USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Stewardson > Stewardson, the first 100 years : history of the village of Stewardson, Prairie Township and vicinity > Part 10
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Stewardson Homestead Loan Association
Scott Lowery, T. P. Mautz, Emanuel Smith, Jacob S. Wilkerson, and Peter Diddea, as commissioners, made appli- cation for articles of corporation as the Stewardson Homestead Loan Associa- tion. The association was incorporated March 13, 1883.
The first officers were F. X. Gress, president, Emanuel Smith, vice-presi- dent, T. P. Mautz, secretary, T. N. Robison, treasurer, and W. C. Headen, attorney. Stock was issued in series with the first series issued on April 1, 1883. Dues were fifteen cents per week. On April 1, 1885, there were 388 out- standing shares and on March 31, 1973, there were 1,533 outstanding shares.
Officers, as of March 31, 1973, were Harold H. Ulmer, president, A. Wayne
Moomaw, vice-president, Ray Richards, secretary - treasurer, and Baker & Baker, attorneys. The directors were Wayne Huffmaster, Ray Richards, Har- old Ulmer, A. Wayne Moomaw, Karl Lugar, Marie Tate, and Arlene Friese. The association now issues class "A" and "B" stock. The class "A" invest- ment series mature in nine years. The dues are 65¢ per share per month until maturity. The class "B" investment is paid up stock certificated drawing 6% interest annually.
Citizens Saving And Loan Association Stewardson, Illinois
February 5, 1908 application signed by T. H. Bauer, Henry Fritz, Wm. Rozene, John L. Becker, L. Augenstein, Charles W. Wilson and R. A. Peters was made to the Auditor of Public Accounts, Springfield, Illinois for articles of corporation of the Citizens Saving and Loan Association of Stewardson, Illinois. Articles of Corporation were granted Mar. 25, 1908 with a capital stock of $1,000,000.00. The charter stockholders were William Rozene, C. W. Wilson, Ragle and Reynolds, J. H. Rozene, T. H. Bauer, Wm. Manhart, Lewis Augenstein, Albert Peters, John L. Becker, Henry Fritz, Robert E. Cecil, Daniel Seward, Henry Belles, E. Deal, John Ulmer and R. A. Peters representing 150 shares with nine direc-
tors, Lewis Augenstein, one year, R. E. Cecil, one year, R. A. Peters. one year, John H. Rozene, two years, Henry Fritz, two years, John L. Becker, two years, T. H. Bauer, three years, Wm. Rozene, three years, C. W. Wilson, three years.
Officers were Charles W. Wilson, President, John L. Becker, Vice Presi- dent, Wm. Rozene, Treasurer, R. A. Peters, Secretary.
The Association was to issue 4 series yearly on April, July, October, and Jan- uary.
Class "A" 75¢ monthly, Class "B" 50¢ monthly, Class "E" $50.00 single payment, Class "F" $75.00 single pay- ment, maturity value $100.00 per share.
Roberts Rule of Order guided and ruled the organization.
Loans to be on Real Estate at 75% of value, also on Government and Munici- pal Bonds, Life Insurance and un- pledged stock. Interest at 7% payable monthly. Association begun and issued Series one April 1, 1908. The Associa- tion enjoyed a thriving business until the 1930's when it along with most of the business of the village suffered the effects of the National Economic condi- tions of the time and it was voted to Liquidate. A liquidation committee was named: William A. Denn, Wm. Rozene and R. A. Peters. Work of the com- mittee was completed December 21, 1944, and committee was discharged by the State Auditor of Public Accounts January 8, 1945.
Visitors Welcome-Food, Drinks and Shelter at Night
BAR RAGS AND BRASS SPITTOONS
Saloons, Billiard Halls, and Shooting galleries were very much a part of early Stewardson. However, a strong temperance mood always permeated the Village since its inception and the Tavern owner was always faced with having his livelihood voted out of exist- ence. In spite of its numerous sup- porters, the old time saloon became his- tory in 1910. The village voted itself 'dry" and for all practical purposes has remained a dry town ever since.
Mr. B. W. Reed and Mr. H. Martin were the earliest known saloon pro- prietors in the village of Stewardson. they were both in business as early as 1878. Mr. Martin was the propietor of the German Saloon and Billiard Hall. He advertised in the "Stewardson En- terprise" that "Pure whiskey, brandy, wines and beers always on hand and for sale by the drink or gallon." Mr. B. W. Reed opened the Palor Saloon and Billiard Room. He claimed, "none
but the best of liquors sold at our Bar." Where were these colorfully named Saloons located? What happened to them? Only the spirits know.
