5 Lewis Street – O’Hara House

Lewis Street
Constructed in 1895 as an access route to the railroad by Hardy and Cole. Lots for single and duplex homes were laid out along the north side of the street. Henry G. Tyer built his plant on the southern side of the Low estate in 1856. Tyer invented the process of making clear white rubber goods used for the medical industry. This plant manufactured his new patented shoe called the “Compo”.

Lewis Street was laid out on the southern boundary of the Low property. This new neighborhood was an ideal location for workers in the village to walk to work and its close proximity to the Main Street business center. Number 3 Lewis St. was the first home constructed by Hardy and Cole and sold to Abby Stimson in November 1897.

Lewis Street & Buxton Court were planned about 1893-5 by Lewis T. Hardy and Joseph Cole, partners in the firm of Hardy and Cole 1874-1915. The property was the former Major Joseph Low estate at 80 (70) North Main Street purchased on June 30, 1892 from Mary Ann Low and the remaining heirs of the property.

Hardy & Cole divided up the Low estate property creating parcels to the north of the house on No. Main St. and the new road and court to the south and west.

Named Lewis St. after Lewis Titus Hardy, and Buxton Court after Ira Buxton.
Buxton Court was sometimes referred to as Lewis Court and “Tyrian Way” in deeds

Most of the homes in this neighborhood were constructed as two family duplexes and for the most part owner occupied with the second units used as rental income. The majority of the residents were operatives in the nearby businesses of the Tyer Rubber Company, Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. and Marland Mills of the J.P. Stevens Company.