This week we take a closer look behind the bank

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent 
With Leonard Cash
 
After wrapping up his series on First State Bank when it was located on the corner of block 10, lot 12 in the former Mondell building, historian Leonard Cash decided to start a series on that building, as well as the buildings that once were located behind the bank on South Seneca Avenue, where Chick Financial and Elliot Chiropractic are presently located. 
Because the bank owned these small buildings, some of the information between the two series will intertwine, and Cash said the early history of the building “is very sketchy until about (1939), and then we have more information.” So, the presented history comes in bits and pieces, but in the 1940s we will be able to create a fuller picture of this historic recapture. 
According to the Sanborn maps, various businesses were in and out of the building between 1891 and 1939, including a restaurant, millinery, offices, fire bell tower and a women’s hotel.
Opening up the old newspaper records, we take a closer look at the early days of this building in an April 11, 1890, article from the local paper. Pioneer Dressmaking and Millinery, owned and operated by A.H. White and E.B. McMullen, received its spring stock of hats, bonnets, flowers, ladies’ furnishing goods and other items. The shop was also capable of cutting, fitting and making dresses in the latest fashions of that day. 
However, by May 9, 1890, N.M. Fitch purchased the store’s stock to add a millinery department to his general store, although White was remaining in charge of the department. He was adding a 25-by-30-foot expansion for his grocery store to make room for the millinery.
“The change all around will fit him to handle a large share of the rush of business soon to come,” the article says. 
Cash said this was located in the first building behind what later became First State Bank, but when Mondell built his brick building there, Fitch moved his store to the empty lot next to the Antler’s hotel.
According to the May 30, 1890, and June 25, 1890, issues of the Weston County Democrat, a restaurant and confectionary was started in the millinery before it was moved to the general store (although these businesses were all in the same general location).
By Sept. 25, 1890, Frank Mondell had erected his new building (Cash said Fitch literally moved his building to the Antler’s during this time), and Major F.R. Curran, who leased the lower section for his Palace Saloon, created a “scene of a brilliant opening.” 
A couple of decades later, the Feb. 8, 1912, edition of the News Journal reported that the C.F. Rhine music store opened next in the building. 
A News Journal article from Sept. 22, 1926, announced that Arthur Sundstrom opened up a dry cleaners’ store in the building, which had been previously occupied by Kirkwood Electric Shop. The history of the dry cleaning shop can be confusing because, according to Cash, the business name changed several times and there was more than one dry cleaning business in the building at the same time. 
Around May 9, 1929, the “Toggery panaterium,” another dry cleaning operation, was sold to Harry Keef before tailor Robert Harris took it over by Oct. 3, 1929. 
That was all in the first building behind Mondell, but now we are going to backtrack to the 1890s again to take a closer look at the businesses in the buildings farther behind the Mondell building. 
The Newcastle News reported on Sept. 4, 1890, that a man named Mr. Briggs opened up a meat market. 
J.E. Bergstrom purchased a half-interest in the Carroll Tailoring Shop from Ray Barner, announced the Oct. 6, 1921, issue of the paper, and he changed the name to Modern Cleaners. Later, he moved the business behind the Mondell building, but at this time, Cash said, Bergstrom’s shop was located in the empty lot next to where Modern Cleaners is today by the Dogie Theater. 
Moving 10 years ahead to Aug. 13, 1931, we learn that Henry Eggert sold New Method Cleaning to Henry Ryan. 
According to an article from the Feb. 4, 1972, paper in the 40 years ago section, Carl Kugland, who was a real estate agent and insurance man, purchased the Security Abstract Co. from C.W. Dow, and he was moving his offices from the Fendrick building to the abstract building of the courthouse. Kugland was also the owner of the warehouse behind the bank. 
By Jan. 11, 1934, Charlie Thierry opened up Thierry’s Grocery store behind the Mondell building (which was now First State Bank). However, Brodsky Food Co. put an announcement in the Aug. 2, 1934, paper that “we are pleased to announce that Charlie Thierry who has operated the Thierry Grocery in the past is now employed by us.” 
Mrs. H.M. Roadifer opened up a tea room half a block south on the east side of the bank around Aug. 9, 1934.
However, the establishment was soon succeeded by the Palace Café around Jan. 10, 1935, operated by D.G. Ellenwood. 
A frame warehouse behind the bank was owned by Carl Kugland and occupied by Hays and Thompson, which Cash said was a construction company. But an article from April 11, 1935, announced that it was sold to Dow Motor Co. 
Gladys Ware, who owned Modern Cleaners, also bought New Method Cleaners, announced the March 2, 1939, paper. A few issues later, it was announced that a contractor from Gillette named Fred Mason was awarded the contract to build a new brick building behind the bank, so Modern Cleaners, Dutch’s Barber Shop and D.G.’s lunchroom had to temporarily move out. 
“Work was started late last week behind the three old frame buildings on which site will be located the new attractive brick structure,” the article says.
We will learn of the severe mishap the construction project turned into in next week’s installment of “History on Main.”