All narrative and photos come from the Pulaski County Public Library’s Facebook page, specifically, “Flashback Friday.”
Falvey’s Dry Goods
Sometimes the background of a picture is as interesting as the people shown in it. The old building seen here was first mentioned in 1867 as M.D. Falvey’s mammoth new building on the corner of Monticello and Pearl Streets. M.D. retired in 1897, and even though his business went through several different owners, it was always known as Falvery’s corner. In 1922, the Falvey family decided to sell the building itself, and John Russell and Leo Lilienthal paid $3,200 for the iconic location. It wasn’t until 1932 that John Russell finally moved his shoe store into the building. Later, in 1946, this picture was used to help celebrate the 31st anniversary of John Russell’s arrive in Winamac. Falvey’s had given way to the Olde Trading Post. The men in this undated photo are (left to right): Hank Kissinger, Nick Beckman, George Fritz, George Reynolds, James DePoy, Will McClure, Wash Trapp, Fred Gross and Charles Parrott.
Check Out These Prices
This week when you go grocery shopping at one of the “big” stores in a “big” town, think back maybe 50 years to when you or your mother or even your grandmother got out the Journal and looked for the weekly sales. In Winamac, if a corner didn’t have a gas station, it just might have a grocery store, and since the 1870s the most popular corner for a grocery in Winamac was the northeast side of Monticello and Pearl Streets. It began as Falvey’s, and then the Corner Store and in 1932 John Russell opened up the Russell Cash Store which eventually became known as Russell’s Olde Trading Post. Not just a grocery but also dry goods and notions could be found there. Everyone knew the name and until early 1980 that was the place to shop on Saturday nights. And with these prices, who can blame them?
Russell’s Trading Post – Taking Over Wooden Frame Falvey’s Building
The building, erected by Mark D. Falvey around 1867 on the northeast corner of Pearl and Monticello streets, was known as the Corner Store until the early 1930s when it became Russell’s department store. With groceries and meats added to the inventory, it became Winamac’s very own one stop shop.
Building Modernized with Brick Veneer, But….
John Russell had just remodeled his store on the corner of Monticello and Pearl only to see it destroyed in what was called the most costly fire in Winamac’s history. The fire was discovered by Sheriff Addison Daugherty at 1:20, early on Sunday morning, January 28, 1940. Local firemen arrived shortly thereafter to battle the blaze. The old timbers burned like leaves until the entire east end, south side, and roof were a huge mass of fire. Once the timbers were burned away the brick veneer walls fell, barely missing a large group of spectators. At 2:50, a captain and 5 firemen arrived from Logansport, and by 4:00 the fire had been tamed and the surrounding buildings rescued. An old landmark had been destroyed, but it wasn’t done yet.
Modern New Store
Business Changes Hands
In 1979, after 47 years in business, Russell’s Trading Post changed hands. It may have been the end of one era but it was the beginning of the next. Shown here are former owners (left to right) Don Bohm, Joe Russell, Bill Russell, and Fred Russell. Standing are the new owners Mr. and Mrs. Pat Sanders and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Danford.