From the mid-1800's until around 1930, Newport experienced its Splendid Years, with profitable businesses, a bustling Main Street, and a continuing tourist industry pointing toward continued growth. The streets were newly lit, and by 1917 parts of Main Street were paved. Main Street was lined with shops and businesses from the Memphremagog House, before it burned in 1907, to the Goodrich Library. The park associated with the hotel featured a bandstand and was a popular gathering place, where traveling performers put on shows and gave lectures, providing news and entertainment before the days of talking pictures. The C.F. Bigelow Drug Store, formerly Hall's Drug Store, which was founded in 1869 by James R. Hall, stood just west of the Emory A. Hebard State Office Building. True and Blanchard, Newport's leading hardware store, was another important business on the north side of Main Street and furnished supplies for much of Newport's construction around the turn of the 20th century. The south side of Main Street was also home to many businesses and offices.