While perusing the 1882 Cincinnati illustrated business directory, I happened upon the following illustration of 496 Main Street between Abigail and Woodward Streets. The same building is now 1206 Main Street between E. 12th and E. 13th Streets. Cincinnati’s street numbers changed in the 1890s and many street and alley names have changed over time. What was Woodward and Abigail Sts. in 1882 are now E. 13th and E. 12th, respectively. Today, there is a Woodward Street off Main Street but it was Webster Street in 1882. What is now 14th Street east of Main was Franklin Street.
Notice the Main Street horsecar in the drawing above. Horsecars were used throughout the city until the introduction of the electric streetcar in 1889. That same year, the Main Street-Mt. Auburn incline, the city’s first dating back to 1872, was electrified in order to carry the new streetcars.
Today, condos fill the upper floors of 1206 Main St. and Gateways to Healing Chiropractic and Nutrition occupies the storefront. Thanks to Google Business Photos, one can take a virtual tour of the Gateways to Healing space online.
A view down Grear Alley
