A Bit About the First Butcher Shop in Town

 At 16 E. Main St. you'll find the Mainstreet Art Centre that has been there since 1994. Its a great place to get art classes and instructions. This building was built in 1895.

The first business at that location was a butcher shop which was run by Henry Hillman. Hillman opened the first butcher shop in 1880. He came to Lake Zurich (which at that time was called Cedar Lake), one year after the EJ&E Railroad was built.   

Then, a Mr. Hartman bought the business and it became a shoe store. Following Mr. Hartman, a gentleman by the name of Otto Giese purchased it and still ran it as a  department store and shoe store with shoe repairs. This area was located in the back of the store. It was fascinating to see him shine shoes. All those belts spinning! 

He also sold men's and women's clothes. Otto Giese and mom always knew the best shoes for you. For a little boy it meant "high-tops" - shoes that came above your ankles. They had buckles near the top. Many little boys hated them, but they were practical.   

Mike Rizzo remembers when his dad would bring the kids into Otto Giese's shoe store and buy one pair of shoes for each of us. "My dad didn't have enogh money at the time, so Otto told him, when you get the money, just bring it on in," he said.

Back then, alot of people had trust in one another, they had your word. People with large families had a much harder time making ends meet. Gieses was a great place where everyone came to buy shoes. 

After visiting the town of New Glarus, WI, Harold Giese remodeled his store front. It was the village's first Alphine-style exterior and the other stores were soon to  follow. He thought it was time for a change and something that would bring in new business.  Having a name like Lake Zurich, he thought it should have that Swiss village feel.  John Schweda bought the store around 1983 to 1985.

Harold Giese worked in his father's store growing up. In 1960, Harold Giese bought his father's department store and continued using it as a department store until 1972 when he converted the store into Hallmark Card and Gift shop.

Today, as you pass by the window at 16 E. Main, you will see great works of art on display that students both young and old have enjoyed painting. Stop in and see whats happening or sign up for a class, you might be really talented!

Take the Weekly History Mystery Quiz

Now, test your knowledge about Lake Zurich History and take the "History Mystery" quiz by viewing the photo to see if you know any information about it. The answer will be provided on Sunday.

If you have a question or contribution about Lake Zurich history, post them here and the Ela Historical Society will provide the answer. If you have your own historic information or photos about Lake Zurich's history to share, please do

The Ela Historical Society welcomes your questions, donations and participation in this column.

Bringing Back the Past appears every Saturday with the "History Mystery" photo contest and then on Sunday to provide the answer.