101-103 North Wayne Street, 1883

Plaque Text: Built in 1883, this opera house was the center for social and cultural life. First owned by Dr. James Adams and later Russell M. Morvilius, many plays, lectures, and all forms of entertainment and enlightenment were held here. It was the site for Fort Recovery commencements and class plays for over 40 years, until the school auditorium was built in 193. From 1883 to 1972 two businesses operated on the first floor. The first businesses were Schneider Saloon and Adam's Drug Store. In 1972, it became one large store. The upstairs opera house survivied throughout the years.

In 2021, the building was purchased by the Friends of the Opera House, a non-profit organization. The two entrances and opera house were restored.

105-107 North Wayne Street, circa 1870

Plaque Text: Known as the Berkheimer Building, two businesses were here. In 1906 the two businesses were The Porterfield-McDaniel Bank, later known as Fort Recovery Banking Co., and the Meinerding Hardware. The two-story building was destroyed by an explosion when a gun discharged into a box of dynamite in the hardware store. Five people were killed and the back of the building completely destroyed. Almost every window in town was broken. After the explosion, the bank rebuilt the building and operated on the south side until they moved down the street in 1922.

Numerous businesses called the south side home including Amy Bower's Dinner Bell and Cattell's Restaurant. Fort Recovery Radio began their operations here. At one time, the telephone exchange was located on the second floor. Later a fire in an upstairs apartment destroyed the second story. The north side remained a hardware store. In 1935 it became a restaurant/tavern operated by various owners. In 1998 it became Thienman's Bar & Grill and later Brick Street Tavern.

109 North Wayne Street, circa 1888

Plaque Text: Adam Schneider, a highly esteemed citizen of Fort Recovery, was born in Germany. He came to America in 1881, where he joined his three brothers Charles, Frederick and Peter, who were engaged in business in Fort Recovery. He entered into several businesses with his brother. In 1888, he erected this large brick building, which bears his name. The Mercer County Atlas of 1888 described him as a dealer in imported wines, cigars, and tobacco.

111 North Wayne Street, 1907

Plaque Text: Elston Adams constructed this building in 1907 for his bakery. Many bakeries occupied this building for the next 20 years. From 1929-1945, it housed the Douglas Restaurant and later the Ideal Cafe. Al and Mary Romer opened R&S Electric in 1947, providing electrician services and selling appliances.

In 1972, Fort Recovery Supply occupied the building. Later Kim Day purchased Fort Recovery Supply and moved to its current location. Sutton's store was here from 1976 until 1982. Barbara Bailey came next, opening the Village Trading Post, followed by Westgerdes Floor Covering.

113 North Wayne Street, 1903

Plaque Text: A string of old wood buildings were here until 1903 when Henry Fetter razed them and constructed this 2-story brick building for Frank J. Sonderman & Co., in business for 10 years. Sonderman's began with Frank Sonderman, his brother Bill, sister Louis Sonderman Seifert and husband Steve, and later son August. Sonderman's was in the dry goods, clothing, hat and shoe business, with later additions of curtains, drapes, and floor covering, until 1965.

George Jetter then purchased the building and donated it to the Fort Recovery Public Library, which moved here in 1968.

117 North Wayne Street, circa 1922

Plaque Text: William Martin built his log home and trading post here in 1836. Until the early 1900's, this lot housed a doctor's office, drug store, millinery store, print shop, barber shop, and hairdresser.

The Fort Recovery Banking Co. purchased the lot in 1919, and by 1922 moved from down the street into their new building. The bank began as the Portfield-McDaniel Bank, then the Fort Recovery Banking Co., Second National Bank, and now Park National Bank. Two prominent original features of this building are the fort at the top center and the clock.

121-123 North Wayne Street, circa 1870

Plaque Text: By 1875, George Krenning owned much of this block, running a general store from 1870-1885. The Krennings built a large, ornate home here, hosting many parties and celebrations. In 1914, the house was moved to 314 East Boundary Street.

In the late 1940's, Krennings donated the lot to the Fort Recovery Historical Society. In 1980, a walk-by museum was built that features local historic exhibits. Krenning Park also includes a 1940 log house, moved here in 1998. From early band concerts to Christmas Open House celebrations, Krenning Park continues to be a community gathering place.

125-127 North Wayne Street, circa early 1900's

Plaque Text: Van Baker Hotel was here in 1880 until around 1900. John Premer moved Fort Recovery Monuments here in 1927. It then passed to Ted Franklin (1945), Larry Keller (1971), Charles and Natalie Meinerding (1979), and Edwin Nickel (2006).

North of Van Baker Hotel stood a three-story building occupied by a drug and general store, confectionary and grocery until the early 1900's, when the original building was moved. Henry Vogel's saloon was here in 1927, followed by Wangler Hardware from 1935 to 2001. It then became Ron May Plumbing, followed by Cedar + Mane Beauty Collective.

