Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

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Main Street and Huber Street. Anamosa. Pictured
are Ray and Roy Lawrence on Main Street at the end
of Huber Street. at one time the George Lawrence
office. in background. Al Walton Monument Co. is
located at the left beside the Ford Garage building.
Charles Barker Lunch Counter is behind the 1937
Ford auto. and the Paul Whear Grocery is at the right.
(Photo submitted by Anamosa Historical Society)
become too expensive and too wom out to keep.
R.L.Watkins came here as manager of the Graham
Department Store in 1939. Sometime later that
company moved and Mr. Watkins started his own store
in the Conmey building on the corner of Main and North
Ford streets. The Anamosa Motor Sales garage opened
under Jack Fahey in 1940. Employees for the garage
were: Miss Alice Brown. bookkeeper: Jim Buckner. Ray
Codling. salesmen; Tom Davidson. parts room; Joe
Allison and Tom Haun. mechanics: and Neil Gossett.
paint and body. The Watkins Drygoods store. in the
Conmey building. was operated by Jess and R.L.
'Watty' Watkins for 29 years.
In 1938 W.L. Pearson sold their grocery to Mr. and
Mrs. George Mills.
Also. in 1940. Cub Wolfe opened a bakery.
delicatessen. and lunch counter in the Snowy White
Bakery building. where Albaugh Photography is now:
Phil DuFloth moved his shoe shop from the Conmey
storage building on North Ford Street to the vacated
Ho-Made Bakery; Mr.and Mrs. Bill Mowery rented the
Hyde building. vacated by Dr. Kellogg. for a beauty
shop.
Mrs. Catherine McGuire died at age 78. She came
to Anamosa about 15 years prior and operated the
Chocolate Shop. located in the site of the then George
Zeuch grcery. Her husband died and she moved across
the street where the Quality Cafe was then. and sold the
building to Jimmy Connolly about 1935. In 1940 the
Carl Mershons opened the new Mobil Inn and served
sandwiches. pies. spaghetti and malted milks. This was
in conjunction with the new filling station. Also in 1940
the Blue Raider Eatery opened for business. This was
located on Main Street just east of the Bickford 76
station.
In 1941 Burrel and Kay Fagen began managing the
Anamosa Feed Mill. This was a new building: the old
one was destroyed by fire. Irv Graver bought an interest
in Graver Motors; R.M. McMickle bought the Skinner
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OPEN Mt mom‘ - EVERY NIGHT -
The Blue Raider. Anamosa‘s First Drive-In in the
late 19305. The following was taken from their
advertisement: "You will enjoy eating in this
gleaming new food place with its stainless steel and
chromium trim — its flourescent lights and air
conditioning — its goodfood and air ofcamaradarie —
you are welcomefor a cup ofcoffee or our special steak
plate. Try our malted milks and other specials. Chili.
Tamale. Cheese-in-burger. Steak hamburger. Served
by this staff — Beverly McGreevy. Ernest Holub. Doris
Mann. We're proud ofthe Blue Raidersfrom whom we
took our name. "
Drug Store. This same year. the Firestone store. owned
by Tony Nepple. moved into the former post office site.
In 1945 Charley Mellicker sold his barber shop to Bill
Custis. Charley was a barber in Anamosa for 45 years.
Bob Wensora sold the grocery store he had purchased
from Carroll Blood seven months before. Everett
Anderburg bought the Bailey Milk Bar after his
discharge from the army. He would manage the little
shop under its former name. The Nook. This was a
popular spot for teenagers and the malted milks were
known far and wide. This building is located east of
Randy's Hardware and is currently the Dr. Schupanitz
dental office.
In 1945 the A 8: P store moved to Cedar Rapids. after
being here for 22 years. In 1946. with the veterans
returning home. housing was badly needed. The first
pre-fab erected in one day was the Harry Bodecker
home on South Ford Street. The V.F.W. Club rooms
moved to the Conway building: the Anamosa Hardware
opened under the new owners. Horace Evans and J .C.
Brannon. This was formerly the Hodgin Hardware. The
R.E.A. bought the city park on Huber street.
Advertisers in 1946 not previously mentioned were:
Campbell's Cities Service. Tebbe's Conoco. Mae
Amelia's. Hartman Electric. Graver Motors. McKinstry
Truck TC1Tl1II13.|. Baugh Fumace Supply. Soper
Standard Service. Huerters Skelly. Anamosa Concrete.
Anamosa Lumber Co.. The Rainbow. Stuhlers.
Economy Shoe Store. Coast to Coast. Scott Hardware.
Model Dress Shop. Kehoes 66 Station. Hankins
Hatchery. Otten's D.X. Service. Bernard Studio.
Central Barber Shop. Russell 8: Russell. George Clark
Implements. Anamosa Monument Company. Shada &
Son's Market. Gray's Station. Gamble Store. National
Tea Co.. Morning's Cafe and Gildner 8: Hansen and
Anamosa Farm Store.
'”‘- I'G_ODOQI