07/22/2026
Do you recognize 11 Front Street?
Located across from the old Shirley Depot, this commercial building was built in 1875 by Thomas L. Hazen.
The structure was originally rectangular in shape with steps, porch, and roof on the Mill Street side. There were outbuildings connected in the early 1900’s.
At one time, there were stairs going up the exterior of the Front St. side of the building. Notice the trolley coming down the street in that photo.
In the early days, part of the building was the Shirley Post Office.
The first telephone office in town operated at this site.
The Village Library Society had rooms on the second floor before Hazen Library was built.
In the days before the brick store across Mill street, there was a small park area.
In the 1920’s Morin’s Meat Market and Mrs. White’s dress shop were on the first floor.
In the late 20th century, before it was a lawyer’s office, the building housed a hardware store, a craft shop, and a beauty parlor. That is when showcase windows and new entrance doors were added to the front of the building.
For a while, the second floor housed the offices of the Shirley Volunteer newspaper.
It has always had room for residential apartments on the upper floors.
Which part of the building's history do you remember?
