Now & Then
Where was that building, or buildings as the case might be, located? This is the question that has been asked numerous times by persons interested in the history of Scandinavia, or any other community for that matter. With the help of computer imagery, SWHS has been able to transport viewers from the present day’s location back in time to the historical site of yesteryear. Click on the image and fasten your seat belts as you are going to enter a time warp. Currently, Now & Then is a project in the development stage with new images being added as space and time permit. Images that have been added have a green title. Thank you for taking the trip with us.
Ole Wanbon owned a buggy and wagon manufacturing business on the southeast corner of Main and Center streets. The upstairs, known as Wanbon Hall, was host to numerous community events including banquets, dances, and monthly meetings of various civic organizations. According to the January 25, 1928 issue of the Iola Herald, the Hall was still in existence at that time.. click the image!
On the corner where Little Norway is presently located there was a photography studio, quite possibly operated by E.D. Erickson. Occupying the next store to the south (left) was the Thorson Bros. general store. On the second floor of the same building was a dress making business. The 1897/1898 Wisconsin Gazeteer lists two millinery businesses, Hendrickson & Larson and Mrs. A. Western. The small one-story building in the middle of the block was to serve as the post office. The building had a false front constructed sometime after this photo was taken. Sometime later, another two story building was to be built just south of the “post office.” It is currently unknown what business occupied the building just to the south of it. The last two story building to the south was occupied by O.M. Sannes a hardware dealer. The first appearance of this business in the Wisconsin Gazeteer was in the 1897/98 edition. At that time the firm was listed as dealing in pumps. ..click the image!
Charles Johnson began construction of the Johnson Hotel (Commercial House) in October, 1891, and opened to the public in January, 1892. Mr. Billings, a barber, was to move his shop into the basement upon its completion. According to the March 3, 1892 issue of the Herald, Posts are being put in for the new telephone and the office will be locatd in the Commercial Hotel. In April 1892, Charles Johnson sold the hotel to O.H. Iverston for a consideration of $5,000. The November 30, 1899 edition of the Iola Herald tells us that Mr. Miller of Ogdensburg has bought or rented the Commercial House. Besides providing rooms to traveling salesmen and Academy students, Dr. B.C. DeLano had his dentist office there. In February 1910 the Commercial House became the Hotel Thornton. How the hotel got this name is not known. A.C. Smith was the manager at least during 1910-1911. In April of 1911 the hotel was once again sold, this time to Mrs. Kuns of Grand Rapids (Wisconsin Rapids) who leased it to Henry Rhode of Waupaca. The Hotel Thornton changed hands a number of times over the years. The hotel was torn down October, 1922. A community bandstand was located on this site until it was moved south of the bank. A gas station was built on the lot, and in later years a body shop occupied the building. .. click the image!
A listing for L. Nelson & Son as owners of general store appears in the 1876/1877 Wisconsin Gazeteer. According to notes FOSH has on file, by an unknown person and unknown date, Carl Nygaard bought out the Nelsons. The last listing for L. Nelson & Son was in 1888. Nygaard’s name does not appear in subsequent issues of the Gazeteer. There is however a new listing in the 1891 Gazeteer for a general store, that being Peterson and Hrmanson. Whether or not they occupied the former L. Nelson & Son building is unknown. According to Lillie Leppen’s notes, a smaller building was located behind the main store where “he made lath fencing similar to snow fencing”. .. click the image!
This is a view of Main Street looking northwest. O.M. Sannes’ hardware store is the first building on the left. .. click the image!
Academy – click the image!
Creamery – click the image!
Bergman’s Garage – click the image!
Early Schoolhouse – click the image!
Peterson’s Mill – click the image!
Main St. Looking North – click the image!
Main St. Looking South – click the image!
A Railroad Hub – click the image!
Railroad Bridge looking north. – click the image!
The Rink – click the image!