2012.163.037

This is Glass Plate negative 5038. Post Office Block, St. George's Hall, Essex and Appleton Streets. Located on the southeast corner of Essex and Appleton Streets are the remaining two stories of this striking commercial block at 232-236 Essex Street. Built by German-born tailor Frederick W. Schaake from 1867 to 1869, the structure was known alternately as Schaake's Block or Post office Block. The post office was situated here during the latter part of the nineteenth century. A 1939 fire destroyed the mansard roof and top story. Remodeled and renamed the Appleton Building, this was the address for Elliot's, sellers of home furnishings from the 1940's to the 1970's. A curiosity today, Dora Hall's Human Hair Store was located at the left on the first floor in 1890. Miss Hall advertises herself as "sole agent for Her Majesty's Corset's," show casting a variety of these in one display window and human hair samples in the other (wigs were a common item then too). Tenants included the Lawrence Savings Bank, Mr. Schaake, the Lawrence American newspaper, and Attorney N>P> Frye of North Andover.