The Corner Saloon
162 River Street N.
BUILT 1885
The first building on the corner of Bridge and River Street was a store built in 1869 by John Borsch. It offered groceries and provisions, and a saloon.
When John Borsch built a new store in 1879 on the corner of Franklin and River Street, he sold his old stand to J.M. Eppler.
In February of 1885, Henry Inwie, then the owner of the property, exchanged his two corner lots on River Street to Jos. Berneck for eighty acres of land. August Berneck, the son of Joseph, soon after began a business in the old Borsch building. However, in July, the building was destroyed by fire.
John L Stein was the proprietor of The Corner Saloon at the turn of the century. He is the gentleman in the center of this photo. Over the years, beginning in 1869, there has most often been a saloon or bar on the corner of River Street and Bridge Avenue.
In 1893, the Eagle reported that Berneck & Jantos owned and ran a saloon and lunch table on the corner of River and Bridge streets, the same business having been located in Delano for eight years, and right on the same corner. Their place of business was in a fine two-story brick building, 25x50, and “they kept keep constantly on hand a fine line of wines, beer, cigars, etc.”August Berneck retired from the saloon business in 1894, and Matt Fautsch purchased the property in May of that year.
(from the Delano Eagle, July 2, 1885)
“At 4 o’clock Monday morning an alarm of fire was sounded from River street and the saloon and dwelling house of August Berneck, on the corner of Bridge and River streets, was found to be in flames. The firemen appeared promptly and no time was lost in getting a stream on the building, which was burning quite slowly owing to the fact that there was no wind blowing. An accident to the hose hampered the firemen’s work, and prevented them from saving the building. The hose burst in three places, and the delay occasioned and the crippled condition of the apparatus allowed the flames to do their work. The building was totally destroyed. Much of the household furniture was removed without damage. The insurance on the building was with the American Philadelphia Company for $1,000, F. H. Lindsley, agent. Later Joseph Berneck’s loss by the fire was adjusted. He got $850 on the building; there was no insurance on the contents.
The Delano Eagle reported in September of 1885 that the building on the corner of Bridge and River streets was being replaced by a much better structure, which would be an
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Ad from the Delano Eagle, September 8, 1898
In August of 1899, the paper had this article: “Judging from the numerous changes that take place, in the proprietorship of saloons through the county, there must either be a vast amount of money made at the business or very little. Already three men have “retired” from business since Aug. Berneck sold out, all of them making their fortunes (or losing them) in the “corner saloon.” And in December, the problem continued: “Another man has made his fortune (?) in the saloon on the corner of River and Bridge streets and has retired from business. The license was transferred to his successor at a recent special meeting of the village council.”
(Sketch of Delano businesses, December, 1898)
The Eagle reported in February of 1906 that J. L. Stein had made a contract with Martin Stralka whereby he secured, for 3 years more, the corner building he then occupied. John Stein died in October of 1906, and again the building had a new occupant, although Martin Stralka still owned it.
In March of 1900 the Delano Eagle reported that Mr. Matt Herriges had given up the saloon business.
John Stein, the saloon-keeper, had moved out of the Pogreba building into the Matt Fautsch building on the corner of River street and Bridge street. It appears that Martin Stralka owned the Corner Saloon building, but rented it out. He had the old stairway in the rear of the building occupied by John L. Stein torn down and replaced with a substantial new one in 1904. He also had a new ten foot cement walk put down and several other improvements made.
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In this picture from the mid-1930’s, the sign on the corner store says “Jack Sprat Food Store.” Jack moved his business to the brick block building in 1941, and the building on the corner of Bridge and River became the Main Bar.n text and edit me. It's easy.
(from the Delano Eagle, September 2, 1909)
“The unsightly sign for a tobacco company which disfigures the whole north side of Martin Stralka’s building on the corner of River and Bridge streets is an eyesore and a very regrettable innovation. It gives a cheap appearance to the town, is no benefit to the owner of the property and should be removed at the first opportunity.”
This ad is from the Delano Eagle, June 11, 1941, the Grand Opening of The Main Bar!
Main Bar on River St.
October 12, 1944 – a Poultry Social at The Main Bar!
The “Mainstreet,” a special 1946 edition of the Eagle, described the Main Bar as one of the northwest’s most beautiful lounges. It was owned at that time by Mrs. Magdalena Rose Ferrier, who purchased it from August Dekarski. The Main Bar was “a popular rendezvous not only for the people of Delano, but also for those from the wide surrounding area.”
This was the bar in the main section of the building. The bar also had tables and booths.
In 1956 the building became the home to the Delano municipal liquor store, with the on-sale in the main part, and the off-sale shop in the smaller room on the south side.
The on-sale became known as “The Zoo.”
The opening of Delano Municipal Liquor brought drastic changes to Delano’s downtown, notably the closing of twelve local bars.
The Municipal moved out in 1983 when the city offices moved to the corner of Bridge and Second street, and the building then had various owners and users. It currently is the home of Crow River Studio, massage therapy and retail gifts.