https://youtu.be/tbVVPq3iAPE

In 1969, Mishicot School District teachers Jack Spevacek and Paul Frelich enrolled in an Audio-Visual Education course at Holy Family College in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and completed the slideshow “Mishicot 1847–1969.” The pair interviewed Mishicot residents, located historical images, and shot contemporary color photos of Mishicot while compiling the project. Jack Spevacek narrated the slideshow and organized background music tracks from easy listening albums found at a local radio station. A camera was borrowed from Mishicot School District teacher David Kelley. Assistance was provided by Ted Haese, another Mishicot teacher.

Outside of the college course, the completed slideshow was presented to the public several times in its original form. It was shown during a Mishicot Lions Club dinner at Fox Hills Resort in May 1969, at a Knights of Columbus Council No. 4807 meeting at Holy Cross Catholic School on February 25, 1970, and possibly at a Mishicot Pine Grove 4-H meeting on November 16, 1969. It was shown again in 2004 at a Friends of the Museum night on January 19, 2004 at the Mishicot VFW Hall.

In 2004, Jack Spevacek donated the slideshow to the Mishicot Historical Museum. The collection includes:

• A carousel of 35mm slides
• A paper narration guide
• A reel of ¼” magnetic audio tape

The 35mm slides include images from both 1969 and earlier. Some slides contain handwritten annotations. Historical black and white images were transferred to slides by photographing the original prints. The narration guide credits several class members as producers: P. Barnett, Paul Frelich, Ted Haese, Jack Spevacek, R. Halverson, and J. Steinbruecher.

The narration is backed by a bed of easy listening music likely sourced primarily from three albums:

• David Rose and his Orchestra — Holiday For Strings
• The Hollyridge Strings — The New Beatles Song Book / Oldies But Goldies
• The Hollyridge Strings — The Nat King Cole Song Book

Below is a full track list:

• 00:00 – 00:15: Unidentified Fanfare

David Rose and his Orchestra

• 00:18 – 03:07: Dance of the Spanish Onion
• 03:12 – 05:51: Taco Holiday
• 05:57 – 09:09: The Tiny Ballerina
• 09:13 – 12:04: Rose Of Bel-Air
• 12:10 – 14:14: Gay Spirits
• 14:18 – 17:32: California Melodies
• 17:36 – 21:06: Like Young

The Hollyridge Strings

• 21:09 – 23:22: Venus
• 23:25 – 25:40: Yesterday’s Gone
• 25:48 – 28:12: Sukiyaki
• 28:19 – 30:43: I Want To Hold Your Hand
• 30:48 – 33:06: Love Letters
• 33:08 – 35:54: Unforgettable
• 35:57 – 38:22: It’s Only A Paper Moon
• 38:24 – 40:57: Somewhere Along The Way
• 41:04 – 43:44: The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
• 43:45 – 45:54: Ramblin’ Rose
• 45:59 – 47:56: Yesterday’s Gone

A number of VHS and DVD copies of the slideshow were distributed and presented by Mishicot Historical Museum volunteers over the years. For a time, visitors to the museum could watch a DVD representation of the film.

In 2024, as part of an effort to bring the museum’s collection online, the slideshow was restored and recompiled digitally in its original form for the first time. Jack Spevacek and Paul Frelich were interviewed about the project. Michael Steeber scanned the slides on an archival-quality scanner and individually restored them to their original appearance in Photoshop. Dust and scratches were removed, and color was revived. The original audio tape was transferred to a digital format by Jim Scheuer.

Production note: Slides 92, 93, and 94 (as labeled in the narration guide) are missing from the end of the original slideshow. In their place, starting at 44:50 in the video, slide 91 was extended, and slides 1 and 2 were reused. No other changes to the content of the slideshow have been made.

A transcript of the entire presentation follows:

Mishicot: 1847 to 1969.

Mishicot is named after the Indian Chief Mishicott, meaning hairy legs. The Indians which inhabited the area around the village were members of the Menominee, Potawatomi, and Winnebago tribes. They were a peace-loving group and fished and hunted for their food. They inhabited the areas along the East and West Twin Rivers and used the open areas for planting grounds during the summer months. The area back of the present elementary school was one of the planting grounds.

The village of Mishicot owes its origin to a saw mill being located on the East Twin River, which afforded excellent water power. This was established in 1855 by Alfred Smith and Ira Clark, two of the town’s earliest pioneers.

Here is a map of Mishicot taken from the county plat book of 1878.

A group of pioneers settled near the top of Saxonburg Hill. They came to this area from Saxon, Germany, and named the area around the eastern side of the present village Saxony. Saxony was later changed to Mishicot. The Mueller family was one of the earliest pioneer families to arrive here. The present Mueller farm still belongs to the descendants of that pioneer family.

