Ada: Past tense and present tense
This month Icon photographer Bailey Bowers uncovers Ada's past and connects it to Ada's present.
Each set is comprised of three photos: past, present, and composite (past and present put together in one photo). Here's the first in this series.
Looking South from ME Church
Pictured here is the view on North Main Street looking south from the Methodist Church.
Some differences between the two scenes are due to the passage of time. These include the change from carriages to automobiles. The biggest difference between the past and the present is a relatively recent one.
On the right side of the present-day photo, you might notice that one major section of the block is missing. That section was the Arbogast building. At the time of the past picture, it was home to the Young House hotel, named for its founders, William and Christian Young.
The building is missing from the present photo because it caught fire in April 2005. Thirteen area fire departments aided in battling the blaze and approximately 500,000 gallons of water were used to douse the flames. Despite this, the building was destroyed.
At the time of the fire, the upper section housed ONU students and the lower section held several businesses. Today, the lot still remains empty, leaving vacant a section of historic downtown Ada.
CLICK ON THE PHOTOS BELOW TO ENLARGE.
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
- Home cooling assistance program through Sept. 30
- Alfes named Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar for 2024-25
- Library staff will kiss a frog if patrons check out 1,000 books
- Red, White, Woof pup adoption party on July 12
- Expectations, communication feature in public meeting about N. Gilbert St. parking
- Ada Athletic Boosters prepare for 2025-2026 sports programs
- The Icon's menu mission
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Monday, July 7, 2025
- Special Board of Education executive session, July 8
- Funeral arrangements for Vera Marie Sprague
- Hardin County specialty crop walk on July 9
- Private family services will be held for Mary Lou Reffitt
- Varsity Singers Community performance July 10
- Ada Board of Education approves waiver of school fees for 2025-2026
- July 12 Ice Cream Open House at Grace Gospel Church