PERHAM
Population, 1,500. Otter Tail county. Incorporated as a village in 1881 and governed by a board of village trustees. Annual election in March. It is on the Northern Pacific railway and the Otter Tail river, in the northern and most wealthy part of the county, forty miles northeast of Fergus Falls, the county seat, and 173 northwest of Minneapolis. It is in the center of the famous park region, surrounded by lakes that are alive with all kinds of fish and aquatic fowl, making it the most popular summer resort and hunters’ paradise in the state. About 800,000 bushels of choice milling wheat is marketed annually, which is ground up by the two local mills.
The town pulls trade from the north and south for about twenty-five miles, and from the east and west about twelve miles. Three creameries within a radius of seven miles from the town. For a summer resort it leads the rest, the lakes of Big Pine, Little Pine, Rush lake, Marion lake and Big McDonald lake are in a radius of six miles from town, are teeming with pike and the bass lakes are numberless.
The town contains seven churches, high school of eight grades and some of the best teachers of the state, German Sisters’ school, Polish Sisters’ school, German Lutheran school, St. James’ hospital, Smith Bros.’ wagon factory, St. Paul Cooperage company, 2 planing mills, 1 creamery, 2 flour mills, 3 elevators, 1 brewery, 1 brickyard, 1 pickle factory, opera house seating 300 people, water works and electric light plant owned by the town, 2 banks, 7 general stores, 1 exclusive grocery store, 3 hardware stores, 1 exclusive clothing store, 2 drug stores, 2 furniture stores, 1 exclusive shoe store, 3 hotels, 3 restaurants, 4 implement dealers, 3 blacksmith shops, 2 jewelry stores, 2 liveries, 2 barber shops, 3 meat markets, 10 saloons, 1 real estate agent, 3 lawyers, 3 physicians, 2 dentists, 3 painters and decorators, 1 veterinary surgeon, 2 contractors and builders, 2 photographers, 3 millineries, 3 candy stores, 2 bakeries, 1 lunch counter. Three weekly newspapers, the Bulletin, Volksblath and Enterprise, are published every week and are a credit to the town and county, and George M. Young is postmaster.
The Perham Pickling company are in their second year and are doing a very fine business. Last [year] 250 farmers sent their produce to the factory and they received from $75 to $200 from an acre for their produce, and this year they expect far more than any year since the factory started. The Smith Bros’ wagon factory is a great help to Perham, and the business men of Perham stand ready to give good inducements for anyone coming to Perham and starting a factory of any kind. The town in summer is overrun with fishermen and pleasure seekers. Marion lake is without doubt the best fishing lake in the park region, fine spring water and alive with the finny tribe. The resort called the Eagle’s Nest consists of large, commodious buildings and the finest location in northern Minnesota, and the accommodations are the best. Perham is growing very fast and their motto is “Keep your eye on Perham.”
Following are a few of the leading business men of Perham:
Oswald & Drahmann are proprietors of the Perham Mill company, manufacturers of Moonlight, North Star and O. P. D. brands. This is a seventy-five barrel mill, built in 1897 and has a 5,000 bushel elevator in connection. This firm are pioneers of the county.
The First National bank is one of the leading banks of this county, organized in 1902, capital $25,000, surplus $1,000, and does a general real estate, first mortgage loan, insurance, collections and general banking business. J. W. Donohue, president; M. Goblirsch, vice president, and R. G. Claydon, cashier.
Charles Faber is proprietor of the Grand Pacific hotel, one of the leading hotels of the town, has fine bar in connection, been in business twelve years and came from St. Paul.
Albert G. Henn runs one of the main barber shops of Perham, in business for one year and has a good trade.
Fred H. Davis is proprietor of a leading bakery, confectionery, fruit, cigars and tobacco business, also restaurant in connection; agent for Gaar, Scott & Co.’s engines and threshers and in business nine years.
