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Densmore Photos

Contributed by Doyle & Lois Archer, from the collection of Carrie Archer Thompson, unless otherwise noted.  
Estimated dates are 1915-1920.

Please click on small photo to view a larger image.  Thanks!

 

Farmers State Bank (later the Post Office)

Alvah Archer in front of Farmers State Bank (from collection of Paul Frederick)

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From left to right: Farmers State Bank, Barber Shop?, Kitzke house.  This is on the north side of the main street, which was actually named Kansas Avenue, though I've never heard anyone call it that.  It looks like the middle building must be a Barber Shop, judging by the pole out front.  I heard that the building was once a restaurant, and that it burned down. If you have any additional information,  please let me know.

Alvah Archer, in lobby area, Farmers State Bank

Behind the counter, Farmers State Bank.  This photo must have been taken from the doorway to the vault.

Advertisement from Logan Republican, 
29 February 1912 (contributed by 
Ardie Grimes)

 

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Farmers State Bank Statement of financial condition, 02 April 1912 (contributed by Ardie Grimes)
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Tractors in front of bank; unidentified women

Main Street Scenes

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Densmore main street. Here you can see cars parked in front of the businesses on the south side of the street.  Notice the utility poles for power - Pete Bruinekool had a generator for electricity.   Notice the men talking near the lumber yard office.  Does anyone know what was in the building between the lumber yard and the hardware store?  Is the building with the "Prince.." advertisement on the front the general store, or is that another building between the hardware store and the general store?

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Densmore main street - from left: hardware store,  general store, Farmers State Bank (later the post office).  George Stepper owned the hardware store at one time, the general store was owned by Eugene Mann & the Kitzke family.

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A view of the general store (later the Kitzke store).  The building to its left was the hardware store in the 1950's.  The building behind (north) of  the general store was once a creamery.  The house north across the road from the creamery was the George Stepper house.  Be sure to note the lion in the cage - Doyle says the story goes it was from a circus that was passing through. 

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postcard interior of Kitzke store, date unknown.  Contributed by Delbert Nicholas, whose grandmother Ada Lyon (Mrs. Seigle) Nicholas worked at the store.

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Refinished spool cabinet that came from Kitzke store.  Contributed by Delbert Nicholas.

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The south side of Densmore main street.  According to Doyle, this building with the outside stairs was across the street from the bank, on the lot where St. Mary's Catholic Church is now located.  At one time it was a grocery store operated by Asbury & Emmaline Archer.  Later there was a creamery operated there by William Lincicome.  William died in April 1924, so the creamery & grocery store would have been there before that date. 

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Another view of the grocery store / creamery.  The building to the right (west) was once a grocery store operated by Freeman and Augusta Archer. 

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The east end of Kansas Avenue - from left:  Bank, Kitzke house, Densmore Garage, Hotel

Other Businesses

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This was identified as a barber shop.  Judging by the bank of the railroad cut behind the building, this was probably located in Block 2 of the Original Town, or on the Pete Bruinekool property identified on the 1917 Plat Map

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Freeman & Augusta Archer grocery store closing out sale.

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Freeman & Augusta Archer grocery store closing out sale.

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on back of this photo:  from Ruth Jones, 1919 crop at elevator in Spring of 1920.  This is probably the old elevator located west of the depot.  If you know who Ruth Jones is, please let me know.

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Filling Station - Walters Oil Company, owned by Ray Walters from about 1935 until it closed
 

©March 2001  Ardie Grimes
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