Lewis & Jenkins Store - Found?

About a week ago, I posted the picture on the right on Facebook, asking if anyone knew anything about this building on Main Street, less than a mile away from the cemetery. I have passed by that store front thousands of times in my life, but had never noticed that it was connected to a very old looking building.

Today, Frank Wesley sent me the photograph on the left, along with the message:

"I have an interesting theory on 217 Main Street and some photos to show you. One of the older buildings in former New Castle Corners is shown in a picture of a picture of a picture I had from my Grandfather (bottom left credits John Cawley for taking a photo of the original which may be with the MK Historical Society). It shows Lewis and Jenkins store near the flagpole. My grandfather's note on the back reads 'New Castle Corner - corner of main street and South Bedford Road #172.'

"The house is also seen in a later postcard after it had been moved to a location 'Near Hyatt Ave.'

"[The village] seems to have moved quite a few things around over the years. It's quite possible that I am wrong in guessing here. The roof has been modified and the windows are not a match anymore if this is the house but it has the relative outline of the old Lewis and Jenkins store."

Frank Wesley's grandfather was Oliver Knapp, the village historian. This is the later postcard showing the building in its new location. Notably, the ground on either side of the building seems to slope down dramatically, just as it does on either side of the building today. My mother was always nervous about me walking in this area as a child because you can't see cars coming out of the driveways.

I think that Frank is probably right in his identification of this building as the old Lewis & Jenkins Store. If so, it's a shame that the beautiful architectural details were removed, but quite a marvel that the building is still standing.

This is the full photograph of the Lewis & Jenkins Store in its original location at New Castle Corners, very close to where St. Mark's Church would have stood at that time.

Frank also sent this family photo showing the same area of Main Street in 1937 (the building itself is not visible, but is located about two doors down). The peak of the Catholic Church is visible on the left.

Edited to Add: Laurie found these ads for the Lewis & Jenkins store in a newspaper from 1877. These are great not only because they are a lot of fun to see, but because you can see in small print it says "Successors to William Banks, New Castle Corners, New York." I have been unable to locate the Lewis & Jenkins store in any maps of the time period - but I did see Williams Banks's store!

The first of these maps is from 1867 and the second is from 1881. You can see St. Mark's Church (marked as "Epis. Ch." in the first map and "P. E. Church" in the second) down the street to the south. Strangely, even after the store changed hands, it was still designated on the map as "Store of William Banks."