38 Central Street, the Measures Building (c. 1900)

Austin Measures built the Measures Building at 38 Central Street sometime after the Central Street fire of 1894. Measures’ Candy Shop was a long-lasting institution begun by William Willcomb in a small building on North Main Street. Measures was the next owner, and the building was taken down in 1904 to construct the Colonial Building. He reopened in this Central Street location.

central-st-amazeen-building — 32-38 Central is the last tall building on the right.

Inside Measures’ Candy Store on Central St.

The two buildings on the left in the photo below were taken down to erect the Colonial Building, but the rest of the streetscape remains the same. The third building from the left is the Agawam House, still standing but almost unrecognisable.

William Willcomb operated a confectionery shop in the North Main Street building on the far left from 1864 to 1890. “By strict attention to business, unfailing courtesy and a carefully selected line of general merchandise of which ice cream and confectionery formed no small part, a profitable trade was built up which lasted for over thirty years in spite of all competitors.”

Old houses on N. Main St. in Ipswich — Wilcomb’s Confectionery and Measures Candy shop was originally located in one of the small buildings on N. Main St. that were torn down to erect the Colonial Building in 1904. Photograph by Edward L. Darling, courtesy of William J. Barton

View the Austin Measures house on Turkey Shore Rd.

Share this:

Write a comment Cancel reply