Originally numbered 506 and 508, remodeling has completely covered the original building
This building was erected in 1890 after the great Cheney fire of 18 April 1889. John Melville and George W. Rich built two 25′ x 65′ commercial spaces sharing front and back façades.

The brick building was a typical commercial one-story structure with a flat roof, a built-up front façade, that sat on a basalt foundation.
Remodeling has completely covered any traces of the original building, shortened it, and the east side was rebuilt with cement block to re-enforce the deteriorating brick after a smaller adjacent building was removed.
The building housed two commercial spaces originally numbered as 506 and 508 1st

What was here before? George Rich built a 25′ x 76′ wood frame building in the spring of 1883. Next door to the east was another wood frame building housing the New York Bakery. Mr. Rich sold wine and liquor, as well as operating a saloon and billiard parlor. All of the buildings on this block were destroyed in the 1889 fire.

Back to our brick building, the west side space, numbered 506 was an office, while George Rich’s barbershop and baths occupied the east, numbered 508. After another Cheney fire in February 1890, the Free Press noted:
“J.W. Minnick, who moved from his old quarters quite suddenly Sunday night, can be found near the stove in Geo Rich’s tonsorial parlor.”
Minnick shared the space until he could secure another location, moving to College Ave.


The Cheney Free Press was located in the 506 space from at least 1903. They were there until 1924, when they moved to a new building at 108 College Ave.
The two spaces were combined and remodeled to house Cheney Dairy Products in 1935. The creamery processed milk, as well as producing cream, butter, and ice cream. A special non-porous cement plaster coat was applied to the walls and a new cesspool had been installed to take care of waste.
Milton Hunt operated the creamery from 1939 to 1953 when he sold to A.B. “Byrd” Sumsion. Byrd discontinued the manufacturing part of the business, becoming a retail operation under the name Sumsion Yankee Dairy.
The building was again split, with Sumsion using 506 and John and LaVina Davis’ Sporting Goods and state liquor store moved into 508.

In 1957, Davis sold to Ben Meyer, who moved the sporting goods and liquor business to 401 1st. The space at 508 was soon filled by Fred Hoyt’s Shoe Repair, where he also did general fix-it work.

Opal Peterson purchased the building in 1966, remodeling, and recombining the two spaces for Jeanne’s Beauty Shop with Jeanne Nicholson as manager-stylist and boasting the very latest in equipment. It was followed by Snip & Style Salon, J.J.’s Hair Salon, and First Street Hair Design. In the early 2000s a quilt shop occupied the space for a couple of years.

In 2012, developer, Steve Emtman, remodeled all three of the buildings on this side of the street. The two spaces are now known as 510 and 512 1st. The West Plains Chamber office was at 510 from 2014 to 2018, Anna Simonds, hair stylist moved in the following year. At 512, Cadence Massage & Esthetics briefly occupied the space in 2014, then it was used as an office, and in 2021, Salon Jessica moved into the space.

Joan Mamanakis
