This delightful old-timey photograph from 1929 shows “Coolidge’s Fruit Store” in Baraboo, Wisconsin. It continues my recent obsession with vintage and antique photographs of store fronts and interiors.

The notation on the back suggests that the store was at 111 E. 2nd Street in Baraboo. The subjects in the photo are identified (presumably left to right) as: “J. Clifford Coolidge, Rita, Curtis C. Coolidge, Walter Kock”.

Here is the photo with the mat cropped out.

And some of the neat details. You can see and advertisement for “Ferry’s Seeds” which looks like flower seeds. You can also just barely make out what looks like boxed of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes on the top shelf. What else can you see?

My research suggests that John Clifford Coolidge (1878-1959) was born in New York (possibly Canada) and died in Baraboo in 1959. I am not positive, but I believe the man on the right below is a much younger John. It is attached to a public Ancestry tree with details that match. Here also is John’s death notice published in the Wisconsin State Journal - April 14, 1959.

I am not sure who “Rita” is and her face is a little blown out in the photo.

I believe the photo also include’s John’s son, Curtis Clifford Coolidge (1915-1997). I think he could pass for 14 or 15 years of age if, in fact, this photo was taken in 1929. The second photo was included on a public Ancestry family tree. It shows Curtis with his wife, Ada Adeline Katchinska Coolidge. Do you think these photos show the same man? I have also included a WWII Draft Registration Card that shows the “Rev.” Curtis Clifford Coolidge as a Minister in the Church of Nazarene. His father is listed as Clifford John Coolidge. Both are from Baraboo.

I believe the last man is Walter Koch (1879-1948). There is a Find a Grave memorial of a Walter Koch buried at the Walnut Hills Cemetery in Baraboo, WI. It includes the added photo of a much younger looking Walter. The details and photo seem to match. Do you think it is the same man? Also included here is an obituary for Walter in the Wisconsin State Journal - February 9, 1948.

In my brief research I was not able to come up with any definitive information about the address of the fruit store, 111 E. 2nd Street. There are some possibilities to explore and some cross checking to do if you are interested!

UPDATE

Thanks is owed to Kory Hartman of 99.7 MAX FM in Baraboo, Wisconsin! After seeing this post he was able to find information on the history of the building at 111 E. 2nd Street. He directed me to this document from Baraboo Public Library. Here are the relevant pages.

Note the mention of C.C. Coolidge, who I assume is Clifford Curtis:

“In any event, in February of 1930 the Coolidge Fruit Store opened here, carrying vegetables and fruits. For some time Mr. C. C. Coolidge had operated a truck farm near the city and he planned on using the farm in conjunction with his store.”

To see the small but growing Gallery of Old-Timey Stores check below!

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