Here are the names, nativity, business, and date of settlement of some of the early settlers from the county plat book of 1878.

It is also noted that the wages paid laborers in the pioneer days range from five cents an hour to forty cents an hour for a ten hour day, six days a week. Average weekly wages netted a worker from three to twenty-four dollars.

This grist in sawmill was erected by Philip Hoffman in the 1890s. Farmers brought their grain from miles around to have it ground into feed.

The present structure now serves as a feed mill and also houses the Twin Rivers Co-op.

The Mishicot Opera House was one of the largest of its kind in the county. It had a floor space of about forty-five hundred square feet and was used mainly as a dance floor. It had a large stage and home talent companies and traveling companies used it to stage productions. The hall was also used for roller skating and basketball.

Here is a capacity crowd scene of a game between Mishicot and Brussels in 1954 when Mishicot’s basketball team went undefeated in regular season play with an 18 and 0 record.

This is the opera hall at the present time. It is still used for dances and banquets.

The Mishicot Amusement Company owned and operated the Elite Theater, the most up-to-date moving picture playhouse in the state in the early 1900s. All pictures shown here were passed by the National Board of Censorship. Between showing of films, the Holst Band, a five-piece orchestra, provided entertainment. The theater was located between Scheuer’s Meat Market and Mueller’s Garage.

The first brass band in Mishicot was the Mishicot National Band, organized around the year 1913. Members of the original brass band were: first row left to right, Anton Shedivy, Ed Stechmesser, George Princl Sr., second row, Alvin Stechmesser, Kurt Stechmesser, John Flentje, and Herbert Stechmesser.

The Mishicot Telephone Company organized in 1909 with about 50 miles of line extending over a radius of 8 miles and had about 150 subscribers. The switchboard was located at the Central Hotel, now well known as Kielman’s Village Inn and the Vogue Beauty Shop.

The General Telephone Company is the present owner and has 951 subscribers at present time. The new telephone building, serving the Mishicot area, was erected and finished in 1968.

The congregation of the Evangelical Church had its origin as far back as 1860 when six charter member families, Bruhn, Bernhardt, Witte, Mueller, Lansing, and Klinder built a small wooden frame building about 2.5 miles east of the village near the present August Haen Jr. farmhouse. This group of families later joined the group from the town of Kossuth, which held its services in the Pfefferkorn Farm Home and built the white frame building called the Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Most of the labor was donated and the building was constructed for $3,500 and still stands in its present form. In 1968, the congregation merged with the Methodist Church and is now known as the Zion United Methodist.

Transportation has changed through the years in Mishicot. In the 1890s and even before that time, the one horse carriage was the principal means of getting from one place to another. It was used for shopping in town, visiting friends, or for just running everyday errands.

The two horse carriage was also used as somewhat as the family car is used today. It was used whenever the whole family had places to go. The two horse carriage was used principally to get the family to church on Sundays or any other function the family was invited to attend.

In 1896, Henry Ford invented the first car, but it wasn’t until the year 1908 that the first car appeared in Mishicot. Here is a 1908 model which was one of the first six cars to appear on the streets in Mishicot. Notice that it didn’t have any windshield. The shifting lever was on the side of the car and the driver sat on the right hand side rather than the customary left hand side as evidenced in later models.

In 1913, the cars changed. A windshield was added and the steering mechanism was shifted to the left hand side.

In 1913, the first car dealership in Manitowoc County was started by Matt Princl. He handled the Ford line, the universal car as it was noted then. The cars were shipped in by horse and wagon or in the winter time by horse and sleigh from Two Rivers. They came in parts and had to be assembled by the dealer before they could be sold or driven. The average price of the new car in those days was $600 to $700.

In 1913, the first motor bike also appeared in Mishicot. George Princl Sr. was the proud possessor of this three-horsepower motor bike. $75 to $80 bought a new motorbike in 1913.

This is an early 1920 automobile.

Here we see a 1932 Plymouth with spare tire on the side.

Bringing us up to date, here is a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix, owned by Clarence Stangel, Mishicot High School history instructor.

This is Jackson Street, looking east. The first house on the right was built by old Nic Scheuer and has been in the Scheuer family for many years. The house in the background was owned by George Schmidt.

The Scheuer house is now owned by Glenn Klein and the Schmidt house is owned by Sanford Wolfmeyer.

The Rockway School was built in 1905 at a cost of $6,000. Although it served principally as a high school, it wasn’t until 1918 that the first class of a four-year high school graduated. It served as a high school for 57 years.

