The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 4

4 La Crosse Tribune, Saturday, April 26, 1975 The Painting Business That Grew And Grew get freight from the steamers, Johnson said. Local deliveries were first made by horse and wagon. By 1913 the firm already had wholesale markets in Wisconsin, Min- By JOHN ELLENBECKER Tribune Staff Writer brothers who immigrated to the United State from Norway before the turn of the century started a painting business which has grown into a wholesale corporation which does ers and several other stockholders As the business expanded, the store grew too small. The business moved to 221 Main St then to 308 So 4th St. The business was at 111 N.

3rd St. for about 20 years, Paul said. The present building at 315 S. 5th Ave. was built in 1941, Paul Johnson said.

The firm pioneered in wholesaling in eastern Minnesota in 1927. Anton and Christ also did custom contract painting and decorating. "They had a contract with a brewery and painted a large number of saloons in the early days. In those days the breweries owned the saloons," Johnson said. At one time my dad employed about three-fourths of the union painters in the city.

They had other unusual jobs, too, one of which was to paint signs for a highway trail from La Crosse to Rochester and Minneapolis. painting yellow and black markers. The wholesale end of the business grew rapidly in the early days since La Crosse was a large rail center, and shipments would come to La Crosse for distribution. Shipments were also received and made by packet steamer. "I remember as a small boy riding in an old truck with my dad to the boat landings to Paul Johnson nearly $3 million in sales annually and covers 12 states and Win-nepeg, Canada.

Anton Johnson. 12, and his brother, Christ, 14. came to America with money saved up by two other brothers who had emigrated earlier. Paul Johnson, son of Anton and the last of the original family still involved, said the two older brothers sent back a total of $70 for steamer passage for Anton and Christ. The latter two worked as painters before opening their own business at 1423 Market St.

They began a wholesale business in paints and other interior decorating supplies a few years later, and in 1907 a corporation was formed involving the two broth wall coverings. We've come a long way since the old days of mixing pails of paste to apply wallpaper to the walls," Johnson said. Many of the wall coverings are now backed with their own adhesives for application and have paper backing which can be peeled off for applying to the walls. The firm handles many lines of wall coverings, including some imported from France and England, and has developed a "water box" for wall covering which requires wetting before application. The box is actually the carton in which the roll in packaged.

The box is coated inside so that it will hold water. The firm also has developed its own package labels which include the invoice, shipment papers and identification of the matrial. all in a transparent envelope glued to the carton. The firm also sells other painting and decorating supplies. The La Crosse store, which Johnson said is getting too small, also employes an interior designer, Dee Clark, who coordinates colors in wall coverings, carpets and furnishings for commercial establishments, as well as for homes.

She has designed interiors for a large store in the new Center 90 Shopping Center at Onalaska, and is working on other larges-scale projects. She said an interior designer is not the same as an interior decorator. An interior designer coordinates all aspects of the interior, she said. About 25 persons are employed in La Crosse, including live or six retail sales personnel. The firm is now headed by Jesse Long of Minneapolis, president; Virgil Johnson, (no relation to the original family) vice president and manager of the La Crosse store; and David Hughes, treasurer.

Dale Sherburne is sales manager. Paul Johnson entered the business while still a youth and was secretary-treasurer for more years than I care to remember." He is now semire-tired but still works in the store part time. A cousin, the late A. W. Johnson, was also a member of the firm for many years and was its bookkeeper.

Tribune Photo DESIGN CENTER The design center at the A Johnson 782 5th Ave. features coordinated colors and wall coverings to give customers an idea of how homes and businessess can be planned in advance. Business World In ustness Live Cattle Futures Hit Highest Level In 7 Months Dee Clark nesota. North and South Dakota and Montana. We just continued to branch out," Johnson said.

A branch office and warehouse was opened in St. Paul in 1937, and a new building, occupying a square block, was built about four years ago at the edge of St. Paul to serve the western area. Another office and warehouse was established last fall at Chicago which serves Illinois and Missouri. The La Crosse store serves Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota.

The firm also has a retail outlet at Mankato, and serves dealers in Indiana as well as Winnepeg. The firm's largest sales item is cotton and corn translates into the likelihood of increased soybean plantings. The disappointing situation in soybean exports continues as Brazil offers additional quantities of the product at prices under U.S. offerings. Soybean inventories of April 1 were 659 million bushels, or 23 million less than the trade had anticipated.

The U.S. Agriculture Department estimates that cotton production in non-Commumst countries will be down about 8 per cent in the coming season. These countries account for about 60 per cent of world production and will carryover a record 30 million bales at the end of the current season. Copper futures again turned downward as London Metal Exchange stocks climbed 9.600 tons during the week to the highest level ever of 194.675 tons. Also disheartening to the market was news that sales of a leading U.S.

copper processor were down 51 per cent for the first quarter of this year. Reports this week that when Jordan sought to buy 30.000 tons of sugar for midyear shipment it was offered amounts estimated to be 10 times the quantity sought. Improved weather in Europe is lessening fears for it's sugar beet crop. Gold and silver futures have been in a narrow trading range on a lack of any major news developments S. industrial gold purchases fell to a 10 year low in 1974 as a result of the steep increase of the metal price and reduced economic activity.

