Historically Speaking: Earliest views of Broadway from late 1800s

Beginning on Aug. 22, 1968, the Monticello Times published a weekly “Monticello Yesteryears” photo that was usually submitted by readers. This feature consecutively lasted until April 18, 1976, continuing from there sporadically until July 28, 1977.

Of particular note in this article I present to you both the west and east views of Broadway that appeared in the June 10 and June 17, 1976, columns respectively.

These two photos are the earliest-known depictions of the street scene in downtown Monticello and, based on my findings of the buildings standing in these photos and the ones not yet present, they are likely to have been taken somewhere between 1888 and 1894.

Sadly, for the eastern Broadway view, I know nothing of the businesses visible. The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of December 1895 suggests that most of the buildings were dwellings, but that provides little answers.

So instead of making guesses, as to sustain the accuracy of this article, I will avoid talking further on this photo.

Looking west particularly on the north side, the businesses that are visible include: on the corner The Advent Church, a barber shop located to its immediate left, a livery stable following that, then two buildings of unknown companies (one of them is likely Tobias Mealey’s Dry Goods Co.), then Albert Barker’s Drugstore is just beyond those two. As for the rest further west on the north side of the street that become increasingly hard to see, I know nothing of them.

On the south side we begin with a billiards hall (or saloon, in layman’s terms), an unknown business, T. F. Tilly & Co., The Citizen’s Bank, E. H. Sherwin’s Harness & Saddlery Emporium, (possibly) Emil Wetzel’s Jewelry Store, the Freemason’s Lodge with Drugs and Stationary below and the Odd Fellows Lodge with Henry Hitter’s Meat Market below. Beyond that are unknown businesses of increasingly poor visibility.

Very little is known by anyone about this time period in our town’s history, but I think it’s fair to say that this is what Monticello looked like in the old west.

I’ve also added the current views taken from the same perspectives (or at least as close as I could get them, considering that’s the busiest intersection in town) in the same order I will write down the current standing businesses all the way to Linn Street and Palm Street.

This part is mainly intended for the future reader, but maybe it can offer a little insight to those who don’t go downtown very often.

Beginning on the north side facing east from Highway 25 (or Pine Street): Walgreens (formerly the site of Sundloff Supply, and previously Gambler); Stokes Marine (previously Hitter’s Meat Market, a barber shop and A. Muller’s Theatre) which is currently addressed as 135 E. Broadway.

Next is a multi-use professional building with Classique Jewelry, Lily’s Massage and Willows Landing fronting Broadway (formerly Maus’s Red Owl; Holker’s Red Owl; and Allis Chalmer’s Implement Co. ran by Mr. Bryant) at 141 E. Broadway, with a parking lot to its right that was formerly Holker’s Drive-In; Johnny McMurry’s Drive-In; & Fred Hitter’s Grand Opera House & Dry Goods Co.

Beyond the intersection with Cedar Street is a large empty parcel that used to be Budd Fair’s Market and previous to that was a gas station, with the Conroy Law Building on the opposite end of the block at 261 E. Broadway.

On the south side beginning from the same location eastward: A vacant building owned by the city (formerly BL Bike & Board from 2010-12; Shuman’s Outdoor Sports; Earl Runquist’s Body Shop and later Bait & Tackle Shop; & Harold O’Neel’s Body Shop) at 112 E. Broadway, then Civil Engineering Site Design (formerly Kjellberg’s Paint Shop; and Ray & Opal Spike’s Bakery) at 118 E. Broadway, followed by another vacant building owned by the city (formerly The Zoo, a liquor establishment that took over the space in the 1970s when the original city offices, jail house and third fire department location moved).

A small parking lot is to the right of that (which was the former location of the American Legion before it burned in 1949), then there’s Mike’s Coins (formerly Bob Rasmussen’s Barbershop and previous to that it was Marlo Samuelson’s, Orville Christiansen’s; and originally Frank Leigh’s) at 148 E. Broadway, followed by the 154 Broadway Plaza (formerly Scotty’s Corner Cafe; The Springborg’s Bowling Alley; and the Army Barracks).

After the intersection with Cedar Street is Red’s Service Station (the oldest standing business in Monticello going back to the mid-late 1950s) at 200 E. Broadway, and lastly the Peterson-Grimsmo Funeral Chapel (formerly the Monticello City Offices & Community Center) at 250 E. Broadway.