In 1958, with the opening of the new high school, it became an elementary school. Seven years later, it was closed down due to the building of a new grade school. But it didn’t stay vacant long. With the increase in enrollment, it was put back into operation two years later. This is when it got its present name, the Rockway School.

The present Mishicot High School, with room for 500 students, was completed on April 10, 1958, at a price of $605,000. 318 high school students attended the school’s first classes. This number has grown to 408 in 1969. Due to the increase in students and teachers, Otto Schultz, principal of the Mishicot Schools for 24 years, assumed the new position of superintendent of the Mishicot Schools during the 1968-69 school year. Jerry Kain filled the position of principal vacated by Mr. Schultz during that same school year. At the present time, there are 22 teachers on the high school teaching staff.

This bird’s eye view shows the Central Hotel, which was a very popular inn during the early history of Mishicot. It is here that riders of the stagecoach going between Green Bay and Two Rivers could stop over for the night. The Rockway School, then known as the Mishicot Grade School, and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church can be seen in the background. The windmill pumped water for the horses that were kept at the livery stables, as well as for the teams that brought customers to the village business places. The two-story home in the background was the home of the village doctor. Dr. Karnopp had an operating room in the home and performed minor surgery in the home. It was later taken over by Dr. Skwor and is presently inhabited by the Otto Schultz family.

The Central Hotel is presently inhabited by Kielman’s Village Inn, the Vogue Beauty Shop, and the Model Barber Shop.

Lutheran Church and Parsonage. The beginning of the congregation of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church was organized in the middle of the 19th century and was served by a “circuit rider” preacher. In 1861, a group consisting of John Bahls, Louis Barthels, A. Jens, Carl Wilsman and others, organized the first congregation and held services in the schoolhouse on Cemetery Hill, across from the present Twin River Co-operative. The first church was a wood frame building, which was replaced with a granite structure in 1927.

The red granite stone was brought to Francis Creek by rail, where members of the congregation brought teams and wagons to transport the stone to the present church site. The total cost of the building was $30,000. Reverend Edward Zell served the congregation from 1911 until his death in 1958, totaling 47 years of ministry.

The Mishicot Brewery was built in 1847 by a man named Kittemeir. It was operated by Mr. Linstedt from 1848 until the Scheuers bought it in the late 1890s from Kittemeir. Linstedt apparently was the brewmaster in the intervening years. They brewed 40 barrels at a time about three times a week. The beer was shipped by horse and wagon in about a 30-mile radius. Later, with the use of trucks, the beer sold as far away as Milwaukee.

This is one of the labels from a bottle of Mishicot beer.

The brewery was closed during prohibition, and in 1933 the Scheuers sold it to some Chicago brewers who began some extensive remodeling. They went bankrupt and Jess Lambert picked it up for back taxes. He later sold it to Western Condensing, and it is presently being run by Foremost Dairies.

This is Main Street, south side. The south side of the Main Street area was along the river’s edge. Board sidewalks helped to keep feet dry during the muddy spring weather. Early spring floods brought hardship to the stores and shops located along the river’s edge. The house on the corner was the old Holst house, which was destroyed by an explosion in 1960, killing one person.

Main Street, south side today, has a new clinic erected near the spot where the old Holst house blew up. The Badger Restaurant and Tavern still occupy the same corner on Main Street, and in 1939 bowling alleys were added to the original structure.

This is the old Krist Garage. It was used as a livery stable for many years. With the coming of the automobile, it was converted into a garage around 1915. Kumbalek’s Tavern is now located on that site.

Holy Cross Parochial School was erected in 1907 at a cost of $2,031. It was remodeled in 1913 from a one-room to a two-room school with living quarters upstairs for the sisters.

In 1952, the present school auditorium and sister’s convent was completed at a cost of $144,000.

Members of the 1911-1912 Mishicot championship basketball team left to right, front row: Elmer Levenhagen, Gus Cochnet, second row: unknown, Hans Scheuer, Art Holst, George Larson, Henry Greenwood, third row: Earl Scheuer, Ray Scheuer, and Earl Stechmesser.

This is a summer cottage as it looked in the early 1900s. It was located on Main Street on the south side of town.

This is the same cottage as it looks today.

The State Bank was founded March 9, 1910. Some of the early officers were I. Beyer President, A. Rhode, Vice President, H. Stehn, Cashier. A statement given out by the bank about the year 1915 showed capitalization: $15,000, undivided profits: $19,000, deposits: $121,000, and assets: $140,000.

Here is the Mishicot Savings Bank, now a branch of the Two Rivers Savings Bank as it appears today. The bank statement from 1968 showed total deposits of $1,690,000.

