The Superior Express -

After 114 years, another chapter in the history of Jewell was brought to a close as demolition began, March 13, 2023, on the building that, among other things, had provided groceries for most of its existence. Greg Wilson was the owner-operator of the huge excavator that did the job. The building had a long, colorful history.

In 1909 brick was coming to Jewell by the trainload, with as many as five cars a day. A building boom was on as two new banks, a new high school and the IOOF Hall were built. The two bank buildings are the two brick buildings facing each other on Delaware Street. The new high school later became the Jewell Elementary School. The IOOF building is the subject of this article. IOOF meaning Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge and also home of the Rebekahs for the women.

In May of 1908, The Odd Fellows purchased what was known as the Frey corner on the south side of Delaware Street at the corner of Lincoln Street, to construct a two-story brick building. The purchase price was $2,000, which included the millinery store building to the west of the lot. That building later became part of the grocery store. Work for the new building began in December, 1908 with Merton Mosier excavating with four teams. By January, nine men were at work in the basement. Brick work was finished by mid April 1909, and in July they were hanging new electric chandeliers and laying new carpets.

In 1913 the Odd Fellows extended their brick building 30 feet to the south. The upper story was to be used by the Odd Fellows, the basement was expected to be fitted as dining room and the first floor store room made it one of the finest rooms for general merchandise in town.

Over the years, expenses for upkeep, insurance and incidentals accumulated. Dust sifted in during the dust bowl years and the roof leaked during the wet years. Even so, the Odd Fellows were able to modernize the hall by adding a rest room, cold running water for the kitchen, natural gas for heating, a serving window for the kitchen and new cupboards. Much of the money raised to finance these projects was through their Odd Fellows and Rebekahs food stand each year at Old Settlers, where they served hamburgers, lemonade and other treats. By 1954, the lodge was debt free.

Because the first floor room, which was used for a store was always rented, records were not found of the occupants until June, 1919 when Marine Boogaart rented the space and opened Boogaart’s General Store. They sold groceries, clothing, shoes and dry goods. Mrs. Hazel Runyon was in charge of that portion of the store and it was later taken over by Mrs. Callie Spielman. She ran the dry goods department until it was closed out in 1941. She later opened her own store.

In October, 1921, a fire in the building burned a hole ten feet across the floor in the center of the room. The burning mass fell into the basement. Fire, smoke, and water caused $20,000 worth of damage, but Mr. Boogaart salvaged what he could and continued with his business. The building was still owned by the IOOF. After the fire, the business became mostly a grocery store, and a nephew, Jack Mebius became a partner.

In 1920, Marine sold Boogaart 50 percent of his business to his brother, Henry, with Jack holding 25 percent and Marine retaining 25 percent. Henry and Jack continued at the Jewell store and eventually purchased Marine’s interest. In 1949, Jack left the Jewell store and Henry continued to run it. When his health failed, his son, Hampton, operated the store. In 1946 to 1947, new fixtures were added including a dairy products refrigerator, vegetable rack with spray, and other fixtures. In 1948, a new locker plant was built just south of the store building. In 1949, the Odd Fellows Lodge put a new front in the building, still occupied by Boogaart’s store. In 1951, Aunt Jemima visited the store. Then, early in 1958, the store was sold to Jack Seamans. It continued to be supplied by Mini-Max buying service.

The store became known as Jack’s Grocery and Locker. He continued to make improvements over the years including a walk-in refrigerator behind the meat counter, new paint, new wiring for the heavy electricity use. In 1960, he added a new metal-framed front display window and new storm-door entrance. A newly lettered and lighted store sign, which ran entirely across the front of the store was added in 1963, as well as a computing scale and automatic checkout counter.

Jack and Jeanine Seamans sold it to his brother, Boyd Seamans, and wife Shirley in 1970. The name changed to Boyd’s Grocery and Locker. They continued to offer Bestyet Food Products. After the death of Boyd Seamans, the grocery was sold to George and Linda Seamans with the name changed to Seamans Grocery. Five years later they sold it to Larry and Doug Matson, Smith Center grocers. Larry Matson owned a Boogaarts store in Smith Center. His son, Doug, became the operator of the Jewell store, along with his wife, Sheryl.

