401-405 W Main St

From the National Register nomination

This two-part building consists of a mid-nineteenth-century two-story brick dwelling (405 W. Main) to which a two-story brick commercial wing (401 W. Main) was added in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The three-bay house features first- and second-story centered entries with transoms and sidelights. Projecting bays on the first story have multi-pane fixed windows and metal hipped roofs. The ca. 1900 wing has a standing-seam-metal hipped roof and features a recently rehabilitated ground-level storefront and three-bay upper story. The storefront cornice has crown and dentil moldings. A wide frieze and deep overhanging eaves help tie the two sections of the building together. Recent alterations include the replacement of original windows with vinyl sash, the installation of shutters, and the replacement of the original front entry door. According to historian George R. Hawke, the building may have originally served as the Bruce Hotel. In 1875 it contained a general store, and twentieth-century occupants included a print shop, the Brady Barber Shop, and the Grey Rose Tea Room. In 1951 number 401 housed Martha-Laurance Inc. and number 405 was the location of Wayne Office Supply Company. In 1971 the building was occupied by Sharon Book Store. (Hawke, "Waynesboro Historic Buildings & Sites"; "Celebrating Waynesboro's 200 Years;" Bowman, Waynesboro Days of Yore, 5; and Shaw, Ranzini and Wood, "Waynesboro Downtown Historic District").