Grocery store opens next to Fawkes Drug

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent 
With Leonard Cash
 
After finishing up his series on the former Fawkes building on lot 9 of block 10, historian Leonard Cash moves right along the block to lot 10 in this week’s installment of “History on Main.” 
Starting things off with a newspaper article from the July 16, 1890, edition of the Weston County Democrat, it was reported that Don Roderick and Co. was constructing a brick store building for a grocery store on Warren Ave. at the same time D.W. Fawkes was building his drug store on the adjoining lot, because the “building boom is now in earnest.” 
Roderick had to increase the size of his building to accommodate the growing business, so he hired Franklin & Baer to excavate the property as soon as the frame was moved. The new two-story building was to have the “same dimensions as adjoining brick of Jake Lang’s on the corner, which is 25x70.”
“The several frame buildings will be removed, and the new building will make a great improvement to that side of the street,” the article says. 
Cash said lots 9 through 11 were built as one unit for Roderick, Frank and Thole, and Fawkes, and the contractor for the building was a man named Burnam, and according to the July 30, 1890,
paper, Architect Abbey drafted the plans.  
“D. Roderick is erecting a handsome dwelling in the north part of town,” the Aug. 14, 1890, paper says. 
According to the Oct. 2, 1890, Newcastle News, a temporary house was erected to transact grocery business while the other building worked towards completion.
On Oct. 9, 1890, the Newcastle News announced that Mr. Zoellnes, a clothing merchant in Spearfish, rented Frank & Tholes storeroom, to sell a full line of gentlemen’s furnishing and clothing. 
The Oct. 24, 1890, issue reported that work commenced on the second story. (which was the block being erected by Roderick, Frank and
Thole, and Fawkes is on the second story. 
Evidently, the building was completed by Nov. 28, 1890, because Newcastle News announced that Weidenfeld and Co., a wholesale and retail store with dry goods, clothing, and more, leased the Frank and Thole store on lot 10. The block was known as the Palace block at the time Weidenfeld was moving in on December 10. Leo Weidenfeld from Broken Bow Neb and G.C. Hickock of Deadwood were the owners. 
“We need not say that the firm is a strong one, as the name of both gentlemen are better known than we are,” the article says. 
According to the Jan. 23, 1891 paper, Roderick was out of town, traveling to Olympus, Washington, and by Oct. 30, 1891, he sold the building to Meyer Frank. J.W. McReo was to be in charge of the store. Later, we find out that H. Leppla purchased the grocery store business. 
We find out later in the Nov. 25, 1891, issue of the Wyoming Weekly Republican, Roderick went bankrupt, Crook County bank took it over. 
Articles from the Nov. 13 and 20, 1891 issues of Newcastle Journal further report the business transactions that went down at this time.
“We have purchased the groceries owned by D. Roderick & Co. and will continue the business of their stand until the stock is closed out. The price paid for these goods enables us to offer them at very reasonable prices to our customers and as we are anxious to reduce the stock, low enough to crowd what is left into our already over stocked store room. We will make extra efforts to sell these goods,” H. Leppla & Co. said in the article. 
The March 3, 1892, issue of the paper announced that F.A. Thole purchased Frank Bros., which was in Clearmont (close to Sheridan, according to Cash), so he was moving out of Newcastle.  
The Newcastle Democrat reported on May 23, 1895, that McCrea & Bowman (part of the tri-unit building) added hardware to its stock.
On June 15, 1895, the paper advertised that corn and
tomatoes were 10 cents per can at McCrea’s. 
Around Oct. 16, 1896, it was reported by the Newcastle Journal that Meyer Frank returned from Chicago where he bought a stock of goods for his Miner’s Shoe and Clothing Store, which was also operated by F.A. Thole and J.L. Baird.
According to the Oct. 30, 1896, issue of the paper, the business was reincorporated, and Abe Frank, F.A. Thole and Meyer Frank were the trustees. 
“H. Leppla has sold his entire stock of gents’ furnishing goods to the Miner’s Shop and furnishing company,” the article says. 
By Oct. 23, 1896, Abe Frank took the place of Baird at the Miner’s store, and Nov. 20, 1896, E.P. Bowman has purchased Meyer Frank. 
The McCrea—Douglas Mercantile Co. and it’s grand opened was reported successful, according to the Aug. 27, 1897, Newcastle News Journal. Customers were treated to coffee and Chase and Sanborn teas.
The Sept. 16, 1898, edition of the paper announced that the “familiar face” of R.S. Douglas familiar face was behind the counter of the mercantile store. His many friends were glad to welcome him back, and the following issue reported that his wife opened a millery business in the store.
Thole was no longer in Newcastle and switched his business to raising hogs at Sunnyside, Washington, according to an article from Jan. 17, 1902. It was “proving to be a very profitable business for Frank.”
The Newcastle Mercantile (which was on the same block as McCrea) made a “great hit” on their graphophones, having sold several already, reported the Oct. 20, 1905, Newcastle News Journal. 
“Call at their store and have some good music,” the
article says. 
The News Journal reported on Nov. 4, 1910, that some big changes were in the making at the McCrea mercantile. 
“This week had the old building at the rear of their store removed and they are having a fine large warehouse erected on the place. The old building will be utilized as a stable,” the article says.
Both mercantiles were painted by John Haines around this time. 
Next week, Cash will discuss the clothing stores and floral businesses that occupied the building.