13.84.1

Postcard, Photographic

1926 Approximate

Waseca Main Street. Waseca State Street Looking North. Material: 3 3/8" x 5 3/8". Description: black and white postcard photograph of main street Waseca, Minn., the view looking north from 2nd Avenue S.E.; most visible is the Waverly Hotel on right with mansard roof and ornate front porch; also Lewer building on left as a three-story structure (fire later destroyed third story) several cars angle-parked on the street; published by the Crescent Photo Co., Minneapolis, Minn., #4097.

Notation on donor card: Collected by donor on a visit to Waseca in 1926. The Lewer building was built in 1916-1917 by Ewald Lewer, originally a three-story structure. The building’s basement was home to the E.E. Webber Barber Shop and the L.J. Fiebiger Tailoring Establishment. G.M. Hartson Confectionery Store was on the main floor. Dr. F.A. Swartwood’s offices and the Waseca Cooperative Milling Company’s offices were on the second floor. The third floor was used by the Lewer Garage as a paint shop and for storage purposes. Over the years, businesses continued to utilize the building along with the E.W. Lewer Garage. Display room of the garage building was leased to the Post Office department in 1926 until 1937. The Waseca library then rented the space and they remained in the building until after World War II in 1951. Lightning hit the building on September 1, 1966 causing the third floor to be destroyed by fire. The third floor was home to the gunstock manufacturing division of Herter’s Inc. Crevice Café was on the first floor of the Lewer building directly north of the garage offices. Jerry Huntington’s barber shop was located in the front basement of the building.