News: Granton ‘Citizens of the Year’ (Storm Couple - 1974)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Storm, Gaier, Steiner, Roehrs, Liebzeit

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/12/1974

Granton ‘Citizens of the Year (Storm Couple - 1974)

Carl and Darlene Storm, owner, and operators of Storm’s Bar in Granton have been selected as “Citizen of the year,” in the village of Granton. They will be honored at the annual Granton Fall Festival September 13 to 15.

This year the Storms are celebrating the 75th year that their business has been in operation in Granton. It was in the year 1900 that Carl’s father, William, purchased the present Storm’s Bar which had been a potato warehouse. He started his saloon business that year and had lodge rooms upstairs.

Prohibition was started in 1918, and was in effect until 1933. During that time, the Storms ran a billiard and pool hall and sold soft drinks. Carl and Darlene took over the saloon during the year 1927, and to encourage business they served free food and had popular floor shows. The food was Boston Fried, and Roast Chicken and the floor shows came from top night spots in Stevens Point and featured such stars as Pop-Eye, and Rusty Adams, and his guitar. The night Pop-Eye was present you couldn‘t get in the front door because of the crowd.

Storm’s Bar today features the original bar and back bar which was installed by the Marshfield Brewing Company in 1900 for their grand opening. The big mirror, popular in older bars, was removed in the 1920’s by Carl’s brother, Frank, to be used in his barber shop.

Upon the return of beer in 1933, a 14-ounce schooner sold for 10 cents and a shot of whiskey for 20 cents. The depression and prohibition were tough going for the Storms and when they lost their life savings of $500 when the banks closed, they “hung on for dear life.”

Before prohibition, no ladies were allowed in the bar and they had to sit in the back room where food was prepared. During the 48 years the Storms have had ownership of the bar, they have run a respectable, clean business place, and have no trouble with their patrons, or with the law. Storm’ Bar is still a popular place for the farmers to stop by as they come to town to do their shipping.

Carl and Darlene Storm were married in 1927, and have two children who are mrs. Jerome (Delores) Gaier of Marshfield, and Wendell of Sheboygan. They have three grandchildren. The Storms have kept up with the times and have remodeled their business several times with a new front eight years ago.

Since 1945, Carl has been a painter and decorator in addition to running his business. Carl has always been an avid athlete, and was a star baseball player when in high school. He hung up his basketball fun when 40 years old after playing on the city team. Scores were low in those days and only (?) were made. He vividly remembers the time Granton beat Neillsville by a score of (?) to nine.

Mrs. Storm is interested in knitting and crocheting, and her patrons know that she makes the “best pickles in the country.” In commenting on the honor, they say, :”Granton is the home of friendly people and a good community in which to operate a business. We like it here and appreciate our many good friends who have been faithful to us over the years.”

The Storms will ride in the parade on Sunday, September 15, in Granton as “Citizens of the Year.”

Granton’s 24th annual Fall Festival gets underway this Friday and runs through Sunday.

Under the leadership of Francis Steiner, in his 26th year of teaching Vocational Agriculture a the Granton High School, the event has grown to the extent that it requires year-around planning.

The show begins with a tractor rodeo this Friday afternoon and will climax with a fun show, and the crowning of the new queen that evening. The talented Grant Busy Bee Hobo Band, second place winners at the Clark County Fair, will make an appearance at the fun show.

Saturday will begin with a penny scramble for 5,000 pennies, and the annual grog jumping contest to see who can out jump last year’s frog, who belonged to John Roehrs of Luxemburg, Wisconsin, and jumped a total of eight fee, three inches. The ladies show that afternoon will feature Harry Liebzeit of Greenwood with his exhibit of woods and flowers.

The judging of the large flowers and vegetables will be done at 3:30 p.m. and this year many new exhibits are planned such as best fall arrangements of weeds, carved pumpkins, best flower arrangement, spaghetti vegetables, and Indian corn arrangements. At 6:30 p.m. that evening will be the mini-tractor pull followed by an old-time dance.

A chicken barbecue will start at noon on Sunday. Carl and Darlene Storm, longtime operators of Storm’s Bar, will be honored during the parade scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. which is one-half hour earlier than previous years. The parade will again line up on the street leading to Downer’s Repair. Every worthy child will be awarded a silver dollar again this year.