News: Loyal - Loyal Drug Store 1983

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Weiler, Doyle, McGonigal, Wepfer, Will, Dankemeyer

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (12 January 1983)

Downtown Loyal has a new look

LOYAL -- Downtown Loyal has a new look, thanks to the expansion of the Loyal Drug Store.

William Weiler expanded his store late in 1982 after he purchased the adjacent Clark County Cooperative Services building.

Cooperative Services closed July 1 and Weiler started working September 1 to renovate the building. Carpenters worked on the building during the day and Weiler did some of the painting himself during the evenings.

The ceiling has been lowered in parts of the store as an energy-saving measure and a stairway leading to a downstairs section of the store was closed.

"You can't sell what's stored in the basement," he said.

One item which will remain in the basement is a large rock which was too large to dig out.

With total floor space of about 3,000 square feet, Weiler has doubled the size of his store. There now are six aisles in the building.

A pet department has been added to the store's animal health center and there have been additions to the toy and children's clothing sections. A greenery section was added December 1.

The renovated building was built as a hardware store between 1895 and 1900. By 1904, the hardware store was purchased by M.R. Doyle and James McGonigal. Parts of the building also were used as a bank, a beer parlor and a barber shop.

Emil Wepfer purchased the building in 1925 and set up a drug store. In 1944, Elmer Sterr and Jerome Will became owners of the hardware store, which later was operated by Fred Dankemeyer. The building was purchased by Cooperative Services in 1964.

Three clerks work at the Loyal Drug Store, with Weiler's wife Kathleen, filling in occasionally. Aside from caring for the Weiler's newborn twins and two other children, Kathleen does bookkeeping for the store.

A native of Union Grove, Weiler graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1971. For two years he has been secretary-treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce, Weiler is an ambulance attendant, a vice president of the Lions Club and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Weiler said he appreciated the help from his friends in town who helped to move racks, signs and merchandise into his new addition.