MAIN STREET MEMORIES

By Jean Marie Hall

Freelance Writer

Months ago, I was approached on the street by long-time Elkader resident Ruth Olson. In her hands, she clutched a folder full of stories. She explained that her late husband, Ed Olson, while director of Elkader Main Street, had written a series about the buildings in Elkader that he called “Main Street Memories”. She thought it would be of interest to current residents. I agreed but unfortunately time passed and other obligations took priority.

Ed was well known around Elkader, having been editor of the Clayton County Register and a four-term mayor along with many other activities. This is the second article in the series and is featuring the long-time Elkader grocery, Wilke’s.

Becky Wilke, who with her husband, David, owns and operates the store offered these updates. The Wilkes had started building a brand new modern store in 1981.The business was moved to the new site at 204 S. Main Street in 1982.  The original building was in what is now the dental office of Joseph Stender.

The 2008 record flooding of the Turkey River inundated the store but with the help of volunteers from Elkader and other communities, it was up and running within a few days. Unbelievably, Mother Nature threatened the store with a flood again on August 25, 2016, and once again volunteers hit the bricks to help. Sandbags piled nearly 7-foot tall created a wall to protect the Wilke store. Without dairy products or fresh produce, the store was open by Friday, August 26. Fortunately, the Turkey River had pity this year and crested under those record highs.

“We must be showing our age well because we’ve survived two 500 year floods,” quipped Becky, “The Wilke Store will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2017.”

This is Ed’s story:

“We’ll begin Session Six of Main Street Memories in the area which in 1994 is known as Wilke’s Food Store, located at 206 S. Main St.

“The south end of the lot occupied by the Wilke building sits where (in the earliest memories of our panelists) the home of Judge Ray Barton, whom we mentioned in an earlier column, was located.

“In later years, before the construction of the supermarket, the Elkader Veterinary Clinic called this location its home. Next door was another residence which is now the location of Dr. Landis, an optometrist. Previously, this area was also the home and office of Dr. L.A. Eggers, a chiropracter.(sic) At one time, the Landis office building was shared by Dr. Tappan, also an optometrist, and Dr. Butikofer, a chiropractor.”