2001 anticipating the new library expansion

The Shakopee Library System is expanding once again to keep up with the community’s needs. A public funded entity today and since 1959 when it got the first publicly funded home of its own, the library originally struggled as did many of the early pioneers.

Previous to 1959 the library existed on the gracious help and cooperation of many local businesses, clubs, and organizations. As early as 1857, three years before Abraham Lincoln ran for president, there was a literary society in Shakopee trying to get a local library established. In 1881 a new literary society was formed and by 1882 was in the process of establishing a library for Shakopee. In 1900 a library was operating in the Deutsch Drug Store where Mr. Deutsch donated the space and services required. This kind of effort by local businesses was repeated many times before a permanent home for the library was funded.

By 1903 the library had outgrown the available space in the drug store and moved to the Busse Millinery Shop where it was housed for awhile, then moved to the Economy Store until 1912. In 1912 it was moved to the Stelten Confectionery store where it remained until 1915. In 1915, room for it had been made in the Union School (High School) building. When the Union School became too short on space, sometime in or before 1924, it moved once again to the Deutsch Drug Store where it remained until 1930. In 1930 the library was moved to a new addition to the public high school, and the first long-term home for the library was found, lasting until 1959 when The City of Shakopee supplied funding and a budget.

It appears that all of the early businesses mentioned above contributed the space rent-free, and their services as librarian, or keeper, at no charge, thereby assuring the community a library. During this period the Book Lovers Club and other organizations donated books, initiated drives for financing, and found means to supply other miscellaneous needs for the library as they arose.

After its public funding in 1959, the library had made a number of moves expansions and improvements, keeping up with technology and the needs of the community. The Rahr Foundation supplied the largest ($40,000) grant for the library expansion in 1970 and sustained the tradition of involvement from local businesses.

This latest expansion will again keep us current with the times and maintain the rich heritage enjoyed in the past. We wish the library continued support and excellence in its new home, and a future to rival its past.

Shakopee Heritage Society, 2001
Donald Wagner

John H. Heinen, Proprietor, was born in Shakopee June 12, 1873. His parents emigrated from Holland and he was one of the younger members of a family of eleven children. He was educated in the Shakopee schools and as a young adult went to St. Paul to learn the grocery business. For 14 years he remained in St. Paul and then went to North Dakota. He came back to Shakopee in 1914 and entered the confectionery and grocery business located at 119 East First Avenue.

On June 15, 1915 he married Anna Angelsburg in New Ulm and brought her to live in the apartment above the store. There their two daughters Janet (Strunk) and Marion (Caron) were born.

In 1920 he purchased the building at 120 Holmes Street changing the name to Heinen Confectionery. The family again lived in the upstairs apartment. Mr. and Mrs. Heinen worked in the store and Susan Hentges joined the staff in 1928 and became almost a member of the family. The daughters also joined in working as they grew older.

The store was open 7 days a week 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and sold items such as tobacco products – all kinds of candy in bulk quantities, as few things came packaged (penny candy) – the soda fountain and all the ice cream cones you could imagine – besides what was packed in quart containers for home consumption. The store’s front window was always a huge display of fresh fruit – according to seasons and always a big banana bunch which hung from the ceiling and from which was sliced off bunches with the “banana knife”. They had a line of which was referred to as “light groceries” and did not handle meats until into the 30’s when a cooler was purchased to display mostly luncheon items. There were magazines, stationery, school supplies which in the fall drew myriads of off-to-school kids who spent “like forever” picking out THE tablet with the greatest picture on it. They had greeting cards – Heinen’s was the first Hallmark distributor in Shakopee. Also gifts – dolls, figurines and such. In the early 20’s you could buy things seasonally such as – the store would be turned into Santa’s toy store. Shelves would be built across the back and those shelves and all the ice cream tables would be stocked with every toy a child could want. The seasons would rule throughout the year. At Easter time and on Mother’s Day they would bring car loads of blooming plants from Bachmans – and later from Marshall Greenhouse. Then came the 4th of July and there would be every kind of fireworks available. Halloween – treats for the kids.

John died in 1940 and his wife, Anna, operated the store until she sold the business in 1944. She still owned the building. In 1950 the business returned to the family when the older daughter bought it. Later she turned it into “Jan’s Card Shop” and operated it until 1963. It had been home to them for over 40 years.

A quote from The Shakopee Story:

“Undoubtedly many romances blossomed into fruition, and the way of many young loves smoothed by his soda fountain delights and hot chocolate with vanilla cookies.”

Submitted by Harriet Pink

(Information for article supplied by Janet Strunk, a daughter of John Heinen)

Photos donation Harriet Pink

John Heinen, 1938

Newspaper Photo: Heinen’s

John and Anna Heinen, Heinen Confectionery, 1920s

John Heinen, Father Savs, Susan Hentges, 1920s

John and Anna Heinen on Right, 1915, Heinen’s Confectionery

RESTORATION IN PROGRESS

This building was built in 1893 and was originally a bank and hotel. This corner that is being restored was “The People’s Bank” and was in business from 1893 to 1923. You are looking at the original architecture of the bank. The original vaults still exist inside and extend to the second level (now used for storage). The original stained glass window which fit above the entrance (to the left, at corner) was just found after going missing for 35 years. The stained glass window is displayed in our display window to the right of Bill’s Toggery’s entrance.

William N. Wermerskirchen, Sr. opened “Bill’s Toggery” in 1931 from this corner and gradually expanded it into what you see today.

Please come inside to view original pictures of our building and enjoy a cold rootbeer.