Holy Cross Parish began in 1854. In 1862, the first Holy Cross Church was built. It was then a satellite of St. Luke’s Parish of Two Rivers. It withdrew from there in 1898 with Reverend A. Bostran and Reverend P. St. Louis as the first pastors. There were about 70 families in the parish when it was first organized.

1961 saw Holy Cross Church enlarged from a seating capacity of 300 to 450. A new rectory was also constructed at that time. Total cost of this project was $184,000.

Here is the new rectory completed in 1961.

This is a view of East Water Street north side in the early 1900s. Notice the wooden sidewalks, the hitching posts, and the horse and buggy.

Here is East Water Street as it appears today.

The Holst Department Store was one of the thriving business places in the early days of Mishicot. Anything from shoes to food could be purchased in the general store. It was a favorite gathering place for the early pioneers of Mishicot. The business was started in 1889 and was one of the largest department stores in the county. Everything was carried in the line of general merchandise and furnishing goods with departments for each line.

This was the dry goods department. Groceries can be seen in the rear of the store.

This was the shoe department.

Here is where the mens’ and boys’ clothing department was located.

This was the underwear and mens’ furnishing department.

And here is the ladies’ furnishing department.

This is the old Holst store as it looks today. It is now known as Krause’s Shopping Center. George Krause, owner and proprietor, bought the store in 1963 from the Holst family. It has been remodeled and is now primarily a grocery store. A meat department was also added and an appliance department is another aspect of the shopping center that serves the customer.

This is a view of the grocery department.

Here is the meat department.

The checkout counters and the drug department.

This is Elizabeth Avenue looking south. The corner house is the present Otto Schultz residence, which at one time belonged to Dr. Karnopp and Dr. Skwor. The second home is presently under ownership of Bernard Brouchoud.

This is a view of Elizabeth Avenue at the present time.

An unusual feature of a small inland town having no transportation facilities was the Mishicot Electric Light & Power Company, erected and run by Ira Beyer in 1912. A large concrete dam spanned the East Twin River backing up water for miles and developing hundreds of horsepower which were utilized in the operation of the generator.

The generators produced sufficient current to light the village and the surplus current was put into storage batteries to be used during the daytime. Thus giving the village continual 24-hour service.

One of the worst floods the village of Mishicot experienced was in 1936. The spring thaw sent the East Twin River over its banks and flooded the whole south side of town so that many stores on the main street suffered severe water damage.

Huge chunks of ice and debris spilled onto Mishicot’s Main Street from the roaring East Twin River.

The principal flooded area of Mishicot covered some three blocks of lower Main Street to the bridge with the park completely under water.

In August 1939 George Princl Sr. built the Mishicot Dairy. He ran and managed it till 1948 when he sold it to a Sheboygan firm. During some of the busy years he had as many as 17 men working for him. The Mishicot Dairy is still in existence today and produces butter and cheese that is sold all over the country.

This is a view of the old Rite-Way store. It is now the home of the Ice Implement Company. Notice how the prices have changed from the late 1930s to the present 1969.

Corn flakes, large size, 17 cents. Peanut butter 21 cents a quart. Salt 2 pounds for a nickel. Corn, peas or tomatoes 3 twenty-ounce cans for 25 cents.

In July, 1947 Mishicot celebrated its 100 years of existence. This was one of the biggest events in the history of Mishicot attracting many people from miles around.

The two-day event held a variety of entertainment and festivities as evidenced by the program.

There were games, concessions and rides.

There were concerts, a circus and parades.

Huge crowds watched such attractions as the statewide horse-pulling contest.

Here is a picture of City Hall which is the regular meeting place for members of the Village Board.

The Mishicot Elementary School was built in 1965. The school contains 56,000 square feet and cost $650,000. The school was built to accommodate 800 children, grades Kindergarten through 8. It includes 26 classrooms, offices, educational material center, art and music rooms and the cafeteria. This school was one of the first in the area with the modern “snowflake” design.

November 1962 saw completion of a medical clinic on property originally owned by Augusta Holst, later purchased by Art Holst and finally purchased for construction of a clinic by a corporation formed in 1960. Stock was sold and the land was purchased in February 1961 by the corporation. Dr. John E. Nilles, M.D., moved into the clinic in 1962 and Dr. Ronald J. Lese, dentist, moved into the building in 1964.

The new fire station was built in 1967 and was financed from funds from the Volunteer Fire Department. There are four trucks in the department at the present time including a 1928 GMC, which is used for parades and to haul hoses for fires. Twenty-two volunteer firemen served the village in nearby townships.

