On This Site - Ridley & Belshaw

James T. Ridley came to Greenville in 1894 and started the Ridley Produce Co, a wholesaler of butter and eggs. His business thrived, and he purchased the former horse barn on this property to house his Egg Emporium. In 1904, a fire burned the Egg Emporium to its foundation. Ridley rebuilt, creating what is now the Flat River Historical Museum building, and resumed operations in 1905. When Ridley eventually closed his business, Charles Belshaw purchased the building. An inventor and process developer, he used the structure to provide innovations for refrigeration and supermarket check-out counters. After his death, the building served a variety of functions such as a furniture resale store, a welfare center, and equipment storage for the City of Greenville.

Greenville, Michigan · United States