This broad two-story commercial building was constructed on the south side of Main Street in phases: the western quarter was completed as a one-story building between 1896 and 1900; the other three quarters, also one-story, were completed by 1904; a second story was added to the eastern half of the building by 1909; and the second story was added to the western half sometime after 1945 (SMC 1896, 1900, 1904, 1909, 1918, 1928, 1945). Over the years the building was divided into two, three or four storefronts and housed businesses as diverse as a theater, saloon, grocery store, harness shop, hardware store, piano store, florist, and dry goods store (SMC 1896, 1900, 1904, 1909, 1918, 1928, 1945). Many Lewiston residents remember the building as the J. C. Penney store.