By Rikki Cason<br><a href="mailto:rikki.cason@journal-register.com">E-mail Rikki</a>
MEDINA — After 60 years, Webster Schubel & Meier has moved its law offices to the R. H. Newell building. Attorney Andrew Meier purchased the Shirt Factory building five years ago and has since been working hard on revitalization and upgrades to bring the property to life. The law firm’s move is the most recent addition to the property.
“The timing was right,” Meier said. “It was just a natural fit.”
Though excited about the move, both Meier and Schubel found it to be bittersweet.
“There is a lot of history that we had in the old location,” Meier said of the 60 years the practice was located in the NAPA Auto Parts building.
Webster Schubel & Meier was founded in that location in 1951 by Paul Miles. He practiced law on his own until the early 1960s, when Norris Webster joined the firm and it was Miles & Webster. David Schubel started in 1974, and when Miles became a judge in 1978, it was then Webster & Schubel. After working together for 28 years, Webster passed away in December 2006. Meier had worked at the firm since 2003 and became partner in 2007.
Because of their long-standing presence in Medina, Schubel said that there are a number of families that the practice has represented since the beginning. He said that in some instances, they are representing fourth-generation clients.
An interesting historical note is that the law offices now occupy the space that once was the office suite for the Newell Company. Meier said that Schubel’s office is the same office that Robert H. Newell held when he was at the shirt factory.
“A lot of very successful businesses occupied this space,” Meier said.
Schubel said he has found that many community members are more interested and have been stopping up to see the new location on West Center Street.
“I hope that we can contribute to some small part of the energy in the village,” he said.
Though switching locations, Schubel said that the firm’s commitment to the public is as strong as ever.
He said that Miles was the county attorney, Webster was the county attorney and represented several towns and now he is the county attorney and has represented the Village of Lyndonville and the Town of Shelby for 30 years.
“We have a real interest and sense of commitment to what is going on in Orleans County and the West End,” Schubel said.
The office of Webster Schubel & Meier in the Shirt Factory building is only one of several throughout Medina’s downtown area that has found a new dedication to historic preservation.
“These are not corporate interests,” Meier said. “These are just good, old-fashioned community-minded investors who are really putting their fortunes on the line for what they believe in. This is just one example. We’re so fortunate in this community to have so many people stepping up to the plate.”
Meier said that although revitalization and restoration is costly, it is extremely rewarding to see the finished product.
“To see people’s reactions,” he said. “It really is helping to ignite new interest in these structures we have downtown. There is a lot of new interest in historic preservation.”
From a hotel, to a shirt factory, to the current café, law firm and more, the R. H. Newell building is only one piece of the puzzle that is helping to bring back some of the historic magic that is Medina.
Contact reporter Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8227.
