THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

October 6, 1992

 

WHEN THEN WAS NOW

By Wayne A. Guyant

 

            Death came to George H. James, a pioneer Waupaca businessman, on Tuesday, May 17, 1928. Mr. James was the first owner and operator of the furniture store that is now located on the southwest corner of Sessions and North Main streets, today known as Stu’s Home Interiors, after 88 years of successful operations of three different furniture stores.

            George H. James was born on November 19, 1858, on a farm at Pine River, in Waushara County. He was a son of William and Mary James, who had come to the United States from Wales. He grew to manhood, assisting with the farm work and attending school.  In 1882 he graduated from Waupaca High School, being the only student of the graduating class of ’82.

            Following graduation, he taught school at Marion for one term.  He then came back to Waupaca ad became associated with Ing. Ovrom in the clothing business on North Main Street.  In 1898 this partnership was dissolved and both Mr. James and Mr. Ovrom became affiliated with the Union Store.  The Union Store was several businesses that joined together as one department store. George H. James had his furniture store on the second floor of the Union Store until it dissolved in 1904, becoming the Fair Store.

            In September of 1904, Mr. James moved his furniture from the second floor of the Union Store to his new location at 121 North Main Street, where he remained in business until his death in May 1928.

            On October 15, 1907 Mr. James was married to Catherine Hambletom.  Their obituaries made no mention of children.  They are both buried in the Waupaca Cemetery.

            In the mid-1920s Paul B. Bammel, who was associated with his brother Otto in the furniture and undertaking business in Fort Atkinson and Edgerton, sold out his interest in the business to his brother, and became a salesman for a furniture company.

            In about 1927, Mr. Bammel decided that he wanted to get back in business for himself and moved to Kaukauna, where he opened a new furniture store.  He stayed there for a year and a half. It was through his travels as a furniture salesman that he became acquainted with George H. James in Waupaca, and when he learned that Mr. James’ business was for sale, he came to Waupaca in 1929 and purchased the business from Mr. James’ estate.  Paul F. Bammel told me that William Koenig had worked for Mr. James, and continued to work for Mr. Bammel for several years. The George H. James Furniture Store was located on the north 24 feet, in Lot One, Block H, in the original plat of the Village of Waupaca.  This site is now 121 North Main Street, which is the extreme north section of Stu’s Home Interiors.

            Paul B. Bammel had been born March 10, 1881, in Adell (Sheboygan County).  He was a son of Christoph and Dorothy (Dannies) Bammel.  Paul B. Bammel had two brothers, Otto and Fred, and three sisters, Alma, Algunda and Selma.

            Paul B. Bammel was married in Fond du Lac to Emma Louise Pape.  Two sons, Paul F. and Harold F., was born in Fond du Lac. After moving to Fort Atkinson, two daughters were born.  They were Sylvia and Evelyn.  The children all grew up in Fort Atkinson.

            The Bammel Furniture Mart in Waupaca was a family business, with the elder Bammel in charge.  In 1933, Paul F. Bammel acquired his Funeral Director and Embalmer License, and a couple of years later Harold F. Bammel acquired his license.

            In 1933, Bammels opened up a funeral home at 209 North Main Street, in the building now occupied by the Kirby Vacuum Service, at one time it was the Market Basket.  They soon outgrew this location and in 1935 they purchased the residence at 325 South Division Street; the former St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church Rectory.  Here they had their living quarters upstairs.

            In 1946, after Paul F. Bammel returned from three years service in the Army in World War II, the father, Paul B. Bammel, entered into a partnership with his two sons, Paul and Harold, which lasted until the death of the elder Mr. Bammel in 1955.

            According to “Focus ’72, Waupaca Business in Review” for December 7, 1972, the store offered four floors of furniture, carpeting and appliances in a complete line of home decorating features. National brands included Simmons bedding, Bigelow carpeting, Master Craft upholstered furniture, Provincetown Early American and Speed Queen and Eureka appliances, plus many others.  An Early American Shop located behind the main store was added to their enterprising business in 1967.  The firm did their own repair and maintenance work along with carpet installation.  In 1946, Paul Axtell, a brother-in-law, became a full-time employee and Tim Hales joined the workforce in 1968 full time, and Clifford Hales was on a part-time basis.

            Paul B. Bammel passed away November 12, 1955, and his wife, Emma L. Bammel, passed away April 1, 1969.  They both are buried in the Waupaca Lakeside Cemetery.

            Harold F. Bammel was married in Milwaukee to Marjorie A. Hensel on the 26^th day of September, 1931. They had two children, Brian and Barbara. Harold Bammel passed away May 29, 1979, and their daughter Barbara, Mrs. Gerald Farwell, passed away in Chicago on October 28, 1970.  Both she and her father are buried in the Waupaca Lakeside Cemetery.

            Sylvia Clara Bammel was married to Paul Axtell in Waupaca on April 30, 1941.  They had two children, Jean and Thomas.  Sylvia C. Axtell passed away November 3, 1991, and is buried in the Waupaca Lakeside Cemetery.

            Evelyn Bammel was first married to Charles Booth and they had one daughter, Sharon.  Evelyn and Charles separated, and Evelyn married again to William Botten.  Evelyn Botten passed away at Daytona Beach, Fla., November 7, 1987, and is buried here in the family plot in the Waupaca Lakeside Cemetery.

            The only other member of the original Bammel family that came to Waupaca in 1929 that has not lost a loved one from their midst is Paul F. Bammel.  Mr. Paul F. Bammel was married to Miss Ellen T. Peterson in Waupaca on October 14, 1939, and to this union was born two children, Patricia and Paul.

            Stuart (Stu) Duchow took over the business from the Bammels as of June 20, 1977.