Businesses

Downtown New Berlin  (December 1907) This is a picture from a postcard of what is now known as the 100 block of East Illinois Street in downtown New Berlin.  The date is taken from the postage cancellation datestamp on the back of the postcard.  The message on the back says 'This is the block that was burned out.

Alexander Lumber Company  (March 22, 1912) A postcard picture of the Alexander Lumber Company located on the southeast corner of Olive and Illinois Streets.   The men in the photo are unknown.

Allis-Chalmers Dealership  (1940s-1950s)  This is the Allis-Chalmers dealership which was located on the 700 block of East Illinois Street, where the Laundromat is today.  Vincent Braner was the owner.  He also operated from other locations at various times.  The building was the home to a bakery, Bob White's Garage, a heating business, Tom and Rosemary Frank's Laundromat, and, currently the Alamo Laundromat owned by Mike Williams.   

Bill & Red Barber Shop  (1950s) Clarence 'Red' McDevitt (left) and Bill Bachman (right) are pictured here in their Barber Shop.  The ice cream stool, the furniture, and equipment are currently owned by local people.

Blacksmith Shop (unknown) A group of men are pictured here standing with a horse and carriage outside the Blacksmith Shop in downtown New Berlin.  This structure was a dark colored wooden structure which stood on the southeast corner of Main and Birch Streets.  The men in the picture are all unknown.  The white house visible on the left side is the Barker house, which still stands today.

Cantrall's Cash Store  (1940s-1950s)  The Cantrall's Cash Store was located just east of the Movie House in downtown New Berlin.   This picture was taken from an 8mm film.

C. B. Warren  (1933) The new 1933 Plymouth cars are on display in the C. B. Warren Showroom, which was on the northwest corner of Olive and Illinois Streets in downtown New Berlin.  Pictured here are C. B. Warren, owner, and Raymond Colvin, salesman.  There is also a man standing in front of the window at the far back of the picture who is unknown. 

Denny's Barber Shop/New Berlin Restaurant/New Berlin Hardware  (unknown) This is a picture of some of the businesses in the 100 block of West Illinois street in downtown New Berlin.  Denny's Barber Shop is on the left, the New Berlin Restaurant is in the middle, and part of the New Berlin Hardware Store is visible on the right.  Denny Nordike is the barber.  The restaurant is owned by Tom and Rosemary Frank.  The Hardware Store was owned by Earl Coe. 

East End Filling Station  (1940s-1950s)  The East End Filling station was just east of the Allis-Chalmers dealership on the 700 block of East Illinois Street.  The building was torn down around 2006.  Some of the oil companies that sold products at this location were:  Cities Service, Conoco, and, lastly, Texaco.  Bob White, Ed Stapleton, and Dewight 'D' Clary were former station operators. This picture was taken from an 8mm film. 

Harold F. Zude Insurance Agency  (1940s) This is a picture of the Harold F. Zude Insurance Agency, who was an agent for the Hartford Insurance Company.  To the right, is the Mary Baptist Hair Salon and John Sturm's Pool Hall.  To the left was Jess and Margaret Carter's Drug Store (presently the Post Office) and the present stairway to the Pfeffer Apartments.  This picture was taken from an 8mm film. 

Hermes Chevrolet Dealership  (1951) Pictured (L-R)  Fred Hermes, Dealer and Owner; Lorris Tolliver, Customer; Virgil Long, Mechanic; Robert 'Bob' Frank, Parts and Bookkeeper; Charles 'Shag' Davenport, Service Manager and Sales; Malcolm Henderson, Mechanic. 

New Berlin Restaurant  (1950s) Picture of Theo Knust standing outside his New Berlin Restaurant.  Theo is wearing a pair of 'funny glasses' that has a big nose and mustache.  The photo was taken from a scanned image from the 1965 New Berlin History Book. 

McCullough Funeral Home   (1959) This is the McCullough Funeral Home on East Gibson Street in New Berlin owned by John and Genelle McCullough.  This picture was taken before the west viewing room was added.  The letters on the sign in front are made of a neon tube.  Later signs were illuminated by florescent tubes. 

Midway Cafe  (1940s-1950s)  Picture of the front of the Sturm Tavern and the Midway Cafe in downtown New Berlin.   This picture was taken from an 8mm film. 

Movie Theater  (1940s-1950s) This picture was taken from an 8mm film. 

Noah Twist Building  (1994) A picture of the Noah Twist Building on the northwest corner of Main and Illinois Streets in downtown New Berlin during the filming of the movie 'Tilt-A-Whirl' in 1994.  In early 1900, this building was a Noah Twist's general store and office for his elevator.  A scale for weighing grain, coal, and livestock was located in the area of the parking sign.  The building also housed the Post Office, a dentist, an insurance company, Denny's Barber Shop, the production offices for 'Tilt-A-Whirl', and an apartment. 