By the mid 1880's the saloon trade was represented by the Joel Shelton Saloon and the Barnett and Beamer Saloon. It is thought that Joel Shelton kept a saloon long before his name officially appeared in Newspaper advertising. It is thought that he may have first hung out his bar rag in a small building on the west side of South Cedar before moving to Tatman's Pool Hall on South Pine Street. W. D. Tatman sold fine cigars, soft drinks, and Sundies. Either business was too good or not good enough and Mr. Tatman sold to Mr. Shelton around 1888. It is known that Mr. Joel Shelton's Saloon was located at one time in the little building between the alley and the ice house in South Pine. It is assumed that this was the location of Tatman's Pool Hall.
Barnett and Beamer's Saloon re-
mains as a memory and short notice in the earliest Clippers. While some think this business may have been located on South Cedar, no one really knows.
The Saloons of Ed Radloff and Henry Ulmer were the ones that the old timers still remember. Ed Radloff's Saloon was started in the 1890's. His business, at one time, was housed in a small wooden building just west of the Opera Hall. Many a plot for a practical joke was "hatched" in the leisure hours spent in this saloon.
Henry Ulmer opened for business, in an old frame building on the north side of East Main, two doors east of North Pine in either 1892 or 1897. William Frede built an addition to his store in 1908 and the old tavern building was moved to North Pine street. Mr. Ulmer immediately built a new brick building just to the east and reopened his saloon. After the "Dry" vote in 1910, Mr. Ulmer converted his saloon to a restaurant in 1911 and then changed it to a hardware
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HENRY ULMER'S SALOON
This saloon was in the same building as Mr. Ulmer's Hardware Store from about 1902 to 1906. It was typical old time saloon. Customers from left to right, Ed Radloff and Wm. Graham. The bar- tenders are John Barnett and Mr. Henry Ulmer.
store around 1917. Mr. Ulmer certainly knew how to capitalize on a cold snap. First, he warmed the citizens with whiskey and hot coffee, and then sold them heating stoves!
Mr. Henry Ulmer ran the last of the old time saloons. However, during the early 1930's the sale of beer was legalized for a short period of time. A pool hall was opened in the new Milch- man building next to the Opera Hall and beer was sold for a year or two in the same building.
The Saloons and Pool Halls were popular places for amusement, but a new form of entertainment appeared in 1887. A shooting gallery appeared in Stewardson for the first time. The new sport became so popular, and perhaps lucrative, that a second gallery appear- ed in 1888. Some form of this sport persisted through the first quarter of the 1900's. A young veterinarian in town found the Shoot Gallery most amusing until he started competing with his wife. She out shot him the first
time and every time. He decided to give up the sport. The novelty of the
Gallery finally passed and it fell to the wayside like so many other businesses.
HASH HOUSES THROUGH THE CENTURY
We know where they drank, but where did they eat? Why, at J. D. Baker's, the restaurant man in the Rider Build- ing, of course. Where else in 1887 could one enjoy a good meal and polish it off with a good cup of coffee and a Musical Drummer 5¢ cigar?
Perhaps the younger set preferred to mosey down the board walk to Charlie Weber's Cafe in the Gress building dur- ing the 1890's where Jack Fluga was tending the soda fountain. It was neces- sary to rock a keg of CO2 back and forth for about one hour in order to ac- tivate the old soda fountain. "When she run out of Fizz, she had to be rocked some more." Not only did the kids have a good time there during the day, but some of our oldest adolescents re- call the time they had at playing tricks on Mr. Weber at night.
After 1910, the night life centered in the "Red Onion" just east of the livery stable on East Main. Crowds would gather in the cafe until all hours of the night eating, visiting, singing, or just listening to the old 'lectric piano thump its tunes out through the night. This marvel was an electrically powered Player Piano with musical rolls and a mechanical key board. Anyone could be an accomplished musician by insert- ing a nickel into the slot. The "Red Onion," run by Dode Powell and Henry Rozene, was one of the more colorful spots in the village.
This is the inside of the Karl Mautz restaurant located in the block building at the corner of Pine and Main Streets, where the Post Office is lo. cated now. To the left is Barb Mautz, and Don (Soup) Walker is standing in front of the counter.
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This Cafe was in the Block Building. At the time of this picture it was being operated by Andy and Anna Friese. From left to right, Cordia Collins, Anna Friese, Andy Friese and Ed Zalman.
