News: Curtiss – General Store History

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Olson, Clark, Bass, Woock, Schoeneman, Kilossen, Horn, Sturner, Block, Schwandt, Geary, Frane

----Source: Olson Family Scrapbook

Land which was originally owned by the U.S. Government was purchased by the Olson family. The ownership passed from Mathea Olson to Nathanial Clark to Albert Bass to Paul and Minna Woock.
In 1892, the property was sold to R.E. Schoeneman and around 1900 Fredericke Schoeneman constructed the first building on the present sight, which was a saloon and dance hall.

Owners from 1900 to 1904 were Adolph Schroeder and Nicholas Kilossen. In 1904, Louis Horn purchased the building, moved the saloon to the back of the lot for residence, converted the dance hall into a general store.
Consequent owners were: Charles Block, John Sturner, Otto Sturner, Glenn and Inga Schwandt, Harvey Witt and again Schwandt's and Clarence and Mildred Geary.

This general store formerly contained the Post Office. At one time, it was one of the three grocery stores in Curtiss.

In 1979, upon retirement, the Gearys sold the store to Howard and Gerrie Frane. After extensive remodeling, expanding stock and the addition of a laundromat, the mini-market is the one grocery store in Curtiss.