[Luella Wiese Scrapbook]

[Luella Wiese Scrapbook]

Year: 1900

This scrapbook includes early photographs of the Eldridge Hardware & Implement Co. that was located on the east side of 2nd St. in downtown Eldridge until 1961 when the new building was built at the corner of E. LeClaire Road and S. 3rd Ave. That building was torn down to make room for the new North Scott Family Y in 2021. In 1893, according to the Eldridge, Iowa 100 Years Centennial book, the business was known as Kuehl & Wiese and owned by Hugo Kuehl and J. H. Wiese. In 1897 it was called Jas. H. Wiese & Co. and operated for almost 50 years. In 1904 the fire destroyed everything, but they rebuilt in the same location. Brothers Peter and Fred Wiese took over management and grew the company until they retired in 1946. That is when it became the Eldridge Hardware & Implement Co. and was owned and operated by Robert L. and Luella Wiese until 1967. Karl H. Kay was also part owner from 1946-1951. It was a John Deere implement dealer. In 1967 the Wiese's sold it and it became Schwitter's Equipment Inc., and in 1971 it was sold again and became Mohrs Implements. Also in this scrapbook are pictures from the Eldridge Centennial held on July 3-5, 1971. There are pictures of the beard contes