Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society

Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society The Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society was formed in 1980.

DB’s 2026 Bluelight Special #10 1038 Front StreetAnother neighborhood mom & pops grocery store that ...
03/11/2026

DB’s 2026 Bluelight Special #10
1038 Front Street

Another neighborhood mom & pops grocery store that hold so many dear memories for so many of us. This one is special to me as I frequented it throughout my grade school years. We need a return of the penny jaw-breaker.

The 1903 Sanborn map shows no building on this lot

1904: Leonard S. Phelps grocery

1911: Leonard and Erwin Phelps grocery

October 1913: Emanuel Baulne purchased this grocery business. Interesting to note that he previously operated the grocery store at 502 Bay Street ( which would eventually house Mother’s Pizza).

1921: The Alvin Sether grocery

May 28, 1928: Edward Freece from Downing, Wisconsin opened his grocery business here

1937 : Edward Freece Cash Grocery. A sign of the times- many small business owners were forced to refuse granting credit to customers. The late 1920’s thru the late 1930’s were the prime time frame for this. Through no fault of their own, families were forced to run up high credit on their various accounts, then file for bankruptcy . This left a huge burden on businesses that were already running on a small profit margin.

April 1940: Edward Krueger owns and operates this grocery store now. Sidenote: Milton Greenwald operated the Northern Book Bindery here also, from approximately 1940 thru 1943. This was another common practice of small businesses - sharing the same building. We see this yet today.

1950: Volker’s First Ward Grocery, Ray and Ila Volker

1965: Volker’s Grocery, Ray and Vivian Volker. I can confidently tell you they served countless First Ward Grade School pupils

1979: LaBelle’s First Ward Grocery, Dale and Margaret LaBelle

1982: LaBelle residence

Thanks for viewing and remember I always welcome additions or corrections

Respectfully , Dennis Brain
Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society and Old Chippewa Falls Facebook site

You'll want to remember where your ancestors are buried. It's not a bad idea to have this information on ready to pass o...
03/10/2026

You'll want to remember where your ancestors are buried. It's not a bad idea to have this information on ready to pass on to the next generation.

Who here did a lot of genealogy trips?Have a good weekend!
03/06/2026

Who here did a lot of genealogy trips?

Have a good weekend!

DB’s 2026 Bluelight Special #9 229 South Main Street In October of 1919, the Yates and Johnson Manufa...
03/04/2026

DB’s 2026 Bluelight Special #9
229 South Main Street

In October of 1919, the Yates and Johnson Manufacturing Company built a 50’ x 100’ building just north of the Omaha Railroad tracks on South Main Street. DeWitt Yates, Silas Yates, and Gustav Johnson opened their machine shop as both the organizers and investors.

August 1920: The Motor Bus Company was bonded by the State Railroad Rate Commission as public carriers and opened under the ownership of president Edward J. Willette and vice-president Frank Agnew. ….” The said bond giving absolute protection to the traveling public in the event of an accident “.

1923: Albert Mattson and Adolph Torgerson opened the Mattson Foundry Company in connection with Johnson Manufacturing .

September 1925: Johnson Manufacturing and the Motor Bus Company continued here but the Mattson Foundry moved to Eau Claire. It was replaced by Chippewa Welding Works, owned by Joseph Larkowski.

June 1928: Johnson Manufacturing Company( now owned solely by Gustav Johnson) and Chippewa Welding Works continue in business, while the Motor Bus Company has been purchased by the White Eagle Transportation Company , which operated a transcontinental bus line from New York City to San Francisco .

September 1928: The White Eagle Transportation Company changed its name to the Minnesota-Wisconsin Motor Coach Co.

1940: Chippewa Welding Works is no longer recorded at this address

January 9, 1948: Leonard S. Johnson announces he has taken over leadership of Johnson Manufacturing Company

April 17, 1948: Earl Barker, consulting engineer at Johnson Manufacturing , recently applied for a patent on his invention called the Vacutome, a surgical instrument which will cut skin used for skin grafts.

1950: The transportation company, still referred to locally as the Motor Bus Company, is now operated by Robert J. Agnew.

1957: Johnson Manufacturing now produces plastic extruder screws as well as dyes and molds.

July 1958: Johnson Manufacturing broke ground for their new plant on First Avenue, moving there later that year. They expanded into producing windmills, pump parts, automotive parts, and meat saws. During WW2 they also did defense work.

February 1965: Wisconsin -Michigan Coaches purchases the Motor Bus Company and continues its office here. Stanley Carlson is now manager.

1969: Wisconsin -Michigan Coaches office, Henery Wenzel manager

1971: Wisconsin -Michigan Coaches office, Herman Wenzel manager

1974: Vacant. There is no longer a business officially recorded at this address.

Thanks much for viewing and feel free to inform me of additions or corrections - I strive for accuracy .

Respectfully , Dennis Brain
Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society and Old Chippewa Falls Facebook site

Are you at the courthouse? Are you going through church records?Information such as records from the courthouse or churc...
03/04/2026

Are you at the courthouse? Are you going through church records?