Looking on the northwest side of Broadway we start with: Block 52 (formerly Alive! Lutheran Church, which was Johnson’s Department Store and previous to that S. J. Mealey’s Dry Goods Co.) at 121 W. Broadway.

At 113 W. Broadway, we find Preferred Title (formerly Barsness Drug; Lauring’s Drugs; Skogmo Department Store; Nelson’s Fairway Foods; the Post Office; and Borthwick & Timmerman’s Farm Implements).

What The Art (Formerly We Thrive Fitness; Computer Repair & Ras Glass; Ellsworth Grubbs; Imperial Medical; Ben Franklin’s; The Northern States Power Co.; Erickson & Swanson Garage; C. E. Lindsey’s Land Office; Gould’s Bros. Chevrolet; and a barber shop of unknown ownership over 100 years ago) at 107 & 101 W. Broadway.

Manny’s Comics & Cards (previously Riverstreet Station Antiques & Collectibles; Lanner’s Custom Homes; Renew Clinic; and the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church) is at 103 Pine St., then Sleep Concepts Mattress & Futon Factory (Poirior Rexall Drug; Crandall Rexall Drug; & Barker’s Drug) is at 149 W. Broadway.

Lucille Murray’s Studio of Dance (formerly Golden Valley Furniture; Kjellberg’s Furniture; Minneapolis-Moline Display Parking Lot; and Lindgren & Roman’s New Cash Store) at 155 W. Broadway, Walnut Street, then Monticello Family Dentistry (formerly Hart’s Hospital; The Farmer’s & Merchant’s State Bank; & The Purity Brewery) at 201 W. Broadway.

H&R Block (formerly Schneider’s Carpet & Furniture; & Schneider’s Pool Hall) at 207 W. Broadway, MontiArts (formerly Barker Family Chiropractic; Taylor Land Surveyors; Jarra’s Women’s Apparel; Lee’s Appliance; The Monticello Times; H. J. Aldrich’s Implement House) at 213 W. Broadway.

Prophetic Evangelistic Ministry impact on the Nations Church, Barker Family Chiropractic, & Preferred Title (formerly Fred Topel’s Antique & Decor; Moon Motor Sales; and an Auto Garage) at 219 & 226 W. Broadway, Broadway Square Apartments (formerly, starting from the Moon Motors going west, Stelton’s Laundarama Landromat, previously owned by Jerome & Myrtle Haen; Joe’s Auto Repair; The Northern States Power Co.; The Ford Dealership — which was originally George H. Allen’s Auto Livery, a chauffeuring business — owned over the years by The Merz Brothers 1915-40s, Arnold Foster 1948/49-1959, The Swanson Brothers 1959-early 60s, Larry Flake early 60s-1984, and lastly Dave Peterson who built what is currently Cornerstone Chevrolet in 1985.) at 243 W. Broadway.

Past Locust Street, another multi-use professional building fronted with Mains’ Services; Studer Chiropractic; & David’s Photography at 113 Locust St., Sobriety First (formerly the Fleming Law Office; Joyce Dowling’s What Knot Gift Shop; The Monticello Times; and originally it was a Lodging House) at 313 W. Broadway, the former Post Office at 331 W. Broadway, MontiArts Office (formerly the Texaco Gas Station) at 349 W. Broadway.

Then on the southwest side we have Riverwell Movement; Clancy’s Outdoors; & the Brenner Dental Group (previously Jack’s Outlet; Vokaty’s V-Store; The Federated Stores; and originally it was The Monticello Co-operative Co. managed by Mr. H. K. Hanson) at 106 & 108 W. Broadway.

Domino’s Pizza & Karen’s Kustom Draperies Studio (formerly Nelson’s Hardware; Maus Foods; Maus Meat Shop; Jack Sprat Meat Lockers; T. F. Tilly’s Daylight Store) at 112 & 114 W. Broadway, Wildflower Beauty & The Liquor Lounge (formerly Cocktail’s On Broadway; Half-lit Candles; Salon Glitz & Glam; The Country Travel Store; Brothers II Mens Apparel; The Margo Loraine Shop; The Recreation Café; and originally The Citizens State Bank with Charles E. White’s Real Estate Offices upstairs) at 118, 124, & 126 W. Broadway respectively.

