RAMBLING DOWN BROADWAY 1920s & 30s

Mildred Nelson, "Rambling Down Broadway 1920s & 30s." In The Midst Of, Cokato Historical Society (Winter, 1993) vol. 13 no. 1.

Broadway looking north, circa 1930s.

Ascending mission hill from the south we enter Broadway. There were the stately residences of C. A. Swanson, Frank Swanson, A. P. Peterson and A. L. Thelander The Elim Mission church, although changed in design, has been there for "ages" (1916.) At an evangelistic meeting, as a child, Reverend Glen Nelson, the pastor, scared me "near to death."
Across the street the Cities Service Station was erected where formerly stood the brick home of Emil and Julia (Klingenberg) Berg. He was a Lutheran church organist and she was my first Sunday School teacher. Nels Dokken was a gas truck driver. A miniature golf course for a short time was next to G. A. Jorgenson’s one-pump gas station.

​The Pantry Cafe, for a short time was the business of two efficient ladies, Fluth and Esther Anderson, and later Ernest Olson.

​Christopher and Larson had a car agency which burned in 1919. That wonderful Model T Ford touring car was purchased here for $575 and with minimum instruction, father drove it home. Virgil Webb later was a dealer in a new building. For a brief time Ted Swanberg was the pharmacist in a drug store located here.

On the corner was the two-story brick building, the property of Titrud Bros. Hardware, which is still operating as a hardware store. Any kind of hardware, as well as machinery, was for sale. Windmills were sold and erected by Carl, the mechanic, and helper, Ray Swan. Bookkeeping duties were taken over by Victor. ​He was the gentleman. On my way to school (roomed in town in winter), meeting Victor, he’d always “touch” his hat with a “Good morning."​

I felt so grown up. Upstairs over the store were apartments. A chiropractor had an office there at one time. My, what a long stairway! In the back part of the store a tin smith by the name of Axel Ahlstrom plied his trade. l especially remember him being very accommodating in making me a hectograph tray, a teaching tool.

The service station under management of O. A. Holmer began the next block. Next was the Red and White Grocery which was owned by Holmberg and Holmquist.​​ The apples, oranges,

 and candy for Lutheran Sunday School Christmas program came from here.

​The town hall has always been in the present location, with renovations and finally, a new building. In front was the water fountain for man and beast.