The courtyard square is surrounded by historical buildings.
The Westside Tavern was built in 1935 as a tavern and has continued as such since that date, the name has never changed. Manis McDougal, Tom Lingle and Gerald (Jake) McDougal were the builders. The first owner was Pearl Sanders. Other owners were Bert Marler, who owned it 16 years; Fred Pettis; Ed Press; Jim and Carol Gildea; Frank Goodrich, who was owner 16 years; and Pat Carson.
The Hotel building is an impressive landmark, built in 1884 at a cost of $20,000. It was first known as the Arlington House. The Hotel originally had 50 elaborately furnished rooms, each with their own stove or fireplace. It ceased operation when several rooms were converted to apartments. Note, the deocrative trim over the windows on the third floor is different from that over the first and second floor windows.
Bird Pritchett built the large, two-story brick Pritchett Opera House in 1877 on the southwest corner of the square. Pritchett’s Opera House was on the second floor. The second floor also rented to shows as they came through. Lectures, Royal Neighbors Lodge meetings, dances, banquest and box and pie suppers were also held there.
The second floor was tightly locked for a decade, starting in the early 1900s, then came into use for basketball games during 1914-15. Entry to the second floor was on the east side of the building through the doors with “Entrance” marked along the top of the door frame.
Snowden’s garment factory, the U.S. Post Office, a grocery store, insurance company and abstract officers were some of the businesses that have been on the first floor. Today, Reynolds Law Firm owns and operates the building.
In 1947, Roy Lewish of Lewis Chevrolet built the brick building west of the Pritchett Opera House, which now houses the Osceola City Water Department.
In 1902, brick masons pushed up the walls of G.T. McNeil’s 54 foot by 80 foot two-story double-brick building, with a tower and balony adding flavor to the south side of the square. It’s not home to Kerr Dental Office. Two business rooms on the first floor and nine offices above all had modern improvements and conveniences. The second floor was later converted into apartments.
On the west side of the square, south of the Lyric Theater, is the Wyckoff Heating, Plumbing & Air Conditioning building. It was built in 2000 and occupied by a chirocpractic office.