L. Reinhart runs the main livery of the town, has been in business two years, has sixteen very fine turnouts and can handle about 100 people for the fishing season.
Pancratz & Co. are leading in dry goods, ladies’ and men’s furnishing goods; in business three years, in a building 25x75 feet, one story and basement.
Robert Weickert is proprietor of the City Meat market and handles the best meats of all kinds; has been in buiness for ten years, in town for sixteen years and has a fine trade.
John Palzer is proprietor of a general merchandise store, meat market, and is manager of the Perham Pickle factory; has been in business for seven years and has a fine trade.
Hermann Koenitzer is one of the main dealers in the furniture line; has a very large stock of furniture, carpets and makes a specialty of undertaking; has been in business eighteen years, and is manager of the opera house.
Banck Bros. are proprietors of a very large department store, the largest of the town, and they have a fine trade. The building is a two story brick, 50x125 feet and basement. They have been in business for nine years.
Henry Schmidt is the main blacksmith of the town. He runs a horse-shoeing, general blacksmithing and wagon works; has been in business fifteen years and employs five men.
Goblirsch Bros. are the proprietors of the People’s Clothing house, and have a very large stock of fine clothing, gents’ furnishings and shoes; in business four years; in a very fine building, 25x80 feet, one story and basement.
P. H. Claydon is proprietor of the City Drug store, one of the leading drug stores of the town, and has been in business for sixteen years and born in Perham.
W. A. Payne, dealer in fancy and staple groceries, crockery, cigars, fruit and confectionery, has been in business about one year and came from Aberdeen, S. D. This is the only exclusive grocery store of the town.
John B. Drahmann is the proprietor of one of the large general merchandise stores, and has been in business for twenty-one years, came here in 1879 from Ohio and is doing a very large business.
R. E. Bachmann is proprietor of the bowling alleys and one of the main saloons of the town and is worthy secretary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Kukowski Bros. are proprietors of the leading and up to date hardware store of the town and handle everything in the farm implement line. They handle the famous Universal stove and ranges, and have been in business for nine years.
Math Schroeder is proprietor of the main shoe store, being in business about one year, and was in the saloon business for nine years. He has a fine line of shoes, rubber goods and repair shop in connection.
The Bank of Perham was established in 1890, capital $25,000, and does a general real estate, first mortgage loan, collection and banking business. Fred L. Webber, president, and J. H. Shea, cashier.
Gerber Sisters are the leading dealers in fashionable millinery of the town, have been in business for seven years, and do all of their own trimming and have a very fine stock of goods.
M. Schoeneberger is the main furniture dealer of the town, also undertaker and funeral director; has been in business for twenty-five years. B. Schoeneberger is manager of the business.
Peter Schroeder is proprietor of the Perham Brewing company and Globe Milling company. Established twenty-five years. The mill is a 500 barrel mill, run by steam, elevator storage of 75,000 bushels. Leo B. Schroeder is manager of the business and is one of Perham’s rustlers.
John Jung is one of the leading druggists of the city and has a fine line of drugs, books, wall paper and musical instruments; has been in business twenty-one years; in town thirty years, and came from Wisconsin.
Albert Miller is the watchmaker and jeweler of the town; in business for twelve years, in state eighteen years, and came from the state of Wisconsin.
Merchants hotel is one of the leading $2 per day houses in this section of the state. Steam heat, electric light throughout, bathroom on each floor. This is a 40 room house, three story, brick, built at a cost of $20,000. Fine bar in connection. M. Shea, the proprietor, is a pioneer of the state. William Shea, his son, is the manager and takes well with the traveling men, is a graduate of St. John’s university and a favorite of the ladies.
Rudolph Babler Jr. is a leading real estate dealer, and has the best of land for sale. Prices range from $8 to $30 per acre for improved or unimproved farms. Write him for particulars.
Source:
The Saint Paul Globe
Friday Morning, March 31, 1905
Volume XXVIII, Number 90, Page 6