FLORENCE YESTERYEARS: 50 years ago
September 18, 1952
Governor Edward F. Arn visited Florence Tuesday afternoon of this week for an hour in the interest of his campaign for re-election as governor. The newly organized Republican Women's organization in Florence had made arrangements for a pep band led by Glenn Peak to greet the governor and a good crowd gathered to meet him. Gov. Arn complimented Florence on its recovery from the flood and its present appearance and especially mentioned the library.
The Florence Implement Co. was moved this week from its present location at 405 Main Street to its new location at 304 Main Street. Considerable remodeling has been done to the old bakery building and an entrance has been made on the south as well as the west.
September 11, 1952
One of the landmarks of Florence, the bakery oven in the bakery building on South Main, is being torn out this week to ready the building for the Florence Implement Co. Mrs. Hilda Savage Noon, daughter of John Haasis, who built the oven in about 1886, reported the following information about the bakery: John Haasis came to America from Germany after serving as a bakery apprentice and came west to Florence where he was assistant baker at the original Harvey House here. In 1885, after the Harvey House closed, he started his own bakery east of the present location of the post office and in 1886 he moved to the present location. He built the large oven inside a frame building. Later the frame building was torn down and the present brick building was built around the oven.
A family picnic was held at the city park Monday night in lieu of the regular Chamber of Commerce meeting. More than 90 people attended the picnic and entertainment. Group singing was led by Glenn Peak and followed by two saxophone solos. The rest of the evening was spent in playing Bingo.
