History of the Ritzman Pharmacy Building
The land this building once belonged to Judge Frederick Brown, the first pioneer to settle at the ‘center’ of the future downtown. He built his log cabin in 1817 where the Wadsworth Library is located today. He donated the land to the Congregationalists where they built a large log cabin that was used for both a church and a school at the NE corner of North Pardee and College Streets
This property was then owned by the Pardee family. Eventually this area became the site of Dr. W. C. Kreider’s house in front of his animal hospital and livery. Directly next door to the north his father, John O. Kreider, built a frame hotel in 1894 and named it the Kreider Hotel. Ten years later the hotel caught on fire and burned to the ground. It was replaced in 1904 with a new brick hotel. Notable guests staying in the hotel included William McKinley and Warren G. Harding. The hotel had a reputation for its fine cuisine. The hotel over the years went through a succession of owners. It eventually became known as the Park Hotel and the last owner was the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John O. Kreider, Mrs. Clarence Fixler.
The two buildings were demolished and burned by the Wadsworth Fire Department in the early 1970’s to make way for the construction of this current building. The first business to occupy the entire structure was the Benjamin Franklin 5 and 10 Store owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Elsass. This was an expanded version of the store they once owned on Main Street in the IOOF building.
The Ben Franklin Store was eventually replaced with Holmesbrook Hardware. This business moved from its location in the Myers Building just south of its new home on High Street. Ritzman’s Pharmacy moved into the south part of this building now occupied by The Sub Station Restaurant.
The building that once stood immediately north of this structure was the old Masonic Temple. It was built on the property formerly owned by the Boyer family. The cornerstone was placed in November 1923 and it opened in 1924. The Great Depression took its toll and bills could not be paid. The bank foreclosed on the building and it set idle for several years. The City purchased the structure and it became the town’s Recreation Center. Basketball courts were placed on the first and second floors. A pool table and ping pong area, along with a soda fountain and snack bar, occupied the basement.
In 1973 the new recreation center called Steiner Youth Center opened on the Wadsworth High School Campus. The Rec Center then became the Center for Older Adults. An elevator was installed at the rear of the building for handicap access; as well as, the placement of a winding wheelchair ramp in the front of building.
Over the years this building served as temporary quarters for the school district’s classrooms and city hall offices while new buildings were under construction. It served the city well until it was ultimately sold and demolished to provide more parking for the business next door and the placement of a drive through window for the pharmacy as it was moved from the south end of the building to the north end.