The Schumacher Building circa 1910, when it was home to Heberlein's Hardware Store. Note the false front, intended to make the building appear larger and grander. The small building to the right was home of the Tribune Newspaper (photo courtesy of the Edmonds Historic Museum)."

"Today the Schumacher Building is home to one of Edmond's premier cafe's. Chanterelle's"

The Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission presents historical information on The Schumacher Building:

One of the most familiar buildings on Main Street is known simply as Chanterelle’s.

Located at 316 Main Street, its historical name is the Schumacher building, named after the man who built it in 1890, William A. Schumacher.

To add historical perspective, this was the same year that Edmonds was incorporated.

It became a village 4th class and according to local lore, when George
Brackett found that his petition lacked the necessary number of signatures for the area, he added the names of his two oxen, Bolivar and Isaac, and forwarded the petition to the county commissioners.

Edmonds became the town of Edmonds on August 11th 1890.

This year also saw the council grant the first liquor license, the construction of the Bishop Hotel, and the arrival of Allen M. Yost, destined to become a prominent citizen of our town.

At this time, there were no systems for running water or sewers.

The building’s style is known as Western False Front.

The well-detailed facade, with a parapet, which is higher than the roofline, makes the building look taller and therefore gives it a grander presence than it would otherwise have.

The Schumacher building is a wonderful example of the early commercial development of Edmonds and is thought to be the oldest commercial building in Edmonds, in continuous use since its construction.

In 1904, William Kingdon bought the general store from the Schumacher brothers and in 1906, moved his store to a new building directly east (318 Main St.), a building which to this day is referred to as Kingdon’s General Store.

For many years the Schumacher building was occupied by Heberleinís
Hardware Store, and in the 1940s by the Furniture Exchange.

In 1894, William H. Schumacher became the city treasurer. He was also the founder of the Edmonds Bank and for a brief while, publisher of the Edmonds Tribune newspaper.

The Tribune had gone into print in May 1907 with a printing plant brought from Illinois.
A year later the paper was sold to T.A.A. Siegfriedt, an Edmonds lawyer, and then in October 1908 to W. H. Schumacher.

It didn’t take long for Mr. Schumacher to discover the hazards of the business.

About a month after taking over, he published a letter by the former owner Mr. Siegfriedt pertaining to an incident where an effigy of Mr. Siegfriedt had been hung over Main St. one night and had been allowed to stay there until noon the next day.

The letter suggested the involvement of a Citizen’s Committee abetted by (amongst others) Mayor James Brady.

The day after the edition, Schumacher was ordered to vacate his premises at the northwest corner of 4th and Main within three days or face a prohibitive rent by his landlords Mr. and Mrs. James Brady.

The printing equipment was spread around town until a building was erected for the newspaper across the alley, west of the Schumacher building.

In 1904 the first Edmonds Bank was opened by two Seattle lawyers and a man from Port Angeles.

Several businessmen, including W. H. Schumacher were asked to be listed as directors to give the enterprise some credibility.

It was soon dis- covered that the three initiators had invested no money.

Within a month Mr. Schumacher raised $12,000 in cash, sufficient to open the bank.

The bank moved into a new building at the southwest corner of 4th and Main in August 1907.

The south side of Main St. between 3rd and 4th became the first permanent business block in town.

Today the Schumacher Building is home to Chantrelle, one of Edmonds’ premier cafes.