By 1915, A. C. Bugenhagen made his- tory with his short orders, fancy candy, and fine cigars. His restaurant was lo- cated in an old wooden building on the north side of West Main Street, next to the Wabash tracks. Apparently this was a prime location for restaurants since there were a number of them lo- cated on this site both before and after Bob's Cafe.
The wooden structure, housing Bob's Cafe, was replaced by a new building around 1924 or 1925. Art Zalman, Ed Bruns, Harold Gillespey, Eugene Roth- rock, Ruth Baumgarten, Viola Smith, and Walter "Junior" Keller were some of the names associated with the Cafe in the west part of this brick building.
Ed and Wilma Bruns were the best known proprietors of the cafe next to the Wabash tracks. Actually, Ed start- ed his first restaurant in the Zimmer- ing Building just west of the present Springer Chevrolet Co., in 1932. Floyd Whitacre encouraged Ed to start the res- taurant so his truck drivers would have a place to eat. Mr. Whitacre operated the poultry business, had a fleet of trucks, and employed a number of drivers. El and Wilma moved the res- taurant next to the Wabash tracks in the Milchman Building in 1934, after Lew Eickberg moved his restaurant to Mattoon. Ed's father, Fred Bruns, operated a Pool Hall in the east part of the building during the same years. Ed, Wilma and their son, "Pee Wee" re-
sided in the center rooms of the build- ing. Ed began selling Electrolux Vac- cum Cleaners in 1937. During World War II, Ed served his country and Wilma continued operating the cafe and the Electrolux dealership. She sold the restaurant in 1945 and the Bruns fam-
ily moved to Taylorville, Illinois and Ed continued with the Electrolux Agency.
Junior Keller bought the old brick cafe business from Viola Smith in 1956 and then later moved it to the east room of the Opera Hall.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Friese original- ly started in the restaurant business in the old Hoffman Block Building, during the year of 1945. They moved their business to the Opera Hall after the block building burned in 1948. Andy and Anna retired from the restaurant business the first time in 1954. After a number of years of retirement, Andy and Anna Friese bought the Stewardson Cafe from Mr. and Mrs. Junior Keller in 1957. Andy and Anna continued to run the cafe until 1970. The "specialities" of the house were "Vinegar Pie" and raw hamburger sandwiches topped with a slice of Andy's prize onions.
Since 1970, the cafe has been owned by Carl Shadwell, Mrs. Paul Zike, and the Albert Millers. The present owner is Mrs. Waneta Kessler. She is a good cook, but husband Dwight's pie will never reach the peak of perfection of those baked by Cordy Collins.
Other names associated with the restaurant business were: "Soup" Walk- er; The Wabash Cafe, 1922; Vic and Lucile Keller, 1936; Walter Ferchow, 1937; and Maxine Edwards, 1954.
The Henry Ulmer Restaurant, in the same building as his hardware and saloon were in, 106 E. Main Street. In the picture are Mrs. Henry "Minnie" Ulmer and Carl "Chick" Ulmer.
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BELLHOPS AND CHANDELIERS
Early Stewardson was a growing commercial center and was the favorite headquarters for the many traveling salesmen serving the small commu- nities in this area of the state. Many of the new families in town also need- ed places to stay until their business buildings and homes were completed. A number of hotels quickly sprang up in the village to meet these temporary housing needs. The addition of the sec- ond railroad intensified the need for more space, and more hotels were built to room the new influx of salesmen. During the 1870's the hotels were small and functioned more like rooming houses with long term residents. Dur- ing the 1880's, this business took on the characteristics of a true hotel with fine dining rooms and other frills, such as parlors, barber shops, and black porters or "red caps."
Hotels were located, generally, in four principle areas in the Village of Stew- ardson through the late 1800's and early 1900's. One of these sites was west of Joe Latch's Grocery Store while an- other site was just north of his store. The third site was the location of the Prairie Township building; while the old Watts place at the junction of the two railroads served as the fourth hotel site. There may have been other hotel locations. The names of some of these old hotels have remained in old history books, memories, and (newspa- per) advertisements, but their exact locations have long been forgotten.
Jacob Leader erected the American House Hotel just west of the Wabash Depot in 1874. In all probability, this hotel was in the general vicinity of the present day Christian Church, since a grove of trees occupied the land be- tween the depot and Cedar Street. Mr. Leader ran this hotel successfully until his death in 1876 or 1877. It is as- sumed that Mr. William Pfluger ob- tained ownership of the old American House around 1877 and changed its name to the Stewardson House Hotel. The Stewardson House was run more like a rooming house where single young business men in the village stay- ed. Miss Merrian Herron of Shelbyville recalls stories that her grandfather told her about his hotel on the corner of West Main and North Cedar Street.