In 1988, Doug Matson announced his plans to enlarge his grocery to take in the wooden building located to west of his store. Therefore, this story will next review the history of that building.

For the first 30 years from the town founding, the lot changed hands frequently. In 1899, Julia Frey purchased it from J. D. Robertson. A post card, mailed in the early 1900s shows the building and another photo shows the interior of a millinery shop owned by a Frey family member.

Moving forward to 1928, we learn that Geo. Peck purchased the building “next to the Boogaart store” and had it thoroughly refitted. He moved his news and confectionery service there. Sometime after that it became a cafe. In 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Potthoff of Salina purchased the Elliott Cafe and remodeled it for their new eating establishment called the T & F Cafe. They and their daughter, Darlene, lived in the upstairs apartment. Four years later they sold the business to Virgil and Vivian Knarr who opened it as the Horseshoe Cafe. They added a counter in the shape of a horseshoe. They ran it for a short time. In 1951, it was reopened, under the same name by Mrs. Olivia Thoren of Beloit and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. C.H. Thoren of Beloit, Wisconsin.

For a brief time in 1953, it was owned by Bert Scott who quickly sold it to Frank Gallagher, a real estate agent in Jewell. It was purchased in 1955, by Mrs. Maude Hutchison and remodeled into her home. After her death, it was purchased by Mrs. Ruth Buffington, in 1960. She lived there and was later joined by her husband, Cecil Dunn. The building was later purchased by Warren Kelley who used it for storage purposes.

A new use was found for it in 1984, when Susie Bohnert purchased the building and made it into a preschool to be operated during the school term. There was a fenced-in back yard for the students who ranged from 3 1/2 years to age five.

With the announcement of Doug Matson in 1988, to expand the grocery store into the building that was occupied by the Little Gem Preschool, the buildings became one and the history of the grocery store can be resumed. Larry Groves removed walls and put in an opening between the two structures. The outside entrance to the preschool building was closed. The extra space allowed for aisles to be widened so two carts could easily pass. A tile floor replaced old linoleum, and shelves were made higher. The preschool addition was completely redone with lowered ceilings, walls knocked out and new flooring. An office was added in the back part of the new addition and siding covered the entire front.

Once again, the store changed hands in 1990, when the Matsons sold it to Don and Irma Fogo of Esbon. The Fogos also ran the grocery store in Esbon. In 1995, they celebrated their 5th anniversary with in-store specials and other surprises. They had made numerous improvements in lighting, refrigeration cases and floor coverings. They were an Affiliated Foods store. A loading dock was added to the east side of the store in 1997. Don Mallory did the work. All freight was delivered to Jewell and Don hauled the Esbon share from there in a closed trailer.

The Fogos continued to run the store until 2011, when Kevin Thompson purchased the Jewell Grocery as well as the James Clothing building. Grocery store employees at the time were Donna Thompson, Judy Mallory, Martha Matthews, Joyce Nicholson and Deanna Hutchison.

The same employees remained to work with Kevin, who still called the business Jewell Grocery. He installed a new cash register scanner and continued to offer Shur Fine products served by Affiliated Foods. Realizing that Jewell needed a place for people to hang out for coffee was the reason for purchasing the James Clothing building with the understanding the Masons Lodge could still hold their meetings upstairs. A coffee area was added to the front of the store with merchandise in the back portion.

In December 2012, this building became known as the Store Next Door. Later the coffee area was moved into the west portion of the grocery store and for a time, a luncheon buffet was served at noon.

New front doors were added in 2017 after a driver inadvertently attempted to convert the building to a drive-through. Kevin continued to operate the stores, in addition to doing some catering on the side, until it closed October 31, 2018. The building remained as lone survivor east of the city office when the major demolition project of 2017-18 was carried out.