EARLY BUSINESSES OF MULLEN

When early businesses were listed in the Hooker County Tribune, Ads taken at ran-dom for the purpose of recalling names of folks that did contribute to our community – that we were unable to contact. We apologize for any names you may remember and find missing.

1902 – THE CITY RESTAURANT opens – C.P. Hicks

1904 – STREET & DRESS HATS – call at Ladie's Bazaar just west of Hotel Hewitt – Mrs. Sue Marcy

1905 – LIVERY, FEED, AND SALE BARN – Kime – Truax props

1906 – BUILDERS OF CHEMICALLY HARDENED CONCRETE BLOCKS – We have a portable outfit – can build on location and built any design – Carey and Wright

1907 – SANDHILLS COMMERCIAL CO. – 25 lb. sack of flour $1.35

1907 – On account of being so far behind with my photo work, my gallery will be closed from this date until further notice – W.E. Bowers

1908 – LIVERY BARN – J.B. Downing prop

1908 – WELLS – David Spect

1908 – CITY MEAT MARKET – Wel-din Bros

1910 – H.J. LOWE – received a car load of farm wagons, buggies and spring wagons, also a car of barbed wire and a number of galvanized tanks – a good line of O.K. Windmills

1914 – CALUMENT RESTAURANT -J.H. Hall prop – A fine line of choice cigars, fresh oysters, fish and game in season.

1914 – GENERAL BLACKSMITHING – G.H. Hawley

1914 – CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER – John D. Rock

1916 – CROXEN LAUNDRY (Tom) south of Roseberry store

1916 – CEMENT BLOCKS AND WORKS – Frank M. Cleavenger

1916 – CITY POOL HALL – Speck and Rector

1917 – CITY MEAT MARKET – Eivins & Son

1917 – MULLEN LAUNDRY – C.F. Boyer – west of the courthouse

1917 – SODA FOUNTAIN AND TABLES – McNess & Dietrich

1917 – DRESSMAKING – Mrs. N.A. Drake

1918 – WATCH & JEWELRY REPAIR – Harry Deets with McNess & Dietrich

1920 – STAR LIVERY – George Carpen-ter

1920 – MULLEN BAKERY – Lula Holmes

1920 – MEAT MARKET – Van Buskuh

19?? – PHOTOGRAPHER – R.S. Bark-er

1921 – GROCERY OPENS – E.A. Fosdick – April 1921

1921 – SPRING MILLINERY opening March 21 – Bertha Russell

1921 – HARDING – TUCKER AUC-TIONEERS

1921 – OLIVER'S new Restaurant and short order business north of pool hall

1921 – POOL HALL – Roby Boyer

1921 – MULLEN BAKERY – founded by Charlie Mooney, sold it to Mrs. Mabel Anderson

1925 – THE LEGION CAFE – Mrs. R.T. Weldin

1926 – THE LEGION CAFE – V.R. Petty prop

1926 – REAL ESTATE – Theodore Folk

1927 – BETTER BREAD BAKERY -Clyde Fosdick

1978 – BALLARD CAFE

1928 – MULLEN CASH STORE -Wigent

1928 – HARVEY DRAY

1929 – CONFINEMENTS – Wilma Rock

1929 – CITY MEAT MARKET – Ed Zackry

1929 – GENERAL MERCHANDISE -W.T. Holcomb

1929 – TIRE REPAIR – John Davis

1931 – BOWLING – Wright's Bowling Alley in the basement

1932 – BETTER BREAD BAKERY -Paul and Eva Long

1935 – MATERNITY HOME – Ora Hardy

1935 – GILLESPIE SERVICE STA-TION – John Gillespie

1935 – M.L. STONER MECHANIC

1936 – MULLEN BAKERY – C.L. Allen

1936 – WOLFENDEN SERVICE STA-TION

1937- MOLLER BROS CAFE AND MEAT MARKET – Dick and Bill Moller

1937 – MULLEN BAKERY – Irwin Empfield

1938 – CITY CAFE – Callie Smith

1939 – BRENNAN'S CARPENTER & PLUMBING SHOP

1939 – McDUFFEE MOTORS

1939 – RAINBOW BAKE SHOP – Mrs. W.R. Figgat

1940 – WRIGHT DELICATESSEN -reopens Duck Pin Alleys on main \oor

1942 – V.L. McCUBBIN SEC. TREAS. NATIONAL FARM LOAN ASSOCIATION

1942 – WEBER AND BLACKSMITH -J.C. Jones

1951 – MULLEN BAKERY – Wm. Moller

1952 – MULLEN MACHINE SHOP -Brewer-House props

1952 – DOOLEY DAIRY

1953 – MULLEN BAKERY – Oscar and Zoe York

1954 – MULLEN BAKERY – Ted and Lola Shadwinkle

1955 – STORE CLOTHING AND MU-SIC – Morris Brothers

1955 – DRAPES AND CURTAINS -Mrs. R.L. Reynolds

1955 – PETE'S BODY SHOP – opening Monday Dec. 19, 1955 Chas. ` Pete' Schoene

1955 – CREWS ELECTRIC

1955 – JEWEL DINER – Marion Reed

The following was taken in part from the Hooker County Tribune. February 14, 1919 – “S.A. Senk, for the past three years manager of the Roseberry store, has pur-chased the meat and grocery stock of S.E. Pecht and will take possession of his new business March 1st. The dry goods, shoes and notions lines were retained by Mr. Pecht and will be closed out at auction sale, commencing tomorrow afternoon and continuing until the stock is all disposed of. It is Mr. Senk's intention to add a new stock of dry goods to his business as soon as the room can be arranged for properly handling same, and he also will handle cream, butter, eggs and other country produce.

