THE REPUBLICAN

February 20, 1908

 

A THRIVING VILLAGE

Scandinavia, Her Academy and Business Houses

 

            The editor of the REPUBLICAN spent Tuesday in the neat and industrious village of Scandinavia and was greatly impressed with the evident thrift and energy of her citizens.  The three railroads entering the town give unusual means for getting in and out and many people come and go each day.  While the village is almost forty years old there are but very few dilapidated buildings and the worst of these, the old windmill, is being torn down this week.  The village has its share of churches, the public schools are well equipped and in charge of competent instructors and the moral tone of the community is shown by the fact that no licensed saloons are permitted.

            The town boasts one institution which is known not only throughout Wisconsin but also in the neighboring states, Scandinavia Academy.  This was established 14 years ago and has improved each year until in 1908 it has an enrollment of 97 pupils taught by a faculty of 8 competent Christian instructors.  The academy at first was a local institu-tion but in 1902 the Academy was taken up by the United Lutheran Church and is now aided by that body and under its supervision. The location on the wooded banks of Silver Lake is most picturesque and its eleven acre campus gives abundant opportunity for all kinds of recreation.  The Academy building, a brick structure 48 x 80 feet, three stories and a basement, gives ample room for all the activities of the school and there are many organizations and societies for the development of the mental, social and athletic natures of the students.  While the Academy is a religious institution and religion is one of the branches of study students of good moral character of no religious affiliation are received.  There are now 194 graduates from the several courses.  The Academy, under the able supervision of Prof. Holland bids fair to go on to many years of increased useful-ness and success.

            The business houses which have been longest in the field are Thorson Bro’s., Mr. Gottschalk, Gunder Knudsen, O. N. Wanbon and O. P. Sheveland.

            Thorson Brothers bought in 1882 of Mr. Wrolstad their present store and have occupied it ever since with a stock of general merchandise.  Their business has grown so that they have been forced twice to build on to their store and it is still on the gain.

            Mr. Gottschalk, general blacksmith, has been in business at the same old stand for 22 years.  He is using today a hammer, pinching tools, and a clincher which he made for himself in 1881.  He landed in Waupaca on a dark rainy night and became immediately convinced that the Central’s depot was above the rest of the country.

            Gunder Knudson, Blacksmith and Horseshoeer has seen 24 years as a Scandinavia business man.  His wagons and sleighs are in use all over the country and although he is not as young as he once was, he is still turning out good work and lots of it.

            O. N. Wanbon is another maker of buggies, wagons and sleighs and sells many which he does not make himself.  He has been in business in the village for 22 years.

            Another of the older business men is O.P. Sheveland the shoemaker.  For over 20 years he has tended to the soles of the villagers and mended their uppers and enabled them to put their best foot foremost.  He is still engaged in caring for such small ills as people’s footwear is subject to.

            A large, well equipped an fully stocked, modern store is that of Peterson Brothers Company, an incorporated company.  The firm was a partnership of Peterson Brothers from 1896 till 1905 when they changed to an incorporated company adding largely to their room and stock until now they have a store which compares favorably with those in towns of twice its size having a fine stock of dry goods-groceries-shoes-clothing and crockery.

            Scandinavia has two hardware stores:  Hanson Brothers and O. M. Sannes. The first named carry a complete line of all kinds of Hardware and Farm Machinery.  They began business in 1899 and have grown slowly but surely until now they own the buildings and carry twice the stock they had at first.  They have built up an excellent trade by straight forward business methods and handling only reliable goods.  Mr. Sannes started a few years later and carries a smaller stock but is building up a thriving business by selling only first class goods at reasonable prices.  He also carries a stock of Pianos, Sewing machines and musical instruments in another store and disposes of a large number each year.

            Scandinavia has a furniture store carrying as fine and complete a line of up-to-date furniture as is generally found in towns of 2,000 people.   E. C. Leean, the proprietor, is a graduate embalmer and an exceptionally good business.  He has a good trade in Graphophones and musical instruments.

            Engdahl & Company are the proprietors of an unusually well stocked Clothing and Gent’s furnishing Store.  They do the best business of the village in their line and have been 8 years building it up.  Mr. Engdahl, the Senior partner, is a skilled tailor and they carry a full line of suitings.

            The Bank of Scandinavia was organized as a private bank in 1900 by R. J. Bestul who did a good business but felt that it would be better to have stockholders so in 1903 it was changed to a state bank with ten thousand capital and 21 stockholders.  Starting in a rented building, they built one of their own, a very neat, convenient building, the following year.  Deposits were $48,500 to start and are now $133,000; the business is prospering as is shown by the $900 of surplus and undivided profits.  Mr. Bestul has the confidence of the entire community and has shown himself worthy of the trust.

            The Scandinavia Drug Store, James Peterson proprietor, has a complete line of drugs embracing everything needed in up-to-date prescription work as well as the standard remedies.  Here are also to be found large stocks of wall paper, paints and oils, fancy stationery and toilet articles.

            Other lines of business represented are Restaurants two kept by John Lee and Company and Anderson Brothers.  Here warm meals may be obtained at all hours and fine lines of confectionary are also carried.  G. F. Jole keeps the tonserial parlor of the village where for seven years he has trimmed the locks and scraped the countenances of the male portion while next door Miss Rudberg provides fashionable millinery for the female element.  The Maxwell Lumber Company furnishes lumber, building material and coal for the local and surrounding country trade from its well stocked yards and the Scan-dinavia Mills grind the feed for the farmers.