129 North Wayne Street, 1876

Plaque Text: In 1876, Sebastian Lauber erected this 2-story building in which he conducted a bakery and restaurant/saloon. It was owned by the Star Brewing Co. from 1897-1916. At one time it was the City Baker and later Oyster Depot Restaurant. Henry Vogel owned it from 1927-1962.

The business changed hands over the years, including Eddie Wolf's Restaurant (1937), Pauls' Place (1952), Kaiser and Depweg Tavern (1962), Smittie's (1970), Mel's Place (1976), Von's Bar (1984), and Vore's Bar & Grill (1993). The building last housed North End Bar & Grill starting in 2001.

131 North Wayne Street, 1908

Plaque Text: In 1832, David Beardslee opened a general store and then a tavern here, in his 2-story home. Part of the original stockade from the Fort still stood and offered some protection. Several saloons operated here from 1879 to 1893. Dry goods store Frank J. Sonderman & Co. operated here from 1893-1903, before moving a block south.

In 1908, People's Bank opened and operated from this location for 81 years, before moving a block north in 1989. Several video stores operated here in the 1990's, and later Old Fort Coins, and then Copper & Co Salon.

133 North Wayne Street, 1907

Plaque Text: David Miller bought this lot in 1834 from the US Government. From 1834-1903 the lot changed hands at least 11 times. Henry Sunderman, a bricklayer and general contractor, constructed this building in 1907. Kleinheinz Hardware operated until 1946, with a photography studio upstairs. It was followed by Ranly Hardware.

By 1959 Leo Snider operated Fort Recovery Hardware for 31 years, selling to Tim Roessner. In 1993 Wangler Hardware purchased it and expanded their business into this store until 2001. Nature's Corner then opened its doors offering spa, beauty, and personal care. 

200 North Wayne Street, 1879

Plaque Text: Before 1879, Jacob Anthony, Sr. operated a harness shop in a frame building here. This building was erected in 1879 to house John Adams Drug Store which operated until 1917. Zimmerman Drug Store was then in business until 1929. The store included a pharmacy, sundries, and soda fountain, with dances held in the hall above.

In 1929, Ted Sauer operated Sauer's Drug Store until 1970. The upstairs apartment was his family's home for many years. After 1972, the space was renovated for the Knights of Columbus, and was used until the early 2020's.

201 North Wayne Street

Plaque Text: In the late 1800's and early 1900's, George Krenning owned most of this block. A millinery shop was here in the early 1900's. Reuter and Leonard Dry Goods occupied space in the area in the 1920's.

From the 1940's through 2000, many insurance agencies occupied this building, including Chamberlain-Kolp, Hein-Marsh, and Hein Insurance Agencies with Guy and Dick Chamberlain, Clark Kolp, E. Ray Marsh, and Charlie and Chuck Hein. This building was remodeled in 1966. In 2013, nurse practitioner Amy Wendel's Family Health practice operated here, followed by Fort Recovery Radio.

205 North Wayne Street, 1880

Plaque Text: This building was constructed in 1880 by George Krenning for his general store in business until 1906. In 1907, H.W. Long and Morris Weiler, of Portland, bought the store. For 31 years the store was known as Weiler Bros. and Long's. Harry Long took over his father's business, naming it Harry Long Department Store, continuing until 1958.

McCord's 5 & 10 moved from their first location to here, and then Bob Crabtree operated a furniture store. In 1974, Fort Recovery Supply, a NAPA dealer, moved to this location and is now owned by Kim Day.

206 North Wayne Street, 1912

Plaque Text: Prior to 1912, grocery stores, a well drilling shop, plumbers, implement storage, and a hotel operated at this stie. In 1900, John H. Zehringer purchased the hotel, demolished it, and built the Zehringer Building to house the Old Fort Hotel, with a saloon and restaurant. The hotel changed names and owners several times.

In 1947, Kroger's moved to the Zehringer building, with Pinky Gebele as manager. Jerry and Catherine Adams built an addition to the north and in 1969, began Wayne IGA. It has operated as Ole Fort IGA and then again as Wayne IGA since then.

209-211 North Wayne Street, 1909

Plaque Text: Brothers John and Manuel Hull started selling farm equipment in 1896 from a vacant lot here, erecting this building in 1909. Hull Brothers moved to East Boundary Street in 1947. The south side was used for variety stores and grocery stores. Zehringer's Grocery and Clover Farm Store operated here from 1920 through 1968. 

Other businesses included Fort Recovery Plumbing Shop, Bob Muhlenkamp's cabinetry and electrical shop, Ambassador Attic, Bob and Lois Hoying's antique store and dry cleaners, Chad Kaiser Auido & Video, FACCO Poultry Equipment, Bihn's Dry Cleaning, and Grooming Tails Pet Salon.

214 North Wayne Street, 1878

Plaque Text: Built in 1878 as the city hall, there was a jail in the back of the building. Later the fire department was added to the north side. After the town moved their offices, the fire department took over the whole building until it moved to its new location on Main Street.

In 1932, Herb Franke and Tom Hastings came to town and published The Journal in a building next door until a fire in 1973. Bob Hart took down the building when be built the garage next door.