Harness makers, insurance agent used Madelia’s 27 W. Main St.

April 22--From the late 1880s until well into the 1970s, the smell of tanned hide, leather oil and leather dyes greeted the noses of customers entering 27 West Main St. in Madelia. And for decades, if the building's upstairs windows were opened, the voices of switchboard operators could be heard by passers-by.

Researcher Barb Nelson, executive secretary for Watonwan County Historical Society, has been documenting articles, advertisements and photographs of businesses that operated at the address.

Nelson provided the following information about 27 W. Main St, which was among the buildings that burned in the Feb. 3, 2016, fire:

Harnesses and saddles

--One of the town's oldest businesses, Gieriet's Harness and Collar Shop, used the address between 1888 and 1934.

Jacob Gieriet was born in Switzerland, where he served his apprenticeship in harness making. He came to the United States in 1865 and arrived in Madelia in 1872. Four years later, he participated in the capture of the Younger Brothers.

Gieriet's harness and saddle shop first was at 6 E. Main St. His brick building at 27 W. Main was built in 1888.

After Gieriet's death in 1922, his son, Leo, took over the business, which by then included shoe repair services.

Shoes

--The business was purchased in 1934 by Joe Kronfus, who had started as a shoe repairman for the shop. He was the son of a harness maker. After he sold the shop in 1943, he joined the Army. He died in 1968 and is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

--A former shoe salesman, Howard F. Bristol, the took over the shop. Bristol's Shoe Repair was in business at 27 West Main until 1954.

--World War II veteran Harold "Bud" Smith became the new owner of the shoe shop in February 1954.

At some point, Smith added television repair services and changed the name of the business to Madelia Electronics, which he operated until 1979.

Phone company

--In 1903, 48 residents formed a telephone company in Madelia, which previously had been served by a Fairmont phone business.

Offices on the second floor at 27 West Main at first were rented by the Madelia Phone Company for $50 a month. Rural subscribers were required to purchase a share of the company, which cost $25.

By 1910, the company had 416 phones in operation, both in town and in the rural area. In 1919, the second floor of the building was purchased at a cost of $2,250.

In the mid-1950s, E.M. Christensen Sr. gained controlling interest in the company. The telephone company moved to a new Madelia location in 1956.

Furniture

--After Tom Hayden purchased the building in 1979, its front steps were removed and a glass storefront was installed. A doorway was cut between 27 West Main St. and a furniture store next door owned by Hayden. The expansion was necessary for the display of living room sets.

--In 1988, Ron's Home Furnishings opened at the site. Ron Rust operated a business at 27 West Main-29 West Main until 1992.

Insurance

--Del Grund, who began his insurance business in 1985, moved to the address in 1992. An agent for Farmers' Mutual Insurance, Grund used the address until 2008.

Variety store

Community members went into action in fall 2007 after the announcement of the closing of Dueber's, a major retailer at 29 West Main. The household goods seller was reborn as Madelia's Best Store.

--In spring 2008, the space at 27 West Main began to be used as expansion space for the variety and value business.

After Madelia's Best closed in 2013, taxidermist Mark Kunz used the building's windows to display his works.

The building was vacant of businesses when the structure burned down in February 2016.

This article is part of an occasional series detailing the histories of buildings in downtown Madelia to be published as Glimpses of the Past throughout the year.

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