Gothenburg Historical Museum

Lake Avenue has undergone many changes over the years. Have you ever wondered about the businesses that have come and gone. This will take you on a trip from 10th Street down to Hwy. 30. This is an “ALMOST” accurate accounting of businesses that have occupied main street buildings dating back to the early 1900’s. There may be some omitted, for which I apologize. I would appreciate hearing from you regarding memories you might have of some of these early businesses. My email is anneanderson801@gmail.com. 

Beginning on the north west side of the street, the First Presbyterian Church was built and was dedicated in 1905 and is the only church in Gothenburg that is still active in the original building. South of the church was a large house seen in the picture below, known as the house of “Seven-Gables.” This house, which included 16 rooms with a basement and modern conveniences, was built in 1910 for D. W. Daggett who was involved in the real estate business. The house would eventually be converted into a furniture store owned by Axel Sholund. In 1946 the business was purchased by Walt Jobman and he had furniture, floor covering, window shades and small appliances. In 1959 he purchased the property on the corner of 10th & Avenue F and built a new brick building for his store. The house was moved to its present location north of the football field. 

Across the alley was the Houston Hotel, touted to be a “most elegant hostelry” with high ceilings and large windows. The three-story brick structure provided 35 large guest rooms, a ballroom and a large dining room. It was valued at $10,000 when it was opened in 1891. On January 13, 1979 the Houston Hotel was totally destroyed by fire. In its place a building was constructed that would house a motorcycle shop and then became Todd Houchin’s floor covering business eventually becoming Five Star Flooring. Currently the dental office of Dr. Ashton Hecox exists in this spot. Travel on south, a building which once housed Virginia’s Dairy Bar, Dave’s Dairy Bar, Timeless Treasures, is now home to Gateway Realty. The small building to the south of Gateway Realty was once Otto’s Lunch in 1937 owned by Otto Oman; also Helen’s Lunch in 1950, Babe’s Lunch and Aden’s Lunch. It’s currently home to Wet Paws Dog Grooming.

Continue south on the west side and we have the office of Professional Financial Consultants, Inc. currently owned by Kathy Gruber and Sharyl Munster. It was formerly owned by Robert Raymond. It was once Mid Nebraska Realty, CBS Realty and Duis Real Estate Agency. Initially it was a Standard Station which sat crosswise on the corner and run by Rhinehart Aden. 

Jumping the street south we have the Kittredge Building built in 1892. It currently is home to Charm Boutique and Gothenburg Realty. In 1894 the upstairs held the first Gothenburg Telephone Office and in 1910 the lower area was the location of the Post Office. Later the north part of the building would have Nannen’s Shoe Store, Ted’s Decorator and The Kid’s Kloset. Before that it was The Golden Rule and Oscar Kampfe ran a grocery store there. 

 Other businesses were once The People’s Store, a real estate office and a millinery shop as seen in the picture. Also there was Axle Gustafson Meat Market, Einar Gustafson Meat Market and Fred Karlson’s Meat Market, and that’s back in the 1920’s.

There was A&L, owned by Art and Lucille Polak, Ben Franklin, and Coast to Coast, run by Ted Rodine and later by LeRoy Copple On the South half of the building Larry’s Pastime (Larry Shaw), Roy’s Place (Roy Nichols), A&L (expansion). There was Dixie Ackerman’s Spinning Wheel and the Wightman Law Office. A favorite of kids was the Popcorn Stand, where they got their popcorn and candy treats on Saturday nights. Leonard Olson also had a TV repair shop there. A café run by Frank Anderson was at one time located here. Today Dee’s Floral operates in two buildings along this street.

Next door was a barber shop run by Bill Owings and then it became the Star Shoe Service run by Everett and Helen Johnson where you could get your shoes shined for a quarter. Eventually the store was added to the Cornhusker Hardware business as it expanded its space.