It is further assumed that Jefferson Button bought this old building and changed the name to Button House sometime during the 1880's. This seems to be the only location that would fit the description for the Button House
Hotel since it was west of the Wabash Depot and the first business south of the Button Livery Stable. The Button Hotel seemed to cater to transient guests rather than serve as a residence house. This old hotel was a long one- story building. It was used as a pri- vate residence by the Carrick family by the late 1890's.
A second Stewardson House opened across the street from the Wabash Depot on Thursday, October 27, 1887. "Stewardson House opened on Thurs- day and is prepared to feed everyone." This Hotel was in a two-story frame building just back of Gress' Furniture Store, along the Wabash tracks. Ap- parently, it was known for its fine ac- commodations, service, and good food. In all probability, the Belles family either started this hotel or at least bought it during the 1890's. By now, Stewardson had developed a reputation far and wide for its hotels and plentiful livery services, and the salesmen swarmed in.
Dr. Hoffman built new hotel quarters in the new block building in the early 1900's. Apparently, the old hotel was then tore down and Belles moved into the new quarters in the Hoffman block before building the Belles Hotel on North Cedar. A number of people ran the hotel in the block building, including a Beiber and Mrs. Minnie J. Wilson.
A Mr. and Mrs. Pillger from Cowden, Illinois, ran a hotel on the Watts prop- erty near the junction of the Clover Leaf and Wabash railroads during the 1890's. This was a small two-story hotel with only four rooms, accommoda- tion upstairs and a dining room on the first floor. Mrs. Pillger was known as an excellent cook and her dining room was always overflowing.
During the early nineteen hundreds the automobiles grew more plentiful, salesmen by-passed Stewardson for large towns, and there was not enough business to encourage the hotel owners. The Belles Hotel on North Cedar was the last hotel to operate in the Village of Stewardson. Dolly Prahl turned the old hotel into an old folks home during the 1930's and early 40's. Fred Grunt- man tore down the old hotel and used the lumber to build three houses on its old location.
BUGGIES AND BUCKBOARDS
The livery and feed stables were an important business in the early years of Stewardson. With two trains run- ning through town there were many traveling salesmen who needed their
Another picture of the most mod- ern means of local transportation in the early years of Stewardson's his- tory with a team of horses to furnish the power.
The buggies were kept shined up and good looking, well-groomed horses were used to pull them. They were as proud of their rigs and horsepower as today's automo- bile owner with his 250 Horsepower motor. Many of the horses were judged by their speed just as the cars are today. The drivers raced each other, too; but the horses didn't very often run into each other re- gardless of how wreckless the driv- er got. If the driver went to sleep, the horsepower took him home with- out running into a ditch.
The driver of this nice team of horses was Walter Beals.
services. Horses and wagons were rented by the traveling salesmen to haul their wares to the small towns around Stewardson. Some of the local businesses would also rent teams and wagons and buggies.
Livery stables were located in three principle areas during the "horse and buggy" days, although the proprietors changed frequently. A large stable was located on the north side of East Main on the present site of Beals Motor co. used car lot. J. B. Turner operated this stable during the 1880's. Peter Diddea also was a partner with Mr. Turner after he moved to Shelbyville. Better remembered proprietors of this stable were: Bill Roley, John H. Rozene and Tony Wallace. Mr. Art Roley was the last person to run the stables on East Main Street.
The second major stable was located on North Pine Street. The Falk Pro- duce Company occupies the site of this early stable. Mr. Shaffey and Mr. Saunders owned this piece of Real Estate in the late 1870's but is not known if they were proprietors. Mr.
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J. D. Wilson started operating a Livery Stable on North Pine in 1876. This was probably at the same location. Mr. Homrighous and Mr. H. Saunders as- sumed responsibility for the operation of this stable in 1882 and continued in business through the late 1880's and early 1890's. One of the important fac- ets of this business was breeding serv- ices for heavy draft horses. They ad- vertised the imported Norman Stallions, Bombay and Trocadero, would stand for service at their stable. In later years, Mr. Homrighous left the business and Mr. Saunders continued on a small scale at his home on the corner of E. South First and Chestnut St.
A third major stable was located on the corner of N. Cedar and W. North First St. Based upon the very limited knowledge available, it is believed that this could have been the stables built by Jacob Leader in 1874 and possibly the one run by W. B. Button during the 1880's. Art Roley was the last person to run a stable on this location. He razed the old stable around 1908 and
This picture shows one of the popular means of transportation in the early 1900's, a wooden-wheeled wagon. Instead of being pulled by horses, these men, Bud and Enoch Keller, had a team of donkeys.