This is a picture of the building which was once a funeral home and furniture store run by a Mr. Miller. In 1951 he sold it to August Specht, who also ran it as a funeral home and furniture store for 13 years. In 1964, Erwin Lambert bought the funeral home and ran it for three years until moving to a new building. George Princl Jr., better known as Junior, bought and remodeled it and it has been since a favorite gathering place for local teenagers. It’s now known as Junior’s Burger Shop.

This is the Lambert Funeral Home, Manitowoc County’s newest funeral home built in 1965.

The new variety store opened in 1968 was a house that Ned Demsien remodeled.

In 1960, Leo Kostechka, the present postmaster, built the new post office on Main Street. For eleven years previous to this, it was located in Blattler’s Red Owl building. Before that, the post office was located on the east side of Main Street between Ice Implement and the Vogue Beauty Shop. The first post office in Mishicot was established in 1854 with F. M. Falrish as postmaster.

The Mishicot Lumber Company was originally built as Standard Lumber Yards in 1947 on the present site. Jim Anderle, present owner, was the first manager with two employees. Now the lumber company is three times its original size and has six employees.

This is a view of a portion of the F. W. Baugniet Mink Ranch which was started in 1931 and has been on the present site since 1942. The Mink Ranch employs an average of 15 people and ships over 20,000 mink pelts each year to New York where they are sold at an auction. Dark and mutation mink are raised on the ranch.

Al’s Restaurant and Drive-In was built in 1960 by Florenz Baugniet as a prelude to Fox Hills Country Club. Seating capacity is 55.

The pride of Mishicot is beautiful Fox Hills Country Club. This recreational and supper club complex was the result of the imagination and foresight of Florenz W. Baugniet, who began formulating his ideas on this project in the late 1950s.

Fox Hills has 70 employees and can seat 1200 people. It is a scene of many social functions including proms, weddings and class reunions. Numerous organizations hold regular business dinner meetings here. Guests can enjoy dining and dancing on weekends. Fox Hills, one of the outstanding supper clubs in the state of Wisconsin.

A driving range and an 18-hole championship golf course provide ample opportunity for the avid golfer to enjoy his favorite sport at Fox Hills. The North 9 holes covers 69 acres with the South 9 seen here covering 79 acres. An additional 176 acres have been purchased for a third 9 holes scheduled to be completed in 1970 with a future airstrip planned for a part of the 176 acres.

The residents of Mishicot and vicinity are a friendly and congenial people. They are always interested in progress and are also fond of their social activities which include card and sewing clubs, bowling leagues, church societies, along with numerous school functions. Organizations play an important role also. Among them are the Lions Club, Jaycees, VFW, Sportsmen’s Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs and the Farm Bureau.

Mishicot, a thriving community with a fondly remembered past and a bright and prosperous future, is living to uphold our ideals of democracy and freedom.

Tags: 1847, 1969, history of mishicot, jack spevacek, paul frelich, slideshow, map, saxonburg, grist mill, twin rivers co-op, opera house, basketball, frank & roses, elite theater, mishicot national band, mishicot telephone company, zion church, rite way store, rockway school, jackson street, mishicot high school, central hotel, kielman’s village inn, st peter’s lutheran church, mishicot brewing company, main street, badger state house, kirst’s garage, holy cross school, holy cross church, state bank, holst cheap cash store, krauses shopping center, elizabeth street, flood, mishicot dairy products, centennial, museum, o.h. schultz elementary school, clinic, john nilles, junior’s, fire department, variety store, lambert funeral home, post office, mishicot lumber and supply, mink ranch, al’s restaurant, fox hills, video

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#1847 #1969 #alSRestaurant #badgerStateHouse #basketball #centennial #centralHotel #clinic #eliteTheater #elizabethStreet #fireDepartment #flood #foxHills #frankRoses #gristMill #historyOfMishicot #holstCheapCashStore #holyCrossChurch #holyCrossSchool #jackSpevacek #jacksonStreet #johnNilles #juniorS #kielmanSVillageInn #kirstSGarage #krausesShoppingCenter #lambertFuneralHome #mainStreet #map #minkRanch #mishicotBrewingCompany #mishicotDairyProducts #mishicotHighSchool #mishicotLumberAndSupply #mishicotNationalBand #mishicotTelephoneCompany #museum #oHSchultzElementarySchool #operaHouse #paulFrelich #postOffice #riteWayStore #rockwaySchool #saxonburg #slideshow #stPeterSLutheranChurch #stateBank #twinRiversCoOp #varietyStore #video #zionChurch

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An October 1, 1978 newspaper article looking back on the history of the Holst Sons Co. Department Store (Holst Cheap Cash Store), which was located between 506 and 442 E Main Street in Mishicot, Wisconsin.