Initially the Dale Building, built in 1920, housed the Begthol-Mars Clothing Store owned by Maude Begthol and Ollive Mars. It catered to women and children providing the latest fashions from Chicago. Later Walter Dale would collaborate with E. G. West and four other individuals to incorporate Gothenburg Hardware Company and locate in the Dale Building. Cornhusker Hardware was then incorporated in 1929 which included Walter Dale and Arthur Johnson. Alden Johnson joined the firm in 1936 and would go on to manage the store along with his wife, Ada, and son Steve until it closed in 1999. Dick Nelson and his wife Jody currently run Nelson’s Appliance & Repair in the Dale Building.

 Across the alley was the Citizen’s National Bank until 1915 and then it became First State Bank. An addition to the south would become Stebbin’s Hardware & Implement in the 1920,s and later the J.C. Penney Store. In 1957 First State Bank would acquire the Penney store and expand their offices.

Next to Eustis Plumbing is now Main Street Hair Design, but prior to that it was at one time the Post Office, Ideal Grocery, The Lynn Shop-1958, Gothenburg Floral and The Sewing Basket.

Moving on South we had Weideranders Jewelry about 1900, John & Helen Beath’s “Eat-a-Bite Café” around 1910, then it would become Pape’s Jewelry, then Ellison’s Jewelry, Loostrom Jewelry and then Ribbons & Roses Floral Shop. Next door was Sampson Jewelry, Haberle Drug, Krekeler’s Photography Studio, Russ’s Photography, K&D Photography, Ron’s Gun Shop, Platte Valley Vac & Sew, Larson’s Jewelry and eventually Rhonda’s Jewelry would acquire the entire building. Upon Rhonda’s retirement it was sold to Cheryl Gunlock and became Unique Mystique Antiques shop. It is now T Walker’s Restaurant.

Lyle Goodrich, R. H. Patterson and Skinny Johnson ran a successful clothing and grocery store on the corner of 9th & Lake. It then became Harlan’s Bakery, Power’s Bakery and Ray & Pam Slack’s Bakery. Then it was Franzen’s Electric and Mode O’Day-Fashion Crossroads. It is now Yancy Insurance Agency.

 Crossing the street we now find Lake Avenue Eye Care. In 1921 it was The Grange Store, which carried everything from dry goods and groceries to grease and oil. It would later be home to Novak’s Men’s Clothing Store, then George Walter’s Clothing Store and eventually Gayle Strayer had a men’s clothing store. Next it became Mary Franzen’s Quality Clean Dry Cleaners.

Next door in the 1940’s Vera Davis had a dress shop called Style and Maybelle Krekeler and Louise Davis ran a beauty shop in the back. Later it would become Carol’s Beauty Shop, Geiken Chiropractic, Three French Hen’s Gift Shop, The Enamel Duckling and it’s now The Giving Closet. 

Next door is Sheer Elegance Hair Salon. Formerly it was Nan’s Beauty Shop, beautician Nancy Sitorius joined Caroll Sappingfield, Sappingfield’s Barber Shop-1961, Jerry Schultz Barber Shop-1958 and initially it was Ed Iler’s Barber Shop who built the building in 1926.

State Farm owned by Heidi Bazata is next door. It was once Chris Haynes CPA, Gothenburg Real Estate and Gene Wilson’s Insurance. Nana’s Country   

Spauling’s General Store opened in 1895 in this spot and, due to the growth of their business, they expanded to the south with an additional building in 1925. Their expansion would become Frenchy’s Café and before that Frasier’s Candy Kitchen. The building burned when it was Al’s Café and is now a parking lot for John Haas’ clients.

The two-story Platte Hotel building still stands as a proud reminder of it’s history. Built in the early 1900’s it housed the Gem Theater in 1908 providing moving picture shows each Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. In the other half of the building was Gingrich-Witthuhn Saddle Shop and later Frasier’s Kandy Kitchen. The building was purchased by John and Helen Beath and opened September of 1920 as the Platte Hotel which would become a grand hotel complete with the lobby described as “roomy and airy, the furnishings are the best and the soft and harmonious colors from the tile floor to ceiling please the eye with a quiet richness.” The Beath’s would run the hotel until 1944 when they sold it to Mrs. Armond Clouatre who intended to run it as a hotel. Also located in the Platte Hotel has been the Chamber of Commerce, Dean Potter’s TV business, Larry’s Radio & TV, Ollendorf’s Thrift Shop, Dala Horse Antiques and a gymnastic studio. It has just recently been renovated and hosts new owners, Barry & Karla Carter who are the owners of Valley Promo. 

