Merchants Hotel
In 1897 Dan Mehrer started Merchants Hotel on the corner of Fourth and Main Street (Lot 12). Frank A. Zickrick bought the hotel in 1911 and operated the hotel to the 1920’s. Anthony Miller opened a Miller’s Red and White grocery store in 1938 and sold it to Ken Weiland in 1950.
In 1957 Ken Weiland started the Jack & Jill store which moved across the street in 1964.
In 1967 Leroy and Dawn Crocker Kaufman started Kaufman & Kaufman Optometrics at 395 S Main Street. Leroy graduated from the University of Indiana with an M. Opt. degree. Prof LTD. Dr. Kaufman (eye doctor) and Dr. Kaufman (medical doctor) both worked at Kaufman Optometric.
Ike's Barber Shop
Ike’s Barber Shop – In 1914 Isaac Kleinsasser opened a barber shop on Main Street (Lot 11). Barber Bill Wilde ran the business until the 1940’s.
In 1933 Alfred A. Walters graduated from Dental College at the University of Nebraska. He then opened Dr. A.A. Walter’s dental office on Main Street (Lot 11) in the 1970’s.
Janke's Pharmacy
In 1902 Christ Guenthner and Fred Jundt began a general merchandise business (Guenthner and Jundt) just north of Merchants Hotel (Lot 10). In 1906 Guenthner sold his business interest, so Fred Jundt and Dave Ellwein established a dry goods store (Jundt Ellwein). Dave left the business in 1914 and Fred sold the building to Joe I. Walter in 1916. Joe Walter opened Walters Grocery Store.
Jankes Pharmacy opened around 1914 in the north part of the building, operating until 1925. Ted Kessler ran a restaurant (Kessler Cafe) in the building during the 1940’s and took over Len Dubs Cafe in 1956.
Hofer Drug
Around 1900 a meat market opened on Main Street (Lot 9). Around 1910 a cream station opened in the building. Waldner Cafe moved into the building from the north end of Main Street around 1914.
John K Hofer moved in his drug store (Hofer Drug) around 1950.
In 1969 Frank Schwader started Junior’s Barber Shop in the north section of the building.
In 1964 Harry Lee Smidt started the appliance business (Smidt Appliance) in the south part of the building, later moved to Menno in 1982. In 2007 the business returned to Freeman.
K & K Store
In 1882 John Feiok opened a harness shop on Main Street (Lot 7 & 8) and later added a dry goods store. In 1904 brothers L.C. and Red Kutcher began selling clothing, trinkets, etc to the community. They became very successful and in 1910 they bought the Feiok store and opened K & K (Kutcher & Kutcher). Shortly after, Red moved back to Sioux City “headquarters” and sent his son L.J. back to Freeman. The Kutchers would go on to open 23 more stores across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. In 1929 K & K built a large brick building where they operated until 1957.
Tally Bernhard bought the store and operated business until 1973. In 1973 Lemoyne and Joann Ries moved the (Village Toggery) clothing store into the building. In 1983 Bob Pidde opened (Bobs Clover Mart) grocery store on south Main Street. Bob later moved his business (Bob’s Jamboree) north a block into the building.
Peoples Store
In the early 1880’s the Huber Schemp store opened on Main Street (Lot 4), one of the first buildings in town. In 1887 Michael Wollman and Jacob Heib bought the Huber Schemp store and built a large two story building for their General Mercantile business (People’s Department Store) (Lot 4, 5 & 6). The south part was a general merchandise store and the north part was a furniture store. Mr. Wollman operated the store until 1914 when his son John M. Wollman, Fred Jundt, Otto Gering, and Jacob H. Wipf took over. They ran the hardware and furniture store until 1926.
Neils Peter Christensen Saloon opened in the building during the 1930’s. In 1963 the Ben Franklin Store opened in the Wollman building and operated until 1975. The building was torn down in 1978 to make way for Merchants State Bank’s new building.
Merchants State Bank
GF Zeller opened a “tonsorial parlor” barber shop around 1899 on Main Street (Lot 3) south of Gross Saloon. The business closed around 1913.
In 1899 bank shareholders got together in 1899 and started bank business (Merchants State Bank) in the building north of Schambers Store. In 1902 the bank was sold to John Gross and Dr. A.A. Wipf.
In 1913 Merchants State Bank bought the property from John Gross (Lot 3) and built a two story (30 x 60 foot) brick building with a basement. In 1914 Leon and Jacob Gering opened the City Barber Shop in the bank basement. In 1915 the bank installed the “chime clock”. The bank closed in 1930 and reopened in 1931.
(The Telephone Exchange office was above the bank in 1933). Jacob M. Wollman operated the bank until he retired in 1949 and his son Jacob J. Wollman took over. Jacob Wollman, John Tschetter, and Harris Hofer ran the bank until Jacob retired in 1969. In 1979 a new Merchants State Bank building was constructed south of the old building. In 1998 the old bank building was torn down and in 1999 the new addition to Merchants State Bank was added.
Gross Hotel and Saloon > Dickman Garage> Dr Ernest Hofer
In 1881 Philip Gross built a saloon on the corner of Third & Main Street (Lot 1 & 2). In 1884 John Gross and Christian Buechler bought the saloon and added a hotel John Gross Hotel & Saloon.
In 1902 a windstorm knocked out the front of the building. Jake Reuther and Joe Gross bought the building and started the Corner Saloon. Jake opened a restaurant and later added a bowling alley.
In 1908 Peter Fliginger started an auto business on the corner lot . In 1919 the lot was sold to Ed and C.P. Dickman who started their business called Dickman Garage. After the Garage closed a Pool Hall was built.
Dr. Ernest J. Hofer graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine in 1929. He then graduated from the University of Illinois School of Medicine in 1931. In 1932 Dr. Hofer started his practice with his uncle Dr. A.A. Wipf. In 1933 Dr. Hofer opened his office above Merchants State Bank.
After the winter of 1936-1937, Dr. Hofer knew the community needed a hospital. In 1937 Dr. Hofer and Hildegard Schmidt began the Schmidt Maternity Home. In 1952 Dr. Hofer built a new office north of Merchants State Bank where he practiced until 1987.