Full article text:

Herald-Times-Reporter, Manitowoc-Two Rivers, Wis.

Sun., October 1, 1978

Fashions, shopping habits change through the years

The Holst family of Mishicot posed in 1894 for this picture in front of the Holst Cash Store

Early-day general store remembered in Mishicot

The Holst General Store in Mishicot was a village landmark for nearly a century. These pictures, shared with Herald-Times-Reporter readers by Mrs. Tony Schultz of 1316 Hamann Road, Manitowoc, a niece of the late Nora and Hugo Holst, show the Holst family in 1894, and interior pictures of the store showing how it looked about 1912. According to a souvenir booklet, “Compliments of A. Holst,’ and given to his customers in 1912, the business was started in 1889 “and has been steadily growing, now is one of the largest department stores in the county. “Everything is carried in the line of general –

The building has much floor and shelf space, which makes it possible to handle the capacity of business transacted here. People are attracted from miles around, and they can be assured of good selection because all departments are complete. Members of the Holst family, in the top photo, from left, were Hugo Holst, Arthur Holst, Anna Bhenke, Ruth Holst, Emma Bhenke, Mrs. Augusta Holst, Ida Bartel Luedtke, and an unidentified clerk. The store was sold to George Krause in December 1963, and he operated a store there about seven years before constructing the present Krause’s Shopping Center across Main St., and about a block east of the original location. The original store has been razed. Hattie Kadow Meineke, who worked in for the Holst store for 40 years, still resides in Mishicot.

The surviving member of the Holst family shown in the picture is Ruth Holst, now Mrs. Ruth Holst Fischer Horneck, residing in a nursing home in Sheboygan. The souvenir booklet, in addition to photos of the Holst store, contained other scenes from the village. One of them showed the interior of the Elite Theater operated by the Mishicot Amusement Co., and regarded “as the most up-to-date moving picture playhouse for a place the size of Mishicot, in the state, and perhaps the United States.” The booklet further stated, “The management — fits, but instead, for moral and up-to-date amusement, so as to boost the town. All pictures shown here are passed by The National Board of Censorship. The members of this company are all home boys. The place has an inclined floor, a feature not seen in many of our neighboring cities. The room in which the machine is operated, is lined with galvanized iron, over which asbestos is put, thus insuring perfect safety in regard to danger from fire.”

The booklet also had pictures of the State Bank of Mishicot, founded in 1910; Mishicot Telephone Co. repair crew for the company organized in 1909; power house of dam of Mishicot Electric Light and Power Plant; generators in the power house of the electric light company; water wheel and switchboard in power house; Mishicot Brewing Co., grist and saw mill; Mishicot Opera House; Mishicot baseball and basketball teams of 1912.

Tags: 1978, arthur holst, holst cheap cash store, holst store

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A 1965 newspaper article about the discovery of a gravestone for David Soper in Mishicot, Wisconsin. The gravestone was discovered underneath a portion of the Holst Sons Co. Department Store building.

Full article text:

DUG FROM THE PAST — While razing an old warehouse on the west side of the former Holst Department Store, Mishicot, to provide room for a blacktop parking lot for the new super market of Krause Shopping Center, workmen found an old tombstone. The Holst Store was the community’s oldest general mercantile establishment and was founded 74 years ago, in 1890. The building was erected in three sections. Inscribed on the tombstone was “Gone Home. David Soper Died Sept. 19, 1869. Aged 68 yrs. 2 mo’s and 10 d’s.” Some have theorized that the stone, found under the end section of the building, the old warehouse, could have been taken or stolen from a plot and hid in this building. Previously the warehouse was used as the print shop when the Holst brothers made their own advertising bulletins. (Photo by staff photographer)

Tags: 1965, david soper, gravestone, holst cheap cash store, holst store, newspaper

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Two newspaper clippings about the death of C.H. Holst, founder of the Holst Cheap Cash Store in Mishicot, Wisconsin.

Full text of first article:

C.H. HOLST DIES AT HOME AT MISHICOT

Well Known Business Man of County Ill For Long Time

C.H. Holst, widely known pioneer merchant of Manitowoc county, died at the family home at Mishicot at 3:30 this morning, death following an illness of many months. Mr. Holst underwent an operation last summer in a final effort to regain his health but the hope proved futile. The funeral will be held at Mishicot Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock with service at St. Peter’s Lutheran church, the Rev. Zell officiating.