Next door to the south was the Pettegrew building. John & Helen Beath, following the sale of the Platte Hotel, rented the north room for their lunch and coffee shop. John Pettegrew operated a barber shop along with Cecil Waddington. It has been a youth center, Star Shoe Service, Martin’s Lounge run by Roy Martin and Ron Wiggins. Later it became known as the Bar W owned by Heisler Inc. and Chuck Williamson. It remains the Bar W but is own      ed by Rick Lambertus.

Thirty-Mile Canal had offices in the building south of the Bar W, which has housed the Cable TV office, the Mongomery Ward catalog store and years ago had been the law offices of Albert Mann, Van Clark and a man by the name of Nelson from Cozad. Ernie Dyke had his Pony Express barbershop on the south side of the same building. He bought the business from Carl Higel.

Big Red Meats was the last business in the next building. It had been the Calling Auto & Filling Station prior to 1922 when it sold to the A.B.A. Independent Oil Company. 

In 1950 the structure was torn down and replaced with a new one-story building owned by E.B. Karr. Kelly’s Café, famous for its good food, would be there next. Eventually the building would be torn down and it was known as “the ugly corner” for many years. Today you can enjoy this busy corner in the beautiful landscaped Lincoln Highway Park. I hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane on Lake Avenue. If you have further information on any of the buildings, please email anneanderson801@gmail.com

     As written above, Lake Avenue has undergone many changes over the years. I’ve always wondered about the businesses that have come and gone. This will take you on a trip from 11th Street down to Hwy. 30 on the east side of Lake Avenue, formerly call Winchell Street. This is an “ALMOST” accurate accounting of businesses that have occupied main street buildings dating back to the early 1900’s. There may be some omitted, for which I apologize. I would appreciate hearing from you regarding memories you might have of some of these early businesses. My email is anneanderson801@gmail.com. 

      Beginning on the east side of the street at 11th & Lake Avenue: Three houses used to sit where the Post Office now resides. The “new” Post Office was dedicated in August of 1965 with earlier locations up and down Lake Avenue. The first Post Office in the 1880’s was located at the home of Olof Bergstrom north of town. South of the alley Peterson’s IGA Supermarket, Peterson’s Café and Peterson’s Locker and Processing Plant was constructed in 1946 on lots north of the Nifty Cleaners. Following a fire, a building was constructed and now houses the Dollar General Store. South of the Peterson businesses a large two-story building constructed in 1914 had McKim’s Ice Cream Parlor, then Christiansen’s Candy Kitchen in 1932 with the Odd Fellows organization meeting upstairs and a dry cleaning business opening in this space in the mid to late 1930’s. Names connected to this business called Nifty Cleaners included Everett Oman and Thelma & Glen Bullock. Bullock’s Nifty Cleaners moved to a location on east 10th Street to allow the Peterson Food Store to expand its sales area in 1961.

     Next door Aden Brothers Store (M.G. (Ben) and Jurgen Aden), who began their mercantile business in 1909 in another location, moved into this large building in 1914 following its construction and would have the majority of space in the building. This business was a mainstay for groceries and dry-goods. Henry Aden, Oscar Kampfe and John Aden would form a partnership and buy the business renaming it Aden & Kampfe. In 1947 Aden retired and he sold his interest in the store to A. T. (Tolly) Tollefson and the business became known as Kampfe & Tollefson until 1974. Later the business was sold to Chauncey Goodwin and it was known as “Mr. G’s” until 1987. It then   

became the Korner Department Store owned by Katherine Purintun and Gail Block. Later it was the Corner Clothes Hanger owned by Lynne Johnson. Chadd & Miriam Sander, owners of Sander Furniture, began business in this building before moving to their current location at Hwy. 30 and Lake Avenue. The building now owned by Chris Healey is home to the Community Development Office (Chamber/GIC) in the front. Caroline Scott, CPA and Oliver Computer & Consulting Business in the back each have entrances on east 10th Street.

