Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 2, Number 2, May 1992 Page: 116

Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal

The grocery stores would be waiting for the afternoon shopping to start as
lots of citizens would come to town to shop for items they would have for supper.
Fehrenkamp's Grocery would have a few black men sitting on the bench on the side of
the store talking in quiet tones or nodding in semi-sleep. Mr. [George] Gegenworth would
be sitting on the sidewalk with his chair propped against an iron post holding up the roof
of the sidewalk shelter and usually half asleep.
Mr. [Davis Grant] Boyd who owned the small store next door would be doing
the same. Mr. [E. C.] Thrower would be standing idly at the front door of his racket store
next door. You could hear the ceiling fans as you passed the front of the stores. Mr.
Mattern's Grocery would be quiet but Waldvogel's would be a little noisier with Florence
and Max running around.
Mr. [Simon] and Mrs. [Pauline] Nussbaum would also be sitting outside
chatting with a passerby, if they came along. You could hear hammering as the Paulsen
brothers worked in their tinshop. Kirby's Confectionery would probably be the most
active business at that time of the day with people buying ice cream cones, glac6 (shaved
ice in a glass with a squirt of strawberry, cherry, etc.) or a malted milk drink.
The courthouse would be quiet if court was not in session. You could hear
the clang of the iron gate on the north side as people entered or left the courthouse yard.
When the gate clanged, people who could see the gate would usually look up to see who
was entering or leaving the courthouse.
Yes, a hot summer afternoon in August was usually a quiet slumberous time
in Columbus.
25. Main Street
I want to try and name the business places on the two blocks of Main Street
from the Stafford Opera House north to the S. P. Railroad. The United Daughters of the
Republic Museum on the corner of the courthouse yard had been a structure for a water
tower, round and made of brick, was then vacant without any roof. The birds carried
seed and grass and weeds grew around the perimeter. There were two arched wooden
doors which we could pry open and get inside. There was a circular wooden stairway
which was very rickety which I never climbed, but some of the boys did. There was other
debris and fallen bricks otherwise it was essentially empty. Pigeons used it as a roost.
Look at what has been done to this structure. A fine museum has been established and
it is a credit to Columbus.
Across the street from the Opera House on the west side was a grocery
store, now occupied by the Columbus State Bank drive in. Then across Spring Street,
still on the west side of Milam Street, was a picture show built in the latter part of the
period being discussed. Next was Harbert's Garage, which sold Dodge automobiles as
I recall. Next to Harbert's Garage was a women's hat shop. Next was the Colorado
Citizen office and printing shop. Then there was Untermeyer's Hardware Store. Next
was a saloon and I cannot remember the name or the owner. I vaguely seem to remember
that there was another business in this stretch but I cannot recall what it was.
Next was Sam Hamburger Clothing Store. Many, many times Mr. Ham-
burger would bring pants or coats to my father's tailor shop to have alterations made
quickly as his customer would probably be a farmer who was returning home during the
day and would not want to have to come back for his clothes. Saturdays were particularly
busy days, when many farmers and ranchers came to town to do their shopping. Then
there was Zwiegel's Grocery. I believe there were two Zwiegel brothers who ran the
store. Next to Zwiegel's was Zumwalt's Drug Store. Mr. [Oscar Abraham] Zumwalt was

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