The historic Orrison Building was built in 1920, stood at the heart of Bethesda for more than a century, originally home to the Orrison Cigar Company, and housed Bolon's Grocery, Weller's Five and Dime, multiple restaurants and bakeries, Bethesda Post Office, Bethesda Public Library, White's Sewing Factory, and Bethesda Pro Hardware.
The town clock dedicated to WWI veterans was installed atop it in 1920 and remained a Main Street landmark for 90 years before being restored and moved to Murray's Plaza.
Bethesda was founded mid-1800s along the railroad, incorporated 1910; nearby Epworth Park (est. 1870) welcomed thousands by train for camp meetings and Chautauqua programs, with a three-story hotel overlooking the lake. Today the building gets a new chapter as a golf simulator.