28. ME.Smith & Company Building - 201 West 2nd Street
You can now look up and down 2nd Street and see what might have become Chadron’s main business district. It was in contention for a number of years, but there was more support for building on Main Street. There were, however,
many important businesses along 2nd Street, and this intersection was Chadron’s second most important.

On the southwest corner of Chadron and Second Streets is the M. E. Smith & Co. building. (Look at the top of the building above the main door.) This store was a must for lady shoppers coming to town on Saturday and the high point for any
young woman who wanted to look her best.

The store was owned by one of Chadron’s leading businesswomen, Mary E. Smith Hayward who was also influential in the beautification of Chadron. She was responsible for getting many trees planted around the city and at the Courthouse. The Court-house Square was renamed in 1998—The Mary E. Smith Hayward
Square.

29. Lowenthal Building - Butcher Market       Steakhouse, 120 2nd Street
In typical 1880’s storefront facade style, this building has a cornice molding between the stories and a larger
one repeated at the top, with its center marked by a cupola (a small structure adorning the roof).

This was the store of Ben Lowenthal and, later, his sons Charles and Moie. Ben was one of the many people to live in “old town” Chadron and served the community several years in many roles. His family is the only one to have had both a father and son serve as mayor of the town.

Look at the large painted sign that is on the east wall by the alley. This is a
sign for the Lowenthal Clothing Store, which provided furnishings to “gents.” From this same position, look back at the M. E. Smith building. Note the very dim Red Owl food store sign painted on the top and north of this structure. After Mrs. Hayward died, the building became the location of the Red Owl Store.