News: Greenwood – Business Enterprises (1870 - )

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Brown, Jones, Johnson, Weston, Larson, Austin, Oelig, Hartson, Baker, Varney, Barnes, Drake, Fischer, Behrens, Warner, Bailey, Begley, Brick, Dill, Tuttle, Stafford, Cummings, Shanks, Bryden, Bowen, Howard, Wollenberg, Rees, Lyons, Rees, Noetzel, Berg, Fahey, Armstrong, Davey, Durham, Christie, LaBonte

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Loyal, Wis.) 17 Dec 1970

The first postmaster in Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.) was B.F. Brown, with his office in Jones Bros. and Johnson’s store. In 1881, A.S. Eaton held the office, and after him Horace Weston. In 1889 L.W. Larson became postmaster with his office in what is now the Fred Oelig building (Dr. Austin’s office building. The post office was then changed to the brick addition built onto the old state bank building and is still there. The postmasters there in succession have been Karl Baker, Charles Varney, Wellen Hartson and R.L. Barnes. Under postmaster Barnes the interior of the post office has been changed to make it more convenient for the public. The mail comes in about 8:30 a.m. on Star Route, which runs from Neillsville, through Greenwood, to Spencer and returns in the afternoon about 2:30. Mr. Davey is the present driver. The farmers have the same efficient service – there being five rural routes out of Greenwood, with Frank Drake, Erwin Fischer, Elmer Johnson, Fred Behrens, and Don Warner as drivers.

The first boarding house was that of Schofield’s in Eaton Town (Clark Co., Wis.) Mrs. Bailey also kept boarders. The first hotel was built in 1870 by W.H. Begley, a part of which is still standing on the lot just north of the North Side Hall. This hotel was a large frame building with several parts – addition having been made after building. It was considered among the best hotels in the country. Later, it was conducted by Eugene Cummings and then sold to W.R. Howard and son. Collett Durham built a hotel in the south end of town where the Pine Service Station (Chubbs) now stands. He ran the hotel for a while and then sold to John Shanks and later it was purchased by Jack Bryden and his wife. They conducted the business for many years. On the death of Mr. Bryden it was sold to Joe Christie. In 1924 the building burned down. Art Johnson then ran a hotel in the former Bowen house for a time, but the building was finally sold. At present, we have one hotel in town, that of Mrs. W.H. Howard and son Ray in the old Wollenberg building.

We have three restaurants, those of L.E. Rees, Mrs. O.C. Behrens and A.D. Lyons. Frank LaBonte also runs a restaurant in connection with his pool hall. L.E. Rees has the only bakery in town, and L. Berg the only photograph gallery.

In 1906, A.H. Noetzel erected a small glove factory located just back of his home and barber shop, which is now the Ed Fahey building. Although his business was prosperous he discontinued it because of the handicap for power, there being no electricity available with which to run the machinery. The building was later made into a residence.

In early days before autos, there was a necessity for livery stables. The present opera house was once a livery stable located where Dr. Austin’s home is now. A.S. Armstrong ran a livery stable in the building that is now Orb’s garage, and later in the barn on the lot where he now lives. Chris Brick, Julius Dill, Ray Tuttle and old John Stafford were also proprietors of liver stables. (Continued)