The current home of the General Store was constructed in 1919 as a cheese storage and trade facility.
In the beginning, the Spring Green General Store was known as The Frog Pond and was located next to Squeek's Bakery on Jefferson Street. The Store sold wood stoves, local art, leatherwork, honey pots, bulk food and spices, as well as fresh baked goods. The Store had one cafe table and two chairs.
In 1976-1978 Ruth Kerr purchased the store and changed its name to The Spring Green General Store (the property is now The Office Market).
Ellen Dupuy and Phyllis Dyer bought the business from Kerr in 1993 and eventually moved it to the Albany Street location.
The Albany Street building was initially constructed in 1919 by the Spring Green Cheese Board of Trade in order to store cheese and negotiate a better price for local cheese makers. It became part of a growing cooperative called the Wisconsin Cheese Producers Federation and the National Cheese producers Federation.
After a big market drop in 1928, the cooperative shrunk and continued to operate in this building and a Plymouth, Wisconsin location. The building was sold in 1946 and used for general storage for a few years. Around 1950 it became the property of a New York insurance company and was leased to Borden Company and was used for cheese storage until 1970 when Borden discontinued local operations.
1920’s Warehouse – now the Spring Green General Store
In 1978 the building was converted into an apartment on the north end and an antique store on the south end. It was sold in 1982 and the Spring Green General Store moved from its Jefferson Street location into these larger quarters. Food service at the Prairieland Cafe was part of the new expansion.
The store was sold in 1993, followed by a revival of food service. The apartment on the north end of the building was eliminated in 2000 to allow for additional retail space and storage.
A clue to the building’s first use is the thick walls in the north retail area where most of the flooring is the original wood. The elevator was disconnected in the later years and the elevator shaft is currently a closet. The railroad siding on the south side was also eliminated decades ago.
The grandson of one of the original cooperative founders indicated in 1970 upon Borden’s departure that “It’s in very good shape and is quite large. It could be put to good use.” We agree.
