Our Story

The following article first appeared in the  July 28, 2022  edition of the Journal-News . Written by Tori O’Dell 

“If you had told us six months ago that we were going to purchase  the Corner Block Building, we would have just laughed,” said Terri  (Miller) Casey, a Montgomery County native who, alongside her husband  Chris Casey, became the newest owners of the historic building that has  long sat unused on the corner of Wood and Main Streets in downtown  Hillsboro, in June 2022. “Of all the historic buildings located downtown  I always thought that the Corner Block Building would be the first to  be restored but it has continued to languish while the buildings  surrounding it are one-by-one returning to their former glory.”

A relic of ages past, the historic building has been falling into  disrepair for decades and many community members had resigned themselves  to the belief that the structure would crumble before a new owner was  found. A travesty as the building is considered a rare landmark, with  its seamless mixture of architectural types. Dutch Colonial, Gothic and  Queen Anne elements blend together to create a space that commanded  admiration in its heyday and continues to exude a sense of awe even in  its derelict condition. Originally built in 1894 by John M. Whitehead  and Amos Miller, the Corner Block Building served as Hillsboro’s first  library and reading room. It later housed the Knights of Pythias lodge,  as well as a combination of commercial ventures (department stores,  hardware stores, an undertaking office and dental office) and  residential living spaces throughout its more than a century of  existence. Most recently it has housed little more than pigeons and  bats, but despite the monumental commitment that came with signing the  contract, The Corner Block Group, LLC, operated by Chris and Terri  Casey, took a leap of faith to purchase the building with the goal of  saving and restoring it for future generations.

Originally from the Hardin area,  Chris moved to Hillsboro from Chatham when he and Terri married in  August 2021. Like his wife, he fell in love with Hillsboro’s small town  charm and wanted to be a part of the city’s revitalization efforts.

“Terri and I were walking down Main Street one evening, shortly  before we were married, when I told her that I really wanted to purchase  a building downtown,” Chris admitted. “Little did I know that 30 days  later the old Hamilton Hotel, the current home of Century 21 and Bre’s  Beehive, would be up for sale. I was lucky enough to purchase the  building shortly after it was listed. Terri and I were happy working on  updating the building and really thought that the Hamilton Hotel would  be it for us.”

“We had no intention of taking on another project,” Terri  interjected, with a laugh. “Chris and I were sitting at our favorite  spot, near the glass garage doors, at The Opera House Brewing Company  one evening, looking over at the Corner Block Building and having our  regular discussion that ‘someone needed to do something to save the  building before it was too late.’ Tony Marcolini, the owner of the Opera  House, came over and joined the conversation. He looked at us and said,  ‘Why don’t you and Chris just do it?’ We both started laughing and gave  a laundry list of reasons why we weren’t the ideal buyers: We aren’t  wealthy people; we don’t have the kind of trade skills needed to take on  a renovation of that scale…. We kept listing all of the reasons we  shouldn’t take on a project of this scale to each other over the next  few weeks. I spent 15 years thinking that someone was going to fix up  the Corner Block Building and it is a surreal, and sobering feeling to  realize that it is us.”

Where the Hamilton Building had been well maintained over the years,  the Corner Block Building was not and the couple knew going in that  taking on the massive renovation project would propel them out of their  comfort zone. Both are good at project management and knowing where  their individual levels of expertise and skill sets end, and are  approaching the restoration with a sense of realism and armory of advice  from professional tradesmen. The couple also has additional priorities  that take precedence over the large-scale restoration, including their  growing family and careers, and they anticipate that their project will  take longer to complete as a result. The Caseys are not acting with a  finished project in mind, and have a simple answer  for those clamoring to know what they plan to do with the  building.Terri explained. “The overall goal is to save the building,  which means our top priority is making sure it is structurally secure.”  “Our first goal is to make the building safe enough that we can take the  fence down. That will require some structural fixes, so the first sign  of progress anyone will likely see is someone on scaffolding or in a  lift truck doing masonry work.” 

The couple is approaching the renovation in phases and each are in  agreement that the first phase, fixing structural issues to save the  building, is the most critical. They are also in agreement that it is  more than they can do all by themselves and plan to utilize skilled tradesmen and work closely alongside them.

Phase one is to address safety issues and to make the building  structurally secure and sealed-up from the elements so that it will last  another hundred years. Phase two includes laying groundwork for  plumbing and electricity and looking at where to place internal walls  and windows. Phase three is the finishing phase, and while they are not  yet allowing themselves to envision the building in that stage, they do  think the Corner Block will once again be a mixed space with retail  shops and residential apartments .

“Honestly, at this point our vision for what the building will become  is completely wide open. Chris sent me a link to a gorgeous hanging  chandelier with a text that said, ‘Wouldn’t this be beautiful in a big  shop.’ And I said, ‘Yes, but I can’t think about that right now because I  am watching a pigeon knock a brick out of the building as we speak,”  said Terri, with a self-deprecating laugh. “The light fixture is as far  as we are going to dream about a finished space at this stage because  each of the phases is expensive and it is going to take a lot of prayer,  hope, and hard work to get us to stage three.”

While they have a network of family and friends to help them manage  the day-to-day aspects of the project, the local couple welcomes support  from the community to assist them in saving the history-laden piece of  Hillsboro.

“We really weren’t prepared for just how supportive the community  would be. People have been coming up to thank us and we don’t feel like  we deserve that yet,” Terri stated. “Integrity and ethics are values  that are very important to both Chris and myself and it means a lot that  people have put their faith in us.”

She went on to explain that while many people have volunteered to  come in and help the couple, the building is not safe enough for the  general public yet. While The Corner Block Group, LLC is not a  non-profit, they can accept gifts, monetary contributions and in-kind  donations, such as use of equipment, tools, materials, professional  services, building trade services and waste removal.

“We know that it takes a lot of trust to send someone money and we  want to make sure that people know we will use any donations to further  our goal of saving the building,” said Terri. “We want to make sure that  we are good stewards of any funds entrusted to us by adhering to  income/sales tax rules, as well as being transparent with those who do  contribute that gifts to Corner Block Group, LLC, are not  tax-deductible. Chris and I both know that handling other people’s money  requires a lot of trust and we will make sure that any gifts are used  wisely and honestly.”

Currently members of the community can contribute to the large-scale restoration project online at https://corner-block.square.site/product/donate/1, via Venmo @cornerblock,  or by mail to Corner Block Group, LLC, 278 Clear Springs Ln, Hillsboro,  62049. Those interested in making an in-kind donation can contact the  Caseys at cornerblockbuilding@gmail.com. The couple is also working on merchandise such as t-shirts and other Corner Block memorabilia.

“Chris and I aren’t living in a fantasy world. We knew the scope of  the obstacles we would face when taking on the Corner Block Building  before we bought it, and we walked away from the signing with a deep  sense of sobriety about the project that lay ahead of us. We know that  there will be times when things don’t go as planned and that we are  going to get knocked down, probably multiple times, before the building  is finished,” said Terri. “However, we are the kind of people who like  to take on a challenge and there is no reason for the Corner Block  Building to fall down. Chris and I are both optimistic because the  building is in local control now and if we get in over our heads we are  going to make sure that it gets into the hands of someone who will  continue to restore it. The Corner Block Building is a huge part of  Hillsboro’s history and we want to make sure it is a part of its future  too.”

Those interested can keep track of the Corner Block Building’s  progress through the Corner Block Building and Corner Block Preservation  Group on Facebook.