Norman L. Jertson, Hams, Upham Co. Inc. quartered in St. Paul.

has declared a dividend of 4 cents a share for the first quarter of 1975. payable on May 1 to shareholders of record April 15. This is the 10th consecutive quarterly dividend the firm has paid since becoming publicly owned in December 1972. The dividend is a reduction of 7 cents a share from that paid in the last quarter of 1974. Officials said the decision to reduce dividends resulted from the company's anticipated loss for the first quarter due to a substantial reduction in tonnage and management's evaluation of current, nationwide economic conditions.

Briggs has a terminal in La Crosse at 111 Causeway Blvd. DONALD DUDLE Donald Dudle. who spent part of his Trane Co. career at La Crosse, has been promoted to manager of the company's Rush-ville. Ind manufacturing plant Dudle joined the firm in 1963.

Motel Group Supports Room Tax The la Crosse Area Motel Association voiced its support for the city's new motel tax and the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitor Bureau by unanimously voting for membership into the bureau. The association offered its Heileman Sales Increase By 18 In First Quarter BEST WESTERN More than 200 owners and managers of Best Western motels. hotels and resorts will meet in La Crosse Mondav and Tuesday tor a conierence' vvftlr executives from the corporate headquarters in Phoenix. Anz and with Best Western's seven-man board of directors. Best Western, which has 1.300 independently owned motels, hotels and resorts, is divided into seven geographical districts.

Every spring, meetings are held at a centrally located city in each district to review current and future plans for the organization. BRIGGS The board of directors of Briggs Transportation Co head- U-red into after the brewery's 1972 acquisition of the Western Plants Division of Associated Brewing Co of Detroit The divestiture of brands, totalling 400.000 barrels of 1972 sales, has now been completed. The first quarter results were encouraging. Cleary said, in view of the significantly higher costs of agricultural products and packaging materials incurred in the 1975 quarter as compared with 1974. and particularly in view of the strong competitive conditions currently existing in the brewing industry.

A new three-year labor agreement has been reached at the La Crosse plant, the largest one operated by Heileman. On April 16. Heileman officials confirmed that negotiations were progress wherein the lcoal brewery is seeking to acquire C. Schmidt and Sons the nation's 12th largest brewer, headquartered in Philadelphia. Pa Heileman operates breweries in La Crosse.

Newport. Evansville. Ind and St. Paul. Minn The company also has Wisconsin's largest independent bakerv operation with five bakeries the state, and the firm owns Machine Products Co.

Inc. in La Crosse, a manufacturer of precision jet engine parts. and has held positions both in La Crosse and Clarksville, Tenn. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering. JOHN GINSKEY John Ginskey.

local representative for Mutual of Omaha and United of Omaha, has recently completed a comprehensive insurance course offered at the National Sales Training Center in Omaha Ginskey is asswiated with the John Nauss gency. general agency tor Mutual and United in Eau Claire STEPHEN NEKOLA Stephen F. Nekola, 30, a 1962 graduate of Aquinas High School, has been appointed business manager of the Waukesha Water Utility Nekola. son of Mr. and Mrs.

John Nekola, 2334 Market joined the utility on April 22, 1974. He has a bachelors degree in business administration from St Mary's College. Winona. Minn and a masters degree in school business management from the University of Wiscon-sin-Whitewater. Before joining the water utility.

he was assistant business manager and director of data processing at Nicolet High School. Glendale. CONFERENCE PLANNED Two members of the La Crosse office of the Mutual of Omaha insurance company will be attending the firm's Presidents Club convention in Las Vegas May 3-8. Attending will be Gene L. Olson.

3136 Elm Drive, manager of the local office, and Tom Doering. 2061 Wedgewood Drive. YAMAHA DEALER WAUKON, Iowa Waukon Yamaha, a new business owned and operated by Paul Humpal, Ridgeway, and Irvin Fosaaen Ossian. has opened in Waukon. They will sell and service Yamaha Motorcycles, as well as servicing all Japanese motorcycles.

I Ad o's co0 Hog futures moved up to the best levels since December reflecting the strength in cattle futures Packers at times have been hesitant in bidding for supplies despite light hog receipts on some days Pork belly futures hit life-of-contract highs before profit taking trimmed some of the gains Good cash market demand and cold storage stocks below the levels of last year plus the seasonal decline in hog slaughter are given credit for the strong market performance. Egg futures rallied sharply in midweek as wholesale prices started rising after the disappointing Easter season. The main reason for the strength seems to be reduced laying flock sizes On April 1. there were 276.7 million hens on farms, down about 5 per cent from a year earlier. Corn futures were steady to somewhat higher as wet weather plagues much of the corn belt and farmers continue a tight holding policy The Stocks All Positions Report disclosed inventories of 2 20 billion bushels on April 1.

while the trade had been expecting about 2.24 billion. Wheat futures have been in a steep decline as growing weather over the wheat belt continues to be beneficial for the crop. Cumulative export shipments to date for this crop year are 817 5 million bushels, down from the 969 2 million at this time last year Stocks in All Positions on April 1 were 638 million bushels. 61 million less than the trade expected Soybean futures also plunged as possible delays planting Live cattle futures attained the highest price levels in seven months when the Cattle and Calves On Feed Report revealed that the number of such animals in preparation for slaughter as of April 1 was 31 per cent less than a year earlier. One surprise the report was the large number of less than 500 pound animals placed in feed lots during the first quarter of this year.