At the Roseberry store the services of C.M. Barnebey have been secured for the position vacated by Mr. Senk. Mrs. Clyde Speer also has accepted a position as saleslady in the dry goods department, Chas. Boyer will transfer to the new store.''

From the Howker County Tribune May 13, 1937

Chester Johnson has enlarged his meat department with an air conditioned storage room which will keep meats purer and fresher than any other known method. The room is all-white finish with ample space for 1 – 1/2 tons of meat. The cooling equipment main-tains constant, even temperature and evenly distributes the required amount of humidity … A slight pressure is maintained in the storage cooler, making it impossible for any dust, impurities or foul air to be wafted in when the doors are opened. The air inside the room is constantly changed and all odors are filtered out and carried to the drain by means of water…. The public is cordially invited to call at the Johnson store and inspect the new, modern meat department.

April 1939 – R.A. Moller has commenced renovating his store room, until recently housed his grocery and meat market, and soon he will open to the public an additional space to his cafe. The new improvement will afford a new soda fountain and extra seating arrangement. The new fountain fixtures are of futuristic design, prominently figured in stainless steel and porcelain accessories…

With backbar of white and natural color combination, and the fountain, the two new features will conspicuously dominate the front portion of the dining room.

December 1939 – Steve Yagadich has moved from his temporary location in the front end of the Tribune building back to his former location, that of the new Dr. D.A. Walker building. Mr. Yagadich has been located in that building for the past 17 years. He is pleased with the new building, it has a glass front, plenty of room in the rear and is very attractive to the public.

Charlie Rector made a trip in April of 1902 to Anselmo, Nebraska to fill his Ice House with Ice.

1904 – John Lee – Jeweler located in Cudebec's Drug Store.

1908 – Mrs. John Kudrna and Minnie Bell start a confectionary and fruit store in the Kime Building.

1919 – “Davis and Sharman, of the new Vulcanizing Plant, now have the machinery and other equipment about all installed in the basement of the Mercure Hardware store and will be ready to start work soon. This is an industry that had needed attention in Mullen for some time and we are glad to see it come forth under such competent manage-ment. The plant is equipped with machines capable of handling all classes of work in casings and tubes, and Mr. Charman, who comes to our city from Akron, Ohio, is an expert at the work.'' In 1920 the VULCAN-IZING PLANT was opened by John Davis and later Robert Ireton in 1921. Later the business was in the basement of Mercure and Elliott Garage, 1931.

1920 – A new Ice Plant was built in the back of McNess and Dietrich. This plant was used for a number of years.

1928 – The Folks acquired the Bank Of Mullen property, it will be occupied by Folk-Harding Real Estate Firm. Loren Emmons will occupy a space there also for his Jewelry and Repair business.

1936 – C.K. Dooley had Ice Blocks for Sale (The former ice plant was discontinued when the McNess-Dietrich went out of business) A Clyde Arnold Store was brought to Mullen in September of 1934. It was managed by Mel Condron. It was located in the Mercure Building. The store had General Merchandise and also dealt in hides, feeds, cottoncake, and various other lines. The basement stairway was removed from the front of the building and new sidewalk was put down. In 1939, August Arnold's Store quit business.

April of 1938 a Potato Factory was begun by Ernest Headrick, the business being held in the Flour House south of Rayfield and Long Beer Parlor.

July 1939, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gosiniski and 3 sons, Jerome, Ronald, and Junior of Loup City, Nebraska, came to Mullen to set up their equipment east of the Tribune building, temporarily to make over old Mattresses. This business will be here for a few weeks and then they will move their business to Whitman, Nebraska.

October 1953 Keith and Norma Haist opened a Jewelry and Repair business.

J.M. `Mac' Rayfield came to the Sandhills in 1926. He owned and operated a Gas Transport line, was a rancher, had a Dry Cleaning shop and was a salesman for Mathews Chevrolet. `Mac' was the son of Leonard and Minnie Lee Wadlow and neph-ew of Ed Wadlow. He was born at Lesterville, Missouri February 20, 1907. He married Mildred Eirvins and to this union one son was born, Mac Jr.. Mildred had a beauty shop for a number of years. Mac died June 1, 1970.

J.A. Gibson, Sr., was Mullen Postmaster for 34 years. He was the son of William and Sadie Gibson, born October 13, 1893 and came with his parents to Hooker County in 1900. He married Lucy Jeffords September 11, 1920, the daughter of Charles and Eliz-abeth Jeffords. Lucy was born March 31, 1894. To this union 5 children were born. Jon died January 19, 1964 and Lucy died Novem-ber 27, 1966.

1958 – JOHNSON FEED STORE

1958 – BOB AND CLAIRE HALLOCK DRUG

1958 – RAY'S ELECTRIC – Ray and Lena Roudebush

1958 – MULLEN CAFE – Bud Gibson

1959 – CASH AND CARRY LUMBER -Pete Hunt

1959 – MULLEN ELECTRIC – Joe Dechaine, Keith Boyer

1960 – CARLSON IMPLEMENT -John Deer Sales and Service – Jack Carlson

Lester Beeler of Cobool, Missouri was a resident of Mullen for many years and was in the Plumbing business in the 40's. He sold his business to Glen Tompkins in 1951. Les was born April 8, 1896, of a family of 4 boys and 6 girls. He married Amanda Butts in 1914 and to this union two daughters were born. Les died in March 25, 1967.