Arthur J. Cook of Zearing bought the building now housing the Roland Laundromat from A. J. Reinertson when the latter purchased the Super Valu store from Leo Hanson. Mr. Cook remodeled the store and installed automatic washers and dryers, opening for business in February of 1961.
A gasoline station was built in 1924 at the present site of the Standard Service Station by Lars Bakka. It was then sold to the Lincoln Oil Company, who in turn leased it back to Mr. Bakka for one year. In 1925, Gerhard E. Rod leased it from Lincoln and later from Champlin Refining Company when that company purchased the property. Mr. Rod operated the station until 1929 when it was leased by Standard Oil Company, and Ed Sandvig took charge.
In 1932, the station was leased to George Sather. An addition to the building containing two service bays was added in 1937. Mr. Sather purchased the station in 1942, and is the present owner. He operated the business until 1959 when Robert Jacobson leased it. Chester Sather took up the lease in 1962 and was succeeded in 1965 by Kent Lage, who operated the station until November 1967. George Sather again took over the business until January 1968 when Harold Mason took charge, and he is the present operator. In 1969 a large bay was added to accommodate trucks.
The earliest mention of a tile factory in Roland is in Allen's "History of Story County" (1887), which stated, "Roland Tile Factory, near the south west edge of town, is owned by Swenson, Thorson & Co. , and is doing a lively business in tile and brick manufacturing. They report 200,000 tile and 150,000 brick made during the season. This indicates thrift and stir in the business. " This factory was located near the creek and west of the present-day DeKalb buildings in southwest Roland.
In the business directory published in the first issue of the Roland Record in 1895, the name of the firm had become Swenson Bros., a partnership of Ben and Gunner Swenson. In March 1898, Gunner sold his interest to his brother, Ben, who took in as partners Peter Nockling and Jacob Thompson under the firm name Swenson G Co. In 1899, Swenson sold his interest to Ove Holland. Shortage of suitable clay caused the factory to suspend operations in October, 1904.
Another tile factory was located in a building which later became a part of the Farmers Co-Op Elevator and was torn down in 1944. Their clay pit was at the south end of Main Street, the present location of the town park. That factory had suspended operations sometime before 1895.
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