1923 was an exciting year in Superior

It never changes, there always are folks who fail to recognize the good things happening in a community. That was the case in Superior in 1923 when the following store first appeard in The Express. We were surprised to read about all that was happening in the community and as we begin to look back on 2023 we wanted to share this glimpse of 1923. So get ready for a trip back in time to see the news for a century ago.

The Superior Express Dec. 27, 1923 Headline:Superior shows good progress the past year

A lot of good citizens have been heard to remark that Superior has not gone forward the past year. In fact, has gone backward, but this is not the case as we will be able to show every reader of The Express who will read this article.

In the first place Superior has not only held her own, but has developed numerous new industries and business enterprises which were not here one year ago, and as we look back on 1923 and forward to 1924, we are convinced that a record has been made which may be hard to equal in the new year just dawning.

Among the new industries which means a great deal in developing Superior’s wholesale section, is the large and up to date bakery business of the Superior Baking Co. This new enterprise is quartered in the building formerly known in Superior as the Superior Plow Factory owned by M. H. Matthiesen at the corner of Second and Commercial. Ed Bergeron came to Superior last June and took note of our splendid shipping facilities in the way of numerous railways, and at once asked if a location for a wholesale bakery could be had. He selected and bought the Matthiesen building, and without asking financial help from a single individual proceeded to spend more than $20,000 to equip himself to make the famous Butter Nut brand of bread, and today he is shipping to a large line of customers in various directions, getting his bread to them before any competitor in nearby territory can reach them.

The fine new $50,000 church building by the First Presbyterian congregation is another most noticeable improvement to which we point with pride. A full description of this beautiful edifice with its $3,500 pipe organ has been printed in these pages.

The splendid two story building erected by F. M. Sweet on Central Avenue is one of the long needed improvements, and is being arranged for a department store. It has full basement and two floors all of which will soon be occupied by a mercantile establishment. Mr. Sweet is to be highly commended for his enterprise in putting up so good a building.

The Dahlgren building north of the postoffice was completed last spring and is now occupied by Zona Berg & Son auto dealers. It has a nice front, good floors and well finished for this kind of business.

The Spohns have erected a one story brick building just north of their corner grocery and it is now occupied by the Jones men with plumbing and hardware supplies.

One more hot house has been added to the battery of six houses of the Superior Floral Co., thus showing the increase in this business the past year. This in addition to a fine new office building which adds greatly to the appearance of the plant.

Superior’s new Junior High School, costing $45,000 was completed and put into use this fall, and it is one of the most complete and up-to-date buildings in the state. The fact that it is filled with students and the other rooms still crowded indicates the growth of Superior.

A fine addition has been made to the Hunter building occupied by Bates & Cramer, extending their store nearly to the alley and thus improving their place of business.

One of the good improvements in the business part of Superior was the remodeling and re-arranging of the interior of the Vienna Bakery by Messrs. Grosshans & Weinman. They are now fitted for the proper care and handling of their extensive bakery, confectionary and refreshment business.

The Goodhue Cafe has been remodeled, repainted and refurnished at considerable expense.

Additions and improvements have been made on Meyer mill, Henningsen and Nelson storage plants, the Dodds ice plant and the Blue Cross serum plant. 

The Thomas filling stations have been remodeled and done in stucco.

A. T. Cross is starting a large warehouse on his property fronting on Commercial now occupied by the Willard Battery service station.

Rex McClure has built a fine new home in the Bishop Addition to East Superior.

A. S. Andersen has a fine new bungalow on Ninth and Washington streets in the Hunter Addition.

Superintendent McCommons has erected a handsome bungalow on north Kansas Street.

Mrs. Schaer has transformed her residence at the corner of Eighth and Central into a fine English colonial house which is commodious and beautiful.

J. M. Silver has remodeled his residence on Kansas Street at considerable expense.

I. L. Edsall has erected a fine bungalow just south of his large residence.

Fred Bossemeyer has remodeled the house on Kansas Street where he is now living.

The E. T. Hudson home on Commercial has been enlarged and rebuilt into a modern brick bungalow.

I. King has rebuilt his residence at Fourth and Kansas streets.

B. C. Robinson has erected a bungalow on West Eighth Street, also Fred Hazemeyer and Joe Phillips have each put up nice houses of the bungalow type on that street.

A. Bendowsky has built a comfortable home in east Superior. J. C. Thompson in east Superior has also built a house the past year.

Wm. Weir and Sam Long at Eighth and Dakota have remodeled and improved their residences.

Alford Brothers and V. C. Hollis in south Superior have improved their places.

F. M. Sweet has remodeled and built his usual number of houses also the past year.

We have missed some no doubt, but the list we have named is a good showing for the year just closing, and is proof that Superior is more than holding her own with other towns.