Step inside and look down to your right. If you look close enough you will find a single penny set into the concrete floor. Date, 1919. It was then that, this building was born as a blacksmith shop. In its 100-year history many things have remained the same. The unique shape and industrial, metal finished exterior. The solid, hand-hewn beams and historic shiplap that have covered the walls since its beginning. It’s a timeless look that can’t be duplicated.

In its storied history, the building that was The Union on Eighth has been home to many exciting businesses and events. The original owners, the Andersons, lived in a two-story, Victorian home next door to the property and ran their blacksmith shop plus bicycle and buggy business from the building.

Step further into the building and look up. Here you will see into more of the building’s past; the 50’s.  The manual track lift set up in the beams helped lift engines and transmissions from Oldsmobiles that needed repair while the building served as a shop for a local Oldsmobile dealership.

After admiring the old lift, turn around and keep your eyes fixed on the rafters. What you’ll notice are chalk writings of different years and types of cars. A one man transmission shop, Conway Transmissions opened here in the 80’s. He used these markings to identify the parts contained on the shelves beneath.

Beautifully restored and repurposed in 2013, the space became an event center named, The Union on Eighth. Many people started their journey together here along with a variety of other special events and gatherings.

Today, we are ready to write the next chapter for this historic building. Welcome to Union Merchant.