WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 119 NO. 51 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS : Danielson competes at PHC Classic. PAGE 11
A century later, Hotel Osceola has stories to tell BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The opening of the Hotel Osceola a century ago was heralded with a grand banquet and a front-page story in the Osceola Sun. The concrete and brick structure was built to last, with the highest fire proofing standards of the day. The interior was equipped with state of the art amenities, according to the Osceola Historical Society’s “Osceola: A Village Chronicle” — a spacious lobby, two living rooms, a ladies restroom and dining area that could seat 100. To stay the night was $2.50. If a traveler wanted one
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Richard A. Gregory, Sr. and Deborah J. Gregory, owners of the building from 1971 through 2007, on the old hotel’s porch with current owners Nathan and Jillian Newes-Opatz. The Gregorys turned the hotel into an apartment building, which is now operated by the Newes-Opatzes. Not pictured: former owner Betty Thompson.
of the two rooms with a private bath, the price was 50 cents more. The former hotel still sits at the corner of Cascade and Third Av-
enue, repurposed as apartment homes. Owners Nathan and Jillian
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A full-page ad for Zorn Auto from 1917. The Zorn Auto building, which now houses Mr. Deals, turns 100 this year.
SEE HOTEL, PAGE 9
Zorn Auto building: 100 years and standing strong
Schillberg estate donates funds for Marty’s Way BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
On behalf of her late husband, John Schillberg, Marie Schillberg presented a check to the Village of Osceola last week for $7,482. The funds are to be used toward construction of the street connection from Marty’s Way from East 10th Avenue to Oak Ridge Drive. Schillberg had dedicated the right-of-way for the street connection in 2015. Village President Gary Beckmann accepted the check on behalf of Osceola, thanking Marie Schillberg. “That’s what he wanted,” she replied, smiling. John Schillberg was raised on his family’s farm in northern Osceola and donated the acreage for Schillberg Park. He died Oct. 22, 2016.
Discovery Center construction update J&S General Contracting was awarded the bid for extending water and sewer utilities to the new fire station and installing a fire hydrant. J&S offered the lowest of three bids at $68,700. The work is to be complete by August 18. Albrightson started street work near the site July 5 and will be finished by late August. Other business • The village approved a conditional use permit for a licensed federal firearms dealer on Simmons Drive to conduct transactions from his home office. • Osceola Lanes owner Dennis “Tillie” Krenz voiced SEE VILLAGE, PAGE 13
BY SADIE WOLLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Standing tall for a hundred years is a feat, even for well-constructed buildings. The Zorn Auto Building in Osceola has defied the wear and tear of weather and everyday use, and continues to stand strong today. Automobiles rolled into Osceola in 1908, according to National Register of Historic Places, part of a nationwide shift to the new mode of transport. Eventually, the cars rolled over old-fashioned types of transportation including the horse and buggy. Just nine years after cars were introduced to Osceola, the Zorn Auto Shop was built, located on 213 North Cascade Street. The building is one story and built to be utilitarian. It served as both an automobile dealership and garage. The original architecture included an arched garage door in the center of the
SUZANNE LINDGREN | PTHE SUN
Village President Gary Beckmann accepts a check to Osceola from the estate of John Schillberg, delivered by Marie Schillberg. The funds will help connect Marty’s Way from East 10th Avenue to Oak Ridge Drive.
SEE ZORN, PAGE 20
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