Soda Pops Antiques

PLACEHOLDER_ vintage photo

Miami Town Site Building  Built 19XX

Current: Soda Pops Antiques  1997 – Present

 

While the founding of the Town of Miami is generally set in the period between 1909 and 1911, it is fact that the town was virtually built, operating and growing fast by the actual date of incorporation in 1914.  But the tremendous sale of property, the establishment of the Miami Copper Company and small copper companies took place before incorporation – as did the construction of the Miami Townsite Building, a handsome two-story building at 505 Sullivan Street.

Cleve VanDyke was the owner of the Townsite Building and much of the property sold in the new community.  The building where he did business was the first on that part of Sullivan Street, with a high thrown-plaster ceiling which was a very expensive way to build in those days, but VanDyke wanted the best.

The building’s original mezzanine, running on one side the full length of the building, was reached by a short stairway from the main floor.  It is noted that VanDyke’s office was on the mezzanine level of the building, in front with a  large window viewing Sullivan Street and the copper mining to the northwest, while his secretary’s office was also on that level but there was no mezzanine on that side of the building.

At the time of the building, there had been a lot of turmoil between those forming townsites, Miami Copper Company, the railroad and those who wanted a part of the brand new community.  In fact, VanDyke was not the benevolent “father” of the community, as noted in a story in the newspaper of the day about someone on the hill facing VanDyke’s office and shooting through the plate glass window at him, with the bullet lodging in his roll-top desk.

In 1913, an addition was built and while still a part of that building, it was given the 503 address and contained the Western Union office and confectionery, with VanDyke Copper Company and the Miami Trust having offices upstairs.  Even later, another small addition was made on the corner with Keystone Avenue, which for years housed several barber shops.

Through 1928, the Town site Office and Miami Trust remained in offices upstairs, while Ne-Way Grocers was downstairs in 1926, and Nader Brothers Dry Goods was there from 1928 through 1940, but later became Nader Emporium, operated by A. A. Nader through at least 1958.

By 1965, the building was vacant, in 1970 was listed as the Miami Recreation Hall, in 1973 housed the First Free Will Baptist Church, but did not last long as the next year it was being used for Services for Senior Citizens.

In 1977, it was again vacant for some time, but about 1990, the Miami Lions Club purchased it, using it for their meetings and by 1996-97 was being used for an antique store.

It was purchased in ’97 by Marcia and Ron Hughes, who began an extensive upgrading for their shop, Soda Pops Antiques.  A general decorating make-over brought out the highlights of the building, including the mezzanine.  A very nice decorative touch was the application of a strip of copper-colored metal ceiling the length of each side of the ceiling and a wider strip down the center from front to back.  To keep the line of sight moving, Ron moved the steps for the mezzanine to the center in the back of the store.

Soda Pops Antiques

Open:

Friday- Sunday  10am – 5pm

Sunday 10am – 4pm

ph: 928-473-4344

cell: 480-839-4794