Union General John T. Wilder constructed the Wilder Block in 1903. It consisted of Morgan Bros. Grocery, Officer's Hardware, W.A. Horn Dry Goods and Furnishings, and the Bank of Monterey. In 1921, one of Monterey's four great fires destroyed those establishments. Not long after the fire, John W. Welch constructed a new block of buildings on the same spot. Over the years, several businesses opened in the area, including Pugh's Ace Hardware, Wells Ace Hardware, Walker Hardware, Pugh's Grocery, and Bishop's Drugs.