S.J. Payne Building

90 West Market Street & 163 South Miami Street

Built: 1898

Style: Renaissance Revival

Built in 1898 by Samuel J. Payne, this structure was constructed on the last available lot on Market Street between Wabash and Miami Streets. At its completion, Mr. Payne hosted an open house with over 300 of Wabash's most prominent citizens in attendance. He, along with his brother Thomas, operated a furniture store and undertaking business there for approximately ten years. The combination of furniture stores and undertaking businesses was common in the late 19th century, for the making of furniture was closely related to the making of coffins. After the Paynes moved out, the business continued under various ownerships until approximately 1930. At this time, the building's ground floor was divided in two and it was shared by the Union Cigar Shop and the Union Coffee Shop in the 1940s and 1950s.

The two-story Renaissance Revival-style S.J. Payne Building has an L-shaped plan that accounts for its Miami and Market Street addresses. One of the most unusual features of this brick structure with an iron and steel frame is the brown, rock-faced surface glazed vitrified brick of the Market Street façade. These bricks were popular for just a brief time, and these particular bricks are from Burgoon & Co. in Logan, Ohio. Notable features of the Market Street façade are the contrasting materials, paired arches, garlands, and lions' heads in the tympana of the large arches of the second floor. The Miami Street façade echoes the Market Street façade with a much less elaborate plain brick and limestone trim.