Timber wolf standing in dry goods store

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
With Leonard Cash
 
Before continuing further discussion on the Mondell building, historian Leonard Cash wanted to go back to the early 1890s to go through his records on Weidenfield & Co., as well as the Mollring Brothers because they later played a role in the Mondell building, located on lot 12 of block 10. 
The Nov. 28, 1890 Newcastle News reported that Weidenfield & Co., which was a wholesale and retail store with various dry goods, clothing and other items, leased the Frank and Thole building on lot 10. Leo Weidenfield, who was from Broken Bow, Nebraska, and G.C. Hickock were the owners, and around Dec. 19, 1890, the paper reported that the company put in a full stock of clothing, dry goods, hats, caps, boots, shoes and furnishing items. 
“About one-half of their immense stock has arrived and is being placed under the direction of Fred Mollring. Mr. Weidenfield will follow the latter part of the week with the remaining stock consisting principally of dry goods, which will be on sale in ample time to allow lady purchasers to make selections before the holidays,” the article says. 
The goods arrived from Broken Bow, and according to the article, “the bow may be broken but Weidenfield knows a snap town when he sees it.” 
The Christmas edition of the paper reported that the large stock of dry goods and gentlemen furnishings were splendidly displayed. The firm was financially strong, and both Weidenfield and Mollring were known among the community as “courteous gentlemen.” 
The Jan. 25, 1891 paper announced that the store’s name was changed to The Cash. 
According to the Feb. 6, 1891 issue of the Newcastle News, an interesting pet was roaming the store. 
“Mr. Leo Weidenfield has a fine specimen of gray timber wolf standing just inside his door. This animal is not intended to frighten the timid, but to see that order is maintained among the crowds of patrons whom Mr. Weidenfield expects will visit his emporium when the grand boom strikes Newcastle,” the article says. 
By April 17, 1891 Weidenfield sold his business to Mollring Bros. & Co. to join his family in Nebraska, and Hickock assumed liabilities on April 13. The Mollrings were putting a lot of energy into the business to ensure its success. They planned to run the company the same as before, but they closed out the clothing stock to replenish it with a “well selected” dry goods stock.
“(Mollring Bros.) are enterprising men and promise to work for all that is progressive and for the upbuilding of the own, and such men deserve to succeed,” the article says. 
The following issue reported that Ed Mollring was moving from his home in Broken Bow to help with the business
in Newcastle. 
Further assuring its patrons that the business would remain the same despite new ownership, they included in the May 1, 1891 issue that the old rule of the house, “the Best Good for the Least Money and courteous treatment to all,” was
to continue.  
Mollring Bros. & Co. was being divided among two of the brothers, according to the May 22, 1891 paper. Ed Mollring was to take charge of the Hot Springs, South Dakota, location and Fred was remaining
in Newcastle. 
Articles from April 7 and 14, 1893 announced that a spring millinery opened, which “attracted considerable attention among the ladies.” A woman named Miss Mosier was in charge and had already produced some nice work, despite the “disagreeable weather.” The opening day was
“liberally patronized.” 
The Nov. 13, 1896 Newcastle News reported that the Mollrings added a “bicycle ladder to the convenience of their store.” 
On Oct. 8, 1897, the Newcastle Democrat announced that Mollring Bros. & Co. moved into the Mondell building, which brings us where we left off last week. 
Change was just around the corner again, according to the April 21, 1898, news, because George Mollring, who was the manager, and Robert Douglas of the McCrea Douglas Mercantile went in together to purchase Mollring Bros. & Co. to operate under Mollring-Douglas Dry Good Co. Douglas’ wife, Minnie, was also involved with the shop.
“These well-known, energetic and experienced businessmen will carry on the business still occupying the Mondell building which Mollring Bros. have occupied for several years,” the article says. 
The April 29, 1898, edition of the Newcastle News Journal announced the marriage of Clemence Mollring to V. Dale Gilman at Canton, Illinois. Gilman was talented and “deservedly very popular in Newcastle and Cambria.” Her husband was likewise known to the community as a fine businessman with his involvement with the Mollring Bros. After traveling to Chicago and Nebraska, “all will welcome him heartily upon his return with his bride and shower him with congratulations. 
On Dec. 15, 1899, the paper reported that Minnie Douglas moved her millinery to the Mollring-Douglas store. And around Aug. 24, 1900, she departed for Chicago for a two-week trip to study the latest styles and purchase her fall and winter stock.  
“To buy your millinery of Mrs. Douglas is an assurance that you will wear nothing but the most modern and best,” an article from Sept. 7, 1900 says. 
The Mollring-Douglas Co. put up a “neat and attractive” sign, according to the March 1, 1901 paper that read “George and Bob on the Corner.” 
Cash wanted to include undated article because it contained George Mollring’s brief life story. Born in 1865, he was a native of Nebraska, where he spent his boyhood in the dry goods and clothing business. He conducted a merchandise business under Mollring Bros. in Crawford, Nebraska, in 1894. Two years later, he moved to Alliance, Nebraska, until 1899 when he came to Newcastle to take care of the dry goods store, before partnering with Douglas by the end of the year. Mollring loved fine horses and was a councilman from the third ward. 
By November 1901, shoemaking and repairing was available in the basement of the store. 
An undated advertisement announced that 100 pieces of new Overland Flannel were available for 10 cents per yard and 50 pieces of new early fall silk novelties could be purchased for 7 cents per yard. 
“Just unpacking the largest and best line of Men’s, Boys’, Children’s Clothing that has ever been shown in the city,” the advertisement says. 
According to news reports from Feb. 21 and March 7, 1902, Gates and Parkinson moved their Chicago Barber shop from the Nichols building to the basement of George
and Bob’s. 
The Jan. 23, 1903 issue of the paper reported that George and Bob’s was closing out the store at cost to quit their business. However, Cash said those plans were changed.
Around April 3, 1903, Clem V. Mollring moved from Alliance and bought an interest in the store. Douglas severed his connections to move to his ranch as soon as his house was completed, so the firm name was changed to
Mollring & Mollring. 
By Oct. 30, 1903, Mollring & Mollring was arranging for a good millinery to open in the future, and they had already employed an experienced milliner to take charge. 
The Dec. 16, 1904 issue reported the installation of a Simplex gas plant, “which seems to be doing satisfactory work in the line of properly lighting their store.” 
An article from July 6, 1906, announced that George Mollring, who was the town’s mayor at the time, and his new bride returned from their wedding trip and planned to do “housekeeping” in the flat on the Stock Grower Bank and mercantile block. 
Next week, Cash will discuss when the Mondell building was no longer a dry goods store but the home of First National Bank in Newcastle when it moved into the building
in 1919.