These wooden-wheeled wagons presented a serious problem in dry weather. The wood would shrink away from the iron rim around the wheel. The blacksmiths did a big business repairing wheels like this. Farmers would soak the wheels in boiling linseed oil to keep them from shrinking.
built a house. Mr. Earl Wilson later bought the property from Mr. Roley and it has remained in the Wilson fam- ily. His daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Noffke, now reside in the family home.
One of the standard rules of the old stables was that the customer "shalt not get the horses hot." Sometimes the customers literally paid dearly with bruises and bloody noses if they did not heed the warning.
Horseless Carriages
GUS AND GASTONS CHEVROLET
Wililam Frede, owner of Frede's Gen- eral Merchandise, obtained the Chev- rolet franchise in the village of Stew- ardson around 1911. He operated the Chevrolet agency in the old Saunders Stable on North Pine Street until about 1918. The old horse stalls were re- placed with numbered stalls to house autos receiving repair work. Mr. Frede moved the agency to the newly con- structed brick building on East Main. Ironically, this building has since housed the Ford agency. Mr. Frede moved his agency to Decatur in early 1922.
Two of Frede's former top-notched mechanics, Harold Ulmer and Hobart Yakey, reopened the old building in March 1922, under the name of the Square Deal Garage. In addition to the oil and gas business and general me- chanic work, Ulmer and Yakey also sold Chevrolets for two or three years. They then closed the old Square Deal and went to work again for Frede in Decatur for a short period of time. Harold Ulmer moved back to Steward- son in 1925 and started the Chevrolet Agency on the site of his grand- father's wagon shop. The building now houses Springer Chevrolet. Mr.
Ulmer moved his Chevrolet agency to a new building to the east in 1932 and added the Oliver franchise to his busi-
ness in the same year. Mr. Ulmer dis- continued the Chevrolet agency in 1945 and sold his Oliver tractor agency to
The shop in Ulmer's Garage in 1926. This was in the building where Springer Chevrolet is now.
From left to right: Harry Merold, Harold Ulmer and Fred Robey. The car looks like it could have been a Model T. Ford.
Harry Merold worked as a mechanic for Harold Ulmer until he sold out to Eldo Tate and continued with Tate Oliver until he retired.
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Mr. Eldo Tate in 1961.
Mr. Byron Graham began a Case Farm Implements dealership in the Vil- lage of Stewardson during the 1940's. His business was expanded during the latter part of the 1940's to include a Chevrolet franchise. His business was run in the Henry Ulmer building on the south side of East Main.
Mr. Graham sold the business and property to Herbert Schultz and his friend, Albert Cecconi in 1952. The business was reopened under the name of Schultz Chevrolet Company. Mr. Cecconi sold his interest to Mr. Schultz in 1955 and returned to Chicago to as- sume the position of Chief Plant Engi- neer for the Mercantile Laundry Com- pany. Isaac Brown came to work as head mechanic that same year. Mr. Brown remained a loyal employee and friend until his death in 1971. Mr. Schultz's son, Richard, worked in the garage, also as a mechanic, for a num- ber of years. Bookkeeping responsi- bilities were handled by Mr. Schultz's wife, Anne, his daughter, Peggy, and David Weber. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Schultz sold their business, after 21 years of service, to Lynn and Rebecca Springer in 1973
LEAPING LIZZIES
C. A. Mietzner started the first Ford agency in a little building on the site of the Village Fire Station on South Cedar Street. He then moved the Ford agen- cy to a block building across the street and built a brick house on the corner of South Cedar and West Main Street. Mr. Charles W. Wilson traded an 877 acre farm near Fairfield to Mr. Mietz- ner in 1921 for the Ford agency, his brick house, and other property in the village. In 1925, Mr. Wilson purchased the Frede garage building on East Main Street and moved the Ford agency to its present location. Probably, for the only time in history, cars and auto re- pair continued to get cheaper (through the 1920's).
Around 1925, the company was turned over to his wife, M. J. Wilson, and their son, Charles R. Wilson. The name of the Ford agency was changed to M. J. Wilson and Son. The Wilsons moved their Ford agency to Shelbyville, Illi- nois in 1934. Charles R. Wilson still operates the M. J. Wilson Ford agency in Shelbyville.
J. Nathan Beals was operating a pri- vate repair shop in Stewardson during the early 1930's. He moved into the old Wilson garage in 1934 and started sell- ing Fords under the sponsorship of the M. J. Wilson Co. It was not until 1937
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