Name/Title
Peters Hardware EmporiumScope and Content
Historical information on Peters Hardware Emporium for 1976 Bicentennial Celebration in Waupun, WI.
*Facts are handwritten and was scanned with mistakes, if any, left uncorrected.
Peters Hardware Emporium
Richard W. Peters & his wife Sharon bought the Fanshaw hardware business from Dick & Ruth Fanshaw in. . . . . .
The hardward business on this site at 421 E. Main, celbrated its 100 birthday in February, 1968, during Fanshaw's ownership. It is though to be the oldest business on the same site, in Waupun.
Fanshaw's bought the business in 1964 from Leonard Buteyn. Before tha Dick had been a clerk at Clyde Storbeck's Hardware for . . . . .years. Mr. Storbeck had a going out of business sale & retired.
In 19. . . Mr. Fanshaw bought the empty store east of his business and tore out the wall between and combined them. That gave him enough room in his store to add new gift lines, small appliances and a larger range of hardware.
Leonard Buteyn operated the business from 1838-1964. He bought it from William M. Gerrits, son of the founder, William Gerrits.
It all began in Aug. of 1837 when the founding Mr. Gerrits came to the U. S. from Holland, with his mother, a brother & 2 sisters. His mother's family had been farmers near the Zuider Zee, while his father's family were tailors. After 49 days on a sailing vessel, they landed in New York. They traveled by rail to Buffalo, and a boat took them to Chicago, from where they came by train to the Chester Station (now called East Waupun). The last part of the journey was made on foot to Alto, where they made their home.
Mr. Gerrits, a tanner, came to Waupun in 1855. On Jan. 27, 1868, he opened a hardward store in a small wooden building on Main Street, with a few keys of nails and sveral other items. Things were changed or swapped - store items for commodities such as potatoes, fowl, etc., if the customer didn't have the cash on hand - without written contracts.One business sells another.
Look up Jan. 22, 1968 - Notes 100 Anniv.Acquisition
Accession
2016.0075Source or Donor
Waupun Area Chamber of CommerceAcquisition Method
Donation