421 N Main St

From the National Register nomination

Italianate-influenced two-story painted brick store with an asphalt-shingled front-gable roof. The front is stretcher-bond; the sides are American-bond. The elaborate stepped front parapet has projecting piers and corbeled outer edges. At its center is a marble plaque inscribed "Built by A. H. & W. M. B. For Walker Ritter 1880." The second-story windows have segmental brick label moldings and 6/6 fake-muntin sash. The storefront has modern brick infill. On the south side is a first-story glass block window. On the rear is a two-story cinder block addition with a brick front. A. H. & W. M. B. stand for Anthony Hockman and William M. Bucher, who partnered as contractors during the period. The Wetsel Seed Co. opened its first store here in 1911 and a general store used the premises in 1918. A photo from the early 20th century shows the original storefront with two large four-light windows flanking double-leaf wood and glass panel doors and a second-floor entry with sidelights and a transom at the north corner. Various additions have come and gone including a small two-story frame dwelling appended to the north side. The building remained in the Ritter family through 1939. (Wells and Dalton, Virginia Architects, 53; Loker, "Wetsel Seed Co.;" Stultz, "House of Wetsel Seeds")