     Jump the street and you are where the impressive Opera House once stood. Built in 1892 by the Gothenburg Water Works & Investment Company, it was a three-story building with a cupula. There were stores on the ground level, doctors and business offices on the second level and the third floor had a basketball court, dance hall and stage area where shows were presented. It is said there would be space for an orchestra and seating for 500 people with 300 more seats in the balcony area. In 1912 the Opera House burned and with it the following businesses: Hinkley Drug Store, George Back Jewelry, Pete Edwall’s Meat Market, Gothenburg Light & Power Company and doctor’s offices. By June of 1912 Pharmacist Don Hinkley was rebuilding with a fine two-story building replacing the grand structure. Businesses would eventually include: McVicker ‘s Pharmacy, Farmers State Bank, Grace Harnan Dress Shop, John Greene Agency, The Spinning Wheel, State Federal, Myer’s Drug Store and Wulf’s Pharmacy. Today the corner has Edward Jones Investments and to the south Liberty Ladies Exercise Studio. The back of the building has D&R Computing. 

     Next door Five Star Flooring fills the buildings south to the alley. Prior there were a number of businesses that lined that section of Lake Avenue. They included Reuben Johnson’s Meat Market, Jensen’s Jack & Jill, W.J. O’Connor’s Five & Dime, McFarland’s Variety Store, Gus Dahlquist’s The People’s Store, A&L Polak’s Variety Store, Ben Franklin and Dobbs Used Furniture Store.

Across the alley south was the last location for the Post Office on the north half of the two-story building. It moved in 1965 to its present location. Several years after the post office moved Joan’s Hallmark Store would occupy this space. On the south half was Novak’s Men’s Clothing, Later it became Gothenburg Public Power, Larry’s Plumbing and Heating and now Eustis Plumbing has the entire building. 

     Next to Eustis Plumbing is now Main Street Hair Design, but prior to that it was at one time the Post Office, Ideal Grocery, The Lynn Shop-1958, Gothenburg Floral and The Sewing Basket.

Moving on South we had Weideranders Jewelry about 1900, John & Helen Beath’s “Eat-a-Bite Café” around 1910, then it would become Pape’s Jewelry, then Ellison’s Jewelry, Loostrom Jewelry and then Ribbons & Roses Floral Shop. Next door was Sampson Jewelry, Haberle Drug, Krekeler’s Photography Studio, Russ’s Photography, K&D Photography, Ron’s Gun Shop, Platte Valley Vac & Sew, Larson’s Jewelry and eventually Rhonda’s Jewelry would acquire the entire building. Upon Rhonda’s retirement it was sold to Cheryl Gunlock and became Unique Mystique Antiques shop. It is now T Walker’s Restaurant.

     Lyle Goodrich, R. H. Patterson and Skinny Johnson ran a successful clothing and grocery store on the corner of 9th & Lake. It then became Harlan’s Bakery, Power’s Bakery and Ray & Pam Slack’s Bakery. Then it was Franzen’s Electric and Mode O’Day-Fashion Crossroads. It is now Yancy Insurance Agency.

     Crossing the street we now find Lake Avenue Eye Care. In 1921 it was The Grange Store, which carried everything from dry goods and groceries to grease and oil. It would later be home to Novak’s Men’s Clothing Store, then George Walter’s Clothing Store and eventually Gayle Strayer had a men’s clothing store. Next it became Mary Franzen’s Quality Clean Dry Cleaners.