This along with increased marketings of short-fed cattle will likely create larger supplies of choice beef later in the year than has been anticipated Aluminum Collection Totaled Vh Tons La Crosse area residents turned in more than 21 2 tons of aluminum for recycling last Friday when the Reynolds Metal Co. mobile recycling unit made its fourth monthly stop in the city. the collection, largest made at any single stop in the four months in any of the 12 cities the unit visits in Wisconsin, represents the equivalent of more than 116.000 all-aluminum beer cans, one of the products, along with TV dinner trays, pie pans and foil, that the mobile unit accepts. Next stop at Bridgeview Plaza Shopping Center will be 2-5 p.m. Friday.

May 16. La Crosse contributors last received 15 cents a pound, or a total of $762.75. according to the company. Since the mobile unit began visits in January. La Crosse residents have received $2.015 55 for pounds of aluminum and Wisconsin residents have been paid $14,250 for more than 95.000 pounds of recyclable aluminum.

Brief HILTON PHARMACY Two employes of the Hilton Prescription Pharmacy, 207 S. 4th have completed a course in the latest procedures for fitting breast prothesis and mac-tectomy bras Attending the course, conducted in Des Moines. Iowa, by Camp International of Jack-son. Mich were Mrs. Linda Pavela and Mrs Marge Simon JIM WESTER MINNEAPOLIS.

Minn -Jim Wester has been appointed product support manager for Ziegler Co Inc Caterpillar lift truck dealer western Wisconsin He will be based at the Eau Claire mam office of the firm, which also maintains a branch office in La Crosse Wester will be in charge of parts and service operations ALLAMAKEE REALTY WAUKON. Iowa Mrs Shirlev Clark. Waukon. has opened offices in Waukon where she will do business as Allamakee Realty She is a realtor and broker and a member of the Northeast Iowa Board of Realtors JIM WEBSTER MINNEAPOLIS. Minn -Jim Webster has been appointed product support manager for Ziegler Co Inc Caterpillar lift truck dealer in western Wisconsin He will be based at the Eau Claire main office of the firm, which also maintains a branch office in La Crosse Webster will be in charge of parts and service operations STATION REMODELS ETTRICK.

Wis. The West-side Mobil Station here, owned by the Bob Johnson Oil Co. of La Crosse, is being remodeled. A new roof is being built and the office will be enlarged and remodeled under the direction of John Sander. Johnson Oil dealer in Ettrick It will be a self-service station to be known as John's Self Service.

Wav ne Truax is employed at the station Zip. Tom Woulte support at its quarterly meeting, held at the Party House restaurant. at which new officers were named. Thomas Woulfe, owner of Bluff View Motel and president of the Convention Bureaa, was elected president. Jack Clappier, Midway Motor Lodge, was named vice president.

'Mrs. Virginia Wookey. Guest House Motel. was re-elected secretary. Art Boldt.

Vick's Motel, was named treasurer. Sales for the first quarter of 1975 rose 18 per cent at the G. Heileman Brewing Co. up to $42,361,000 from $35,942,000 in the first quarter of 1974. according to Russell G.

Cleary. Heileman president Earnings for the first quarter were also up slightly to $744,000. equal to 20 cents a share, compared with $738,000 or 19 cents a share for the same period last year Sales gains were credited to an exceptionally strong showing by Heileman's premium Old Style and Blatz brands Cleary also said the 1974 first quarter sales figures included $1,269,000 of sales of brands divested as a result of a consent decree en- Builders Group Plans Auction Officials of the La Crosse Area Home Builders Association are planning a public auction for Saturday. May 3. at the Festgrounds in La Crosse.

The auction, part of a fund-raising drive, will begin at 9 30 a Items donated by the group's members will be sold. The associaton is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting and improving the building industry Staff PhotograpfAer Edward Htpebne 12 Housing Units Nearly Completed Twelve housing units for persons aged 55 or more are nearly completed in Ponderosa Estates, located just south of Holmen. Frank Neitzel, developer of the complex. says he has authorization to construct a total of 28 units when applications are received. Each unit has 814 square feet divided into two bedrooms, a bath, living room, dining room and kitchen.

A stove and refrigerator are included. The exterior is stucco. The financing is through the Farmers Home Administration. The rent is $160 a month, although the builder gets a subsidized interest rate from the Fanners Home Administration. Utilities and heat are included in the rental.

Rents are determined on a sliding scale. Persons not meeting federal income guidelines may have their rent raised to the maximum $255 The units are scheduled to open in early May. Interior of one of the units is shown at left. Gentlemen: Please send me details on how MUZAK can help increase productivity. Name Address Gty State MUSIC BY MUZAK P.O.

BOX 821 LA CROSSE, WIS. 54601.