John Tilley owned the structure in the 1880s and sold furniture in it on all floors. It was a brick facade building in that era. In 1907 Steiger has a lease on the building.
Then Thomas Childs remade the structure into the Childs Building having a facade added in 1912. This building at 273-281 High Street is in the Beaux Arts style. Childs would use the first floor only and Steigers would use floors 2 to 4.
As a budding businessman Childs bought the Corser Shoe store and grew from there. From 1903 to 1912 Childs is at the Marble Block. Before that he is at the corner of Dwight and Maple (1890 to 1903).
View of the INSIDE during a sale.
He also operated a business college on the upper floors. Childs Shoes closes in 1981.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map it is a one floor wooden building for a barber
Sanborn 1895 map it is now 4 floors