Nichols takes charge of supply company again

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent 
With Leonard Cash
 
In this week’s installment of “History on Main,” we learn that after several changes of hands, proprietorship at the Weston County Supply Co. returned to some of its original owners, according to News Letter Journal records from historian Leonard Cash. 
The Sept. 19, 1912, issue of the Journal reported that A.M. Nichols Supply Co. once again took over the Weston County Supply Co., and Edward Gue purchased the meat market and was a stockholder in the company. A.M. Nichols served as president of the board of directors, Gue was vice president, Lloyd Nichols was secretary, and Judge Melvin Nichols was treasurer. The article said value of the capital stock increased from $20,000 to $100,000 and the company would follow the same
business policies as it had in the past. 
Additionally, the article noted that Judge Nichols (who was from Sundance) opened his law firm office in the A.M. Nichols building under “Nichols and Nettleharst.” The Nichols family was to occupy the Mondell flat, which Cash said was probably on lot 12 of block 10. 
The next issue, dated Sept. 26, 1912, reported that A.H. Beach, who had an office
on the Nichols block, was moving into the armory on the Kinney block, so M. Nichols was moving into Beach’s old office after some
extensive remodeling.
“Partitions have been removed which allow what was formerly two office rooms into one large room and a bathroom is being put in where the plan in view is completed it will convert what was heretofore been nothing but office room into a delighted and convenient five-room dwelling flat,” the article says. 
By Oct. 3, 1912, Melvin Nichols and his wife had made the move from Sundance to Newcastle. A month later, the Nov. 7, 1912, paper announced that Dr. S.W. Johnson’s office in the Weston County Bank was burned in a fire, so he moved into the former office of Charles Yeoman in the
Nichols building. 
According to an article from Nov. 21, 1912, the supply company, which already had a “large line of business,” was adding lumber to its stock.
A week later, an article from Nov. 28, 1912, said the supply company received a five-carload shipment of goods that “consisted of stock for the various departments of their establishment.” By Jan. 16, 1913, the meat department also received a new shipment from the M.H. Kohnsin ranch near the Bertha vicinity. It was their second carload of hogs. 
An article from the Jan. 23, 1913, paper announced that the supply company workers were “busily engaged” with moving the old building to the rear of the undertaking room, which was on lots 1 through 3, to make way for the construction of a new warehouse, which would extend along 50 feet on Sumner Street and a back alley. It was to be two stories high and iron clad. 
In addition to the warehouse, the Jan. 30, 1913, paper reported that Canton pitless wagon scales were to be built at the same location. 
By Feb. 13, 1913, the old building, which was on the east side of the undertaking room, was removed and relocated to the east end of town.
“The old building will be fitted up by Mr. Nichols as
a residence cottage,” the
article says. 
On April 10, 1913, the issue announced that the masons were busy laying the foundation for the new warehouse of the supply company. The warehouse wasn’t the only new addition, however. According to the May 1, 1913, paper, the grocery store installed a new electric coffee grinder, “which is proving quite an innovation in the way of a time saver over the old hand method
of grinding.” 
“All that is now necessary is for the clerk to dump in his coffee, press a button and go on about his other duties, and the little electric grinder does the rest,” the article says. 
J.P. Frederickson was moving his real estate business into the former law firm office of Melvin Nichols, an article from May 8, 1913, announced. He already had a list of farm and ranch properties for sale in the area and was a representative of the National Cooperative Realty Co. in Washington, D.C. 
A news article from Oct. 16, 1913, said the Nichols Supply Co. erected new coal sheds along the railroad track. 
Cash’s records from 1914 and 1915 contain little information other than the journey of Lloyd Nichols to acquire his embalming license, which we covered in the “History on Main” series on the Isabella’s building, so from here, we will jump ahead to March 25, 1915. 
The paper from that date announces that Lloyd was marrying Miriam Fawkes. Little else is said, so we will continue our discussion with a news report from Sept. 9, 1915. According to this report, A.M. Nichols was informed that he was getting paid for his work near Cody on the Shoshone irrigation project. 
According to the Jan. 13, 1916, paper, the Nichols Supply Co. held its annual meeting of stockholders and reelected the same officers. Business was increasing each year, and 1915 had been a particularly good year. Nichols was leaving soon to attend the Implement Dealers’ convention to purchase more goods. 
The Jan. 20, 1916, issue announced that P.S. Jackson took over S.V. Washburn’s position of manager at the grocery department. 
Two weeks later, an article from Feb. 3, 1916, reported that the supply company was buying cream for the Beatrice Creamery Co.
The supply company had to enlarge its office space to make room for the increasing business transactions, according to the Feb. 17, 1916, paper, giving the manager and his
assistant “much more comfortable quarters.” 
On June 1, 1916, it was reported that Nichols returned from Omaha, where he
sold the Rob Roy Ranch to Andy McKain. 
A new International auto truck was delivered to the supply company around Aug. 3, 1916, and it was to be used for a “delivery and dray wagon.” 
The Oct. 5, 1916, issue of the paper said that Lloyd added a new granary and garage to his homestead because “he believes in the up-to-date way of homesteading.” The article also said that A.M. Nichols was gathering fossils and “curios” all around the country to build a fireplace in his soon-to-be-erected home. 
On Oct. 7, 1916, four generations of Nichols gathered at Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Nichols’ home in Sundance to celebrate the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary, also known as a “golden wedding,” according to the Oct. 12, 1916, edition of the Sundance Times. Samuel Hire and his wife stepped in as the groomsman and bridesmaid, and both A.M. Nichols (their youngest son) and his sister Mrs. Joe Lytle were present. However, the two oldest children were unable to attend, but Lytle’s grandson Eibridge was present at 2 weeks of age. It was “a happy event and will live long in the memories of
all present.”
The Oct. 19, 1916, paper reported that Nichols’ son Dwight was heading to Omaha to attend school, and Nichols was accompanying him because he had
business matters to attend to.
We will begin next week’s installment of “History on Main” with
Cash’s records from November 1916.