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/••jr.us, Vycital Hardware In Business For 69 Years Business Landmark dW«n k. Ik *>%j "mm BARBIAN BROS. CIGAR FACTORY - Front Row, left to right, are Mr. Pouse, John Olson (former mayor), several'unknown. Center shows Fred Bishop, Louis Ortel, Nick Barbian, Frank Barbian, John Barbian and Paul Barbian; second from right, in front, is Fred Karges. The building faces Elm street at the corner of Green street, later occupied by Unti's ice cream parlor and tavern when new concrete building was built at the rear. Note wood sidewalk. This was Frett Bros, and Witt Meat market about seventy years ago. This building located on Green street, was later occupied by Mi Place and now is known as St. Regis Pub. REMEMBER BACK WHEN The courthouse stood in what is now the McHenry Park and Bickler's hotel was once the old courthouse? , There was a butter factory one-half mile north of Johnsburg and Pete Williams was the butter maker? MODERN IN 1910-In 1910, John J. Vycital was just getting his hardware store on Green street nicely "off the ground". This is an early scene, showing modern stoves of the day in display windows. * 100 YEARS * Sixty-nine years in business is the proud record of Vycital's Hardware at 1228 N. Green street, McHenry. John J. Vycital, founder of the business, was one of the city's oldest active businessmen prior to his death in January of 1952. The Vycital family moved from Racine to McHenry in June of 1906 and rented a store in the old Owen building, operating a tin shop in the rear. Deliveries were made in the early days by horse and wagon and later a Van high wheel truck was purchased. In 1914 they bought the present building from Eugene Perkins and an arch doorway was cut through the walls combining both stores. Shelves were stocked at first with variety store type mer­ chandise, a section which Miss Frances Vycital took charge of in 1915. Brothers and sisters helped after school and sum­ mer in both the store and tin shop. About 1926, an addition of fifty feet was built , in the present building and a tin shop was established in the basement. Candy and dry goods were dropped and all hardware was moved from the Owen building to the present structure. Family Joins Staff A son, Charles, joined the store staff in 1927 in the capacity of bookkeeper. Another son, Harold, served his apprenticeship in the tin shop beginning in 1931 and at the time of separation from the firm in 1951 had charge of this section. Still another son, Stanley, managed the shop office starting in March of 1950 and left the firm five years later. The early years of the business listed such employees as Charles Stoffel, Mrs. Joseph Williams, Mrs. Tony Blake and Miss Emma Pint. With the loyalty of their large family in the early, h#rd years, along with the cooperation of neighbors whose interest was the progress of business in McHenry, the story of Vycital's Hardware over a half century is typical of successful American enterprise. Through the years, along with other local establish­ ments, many of which no longer exist, they have withstood many changing economic conditions. Overcome Handicaps In addition to the struggles of becoming established in a new community, there were the years of uncertainty preceding World War I; the war years and those of inflation which followed; the depression days of the late 'twenties; the suc­ ceeding decade of restrictions and codes and then World War II with its priorities, allocations, rations, etc. Success came out of the many trying times. After Mr, Vycital's death, the business which he started as sole owner in 1906, and which became a partnership in 1943, became incorporated, with Miss Frances Vycital and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Vycital as stockholders. Miss Frances Vycital has many pleasant memories of the early day! of McHenry business. As a small girl she remembered Barbian Brothers Tobacco shop, Lodtz, the Tailor, Miller Monument, Gilbert Brothers Grocery, the Grand Opera House, the post office, with Mr. Waite as postmaster and Miss Waite as clerk; Block and Bethke, with Mrs. Howe Millinery on the top floor; the Heimer saloon, Simic Candy shop, Kimball piano store, managed by Mayme Heimer Bickler (all children in the neighborhood loved to gather there, for Mrs. Bickler took time out to put on shows); the Hattie Howard Millinery store, Berner Shoe shop, Perkins Paint shop, Freuhd saloon, Patzke harness shop, William Stoffel Buggy shop, Charles Frett Meat market;' Geier Pool hall, the bank operated by Perry and Owens, and the Petesch drug store. Miss Frances Vycital retired in 1965. Charles has continued the family business with the help of his wife, Mary, and Miss Alice Peet, a valuable em­ ployee for over twenty-seven years. Other employees at the present time are Miss Janet Harper, Mrs. Richard Michels and James Stoffel. Overlands Of The 'Thirties FARM MA * r&r&r. OLD GREEN STREET BUSINESS - This is the old E.M. Owen Farm Machinery business on Green street, located where Vycital Hardware now stands. Overton'siOverlan<^ garage in the 1930's. iiuiiiiiaiMRrj iiinnuiiiiil ufiuiil niiiiriiiuiiiiiiiiiffiiiiiiifHiLJiiiiuir/fiitiiiiuiii vV.s - FRANK LOW ~r V-TU-IJ :i %' - [II llllltll! SHOPPER ATTRACTION - The Gilbert building, selling "fruits, groceries and provisions", attracted local shoppers in 1885 in its location on Main street. rifl A GOOD INSURANCE PLAN -A GOOD INSURANCE PLAN FOR PERSONAL & COMMERCIAL INSURANCE MAKES GOOD SENSE TO PROTECT ALL YOUR PROPERTIES WITH A < COMPLETE INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT IS KEPT UP TO DATE WITH THE CURRENT COST OF REPLACEMENT. CHOOSING A RELIABLE INSURANCE ' AGENT IS YOUR FIRST STEP TOWARDS THIS SECURITY. THE FRANK LOW INSURANCE COMPANY IS THE RELIABLE, KNOWLEDGEABLE AGENT YOU CAN DEPEND ON FOR DIRECTION IN ALL MATTERS OF INSURANCE. YOUR Independent ] L Insurance m A< I & t * & MARKET OF 1925 - Schaefer's Market was located in a building to the west of Buss Motor Sales in 1925. Th* !:iterior of the old store is pictured with clerk George Reynolds at the left and proprietor Peter J. Schaefer at the right. The ornate steel ceiling was common in buildings of that time period. REMEMBER BACK WHEN Bob sleighs and cutters with the horses and jingling sleigh bells were the only vehicles seen on our streets in the winter time? The plank sidp»",n^. 5 feet 4 inches wide, was built from the depot to the iron bridge? FRANK LOW INSURANCE 805 N. FRONT ST. (RT. 31 SOUTH) McHENRY - ILLINOIS - 60050 PLENTY OF FREE PARKING - 385-6541