MONTICELLO - Monticello continues to survive, due in large part to its self-sufficiency.
Don Schneider, Monticello Historical Society president, presented "Back to the Future: Entrepreneurs in Monticello" to members of the Green County Development Corporation on Thursday night.
He described some of the entrepreneurships that have made Monticello a permanent fixture on the map. Afterwards, Schneider led a tour of Monticello history that lives on at the pharmacy museum in town.
Some Monticello businesses were thriving in their day, but, through no fault of their own, simply died out. An ice harvesting business succumbed to refrigerators. And during a particularly bad period of insect infestation, the grist mill ground to a halt as grains gave way to dairy as a leading commodity in the area in the early 1900s. The grist mill, started in 1854, used to produce 5,000 pounds of flour and 25 tons of livestock feed a year.
A saw mill built in 1856 ran for 10 years on the northeast side of town before being converted to a woolen mill. Woolen goods were made from wool shipped in from all over the county, and the products were sold to well-known outlets. But a fire on May 8, 1950, took the mill and a nearby barn. The mill was never rebuilt. What remains of the brick grist mill built in 1924 has become part of the village hall, and serves as a reminder of the village's earliest business endeavor.
However, many entrepreneurs found ways to change with the economy. "Jimmy the Greek" Lobbs bought a shoe repair shop in the village, but expanded his business to include candy, gum and cigars. Eventually, Lobbs began to sell sandwiches, and named his place of business "Midway Lunch." The shop remains a restaurant yet today, changing hands three times since Lobbs' death in 1947.
Several of Monticello's businesses have developed, then thrived, and have survived with ongoing business since being built. The Monticello Hotel, featured in a 1889 photo, became the Monticello House restaurant with a bar and meeting rooms. Northside Cheese began with an $8,000 factory during the family farm and cheese factory era of 1900-1950.
Also in the early 1900s, on the second floor of Karlen Hall was the first "auto assembly" plant, where cars that were ordered were put together. In those days, the cars were sent in pieces and required some assembly. The early Karlen Ford dealership was a boon business in 1918, and still survives today.
One pharmacy begun in 1899 has become a reminder of the village's endurance to changing economic conditions. Woelffer's Pharmacy has become the Monticello Historical Society Museum, featuring products and merchandise through the 1970s.
The museum displays the community's major flood disasters from 1913 to1996, when the Sugar River, so important to some of the earliest businesses, spilled its banks. Still, said Schneider, the community has survived as a tribute to its self-sufficiency.
The museum opened this summer, and is open only on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May through November.
Don Schneider, Monticello Historical Society president, presented "Back to the Future: Entrepreneurs in Monticello" to members of the Green County Development Corporation on Thursday night.
He described some of the entrepreneurships that have made Monticello a permanent fixture on the map. Afterwards, Schneider led a tour of Monticello history that lives on at the pharmacy museum in town.
Some Monticello businesses were thriving in their day, but, through no fault of their own, simply died out. An ice harvesting business succumbed to refrigerators. And during a particularly bad period of insect infestation, the grist mill ground to a halt as grains gave way to dairy as a leading commodity in the area in the early 1900s. The grist mill, started in 1854, used to produce 5,000 pounds of flour and 25 tons of livestock feed a year.
A saw mill built in 1856 ran for 10 years on the northeast side of town before being converted to a woolen mill. Woolen goods were made from wool shipped in from all over the county, and the products were sold to well-known outlets. But a fire on May 8, 1950, took the mill and a nearby barn. The mill was never rebuilt. What remains of the brick grist mill built in 1924 has become part of the village hall, and serves as a reminder of the village's earliest business endeavor.
However, many entrepreneurs found ways to change with the economy. "Jimmy the Greek" Lobbs bought a shoe repair shop in the village, but expanded his business to include candy, gum and cigars. Eventually, Lobbs began to sell sandwiches, and named his place of business "Midway Lunch." The shop remains a restaurant yet today, changing hands three times since Lobbs' death in 1947.
Several of Monticello's businesses have developed, then thrived, and have survived with ongoing business since being built. The Monticello Hotel, featured in a 1889 photo, became the Monticello House restaurant with a bar and meeting rooms. Northside Cheese began with an $8,000 factory during the family farm and cheese factory era of 1900-1950.
Also in the early 1900s, on the second floor of Karlen Hall was the first "auto assembly" plant, where cars that were ordered were put together. In those days, the cars were sent in pieces and required some assembly. The early Karlen Ford dealership was a boon business in 1918, and still survives today.
One pharmacy begun in 1899 has become a reminder of the village's endurance to changing economic conditions. Woelffer's Pharmacy has become the Monticello Historical Society Museum, featuring products and merchandise through the 1970s.
The museum displays the community's major flood disasters from 1913 to1996, when the Sugar River, so important to some of the earliest businesses, spilled its banks. Still, said Schneider, the community has survived as a tribute to its self-sufficiency.
The museum opened this summer, and is open only on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May through November.