Information such as records from the courthouse or church records can be challenging to get. So be sure to have a pen (and a pencil) and paper on hand to take detailed notes. Be sure to double check your information before leaving.

Have a great weekend!
02/27/2026

Have a great weekend!

DB’s 2026 Bluelight Special #8 410 West Elm Street Prior to 1926, there was no building on the lot for...
02/25/2026

DB’s 2026 Bluelight Special #8
410 West Elm Street

Prior to 1926, there was no building on the lot for 410 West Elm Street. Charles Perrenoud lived at 408 West Elm Street, just east of the future 410 West Elm Street.

Albert G. Perrenoud opened Perrenoud’s Grocery store at 410 West Elm Street in June of 1926.

In September of 1948, Ernie Geisler and Tom Losby purchased Perrenoud’s Grocery

1950: Losby and Geisler’s Clover Farm Store

November 1950: Geisler’s Food Market ( a Clover Farm Store), Ernie Geisler owner

November 1970: Don and Carol Zielke opened Q Specialty Shop & Bakery

October 1974: Jan Pampuch and Mary Ann Felber opened The Twirl-Inn Beauty Shop. Cheri Huhn began there that fall.

1993: Cherilyn Huhn purchased The Twirl In Beauty Shoppe and continued to operate it until her passing in May of 2025.

Today it remains The Twirl In Beauty Shop and also offers tanning beds.

As always, thanks for viewing and be aware I welcome additions or corrections

Respectfully , Dennis Brain
Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society and Old Chippewa Falls Facebook site

Don't take everything in at once-take things one step at a time.
02/25/2026

Don't take everything in at once-take things one step at a time.

Wisconsin Genealogy Day. Thanks to Sarah and Frank for letting us come over and take a good sized load of Anne Keller's ...
02/21/2026

Wisconsin Genealogy Day. Thanks to Sarah and Frank for letting us come over and take a good sized load of Anne Keller's books. We are processing them and getting them onto our shelves for use.

DB’s 2026 Bluelight Special #7 307 North Bridge Street Most of us remember this building as being either...
02/18/2026

DB’s 2026 Bluelight Special #7
307 North Bridge Street

Most of us remember this building as being either J. C. Penney’s or Mason Shoe, but like all addresses it has a varied history.

The 1874 aerial view of Chippewa Falls shows a two story building

1883: Max Heller, dealer in China, glass, and queensware. And a quick Google search reveals queensware is a type of light, white earthenware with a brilliant glaze developed by Josiah Wedgwood in the 1760’s. Alright, let’s get outta that rabbit hole and move on.

1889: Meyer Simmons crockery and glassware

1895: Meyer Simmons remains owner here, but is now a furniture dealer

1901: Mrs. M. A. Schmitt , milliner

March 1903: Anna B. Morris millinery. Interesting to note that John Morris is an undertaker next door at 305 North Bridge Street

1907:,Anna B. Morris fine millinery and hair goods

July 1913: Anna Morris sold her millinery establishment to Anna Aspel

June 1916: Andrew Thorpe fine tailoring

1917: Andrew Thorpe tailoring and Frank Stair confectionery.

December 1919: L. M. Jenson , dealer in player pianos and Andrew Thorpe tailoring

1921: Photo-Fit Tailor Shop, E. A. Israels proprietor

October 1922: Taplin Furnace Company, R. E. DeKraker district manager

1923: Meier’s Cafe, William C. Meier proprietor

November 1924: Krause’s Cafe, Alvin Krause owner

November 1939: Olson’s Cafe, Albert and Martha Olson owners

May 1946: Chippewa Cafe, John Kiernan owner

1948: Chippewa Cafe, Ermon Clough owner

1950: Chippewa Cafe, Irvine Thoreson owner

September 1955: Three Sisters clothing shop opens its 10th store in Wisconsin, Janice Johnson manager

1971: Vacant

1972: The Cut Price Store, James Nolan owner

1973: The Mason Shoe Store’s “ Back-Room” , George Perrenoud manager

October 1995: The Little Professor Bookstore, Glenn and Monique Woods co-owners

December 1998: Cellular Plus Communications and Sound-N-Logic, Rich Ward owner

2003: Chippewa’s Christian Bookstore

2008: Jordan Women’s Apparel Outlet Store

Eventually this lot was incorporated back into the Mason Shoe Store, which it remains today

I’ve included a map depicting the 1/2 block containing this address , and as you can see 307 lies just about dead center of today’s Mason Shoe Store.

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment any additions or corrections you may know about. I’m always striving for accuracy and complete history.

Respectfully , Dennis Brain
Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society and Old Chippewa Falls Facebook site

In memory of Anne Keller. She was co-founder of Chippewa County Genealogical Society. She held every office in the organ...
02/16/2026

In memory of Anne Keller. She was co-founder of Chippewa County Genealogical Society. She held every office in the organization, plus Newsletter editor, researcher, did several programs for meetings, on the Executive Committee to get our new building built, co-author of three books that helped fund the History Center, and a whole lot more. Condolences to the family, she will be missed.

Address

12 Bridgewater Avenue
Chippewa Falls, WI
54729

Opening Hours

Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

(715) 723-4399

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram