Iowa Wallpaper and Paint Co.: Serving Eastern Iowa and WesternIllinois, Since 1931
Address: 514 So. 2nd St. Phone: 678
Part of their ad reads: "In 1931 Larry Hingtgen opened the IowaWallpaper and Paint Company next to the Western Union on South SecondStreet. In 1935 the firm moved across the street to more spaciousquarters...many remember this as the old Merchants National Bank." They seem to be connected with the Sherwin-Williams Company.
The Iowa Wallpaper and Paint Company no longer exists but there is aSherwin-Williams on Second street. One of the names listed is Vogel. There was also a Vogel paint store in Clinton. I'm pretty sure it's gonenow too. Perhaps the Iowa Wallpaper and Paint Co. became one of thesestores.
Names listed are: Art Johnson, Pauline Gordon, Ray Vogel, Jenean Eickert,William Hiesterkamp and Dave McAndrews.
W. G. Block Co.:
Their ad states "You build for the future when you specify Ready-MixConcrete from W. G. Block Co." They have been in business since 1885;One of Clinton's leading Coal Dealers for the past 35 years; Fuel merchants forover 70 years. Their address: 817 S. Second St.; Phone: 3560
Northwestern Bell Telephone Company:
This ad is quite nostalgic. In 1880 there were only 16 telephones inClinton. Making a telephone call was quite complicated and slow. Transmission was noisy and nearly always it was necessary to shout. Todaythere are 13,500 telephones in Clinton. Because the telephone hasincreased the happiness, well-being and business capacity of the people theirpledge for the future is meet the needs of the people of Clinton with phonesthat have volume control and with equipment that answers your telephone andtakes messages when you are out -- any kind of equipment to meet any kind ofcommunications problem or need. (Do you think they knew?)
Snell Funeral Home: The Most Homelike Funeral Home in Clinton
Other than mentioning that it's air-conditioned and they have a new modernhearse, it doesn't say how long they have been in business. They are stilllocated in Clinton. William F. Snell (pictured at left) was the founder ofthe funeral home. He died 23 Sept 1949. Others pictured are Robert H. Snell, Owner; Robert R. Smith, Owner; Raghley P. Hertzberg, Assistant; and C.W. Johnson, Assistant.
Clinton Army Store: There is just an open letter to Clinton along withthe names Violet Weseman and Jeanette Gehrmann.
Interstate Power Company: Part of the ad states that it wasn't untilthe 1880's that electricity came to Clinton. Electric rates were high -- adollar a month for each light bulb, or 20 to 30 cents per kilowatt hour. Service was irregular. Lights only worked from dusk to midnight and earlyin the morning. Street lights were on a "Moonlight" schedule.
Dalton Funeral Service: 226 Seventh Ave. So., Phone: 1051. Established in 1940 by John R. Dalton. Mr. Dalton attended Notre DameUniversity and is a graduate of Worsham College of Embalming. He and hiswife, Marjorie L. are both life-long residents of Clinton and reside on 9th Ave.South in the 80-year old Dalton homestead where Mr. Dalton's father was born.
Thomas Oakes Co.: 601 S. First St., Phone 102. For 72 years 3generations of the Oakes family have furnished building materials andfuel. Back in 1882 Thomas W. Oakes founded Smith & Oakes, handling acomplete line of building materials and fuel. In 1921, William T. Oakes,his son joined the company and the name was changed to Thomas Oakes Co. In1934 Thomas W. Oakes, son of William T. and grandson of the founder, entered thebusiness and at the present is managing the company.
C. E. Armstrong and Sons
The first photo is of the original location of the C. E. Armstrongand Co. 202-204 5th Ave. So. The second is the present location at 717-723So. 2nd St.
In 1870 C. E. Armstrong, one of the original founders of the C. E. Armstrong andCo., came to Clinton from Castleton, Vermont. He worked at variouspositions until 1878 when he formed a partnership with F. S. Roberts andChristian Lorenzen, which was called C. E. Armstrong and Company, dealing inhardware and tinner's supplies. C. E. Armstrong bought out the interest ofthe other two partners in 1886.
In 1914, his sons Roscoe W. and Carroll E. Armstrong were admitted aspartners and the name changed to C. E. Armstrong and Sons.
