| A History of STRUM and the TOWN OF UNITY by Roy Matson |
| THIS IS PAGE 70 | TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE BACK | PAGE FORWARD |
| and the able Sivert Rekstad was active from beginning to completion. In an old church record book he relates about the problems of that project and how the crew was fed by ladies of the parish. Ole Kittleson and Tore Holden had the first store buildings. Holden’s was a very small building located just north of the Rod & Gun Club park entrance. No doubt brother Erik had a hand in construction. Kittleson’s building is standing yet at 313 Woodland Drive. Part of the present Junior Skovbraaten home on 5th Avenue has been generally credited with being the first home in Strum, but the Colpit’s home at 205 Elm Street was not far behind. A 1911 Scene Looking South in Strum. (Picture-Description). An attempt is hereby made to identify buildings of the business district with first owners and builders that some sort of record will exist for anyone who may become interested at a later date. Beginning at the present church lot; several buildings occupied this ground. Two burned and Henry Ruseling moved the present Farm Service building from this lot to its present location. Schneider Construction of Independence built the church in 1915-16. They also had the contract for the two-story school building north of town at the same time. Both are still in good condition. Adolph Rye built the present locker plant as a meat market, later owned by Anton Peterson who carried on the same business. Albert Skoug added the locker facilities about 1947. Will Rice and Carl Semingson worked on the T. M. Olson brick building in 1914. Olaf Martinson and crew erected the building that housed the Lars Olson Cafe for years. It was originally erected as a drug store for O. A. Rognlien in 1920. The present “clinic” had its beginnings as the Liberty Hotel about the same time. Ed Thomasgaard was the first owner, although there have been several operators through the years. Shortly after the disastrous 1914 fire, John Call built the red brick building now serving as a cafe. For years it was headquarters for the Strum Farmers Store with implement service in buildings toward the south. H. George Peterson erected the present laundromat as an implement garage in 1948. The Farmers Union building went up the same year. The Cenex storage building was erected by Jim Maloney and began as a service station in 1923. Carl Lee purchased it later and operated Whippet, Chevrolet and Plymouth agencies from there. |
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