Bio: Dorn, Lowell and Mildred "Millie" Olson

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Dorn, Olson, Johnston, Meyers

----Sources: Abbotsford, WI Centennial Booklet, "100 Years"; page 115, Family Records, Lynda (Dorn) Olson Family Album.

Lowell & Millie Dorn

Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI

Except from the Abbotsford, WI Centennial Booklet, "100 Years"; page 115.  This book was owned by my aunt, Ellen (Olson) Johnson, the oldest sister of Millie (Olson) Dorn..

Lowell and Mildred (Millie) Dorn moved to Abbotsford in May of 1946 and opened the present Coast to Coast Store. In the fall they started handling furniture and in 1948 enlarged their furniture business and moved it to the first floor of the Masonic Building. In 1953, the furniture business had grown to where they needed new quarters and they moved to the present Corral bar building. In 1956 they were confronted with the same problem--the need for larger quarters and moved to their present location. In 1960 the Dorns purchased the building from Mrs. Robert Johnston, an heir of A.J. Meyers. Since moving in 1956 the building has been enlarged and completely remodeled. Today it is one of the largest, most modern and most attractive furniture stores in Central Wisconsin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dorn are descendants of early area pioneers. Mrs. Dorn was born in Abbotsford, the daughter of Olaf Olson, who served as Village Marshall from 1910 to 1916. Mr. Olson also served as street lamplighter before electric lights were available. The parents of Olaf Olson came from Norway when he was two years old and were one of the very first settlers in the Curtiss area. Mrs. Dorn's mother was also a native of this area, her grandfather Francis Tuttle was an early pioneer and well known as a sawmill operator in Stetsonville and Colby. The Oluf Olsons moved to Neillsville in 1916. Both of Lowell Dorn's great grandparents came to this country from Germany in sail-ship in 1840 and 1847. They settled in the township of York between Loyal and Neillsville. The first real estate transaction involving the site of the Dorn Furniture Store dates back to July 14, 1879, when the government conveyed to Ole Olson Berg eighty acres of land. This land extended one-half mile north of what is now the junction of Highway 13 and 29 and one-fourth mile West. On December 26, 1879 some of this land was deeded to the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company for a right-of-way. D.C. Millimore purchased most of this property in March of 1880 and sold to K. Kent Kennon in April of that year. In May of 1880 Fredrick Abbot purchased the property. Mr. Abbot at one time owned most of the real estate in which Abbotsford is now located. Mr. Abbot conveyed to the public, property for roads which now form highways 13 and 29. Mr. Abbot sold this property to R. N. Maguire in October of 1882. Mr. Maguire sold to R. L. Roder in June of 1885. Mr. Roder erected a building where the Dorn Furniture Store now stands and conducted a General Merchandise business. Mr. Roder sold this business to Meyers and Chase in July of 1900 and the business continued to operate under the firm name of Meyers and Chase. About the year 1915, Mr. Meyer became sole owner and the business was operated under the name of A. J. Meyer. Mr. Meyer had a general merchandise and furniture business on the first floor and an undertaking parlor on the second floor. At Mr. Meyers death the building was leased to several different merchants. Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Dorn sold the business and inventory to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weix in 1973.

Dorn Furniture as it looked in 1973.

Coast-to-Coast Store Will Open Here Saturday

Lowell Dorn, who lives in Abbotsford, announces the opening of his Coast-to-Coast store, located in the Buss building, next Saturday.  Although Mr. Dorn is the sole owner of the store, he will bring to the members of this community highest quality products with the lower price advantages gained by the association of many hundreds of Coast-to-Coast stores through their central buying organization.

Mr. Dorn announce that his store will sell completed lines of hardware, automotive supplies, housewares, farm equipment, sporting goods, electrical supplies, home appliances and furniture.  Many well known products will be featured, including Leonard refrigerators, Mastercraft and Harvester brands of hardware, Safe Flex tires, Musicaire radios, and many others.

The advantage to the people of Abbotsford in buying at a Coast-to-Coast store are many, according to a representative of the central organization who is in town for the grand opening Saturday.  He pointed out that local people would be dealing with one of their neighbors when they make a purchase, yet they would be making important savings on everything through the combined buying power of all the hundreds of Coast-to-Coast stores, through their central buying organization.

Mr. Dorn invites everyone to his grand opening on Saturday, May 25, at which coffee and doughnuts will be served free.  Look in this week's issue of the Tribune for the Coast -to-Coast Store's grand opening announcement advertisement.  Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 05/23/1946

Christmas Memories Letter recorded by Millie (Olson) Dorn - contributed by Lynda (Dorn) Clark

Our Christmas always centered around church and home. Our mother, that busy woman with nine children to care for, always had time to tell us a bedtime story before we went to bed. Many of the stories she told us were from the Bible, so when we were very young we knew the story of Baby Jesus. Christmas had real meaning for us as the birthday of the babe in the manger.

Christmas at home was celebrated with a Christmas tree. Man of the trimmings we children had helped to make. We popped corn and made plump strings of white kernels for the tree. To add a little bright red we threaded cranberries and hung them on the tree. There was some tinsel that was stored away from year to year. We thought some artificial cherries were beautiful. Our tree was lighted by tiny candles of different colors. Only occasionally were the candles lights, and our parents watched very carefully while they were blazing.

There were always gifts under the tree, but not extravagant ones. I remember only two dolls which did not last too long under the rough treatment of a younger brother and his playmates. However, we were very content with paper dolls. When real paper dolls were not available we were able to build up our paper families with Montgomery Ward catalog cutouts.

An Amusing memory of playing with paper dolls is that there was rivalry in announcing when we began to play, "My family is the richest in the world."

We always hung our stockings on Christmas Eve and were well satisfied in the morning to find peanuts, candy and an orange and an apple in them.

Our parents mostly gave us practical gifts – new dresses that Mama had made, and knit mittens for the girls and mittens and socks for the boys. But there was always some small toy or game that was especially desired. The boys received balls and bats and even small pairs of skis.

As we grew older we always found books a part of our Christmas. I can remember Mama sending one of us down to Kearns'  (formerly the V. C. Woelffer drug store) or Sniteman's Drugstores to buy a book for another member of the family. I well remember the Christmas when one of us received "His Official Fiancé," and the other "In Another Girl's Shoe," and what a lovely afternoon of reading we had. They thrilled our youthful romantic hearts.

Christmas was a time of doing for each other. As we grew older, we found little jobs, like babysitting and doing small household chores for a busy mother, and the boys shoveled snow or mowed lawns. It was such a joy to earn money and save for the gifts. No matter how small the sum, it was divided for gifts for our parents and brothers and sisters. What fun it was Christmas morning, and in the afternoon and evening there were books to read and games, like Old Maid, Dominoes, Checkers or Rook to play.

And the goodies to eat were so delicious and plentiful. Our mother was a wonderful cook and mother was to much to do for her children - popcorn.....a portion of this letter could be missing.