     Next door in the 1940’s Vera Davis had a dress shop called Style and Maybelle Krekeler and Louise Davis ran a beauty shop in the back. Later it would become Carol’s Beauty Shop, Geiken Chiropractic, Three French Hen’s Gift Shop, The Enamel Duckling and it’s now The Giving Closet. Next door is Sheer Elegance Hair Salon. Formerly it was Nan’s Beauty Shop, beautician Nancy Sitorius joined Caroll Sappingfield, Sappingfield’s Barber Shop-1961, Jerry Schultz Barber Shop-1958 and initially it was Ed Iler’s Barber Shop who built the building in 1926. State Farm owned by Heidi Bazata is next door. It was once Chris Haynes CPA, Gothenburg Real Estate and Gene Wilson’s Insurance. 

Say “Frenchy’s Café” to anyone who lived in Gothenburg between the years of 1927 and 1960 and the name conjures up memories of good food and fun times.

For the owners, Armand and Marie Clouatre, the business thrust them into a lifestyle of public service where they earned the friendship and respect of many people over the years.

Armand, of French-Canadian heritage, first started his career in the restaurant business soon after he graduated from Farnam High School going to work at the Dinty Moore Hamburger Castle in Ogallala where he was called “Frenchy” because they couldn’t remember his name.

Over the span of 33 years, Frenchy’s Café occupied three locations, all within 200 feet of each other, in the 800 block of Lake Avenue. The first site was in the small stucco building which now houses Lake Avenue Coffee Shop. The little café sold sandwiches of all kinds, along with homemade pies, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks and candy. But the item in biggest demand was the hamburger. Marie noted that people would buy them by the sackful because they were something new. They would sell over 2,500 each weekend at five cents apiece. 

Around 1940 they opened the second Frenchy’s Café right across the street from their former business. The new location was quite a bit larger and sported a very modern décor with a juke box as the focal point situated at the end of a long line of red and white cloth-covered tables. Around the same time Armand and Marie opened the third Frenchy’s, Armand’s parents bought the Platte Hotel and Café. 

The elder Clouatres ran the hotel while Armand and Marie took on yet another venture with a coffee shop in the front and a full dining room in the back. Marie would run back and forth across the alley between the two cafes, trying to keep them both going. 

According to Kenneth Tetro, as reported in the August 14, 1996 issue of the Gothenburg Times, roping clubs did not exist in Nebraska back in the mid 1930’s. Most people probably didn’t even know what a roping club was.

Tetro, along with Glen Hampton, organized the roping club in Gothenburg in 1936. Hampton, who was studying to be a veterinarian at Texas A&M, came back and told about the roping clubs they had in Texas. Tetro said “I called a bunch of guys and the idea really took off. 

The first group of about a dozen were all horsemen who liked to rope. Some of the original group were Ray & Roy Stickelman, George, Ralph & Milton Mann, Harry, William and Albert Soller, Frank Ballmer, Jim Engleman, Henry Voss, Roger Clark, Hampton and Tetro.

The club bought some cows and built an arena between the river and where the Frito-Lay facility is now. Every Sunday they would get together and rope. 

Tetro said he had bought the land where the rodeo grounds is now located to build a home on. He ended up selling it to the roping club and they built the rodeo grounds around 1950. Material for the first chutes came from the Dawson County Fairgrounds.

Others involved in the early days were Charles Burson, Don Soller, Frank & Hank Ballmer, Walt Hecox, Mart Gengenbach, Arch Trimble, Clarence Maack, Buzz Stebbins, Jim Clark, Otto & Herman Witte and Doc Pyle.

Today, 85 years later, the July 4th Rodeo has become as much of a tradition in Gothenburg as fireworks. Each year rodeo competitors come from all over Nebraska and many neighboring states to take a shot at a few seconds of riding, roping and bucking in an attempt to win some cash. Over 400 contestants challenge each other in Bareback and Saddle Bronc riding, Barrel Racing, Tie-Down Roping, Team Roping and Bull Riding.

The sign for the Gothenburg Roping Club, built and erected by Gary Garner, tells the year the group was established, but it doesn’t tell about the dedication of all the volunteers who have worked the past 85 years to make it continue to be a successful event for all to enjoy.