohio. His father was Cephas Carey, one of the first settlers in Shelby County. John constructed this three-story, five-bay commercial building at 102 East Poplar Street in 1854. Although the exact date of establishment is not known, he also founded Sidney’s first bank.

The name plaque high on the front of the building still reads "Carey’s Hall." In the early 1870s, this building was offered as first prize in the lottery to raise money for the construction of the Monumental Building. It was later known as the Thompson Building, so named for the winners of that lottery.

The building’s upper level windows have plain stone lintels and sills as does the nine-bay west side. A pedimented gable roof was removed sometime after 1913.

An inset marble plaque on the first level of the west side (Ohio Avenue) reads ‘post no bills here’. Prior to newspaper, radio, and TV, the primary means of advertising was via printed handbills. Ads were literally plastered everywhere. Mr. Carey was apparently trying to prevent those unsightly hand bills from being plastered all over his new building.

'Downtown' segment written in October, 1998 by Sherrie Casad-Lodge 

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