 |
|
www.robertsoncounty.info |
|
By Kevin Schultz
In 1884, after researching for a place to settle, Charles Schultz from Berlin, Germany chose New Baden, Texas to establish his business which would end up being a legacy for the town.
The store sold everything that settlers would need to begin their homesteads and to begin lives as farmers. What wasn't sold could be ordered. At one time, the store handled everything from women's high button shoes to kerosene lamps. it was a favorite meeting place for men and women who wanted to catch up on the latest gossip.
The original store was located South of the present day post office. it was made of logs which gave way to the new and present site in 1906. The red brick building which is no battered by harsh weather through the years, contains about 10,000 square feet of floor space and covered nearly half a block. The high ceilings and creaky wooden floors have provided a business-like atmosphere for thousands of customers. the store had two warehouses, one of which was used mainly for storage of livestock feeds which have always been in demand. The store opened at 8 AM and closed at 5 PM Monday through Saturday. There was a time, though, when there were 13 workers on the floor and three in the office, and the business was open from daylight to midnight.
After the death of Charles Schultz during the early 1900s, his wife Emma took over the business and changed the name to Mrs. E. Schultz & Son. During this time, while working with her son Paul, Emma's coins were introduced. When a farmer would bring in his produce he would be paid in Emma's coins which could only be redeemed at the store and worth more than money. This helped the farmers and Mrs. Schultz stay in business.
Paul Schultz changed the name to Paul Schultz & Son after his mother passed away. During this time, the store served as the United States Post Office and a funeral home for many years. While shopping in New Baden, a person could also buy an automobile.
A lot of trading went on at Schultz's store. Mr. Schultz believed in the farmer, for it has been the tiller of the soil show has kept him in business. "We used to furnish the farmer," Schultz said. "He would give him trade money. If chickens were a nickel a pound, we would pay the farmers six cents a pound. If they would do all their trading with us." The people years ago, according to Schultz, would come a long way and spend the night, doing their trading the following day and then return home. In 1939, the store handled over a quarter of a million dollars in farm produce alone, which represented only a portion of the options available at the store.
The profits of the store took a major hit during the Great Depression. it took several years before the Schultz family recovered from this sad time in our history.
In the 1940s, the store started the business of buying and selling tomatoes, which were shipped up North in carload lots to be sold. Later, dried peas and watermelons were sent by box cars.
When Paul Schultz died in 1948, the store then went to his son Hands Paul and daughter Gretchen Lewis. In 1954, Hands' son Paul Jr. came back from the Army and started working at the store full-time alongside his father and mother.
Paul Jr. then bought the half interest from his aunt, Gretchen Lewis. During the mid 1950s, the store started mixing its own feed across the street, which was a great service to the area farmers.
A lot of the business for the store came from folks from out of town. When the area known as Camp Creek developed, it provided a new portion of revenue for the store.
After the death of Hans Paul, his wife Mattie continued the business along by her son Paul Jr., with the help of his wife Ruth and their children.
In 1984, Paul Schultz & Son celebrated its 100th birthday. This was a very big day, not only for the Schultz family, but for many others around the community as well.
Later in the year of 1984, the Schultz family made the difficult decision to sell the store. The new owners were Joe and Joyce Smith. The Smiths changed the name to the New Baden Country Store. A soda fountain was added and air conditioning was put in.
After five years of business, the Smiths then sold the store to Hoard and Ida Dell Dehart in 1989. The name then changed to the new Baden General Store. More cooler space was added by the Deharts and they worked hard at maintaining the hometown country community atmosphere. This was very important to the Deharts.
In 1998, the store then sold to the present owner Greg Artz. Many repairs to the old building have been made and a Gun Shop has been added. At the present time, the New Baden Store is known for having some of the best hamburgers around.