Pool Room  (unknown) Men standing outside of a 'Pool Room' in downtown New Berlin.  

Red & White Store  (1940s) Picture of the Red-and-White Store on the southwest corner of Locust and Illinois streets in downtown New Berlin.  This picture is taken from a movie frame filmed by Theo Knust, the owner of the New Berlin Restaurant at the time the movie was filmed. 

Roesch Hardware Store  (1940s-1950s)  Sidewalk view of the Roesch Hardware Store in downtown New Berlin.  Elmer Roesch was the owner.   Theo Knust's New Berlin Restaurant is to the left of the picture.  This picture is taken from an 8mm film. 

Roesch Motor Company Showroom  (c.1942) Louis 'Louie' Roesch at the Roesch Motor Company in the 200 block of West Illinois Street in downtown New Berlin.  The Roesch Motor Company was located in the building where the Hermes Chevrolet dealership and the New Berlin-Island Grove Fire Department would later occupy.  Louie is shown here admiring a brand new 1942 Chevrolet Deluxe Sedan in the showroom of the dealership. 

Shell Station  (1940s-1950s)  Picture of Taylor's Shell Station, which was located across from the Standard Station in the 200 block of East Illinois Street in downtown New Berlin.   This picture was taken from an 8mm film. 

Shirley's Flowers and Gifts  (c.October 1973) Picture of the sign outside of Shirley's Flowers and Gifts which was located at the home of Shirley and Walter Rieck north of New Berlin.  Their home was located on the road to Pleasant Plains before the Interstate was built.  The flashing sign could be seen from town.  

Standard Station  (1940s-1950s)  Picture of the Standard Station, which was located across from the Shell Station in the 200 block of East Illinois Street in downtown New Berlin.   This picture was taken from an 8mm film. 

Standard Station/Frank's Service Station  (1994) A picture of Frank's Service Station at the time of filming of the movie 'Tilt-A-Whirl' in 1994.  Joe 'Slim' Frank and Bobby 'Simpons' Simpson were the operators.  Other owners of this building were Carl Gansbauer, Ray 'Shacklebolt' Smith, and Don 'Lonesome Polecat' Davenport with George 'Shamrock' Fouch as Assistant.  The red brick building on the far right is the 'Old Bus Garage', which has since been torn down.  The two story structure behind the Old Bus Garage is the American Legion building, which also has since been torn down. 

Stapleton Ford   (September 1, 1931) Stapleton Ford sold the 20 Millionth Ford car at their New Berlin Dealershio on September 1, 1931.  The dealership was located in the 300 block of East Illinois Street. 

Sturm's Tavern (a.k.a. Pool Hall)  (1940s-1950s)  Picture of the front of the Sturm Tavern  in downtown New Berlin.   The banners in the window is advertising some event that was occuring on July 29th.  This picture was taken from an 8mm film. 

W. E. Gregory Repair Shop  (c.1931) A picture of the repairshop of W. E. Gregory, who repaired International Harvester machinery.  This building was located where Dannenberger's Store is today.  Fred Hermes is standing on the left and Joe Wolf, who worked for W. E. Gregory is standing on the right. 

Wenneborg Coal Yard  (unknown) Mr. and Mrs. Otto P. Wenneborg stand next to their Coal Yard business.  This building later became the Zachary Motor Service.  The little boy standing in front of the double doors is Paul Brehm, the Wenneborg's grandson.  The man walking to the left on the porch is unknown.  He must  have been moving when the picture was taken, since his image is blurred. 

West End Filling Station  (1930s)  Two men, both unknown, are standing next to the pumps at the West Side Filling Station, which was a quite ornamental structure, with decorative brick work and columns.  This picture shows the white globe lights which lined the walls and the glass Red Crown Gasoline globes which were atop the corners and columns of the building.   A part of a sign advertising the Stapleton Rodeo can be seen behind a bush at the lower left of the picture.   Visible on the left side of the picture is the building which presently houses 'The Still'.  This filling station sat next to the highway, with a wooden house and garden behind.  The Stapleton Rodeo was located behind these buildings. 

Zachary Motor Service  (1940s) This is a picture of the first garage that was owned by William (Bill) Zachary.  This building was located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Locust and Birch Streets in New Berlin where the Dannenberger Convienience Store are now located.  Zachary later moved his garage business to the site of the Wenneborg Coal Yard on South Oak Street, just north of the railroad tracks.  Pictured here  between two Sun diagnostic units are:  (L-R) John Colwell, Frank Colwell, Carl Colwell, William Zachary Sr., and Sophia Lawless Zachary.  On the floor in front of John Colwell is a muffler that has seen some better days.