A closer look at A.M. Nichols Supply Co.
Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
With Leonard Cash
After finishing up his six-week series on the Isabella’s building, historian Leonard Cash decided to move right along next door to lots 4 through 6 on block 10 (which is the Perkins’ Tavern building), in this week’s installment of “History on Main.”
According to the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, lot 4 was a bakery in 1891, lot 5 was a meat market and lot 6 was a vacant building. In 1896, lot 4 was a taxidermy, and later in 1903, it became a meat shop and lot 5 was a grocery store. In 1907, a warehouse was built on top of the basement of lot 5, according to Cash.
“It was quite a warehouse,” Cash said.
Cash said there was a fire in 1909, so a new building was constructed the following year, and that’s the brick building that sits on the property today. In 1912, all three lots became the Nichols building.
Backtracking to 1890, Cash pulled out his newspaper records to add more details to this antiquated section of town.
According to the local paper from May 2, 1890, T.C. Hacke was planning to erect a 24-by-50-foot building (possibly for a grocery store) on lot 5 next to the Lindsey and Smith Meat Market. Cash said the owners cut their own meat.
The July 25, 1890, local newspaper, reported that Charles Dow had a popcorn stand next to the meat shop, and the July 18, 1890, issue of the Weston County Democrat said Dow also had a fruit and refreshment stand, as well as a selection of candy and cigars.
An article from the Oct. 10, 1890, paper said that Benj. Lapp purchased the popcorn stand and confection from Dow and had plans for adding additional items.
A few weeks later, Newcastle News articles from Oct. 24, 1890, and Nov. 4, 1890, announced that Lapp was willing to pay cash for firearms, watches, overcoats, jewelry, and such for what Cash said was most likely a pawn shop. The article says the shop was located across the street (on lot 6, Cash said) from the Hotel de Newcastle (where the Dogie Theater is now).
According to the Nov. 14, 1890, News Journal, Lapp received a stock of “ladies and gents underwear novelties etc., and expect(s) to crowd his building full for the winter trade.”
On Jan 23, 1891, the paper reported that Chris Voss Restaurant and Bakery moved to lot 4 next to the meat market. Voss was previously located behind the Cashbox Ceramics building, Cash said.
However, Voss didn’t stay for long because, according to an article from March 13, 1891, Henry Dunbar succeeded B.W. Valentine as proprietor of the bakery.
“Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar are well known to our people and we think they will make bread and pie, and things (will) fly in great shape,” the article says.
Around Sept. 24, 1891, Lapp fell into some financial trouble at his store.
“Benj Lapp seems to have been playing a star engagement at Cascade. We noticed a mortgage is being foreclosed on his store for $3,000,” the article says.
According to courthouse files, A.M. Nichols Supply Co. once occupied the brick building. Nichols bought lot 4 from Thomas Sweet and Joe Lefors on Oct. 13, 1899, and later purchased lot 5 from C.H. Sharp on Dec. 2 (later, in 1909, he purchased lot 6 as well).
Because of Nichols’ propriety and success as a businessman, Cash wanted to include a biography on the man himself.
“He was quite a guy, really. He had a ranch and a construction company and the bank. And his dad was a lawyer,” Cash said.
An article from “History of Wyoming” includes a brief biography on the life of Nichols. He was born on Aug. 9, 1871, in Osage, Iowa, to Melvin and Almeda
Nichols. In 1887, the family moved to Douglas.
“Two years afterward, they established their home in Sundance and Mr. Nichols, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, has (commuted) to make his home in Sundance to the present time,” the article says.
After four years, Nichols resigned from the ministry and went into law. His son, A.M. Nichols went to high school in Audubon, Iowa, where he started a newspaper career with the Audubon Times. He began working on the Rowdy West, which he established in Douglas, and then joined the Sundance Gazette.
On Christmas Eve of 1891, he married Orpha Ogden, whose father was one of the first preachers in the Black Hills area, and they had
four children.
In 1892, Nichols moved to Newcastle and bought an interest in the Newcastle News Journal and stayed there until 1898. After his newspaper ventures, he cultivated a
Weston County homestead for three years, becoming a resident of Newcastle.
And then Nichols decided to open up his supply company.
“He has a large and splendidly appointed store, carries an extensive line of goods and his patronage has steadily increased. He still retains his ranching interests and in partnership with F.W. Mondell, member of Congress, owns the Oil Creek ranch, on which they are extensively engaged in the raising of cattle,” the article says.
The two men were also involved with the railroad construction work. Nichols also played a large role in organizing the Newcastle National Bank, for which he served as president for a time.
The businessman was also very involved in politics because he served as both mayor and on the board of county commissioners.
“He was elected to represent his district in the state legislature at the fall election of 1908 and served throughout the tenth general assembly, during which time he became widely known as the author of the high license bill,” the article says.
Nichols was passionate about “progress and improvement” regarding the “welfare and upbuilding of the commonwealth.” He was very involved with the Newcastle Masonic Lodge No. 13. and was a member of both the Newcastle Commercial Club and the Methodist Episcopal church.
He was known for his “sterling worth of character,” as well as being a great entrepreneur with his “keen sagacity and sound
business judgment.”
Cash said Nichols and his wife later moved to California, where they had an orchard, then headed to Oregon (near the Portland area), where both are buried.
In next week’s installment, Cash will continue his discussion of the A.M. Nichols Supply Co.