C. E. died in 1916 and Carroll in 1920 after which the business carried onunder the direction of Roscoe W. Armstrong.
In 1932, the retail part of the business was discontinued and the firm movedto its present location where it operated as wholesalers of hardware, plumbing,heating and mill supplies.
Business continued under the ownership of R. W. Armstrong until 1951, whenhis son Kenneth Armstrong was admitted as a partner. Roscoe died in1954. The concern is now a partnership composed of K. S. Armstrong and C.S. Wright.
Bickelhaupt Motor Co.: 127 Sixth Ave. South
The Bickelhaupt Motor Co. had its beginning in 1914 when G. E. "Doc" Bickelhaupt accepted the dealership for Dodge cars. Seven years later, in 1921 Mr. Bickelhaupt became the dealer for Packard automobiles and International trucks and for the past 34 years the Bickelhaupt Motor Co. has been sales and service headquarters in Clinton for Packard cars and International Trucks. On January 1, 1937, R. E. "Bob" Bickelhaupt took over the business from his father who has since devoted his time to the real estate and farming business. 
The W. T. Grant Co.: 317 5th Ave. So.
Mr. Grant opened his first store in 1906 with a simple formula for success:"Let us see how much we can give our customers...not how much we canget." Tremendous values drew huge crowds; high quality for littlemoney kept them coming back....in 1908 the second Grant store was opened andgrowth was steady year after year. Today, over 500 Grant Stores servethrifty folks in 43 states.
Clinton Cleaners: Since 1915 Clinton Cleaners has devoted full timeand energy to dry cleaning. Charles W. Guernsey, Owner
Baird Radio and T.V. Service: 801 Second Ave. S., Phone: 68
Baird Radio Service when it first started business in 1924.
In 1924...the year that the American audience first heard an election returnon the radio, Newt Baird started in the radio business in Clinton. Radiowas still in its infancy, the first professional broadcasting station, KDKA, wasestablished in 1920.
Sales in those days were mostly custom built receivers and parts kits for thedo-it-yourself enthusiast. Repair work flourished as few people had anygreat knowledge of electronics. As Newt had started in radio as an amateurin 1912 and futhered his knowledge at both the State College at Ames and theState University at Iowa City, it was quite natural that the businessflourished.
Today...Newtis still in the business ably assisted by Howard Foster, service engineer and Miss Valeria Bertramsen, floor sales and bookkeeper.
The firm has sold at one time or another most of the name brands of T.V. butfrom the first have sold R.C.A. Victor T.V. and radios and they are nowexclusively R.C.A. dealers.
Klinger's Paint & Wallpaper Co.: 233 5th Ave. So.
Names listed in this ad are: Wesly Klinger, Owner; Leo Klinger, President;Charles Hicks, Clinton Mgr.; Len Hill; Don Holle; James McCarthy.
Volckman Furniture & Carpet Co.
W. J. C. Volckmann -- Founder and Owner; His ad states:
Est. 1905. I started business in 25x140 ft section of my presentbuilding. Few of us at that time could visualize the great changes thatwould occur in the century just beginning. The business grew so largethat, in 1942, the factory was moved to Morrison, Ill.
Boegel's Men's Wear: 412 S. 2nd St.
In 1908, Boegel's Glasgow Tailors was opened for business by Karl H. Boegel,Sr. The present owners are Donald K. Boegel and Karl H. Boegel, Jr., sons ofKarl Sr. They assumed ownership in 1947 following the retirement of theirfather. Donald (third picture) has been continually identified with this firmsince 1924. He has had more than 30 years experience in the men's wearbusiness. Following services in the Armed Forces, Karl Jr. (last picture)graduated from tailoring school in Chicago and with his brother assumed ownership in 1947.
Delaney Funeral Home: 303 4th Ave. S.
The late Stephen M. Delaney, Sr. (first picture) founded the funeral home in1907. Stephen M. Delaney (second picture) succeeded his father in March 1947. The third photo is of the funeral home where it has been locatedsince 1940.
The Martin Morris Co.:
Martin Morris lived in Minneapolis, St. Joe, Chicago and was in business with his brother in Toluca, Illinois, before coming to Clinton and opening the Martin Morris Co., in January of 1900.
SOURCE: Centennial Edition, Clinton Herald, Clinton Iowa, 18 June 1955