Fairman Building

Banker Ferdinand Fairman (1833-1902) built this structure in 1880-81. The upper floors housed offices, and the basement and first floor offered a variety of commercial businesses, including a combined tobacco store-billiard hall and Fairman’s bank. The block was designed and built by Crocker and Hudnutt of Big Rapids. Fairman closed his bank in 1889, but opened a new one in 1896 after the financial Panic of 1893 left the city without a bank.