The "Romanesque Tavern" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Trying to find a parking spot in the center of downtown Lancaster so I can make a visit to Central Market.  Since I was heading south on Duke Street I decided to make a right turn onto East Grant Street.  The same street that I traveled many times when I was a young boy to visit with my Nannan (grandmother) at Bushong Coal Company that was located in the first block of East Grant Street.  Was always a treat to go to work with my dad at Meiskey's Jewelry Store, which at the time was two blocks away on West Chestnut Street, and walk south to visit with my Nannan Woods.  Her maiden name was Bushong and the owner of the Coal Company was her cousin.  Well, those days are long gone as is the entire row of offices that were located on the north side of the first block of East Grant Street.  

C. Emlen Urban designed building at
the corner of East Grant and Lennox Lane.

But, one of my favorite buildings in the block was across the street from Bushong's.  Place called Charlie Wagner's Cafe.  The brick building was built in 1891 along Grant Street where the street intersected Lennox Lane.  Lancaster's well-known architect, C. Emlen Urban, designed the three-story building in the Romanesque Revival style as he did for many other downtown buildings.  Place was built of brick, cut stone, terra cotta and pressed metals.  Between the second and third floors was placed a diamond frieze.  Neat design, but what always made it so interesting to me as a child, as well as today, is the recessed corner entrance.  The bottom floor seemed to have been chopped off at the corner and a door was placed along the corner with a decorated post holding the corner of the building in place.  

Corner entrance.

Well, I found my parking place in the lot that once held Bushong Coal Company and before heading to market, stopped to take a photo of what was once the tavern, but today holds the law firm of Goldberg & Beyer.  Took a few outside shots and saw the lights were shining inside, so opened the door and entered.  Three secretaries welcomed me and after listening to my request to take photos, told me to shoot away.  The ceiling held a pressed metal design with a beautiful chandelier.  But, the most impressive part were the glass-leaded windows.  I looked at them for some time and then asked the secretaries if they represented flowers.  One said she thought the exact same thing until a child mentioned to them that he thought the windows represented soldiers.  Viola!  I think he may have been correct.  One way or another, the place was beautiful both inside and out.  Check out the photos I took and see if you too don't agree.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The rear or the building shows two doors.  More than likely the place sported an office along Grant St. and a residence along Lennox Lane.

Corner decorations on corner at the second floor level.

Along Lennox Lane  can be seen the diamond frieze.

The metal ceiling holds a beautiful chandelier. 

Windows that front on East Grant Street display what allegedly are representations of soldiers in each panel.  The soldier is wearing a head piece.  You can make out the arms, body and legs of the soldier.