29.17.13

Print, Photographic

1940 Approximate

Lewer Building. Waseca Main Street. Waseca State Street. Waseca South State Street. Material: paper. Size: 3 1/4" x 4 1/2". Description: black and white photograph of the Lewer building on South State Street at 2nd Avenue S.W., Waseca, MN; airplane flying above building; taken when the building still had its original three floors; built in 1916-1917 by Ewald Lewer as a multi-purpose office building, it housed Lewer, Woodhall and Cunningham Co. selling automobiles, tractors and buggies; building was used by the E. F. Johnson Co. during the war; lightning hit the building on September 1, 1966 causing the third floor to be destroyed by fire. Portions of the automotive dealership were rented during the war years and used for transmitter manufacturing.

Waseca business: Lewer, Woodhall and Cunningham Co.; E. F. Johnson Co.; Bistro. Waseca business: E.F. Johnson Co.; E.F. Johnson Company; E.F. Johnson Corporate Headquarters; E.F. Johnson Company Corporate Headquarters; E.F. Johnson Co. Corporate Headquarters; E. F. Johnson Co.; E. F. Johnson Company; E. F. Johnson Corporate Headquarters; E. F. Johnson Company Corporate Headquarters; E. F. Johnson Co. Corporate Headquarters. Army E Navy Award; Army "E" Navy Award; Army 'E' Navy Award; Army-Navy E Award; Army-Navy 'E' Award; Army-Navy "E" Award. 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.