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One of the earliest brick commercial buildings in Sandwich stands at the southeast corner of Main and Railroad Streets. Known historically as the Kleinsmid Block, the building represents the transition of Sandwich from a frontier settlement of wooden storefronts to a permanent and organized business district.
The corner was already an important commercial location before the brick structure was built. In the late 1850s the site was occupied by an early store operated by George B. Hollenback, a merchant who sold dry goods, clothing, furniture, groceries, boots, and other necessities to the growing community. An 1859 advertisement noted that Hollenback’s store operated on a “ready pay system,” allowing goods to be purchased either for cash or on credit. His store served Sandwich during the town’s earliest years when most buildings in the business district were simple wooden structures.
In 1856 George Kleinsmid arrived in Sandwich and entered the hardware business through a partnership with George Isham. At the time Sandwich was still a small country village, and most of its commercial buildings were frame structures. The partnership operated for several years before dissolving. In 1864 Kleinsmid constructed a substantial brick store building at the southeast corner of Main and Railroad Streets and moved his hardware business into the new structure.
Historical Note
Evidence suggests that by the early 1860s this corner was already part of a small but growing brick-built commercial district. Advertisements from the 1861 Sandwich Gazette reference a “new brick block” on Railroad Street occupied by A. Gage & Bro., while earlier merchants such as George B. Hollenback operated from substantial structures here in the late 1850s. Later accounts credit George Kleinsmid with constructing or significantly improving a brick building on this site in 1864, indicating the property developed in phases rather than a single moment of construction.
The three-story brick building quickly became one of the most prominent commercial structures in the young town. From this location Kleinsmid operated his hardware business for nearly four decades, remaining active in the store until his death in 1902. In addition to hardware, he also dealt extensively in nursery stock and participated in the State Horticultural Society, reflecting the agricultural needs of the surrounding farming community.
Kleinsmid’s long business career made him one of Sandwich’s most respected merchants. He served several terms as alderman on the city council and was active in local civic life. His influence extended beyond the business district as well. During the same period he constructed the large Italianate mansion on Center Street that still bears the family name today.
Historic photographs of downtown Sandwich confirm the importance of the Kleinsmid Block. A well-known photograph taken on Decoration Day in 1899 shows the building prominently along Main Street with “Hardware” painted across its upper façade. At that time the store was surrounded by other developing businesses as the downtown district expanded around the railroad and the growing commercial trade of the region.
George Kleinsmid died on March 2, 1902 after a brief illness. Local accounts described him as a pioneer businessman who came to Sandwich when it was still a hamlet and lived to see the town grow into a thriving community. As a mark of respect, Sandwich businesses closed during the hours of his funeral services.
Today the Kleinsmid Block stands as a reminder of the early merchants who helped shape Sandwich’s downtown. Built in 1864, it remains one of the earliest surviving brick commercial structures associated with the city’s formative years.
Sources
History of DeKalb County, Illinois. Chicago: H.F. Kett & Company, 1878.
Obituary of George Kleinsmid, Sandwich newspaper, March 1902.
Sandwich Historical Society photograph collection, Decoration Day downtown photograph, 1899.
Local historical articles and business histories compiled in Sandwich historical publications.
Historic photographs and captions identifying George Kleinsmid’s hardware store at the southeast corner of Main and Railroad Streets