GAYLEEN GINDY

Moving west on Monroe Street, past Fricker’s, the next two parcels are Lot No. 1 and 2 of a subdivision called “Hubbard’s Addition to Sylvania” which was created in the early 1900s.

In 1890 Hiram Hubbard, a very early settler to Sylvania, purchased a large parcel of land from Peleg T. Clarke, which ran along the south side of Monroe Street and extended to the west, east, and south, including both sides of the creeks where the Ottawa River, Ten Mile Creek and North Branch of the Ottawa River meet (today all this land is occupied by the SOMO Apartments and Harroun Park).

In 1893 Hubbard transferred all this property to his daughter Flora Hubbard. He died in 1897.

In 1903 Flora married Ray West, a local livery man, and he subdivided lots along Monroe Street and called it Hubbard’s Addition to Sylvania in honor of his wife’s family. He laid out 14 lots, each having a 50- to 60-foot frontage and a depth of 180 feet. Beyond that depth was a massive field, the creeks and a large barn and the many horses West bought and sold.

Residential homes were built on most of the 14 lots, while commercial buildings were constructed on others. Over the next several months the history each of the 14 lots established here will be shared.

The addresses of Lots No. 1 and 2 were 6351 and 6357 Monroe St., but together the address 6359 Monroe St. was used.

These two lots were sold for the first time in 1925 when Ray E. and Gladys I. Dewey purchased them. Since then, both lots have always been sold together. In 1927 the lots transferred into just Gladys I. Dewey’s name.

A 1926 Sylvania postal listing shows that 6359 Monroe St. was occupied by Ray Dewey, who was believed to be selling gasoline on the lots.

In 1935 Fanny O. Gaines purchased the two parcels and owned them until 1963. On July 8, 1938, Fanny’s husband, Frederick W. Gaines, who was an attorney, submitted an application for a zoning permit to reroof their gasoline filling station and install an ornamental fence on the property. The Howe Weis Oil Company was listed as the station business owner.

In 1957 the first Suburban Directory was published and listed Gene’s Speedway Service Gas Station at 6359 Monroe St.

The 1958 directory listed the following: 6359 Monroe St. – Gene’s Speedway Service Gas Station – Ernest E. Simons. This listing remained the same through 1963.

An article in the Sylvania Sentinel dated Jan. 9, 1958 reported that two teenagers from Adrian, Mich. made an unsuccessful attempt at an armed robbery of the service station at 6359 Monroe St. After the proprietor, Ernest W. Simons, slammed the door of his office on the two, one of the suspects flourished a gun and then they left the location. They later were apprehended by officers in Blissfield, Mich.

In 1963 the property transferred into the name of Frederick W. Gaines III and that same year sold to Eddy Gas & Oil Co. Their slogan was “Eddy’s – Your Warm Friends.” The 1964 through 1967 Suburban Directories listed Eddy’s Gas & Oil.

The 1968 and 1969 directories listed Sam’s Service Station and then the 1970 directory listed Eddy’s Car Wash. From 1971 through 1973 the building was listed as vacant.

On Oct. 17, 1974 Dr. David Ryerson was issued a zoning permit to add a 26-foot by 32-foot extension to the existing building and remodel the interior for a dental office. The 1975 Suburban Directory listed 6357 Monroe St. – David R. Ryerson, dentist – Sylvania Dental Building. As of the 1976 directory Dr. Ryerson, dentist, was listed as well as Todd Dunkle, dentist. In 1984 the property was sold and placed in the name of Son-of-Ryer Investment Co. Directories through 2015 listed Sylvania Dental Building.

In 2007 the property transferred to S.D.G.L. Company.

In 2015 the Frick Family LLC purchased the property, and in 2017 they were issued a demolition permit to remove the structure from the property. Today these lots are vacant and are used for overflow parking for Frickers.