In 1890, successful Houghton businessman George C. Shelden purchased property on the corner of Shelden Avenue and Isle Royale Street for $8,500, intending to erect a sandstone building.
 George Shelden died in 1894, before beginning construction.
 However, his wife  Mary (Edwards) Shelden partnered with another local businessman, James R. Dee, and hired Chicago architect Henry L. Ottenheimer to design a commercial building for the site, intending to take advantage of the booming business related to the surge in local mining activity.
 The two investors each took possession of half the building.
 The building was constructed in 1899-1900 by the Chicago- and Houghton-based construction firm of Paul P.F. Mueller.

The first businesses to occupy the four ground-level storefronts were a drug store, a shoe store, a dry goods store, and a café / saloon; a barber was located in the basement.
The upper floors consisted of office suites; this space was later converted into apartments.
In 1890, successful Houghton businessman George C. Shelden purchased property on the corner of Shelden Avenue and Isle Royale Street for $8,500, intending to erect a sandstone building.  George Shelden died in 1894, before beginning construction.  However, his wife  Mary (Edwards) Shelden partnered with another local businessman, James R. Dee, and hired Chicago architect Henry L. Ottenheimer to design a commercial building for the site, intending to take advantage of the booming business related to the surge in local mining activity.  The two investors each took possession of half the building.  The building was constructed in 1899-1900 by the Chicago- and Houghton-based construction firm of Paul P.F. Mueller.
The first businesses to occupy the four ground-level storefronts were a drug store, a shoe store, a dry goods store, and a café / saloon; a barber was located in the basement. The upper floors consisted of office suites; this space was later converted into apartments.
Shelden-Dee Block