Founded Business in 1890

Born in Germany April 1, 1853 Mr. Holst came to America with his parents as a babe. The family took up its home in Calumet county and there he grew to manhood. For a time he taught in the public schools and then engaged in business at New Holstein. He was married to Miss Augusta Hintz Behnke and in 1890 the family moved to Mishicot where he established the Holst Sons Company, a general store business from which he retired in 1914 turning the business over to his sons. He remained an advisor and took an interest in the affairs of the company, however until a year ago when failing health compelled him to give up all his active interests.

Mr. Holst is survived by his widow, two sons Arthur and Hugo all at Mishicot and by three daughters, Mrs. Elwood Fischer of Sheboygan, Mrs. A.R. Madson of Mishicot and Mrs. F.J. Sievers of Pullman, Washington.

Was A Home Man

Mr. Holst belonged to no fraternal orders, being essentially a home man and devoting all of his time outside of his business to his family. Mr. Holst was one of the best known men of the county and his death is a shock to the community.

Full text of second article:

Notes from Mishicot

C.H. Holst, well known merchant of Mishicot, died Monday morning, death following an illness of many months. The deceased was born in Germany. April 1, 1858 and came to this country with his parents when a child. The family took up their home in Calumet county and there he grew to manhood. For a time he taught in the public schools and then engaged in business at New Holstein. He was twice married. His first wife died many years ago and he was married again to Mrs. Augusta Hintz Behnke and in 1890 the family moved to Mishicot, where he established a general store business from which he retired in 1914 turning the business over to his sons, Arthur and Hugo.

Mr. Holst is survived by his wife, two sons Arthur and Hugo of Mishicot and three daughters, Mrs. Elwood Fischer of Sheboygan, Mrs. A.R. Madsen of Mishicot, Mrs. F.J. Sievers of Pullman, Washington.

The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon from St. Peter’s Lutheran church, Rev. Zell officiating.

Tags: c.h. holst, holst cheap cash store, holst store, newspaper

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A newspaper article about the election of Hugo Holst at the first president of the Village Of Mishicot.

Full article text:

Two Rivers Reporter

Elect Hugo Holst First President of Mishicot Village

Hugo Holst, prominent Mishicot business man and county chairman of the American Red Cross, will be the first president of the newly incorporated village of Mishicot. He was chosen in a field of three candidates at a special election Wednesday, at which nearly 250 voters selected a complete slate of village officers In a close race Mr. Holst polled 106 votes to 99 for Leo Kostechka, village postmaster. George Schmidt polled 35 votes. Mr. Holst, who will take over the Mishicot presidency at once, is identified with the Holst Sons company, village mercantile store. He is a trustee of the Maple Crest sanatorium and was recently named county chairman of the Red Cross. He has been an active leader in Mishicot civic affairs for years.

Harpt Is Supervisor

Reuben Harpt was elected supervisor with 146 votes to 72 for Harvey Pfingsten and 21 for Herbert Meineke. He qualified immediately to give Mishicot representation today on the county board which met at the court house in Manitowoc for a one day session. Addition of Harpt gives the county board 39 members. Mishicot voters chose Frank Hinesh treasurer without opposition. He polled 232 votes. Donald Halada was named village clerk over Norman Burt, 161 to 79. Wilbert Kempen was elected assessor, polling 93 votes to 83 for Paul Seibold; Sherman Nimmer received 58. The electors chose a board of six trustees, who, with the village president, will govern the new village. Chosen for the short term, ending in April, 1951, were William Meineke, who led with 148 votes, Raymond Schuler who polled 110, and Edward Halia, with 109. Three trustees chosen for the term ending in April, 1952, were Raymond Kronforst, who polled 105 votes, Alvin Dvorak, with 96 votes and Edward Krajnik, with 94 votes.

To Use Town Hall

Paul Specht was named justice of the peace over Jess Lambert, 161 to 75. Walter Stelzer was elected constable over Clarence Haese, 147 to 91. For the present the village business will be conducted in the Mishicot town hall, which is located in the village. The trustees will meet shortly with the town board, Chairman Anton Skubal, Adolph Tesarik and William Brodkorp, to try and arrive as an adjustment of property splitup under which the real and personal property in the village will be detached from the town of Mishicot and set up in the assessment roll for the village. A preliminary estimate is that about $800,000 in property valuation will be credited to the new village. Mishicot is the third incorporated village in Manitowoc county. The other two are Valders and Reedsville.

Tags: holst cheap cash store, holst store, newspaper

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A September 9, 1970 newspaper article about the demolition of the Holst Sons Co. Department Store, which became Krause’s Shopping Center. The store was located between 506 and 442 E Main Street in Mishicot, Wisconsin.