Bill’s Toggery Restoration Page

While at Derby Days in Shakopee this year, my wife and I got the chance to have a personal tour of Bill’s Toggery from Bill Wermerskirchen. He is committing a lot of thought, energy, and money in the restoration of the old People’s Bank Building at 2nd and Lewis Street. Originally a bank and hotel in 1893, it was purchased by Bill Wermerskirchen, Sr., in 1931, and became Bill’s Toggery. Bill’s exuberance was evident as he took time from his busy day to show my wife and me around and describe and point out the work that was just commencing. He also described some of the other original facets that would be reworked during the process. On display in the window of Bill’s Toggery was the original stained glass window that had been removed from above the entrance and sold about 35 years ago and luckily, recently re-discovered. I am a bit passionate about saving and maintaining some of the old Shakopee sites and am also aware of the expense of doing it right. Bill must be given credit for not only doing it right but going the extra measure of getting a very well qualified restoration company into the process at the start. Like all such projects there probably will be some setbacks and a few modifications necessary but from what I heard and saw this will be a pretty accurate replication dated to its turn of the century appearance. More history and details were noted on a handwritten sign that Bill had on display that day as well as photographs from a couple of different periods noting the changes to the facade.

I do not go downtown now without going past and viewing the progress. It is a promising start and one I hope is repeated more often in the downtown area as well as around older Shakopee and the First Avenue corridor. This is a direction that, if built on, will make Shakopee a more desirable area to stop and shop, tour, and spend time in, rather than having to suffer the “Lets take the bypass, if you have seen one rubber stamp river town you have seen them all” syndrome. I am afraid that is what is coming for all the old riverfront towns that are jumping on the bandwagon to tear down their heritage and build all new areas. Rubber stamping them is the craze now. Shakopee will be what we make it and that is being decided a piece at a time in Shakopee right now. Kudos to Bill!

The Shakopee Heritage Society is working with some local volunteers by direction of the city council to look into the pros and cons of a local ordinance that would give Shakopee a certified local government (CLG) status. The State of Minnesota (Minnesota Historical Society) and the Federal Government support and hopefully provide some aid and regulations that would allow other buildings, businesses, and older homes in Shakopee to more easily follow this example. This ordinance would be based on Shakopee’s local requirements and needs, but must fit in the federal guidelines to qualify. We hope to supply more information on this and that process later.

Donald Wagner
President, Shakopee Heritage Society

Photos donation Don Wagner.

Bill Wermerskirchen, Proprietor

Lewis Street Looking North, 1907

Bill’s Toggery Restoration Sign Text

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Bill’s Toggery Restoration

Mr. Spier Spencer, one of the most prominent of Shakopee’s early settlers, passed away on January 26, 1907.

Spier Spencer was born in Elizabethtown, Spencer County, Kentucky, January 22, 1827. In 1841 he moved with his parents to Boone county, Indiana. At the age of 22 he and his brother, John B. Spencer moved west to St. Paul, MN. working as carpenters and farming. In 1853 he sold his farm and came to Shakopee. That same year he purchased from Thomas Holmes and David L. Fuller one third of the townsite for $4100.00. This property was nearly all in the first ward and he at once began the building of a store on the river bank where he sold dry goods and groceries, and afterwards put up several good houses.

Mr. Spencer was the owner of the steam boat, Clara Hinds, plying between Shakopee and Dunleith. He served as the county as its third treasurer and was conspicuous and active factor in the affairs of the rapidly growing village. In February of 1856 with Samuel Hibler, H.P. Constans and J.B. Wakefield, Mr. Spencer organized the county of Faribault and located its present county seat, Blue Earth City, returning to Shakopee very soon after.

In 1855 Mr. Spencer took a claim just south of town which was afterwards owned by Major Strait and is now the home of James Shea.

In 1862 at the age of thirty five he lost the sight of left eye. He sold his farm soon after to Major Strait and bought a house from Nathan and Daniel Storer and opened a boarding house. He then learned the broom making trade at which he worked until 1895 when failing health compelled him to relinquish this occupation.

Services were held at his home with Rev. G.W. E. Hill officiating, and the funeral was under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge of which Mr. Spencer was a member.

From the Scott County Argus, February 1907

John Goenen died suddenly at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. A. Smith, of St. Paul where he was visiting.

Mr. Goenen was the oldest white settler of Shakopee. He was a native of Prussia where he was born August 22, 1831, and came to Shakopee as a young man of twenty-one. For many years he drove the stage between St. Paul and Shakopee, and also operated the old ferry across the Minnesota River when this country was practically unsettled by white men.

He was buried from St. Mark’s Catholic Church. Interment at the upper Catholic Cemetery.

From the Scott County Argus, Jan. 20, 1911.

Fuller Street, the street west of Holmes, is indebted to David L. Fuller for its name.

The Fuller boys, three of them came to St. Paul from Connecticut. David was at Shakopee for a short time in the summer of 1851, and the next spring came back and secured from Mr. Holmes a half interest in the town site which they platted as the town of “Shakapee City.”

They donated block 56 as the site for county buildings, and which is now known as Court House block.

In 1856 we find reference where David is the owner in St. Paul of the Fuller House, (later the International Hotel) inaugurated and kept by his brother Alpheus G. Fuller. The hotel stood on the northeast corner of Jackson and Seventh streets. The land was given to the brothers and $12,000 was raised as a bonus. The hotel was a five story brick building and cost $110,000. It was destroyed by a fire February 3, 1869.

David Fuller was a large and lymphatic man. All three brothers were enterprising men and their sister was an able poetess. David returned to Connecticut, where he died in December of 1856.

From the Scott County Argus, Oct. 22, 1909