Then and Now #14 - Philip's Garage

📍 Philip's Garage is located at 401-403 Locust Street, at the corner of Locust and Ann Street; the portion at 403 was likely originally built around the 1880s or 90s 🕰️ with the corner brick building being much older 🧱. In 1896 the spot was listed as a carpenter shop 🔨 but by 1901 Sanborn maps list it as vacant🚪. Between 1896 and the end of the decade the building was refurbished and expanded 🔧🏗️. On the 1909 Sanborn map the building is listed as a steam and gasoline engine shop🔩⛽. Philip's Garage opened in that location in 1912🚗. While the business moved by 1920, Philip's Motor Company, a car dealership 🚘, used 403 Locust from 1931 to 1940📆. Later the building would host a handful of grocery stores 🛒– Johnsons Produce 🍎, Harkins Poultry 🐔, Wilburn's Market 🥦, and Swift & Company Produce🍉. Since 1959 the building has remained mostly vacant 🚫 though the larger primary building has been renovated 🔨, and the upper story now has housing 🏠.

Historic Photo from Livingston County Library archives via Downtown Chillicothe Historic Tour website. Current picture courtesy of J.T. Baysinger June 18, 2025.