Tags: 1970, holst cheap cash store, holst store, krauses shopping center, main street, newspaper

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A newspaper article reminiscing on the early days of the Holst Sons Co. Department Store (Holst Cheap Cash Store), which was located between 506 and 442 E Main Street in Mishicot, Wisconsin.

Full article text:

The Holst Brothers

Herald Times Reporter

“They had everything imaginable.”

That’s how retired Mishicot area dairy farmer Paul Mueller remembers the Holst & Sons Store in Mishicot. The sons were longtime local sponsors in a period spanning both horse and buggy and the Corvette. Founded by A. Holst in 1889 and passed on to his sons, Hugo and Arthur in 1918, Holst & Sons sold everything from food staples to family apparel to phonographs. The store was purchased in 1963 by George Krause, who later razed the building and opened Krause’s Shopping Center. Families could have an all their needs met at the Holst Bros. Store, said Ray Kronforst, himself the operator of Kronforst Electric for 50 years. Holst & Sons competed with other grocers, including the Pfingsten Brothers and Wojta’s, another general retailer. The long store contained clothing on one side and shoes on the other. In between was a general store filled with groceries, Mueller said. In a cramped world of case upon case, box upon box, the brothers provided full customer service. Shelf after shelf of products, ranging from ointments and salves to shoes were available. Fresh produce arrived on a seasonal basis. “Whatever the small country stores sold, they were limited by space, too,” said Kronforst, who went to the store from the time he was a baby. It’s where he got his first knickers and suit, and dress shoes such as those made by the Peters Co. The Holst brothers were a lot more than just shopkeepers, though, Kronforst recalled. Hugo, for example, was on the board of directors for the Mishicot State Bank. Both were local firefighters. Kronforst, once a Mishicot High School basketball player, remembered the rides the brothers gave. The team rode in the brothers’ large comfortable cars to Door County schools in the Peninsula Conference.

Neither Hugo and his wife, Nora, nor Arthur and his wife, Eva, had families of their own. Rides from the brothers might have been another one of their ways of giving back to Mishicot. “Hugo and Arthur were very good sponsors of anything for the community,” Kronforst said. “They were very supportive of the community in all ways.” — KURT RENTMEESTER

Tags: holst cheap cash store, holst store, newspaper

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A May 1, 1964 newspaper article about a change in ownership of the Holst Sons Co. Department Store.

Full article text:

May 1, 1964

Holst Store Now Krause’s

MISHICOT —- This community’s oldest general mercantile establishment, A Holst and Sons, founded 74 years ago, in 1890, is now being operated under the ownership of George Krause of Randolph Street, formerly associated with the Culligan and Schumacher firm of Two Rivers. It is now known as Krause’s Shopping Center. Krause acquired the property in December and remodeled the general store into a modern super market shopping center, carrying all nationally advertised groceries, health and beauty aids, and a large selection of produce and a complete frozen food section. Future plans call for remodeling of the exterior, removing an old warehouse on the west side for conversion into a blacktopped parking lot. Krause also plans to continue appliance servicing work. A graduate of Mishicot High School, Krause married the former Joan Baker of Kewaunee. They have five sons and a daughter. He is a member of Holy Cross Parish, serving as its treasurer. Also, he is a trustee of the Knights of Columbus Council, a member of the Holy Name Society, Mishicot Jaycees and Mishicot Lions Club. The Holst family came from Potter, Wis., in 1890 and erected the store on what is now Main Street, with living quarters in the rear. Hugo Holst and his brother, the late Arthur Holst, took over the business in 1918. The establishment was a typical country store with groceries, dry goods and men’s and women’s ready – to – wear. Arthur Holst died in 1940 and his widow, Eva, remained in partnership for three years, disposing of her share to Hugo Holst, longtime civic leader, first village president and the first president of the Lions Club. He had been active in Red Cross circles for years and served as county chairman. For 14 years he has been on the board of trustees of the Maple Crest Sanatorium, currently serving as president.

Tags: 1964, holst cheap cash store, holst store, krauses shopping center, newspaper

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A parade float advertising the Holst Sons Co. Department Store (Holst Cheap Cash Store), which was located between 506 and 442 E Main Street in Mishicot, Wisconsin. The photo is dated 1935, although in “Mishicot’s Meaningful Memories,” the photo is grouped under a series from the Mishicot Centennial in 1947.

Tags: 1935, 1947, holst cheap cash store, holst store, parade

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Two receipts from the Holst Sons Co. Department Store (Holst Cheap Cash Store), which was located between 506 and 442 E Main Street in Mishicot, Wisconsin.

One receipt addressed to August Specht is from April 14, 1943, the other is from the 1930s.

Tags: 1943, holst cheap cash store, holst store, receipt, august specht

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