Karmel Korn

 

I can still smell it... walking through downtown Huron and smelling the Karmelkorn coming from the Karmelkorn Shop.   I loved that store!  It was one of my favorites in downtown Huron, besides Newberry's cafeteria with a window-side seat.    

Karmelkorn was a "new" confectionery in early 1931 when it first made its way to Huron.  It was sold at "The Delite Shop" just south of Huesgen's jewelry store.  It was to open at the end of April, managed by Zeno Haberman.  In the first advertisement, this new treat was described as "the new candy-coated popcorn... is always fresh, delicious."  Explaining how Karmelkorn is different, made from "snowball" popcorn with a luscious coating of candy made principally of sugar and butter, noting there is no molasses involved. It is sold only under the registered trade name of "Karmelkorn."

And furthermore, it was said to be a nutritious snack!

By 1941, The Delite Shop was selling more than Karmelkorn and ice cream.  Advertisements mention preparing dinners and by 1945 was apparently a restaurant, but must have continued to make some candy, as they advertised homemade fudge and divinity.  But no mention of Karmel Korn.

The Delite Shop changed ownership on Dec. 16, 1947.  Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Peck would dispose of their interest in the shop, after two years' ownership, to Curtis Jones.  But at that time it appeared to be a restaurant.

Enter the Cub Nut Hut that same year, owned by Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Baird.  Besides the Nut Hut, there was also a Cub Lunch also owned by the Bairds.  The Bairds continued with these businesses until April of 1950, when they sold the business to the new owners/managers, Frank and Alva Schmidt.  The new owners also assured the public that they will feature "Karmel Korn" and that they "are the only store in Huron" selling this confection.

In April of 1951, the Schmidts took out an ad in the Plainsman thanking everyone who patronized the Cub Nut Hut.  They were opening a new business, the Karmel Korn Shop, in the same location.  The Delite Shop was still in operation but made no mention of Karmel Korn in their advertisements.  Early in 1956, the entire stock of fixtures and equipment of the Delite Shop Cafeteria was sold and the business closed.

Besides the awesome treats sold within, the Karmel Korn Shop had the distinction of having President Truman poke his head inside the shop while on a visit to Huron.

How Karmel Korn came to be the feature of the Delite Shop and then the Cub Nut Hut, and finally the Karmel Korn Shop, is unknown.  But it's a treat I still miss.

Sources:

The Daily Plainsman, April 24, 1952

The Evening Huronite, April 24, 1931

The Evening Huronite, April 25, 1931

Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Dec. 12, 1947

Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Jan. 02, 1940

Huron City Directories - numerous issues from 1932-1957

Beadle County Honor Roll, 1917-1919

 NAMES OF MEN IN HONOR OF WHOM MEMORIAL CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED BY THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE

Transcribed from the Report of the State Council of Defense, South Dakota, 1917-1919

BEADLE COUNTY

Christian T. Hanson, Bonilla
Henry G. Joekheick, Hitchcock
Carl J. Eckberg, Huron
Earl E. Harvey, Huron
James Houska, Huron
David J. Powell, Vayland
Elmer C. Peterson, Vayland
Frank W. Shea, Wessington
Rudolph Koester, Wolsey
Albert R. Kuehn, Cavour
Arthur Cardwell, Huron
Geo. E. Finicle, Huron
Philip Hill, Huron
William Reaves, Huron
Fred A. Quiram, Virgil
Dudley V. Burns, Wessington
David A. Thompson, Wessington
Clifton D. Radcliffe, Wolsey

Grandpa's Old GPS Unit

 

I saw this on Facebook and it brought back memories... kind of excruciating memories, but at the same time very happy ones.  Grandpa Bill Knutz had one of these mounted on the dash of his car for as long as I can remember.  For just an instant after seeing this picture, I was transported back in time, riding in the car with him, going a torturous 15 miles an hour down Ninth Street.  The speed limit was 20 mph but hey, you can't be too careful, right?  That said, Grandpa was never in an accident that he caused, and to the best of my knowledge, he never, ever got any kind of a traffic ticket!

Glass Slides of Huron

  Miss Louise French, a teacher of Latin and Fine Art at Huron College (Huron, South Dakota) for 25 years was also a photographer and specialized in making Lantern slides.  These slides are positive photographic images put onto a piece of glass and covered by a second piece of glass, bound on all sides with black paper tape. 

In past blogposts I have featured her photography from her many travels.  The following posts will be dedicated solely to her slides from Huron, which I have been able to date from 1928 to 1930.  

"Triangle Green, YM/YWCA Service"

Band Shell in Campbell Park

City Band

City Band

Illinois Avenue in Snow

Snow in March

Glass Slides of Huron College

 Miss Louise French, a teacher of Latin and Fine Art at Huron College (Huron, South Dakota) for 25 years was also a photographer and specialized in making Lantern slides.  These slides are positive photographic images put onto a piece of glass and covered by a second piece of glass, bound on all sides with black paper tape. 

In past blogposts I have featured her photography from her many travels.  The following posts will be dedicated solely to her slides from Huron College, which I have been able to date from 1928 to 1930.  

Huron College campus with the lilacs in bloom

Graduation Day, sometime between 1928 and 1930.

Huron College Campus, Voorhees Hall

Huron College, Ralph Voorhees Hall

Freshmen at Halftime

Auditorium Stage

Chapel Platform

Gymnasium at Night

Huron College A Capella Choir

Main Entrance at Night

A dramatic performance of "Lost Prince."

Dormitory Parlor

Dining Hall

Dining Hall

An early Huron College Rubiyat Yearbook explained May Fete:  "The May Fete is an annual tradition at Huron College.  Held in the spring of the year, it is an expression of beautify and art combined.  At this festival the May Queen is crowned and a pageant presented for the entertainment."  The following slides depict early May Fetes.

Mary Davis is crowned May Queen, 1928.  She was the second May Queen, with this tradition first started in 1927.

One of the early Fetes, likely 1928.

Elsie Titt and Camilla Curtis at the Fete.  Elsie's father was Herbert G. Titt, a faculty member of Huron College.

Glass Slides of Huron College - Athletics

 Miss Louise French, a teacher of Latin and Fine Art at Huron College (Huron, South Dakota) for 25 years was also a photographer and specialized in making Lantern slides.  These slides are positive photographic images put onto a piece of glass and covered by a second piece of glass, bound on all sides with black paper tape. 

In past blogposts I have featured her photography from her many travels.  The following posts will be dedicated solely to her slides from Huron College and a few from Huron, which I have been able to date from 1928 to 1930.  

Three Huron College athletes were identified - Wayne Nelson, Class of  1930, from Onida, South Dakota; James Charr, Class of 1930, from Yenha, Sineju, Korea; and Eddie Han, Class of 1931, from Wahiawa, Hawaii.

Above: Wayne Nelson on Pole Vault

Unknown Athlete, throwing discus

Eddie Han, High Jump

James Charr

Wayne Nelson goes over

Free Throw

The Photography of Louise French - Album 6 - Pompeii

  In an earlier blog post I told the story of the glass lantern slides that Huron College Latin professor Louise French had made.  These lantern slides are the blending of her loves of both travel and photography.

House in Pompeii

Pompeii wine shop

Pompeii - Altar

Basilica in Pompeii

Pompeii