An empty lot at 134 & 136 W/ Broadway was formerly an Antique Store; Larsen’s Carpet & Furniture Store; Hicken’s TV Appliance; Klimmek’s Home Furnishings; Gents Furnishings; Red Owl; and originally it was Edward Sherwin’s Harness & Saddlery Emporium on he left and Waldron & Luthey’s Drug Store on the right.

The Agosto Law Building fronted by Hill’s Tax Service, Kohler Law Office (formerly Kjellberg’s Realty and Agosto Law Office; Seestrom Hardware and Electric; Pitts Hardware owned by Don & Muriel Pitt; a Cafe; and originally it was Mr. A. W. McKnight’s Restaurant.) at 142 W. Broadway, Hammer’s Hair Lounge (formerly The Laundromutt; Stella Schneider’s Cafe; Monticello Meat Lockers; The Monticello Bakery; and Gus Hitter’s Meat Market) at 144 W. Broadway.

The Hair Dresser (formerly The First National Bank; Johnson’s Fabrics; The Wright County State Bank; The State Bank of Monticello; and originally it was the Security State Bank) at 146 W. Broadway, Brand New Nails & Alterations (formerly Loch Jewelers; The Monticello Bakery; K&B Bakery owned by Ken & Betty Tvedt; and originally it was Emil Wetzel’s Jewelry Store) at 148 W. Broadway, Mindful Garden (Massage, Yoga, Meditation) & The Masonic Lodge, No. 16 (formerly Body Rhythms Wellness; The Vacuum Center; Coast to Coast; The Frigidaire Store; The Monticello Hardware Co.; & Mrs. H. L. Bowers Millinery) at 150 & 152 W. Broadway.

Cornerstone Cafe (formerly Dino’s Deli; Dino’s Pizzeria; The Figs-It-Shop owned by Jim Figenshau; Ken & Lee’s Appliance owned by Kenny Peshia and Lee Trunnell, who later dissolved they’re partnership and the store became solely Ken’s; Baker’s Implements; Peterson’s Implements; The Monticello Hardware Co. owned by Charles W. Fish; The Falk Brothers Hardware Co.; The Houstin-Chamberlin Hardware Co; and originally Henry Hitter’s Meat Market along with the International Organization of the Odd Fellows upstairs.) at 154 W. Broadway.

Beyond Walnut Street is Kris Lindahl Real Estate; MN Nice Home Buyers; The Bearded Viking; & Queen Bee’s Gardens & Floral (formerly Manny’s Cards & Collectibles; Clarence Huseth’s Barber Shop; Foster’s Insurance Agency; Claude & Edith Johnston’s Hatchery; Art Steven’s Hotel; and originally The Seymour Hotel) at 200 W. Broadway. Atlas Staffing (formerly Fitness Matters; Cut n’ Curl and the Senior Center; Paul’s Pizza; Myrtle Kiebel’s Cafe; and originally it was Fred Gee’s Funeral Emporium and Furniture House) at 212 W. Broadway.

The space at 230 W. Broadway is vacant and currently for rent, but it was formerly Jenica’s Piano Studio & Indigo’s Haven; Bill Johnson Counseling; The Rohde Floral Shop; The Monticello Creamery Offices; and originally it was a Horseshoeing Company.

Farmer’s Insurance (formerly the J O Y Center; Fred Hickman’s Barber Shop; and originally it was Helmer Hanson’s Shoemaking Shop) at 228 W. Broadway, Radiant Skin Spa & Liberty Tax (formerly a dentistry) at 236 W. Broadway, Landmark Square Apartment with (what’s soon to be) Cocoa Maas, a chocolatier, a Beef O’Brady’s (formerly North Star Gifts; PlaySpace; Deb’s Cleaners; Crostini Grille & Pizzeria and Coldwell Banker; The Amaco Gas Station; Progressive Show Repair; and originally it was the first location of the Monticello Fire Department) at 242-254 W. Broadway.

Beyond Locust Street is Broadway Kwik Stop Gas Station & the Handle Bars Barber Shop (formerly Pump’n Munch Gas Station & The Dairy Store; and over a century ago there was a Blacksmith Shop there) at 318 W. Broadway, the private residences of 324 and 342 W. Broadway, & Zieman Tax Service at 354 W. Broadway.

That basically sums up the last century of history on all sides of Broadway as I’ve been able to find. And while it’s an information overload, to the readers of 50 or 100 years from now, it will be a gold mine of information.

Ayden Irwin will be a senior this fall at Monticello High School. An avid local history buff and genealogist, he serves as the city’s unofficial historian.