As Revitalize Gillett, Inc. embarks on the new and exciting direction the Board has given it, this mission statement will have even more importance than it had in the past.  We will attempt to draw the connections in a series of articles in this column that will lead up to the kickoff of what I call “Phase II”.

     While I was at the Revitalize Gillett office preparing a few things for the move of the office to my store building (Brandon Miller and I will be handling the day to day contact with the public), I noticed this mission statement on the bulletin board and got to reflecting on how this building and its inhabitants helped to fulfill that mission well before it was committed to paper.

     J. M. Clark built the building and operated the first general store in town from about 1890 to 1900.  The ghost of his sign is still visible on the west side of the building just above Ruby’s beauty shop.  I can only imagine all the discussions that took place there as the village charter was being developed back in 1899 and 1900.  Another early leader of the community, L. B. Stuelke, took over the building in 1900 and opened the first drug store in town at this site.  Mr. Stuelke later ran an insurance office out of the part of the building most recently occupied by Revitalize Gillett, Inc.  He also served as municipal judge for a long time and that office was his courtroom.  What would we hear if those walls could talk? 

     The first bank was established in 1901 by L. J. Newald in what is now Ruby’s beauty shop.  Mr. Newald also served as the first president of the newly incorporated village, so I would imagine many weighty discussions took place there as the village was trying to find its legs.  It was easy to get things into print from those discussions, as the newspaper, The Gillett Times, published by L.P. Perry was right next door to the bank.  Do you think any editorials were discussed and developed there?

     As time progressed, the building saw many uses.  Wagner Gas (Wagner Electric at that time) found its first presence on Main Street in the beauty shop building, Wesley Darrow had his furniture store in the area where the Laundromat now is for over twenty years serving the area with used furniture during World War II when metal for new furniture was impossible to obtain, and then never quite being able to overcome the reputation of being the “used furniture store” even though most of his inventory was new.  Leon Riemer occupied the Revitalize Gillett office with a law practice and actually started the business that now operates as Northwoods Title in that office.  The Laundromat was started when Wesley Darrow owned the building, continued on when the Mueller family purchased it, with Ray having his office in the Revitalize Gillett office and the twins tending to the laundry.  It has continued on through several owners up to the present time with Norman and Ruby Christensen serving as the present owners and caretakers of the legacy.

     As much as the mission statement was served by all the former owners and occupants of this building, it couldn’t be served any better than it has been by Norman and Ruby.  They have furnished the office space for Revitalize Gillett, Inc. for over five years without ever getting a penny of rent and shouldering the expense for all the utilities and repairs during that time.  Revitalize Gillett will not be able to thank them enough as we move on to Phase II.  If you feel like saluting as you pass by this grand old building, now coming up on 120 years old, it’ll be all right.  It deserves a salute for all its been home to that affects you in this community.

Kurt Darrow

Revitalize Gillett