Woolworths, Ben Franklin stores of Huron, South Dakota

The beginning of Woolworth's in Huron starts with the end of the Weir building. The Weir Building was a small frame building just south of the Costain building on Dakota avenue, between 3rd and 4th streets. Like so many others frame buildings of that era, it was being removed to make way for the more “modern” brick buildings.

Above: The Costain building, with Bell Bakery to the north (left) and the Weir building to the south. The Weir building at that time was occupied by Geo. Mills, Grocer.  

The “New Weir building” erected in its place was a two story structure with a basement, and would be rented out to the F. W. Woolworth company for a new 5 and 10 cent general merchandise store. The basement would be used for storage, and the upper floor would have two living quarters.

The red “X” on the side of the building that housed the Woolworth's store. While it is impossible to read the sign on the storefront, Woolworth's would have been located in this building at this time. Bell Bakery, which was 2 buildings north, was moved to make way for the I.O.O.F. Building.

It was April of 1916 when the “old” Weir building was moved and construction began. By August, the new building was complete and Woolworth's was ready to open its doors to the public.  

Above: The Costain building and, to the south (right), what was the “new" Weir building as they are today.

One-half block to the north, on the southeast corner of 3rd and Dakota, sat a large ornate brick building, known as the “Hills Block.” Myer's Cigar Store, among other businesses, was located in this building about 1940.

Above, from left, on corner of 3^rd and Dakota: Hill's Block; Potter shoe store building, Red Arrow building, small one-story building, I.O.O.F. Building (which housed Bell Bakery), Costain building, Woolworth's, several small buildings, Masonic Temple/Little Zee building on corner.

The Hills Block, a large, ornate building on 3^rd and Dakota, had two smaller frame buildings behind it on 3^rd street east – The Palace Barber Shop and the Nu-Way shop. In 1940, a realty firm from Minneapolis purchased the property and went forward with their intention to erect a new building extending over the sites of those small frame buildings. At the same time, M. A. Myers, proprietor of the Myers Cigar Store in the Hills Block, asked the city for permission to move his business and liquor license to the Root Building, one block north at 252 Dakota S.   

The new building was completed, and Woolworth's moved into it the following year. Just about 21 years later, on July 23, 1960, Woolworth's permanently suspended business at the end of the day. According to the manager at the time, William Fogelstrom, the company closed that location because it was not considered adequate for their operation.

But the building did not sit vacant long. On August 1, crews began the process of remodeling the building with the goal opening a Ben Franklin store.  At that time, Ben Franklin was one of the nation's largest retail merchandising businesses, with over 2400 independently owned stores. James Flynn of Redfield announced he would lease the building and operate the store, hiring 7 salesladies and a stock clerk, hoping to fill these positions from former Woolworth's employees.

Many of us have great memories of the Ben Franklin store. I loved to shop with my grandmother there and while she picked up her magnetic photo albums, Dippity-Do, Aqua-Net hairspray and the likes, I got to go to the back of the store to the pet department. Colorful parakeets, fish of all types, and even monkeys were in stock. The big attraction was a parrot sitting on a perch suspended from the ceiling. One of the highlights of my childhood was getting to hold a monkey while its cage was being cleaned. Browsing through the pet department was a thrill I never outgrew.

In October of 1994, it was announced that the store was under new ownership and would be converted to a craft store. While I had since moved from town, I did visit the store one last time during this era. Luckily, it was during a big sale, and I recall packing my trunk full of various craft goodies. For me, this one last thrill from Ben Franklin was a fitting way to say goodbye.  

SOURCES

Google Earth

Huron City Directories: 1918, 1922, 1930, 1932, 1938 and 1940

Huron Daily Huronite, August 07, 1916, pg. 1
Huron Daily Huronite, April 06, 1916, p. 8
Huron Evening Huronite, Oct. 29, 1940, p. 8
Huron Daily Plainsman, July 24, 1960
Huron Daily Plainsman, Feb. 2, 1964
Huron Daily Plainsman, Oct. 17, 1994
Huron Daily Plainsman, Dec. 14, 1994