Swaney and IOOF building were built sometime between the years of 1904 and 1908 and was occupied by Holzabach & Hruby Clothing store located on the northwest corner of Park and Main. PO1.223a

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North Main Street looking toward intersection of Park Avenue and the west side of South Main Street. Frame building at left of center was the Harris House, sold by the Harris heirs to the Niles Trust Co. in 1920 for the construction of the Niles Bank Building. The Swaney block is next on the right. The IOOF building housed Backenstos Jewelry, Wells Fargo and Singer Sewing Machine Co.

Large building in right foreground is the Wagstaff building, occupied by Niles Plumbing and Heating and Niles Electric Co. It was torn down when the Memorial was erected. PO1.921

The Knights of Pythias members in front of the Wagstaff building, which stood north of the Swaney building on the west side of North Main Street. (Where the McKinley Memorial stands now.) PO1.1963

A legal snag is keeping the buildings standing.
The plan to demolish the last two buildings which share a city block with the William McKinley Memorial and Library has hit a snag according to Leonard Holloway, President of the Board of Trustees of the National McKinley Birthplace Association. The title for the Bollotin Building, 2 North Main Street, is tied up in litigation, blocking the association’s efforts to buy the three-story building for $20,000 and tear it down this spring, Holloway explained. “It’s been a screwed-up mess, I’ll tell you that,” he sighed.

The association had also planned to demolish the adjoining building, which the Niles chapter of the International Order of Odd Fellows donated to the McKinley Birthplace organization in October 1987. The Odd Fellows rented the first floor of the building to two businesses and used the second and third floors. The building was damaged by fire on November 8, 1985.

Holloway explained he believed the McKinley Birthplace Association had a valid deal to buy the Bollotin Building from Jerry Bollotin, 74, who currently resides in New York City, but had occasionally occupied the structure since 1984. However, it turns out Bollotin somehow arranged for the purchase of the building nearly five years ago using funds from his deceased sister’s estate and does not hold sole title to it. Property records obtained from the Trumbull County Recorder’s office show the owner of record is “The Estate of Sarah Bollotin,” Jerry Bollotin’s sister. The building was purchased on June 1, 1984 from Carole A. Prinz of Hillsborough County, Fla. according to the deed for $22,828.99.

The tax card in the County Auditor’s Office reveals the land and building were valued at one time at $49,800, but a penciled notation adds, no leasing-building condemned.
The Bollotin Building was also damaged by the November 1987 fire. The 1989 tax value of the building is listed at $39,000 The building was built in 1903 and renovated in 1980, the tax card adds. Jerry Bollotin’s name does not appear anywhere on the deed or tax card. Sarah Bollotin is listed on the county property records as “deceased” apparently having died sometime before the transaction was consummated.

Holloway said the tangled issue now lies in the hands of several New York City lawyers and he has no idea when it might be resolved. “it’s been a heck of a rigamarole.”

The last occupant of the Bollotin Building was C.E. Davis Advertising. City officials allowed the business to remain in the building after it was condemned while another location was sought. However, the advertising firm moved out in late 1985 after Bollotin pasted two signs in the hallway outside the offices. “Danger–Slow-release cyanide, stay out of the cellar. Fumigating against rats both two and four legged. “Will be back in 10 days,” one sign read. The other said, “Danger–10,000 volts. Come in for the shock of your life.”

The last occupants of the Odd Fellows Building were a restaurant, Charley’s Chew-Chew, and G&S Keys and Crafts. The restaurant-owners retired, while G&S moved to 219 East Park Avenue.

The two buildings now occupy the southeast corner of a block shared with the McKinley Memorial and bounded by Main Street, West Park Avenue, Arlington Avenue and Church Street. The Birthplace Association plans to landscape the land after tearing down the two vacant buildings. The Association accepted bids for the project several months ago, but Holloway said the bids won’t be opened until the legal wrangling is completed.
This article appeared in the Daily Times March 10, 1989 written by Jim Flick

No Longer Standing on the Corner.
Photo of the Swaney Building when it housed Calvin’s Drug Store and the IOOF. These two buildings were demolished January 1990.
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Right:
The view of the McKinley Memorial from the corner after the Swaney Building and IOOF Building were demolished in 1990.