Robbin's Bakery and General Store

Purchased in 1862 by Horatio Nelson Elliott, little development occurred on this lot until John McDonal opened an inn or saloon here in 1866-67. The property changed hands a few times, all while operating as a general store.

By 1880, Paul Smith had a tinsmith shop in part of the building, while the remainder was a harness shop run by Henry Rous. Henry would move his shop to the Thompson Block in 1881, leaving Paul to take over the entire building. Wesley Vansickle was operating a butcher shop in this space by assessment time in 1884. By 1887, Charles Partridge took possession and was a shoemaker on the premises, until Rinear Hanes moved the post office here late in the next year. The property was sold at public auction April 1889, however Rinear remained there with his retail business and post office until April of 1894.

Eventually the property came under the ownership of Asahel and Mary Robbins on March 28, 1901. They revived the old store, adding in a bake oven. Asahel ran the bakery until his death in 1915 at the age of 56, when his son William Ashel assumed control. Mary ran the grocery, bringing her daughters Lillie and Margaret Pearl into the business when they became old enough. The old frame structure was dismantled in 1928, and by November of that year they moved into a new brick bakery, store and dwelling. This structure burned down in 1939, with a new brick house and bakery being built on the opposite side of Main St. (now Lynden Rd.) in 1940. The bakery business continued until 1967, when William retired. The old Robbins' bakery sat idle for years, but by the 70s was used by Amos Kitchen as an auction facility.