130 No. 5th Street

Address: 130 North 5^th Street

Legal Description:

Building:

1925 James and Louise Barbur came to Geneva from Exeter and established Barbur Floral Co. They had purchased the home, one greenhouse, and hot beds owned by Fred Eaton.

1926 Another greenhouse was built to grow vegetables. He had thirty to forty thousand cabbage plants besides other garden produce which he sold wholesale to six different states.

1927 Another greenhouse was built and a boiler for steam heat was installed.

1928 Two more greenhouses were built.

1929 They sold cabbage seedlings to Guerney Nursery to keep their operation going during the depression years.

1930’s Jim experimented with the production of off season chrysanthemums, which lengthened the time they were available to the public All during this time he had a large outdoor flower garden. He grew gladiolus, larkspur, gypsophila and assorted perennials. During this time, the greenhouses were full from fall to summer. Jim and Louise were known for creating unusual flower designs.

1938 They leased the Ellsworth Greenhouses in Grand Island. Jim and daughter Delores ran it until the fall of the same year. They sold the lease and moved back to Geneva.

1941 A hail storm was disastrous to the crop of geraniums and cut flowers in the greenhouses.

1941 During the war, the Fairmont air basemen were good customers for the floral shop.

1945 A new office and design area were built.

1946 Another design area was added.

1947 A walk-in refrigerator was added.

1950 A larger display and refrigerator were added.

1954 Son Charles joined in the business. The trade area was enlarged to serve neighboring communities and counties including Lincoln and Omaha with new products and services. They began a new practice of sterilizing or steaming the existing soil in the greenhouse.

1957 Charles was married and his wife Sharon joined the firm the following year.

1960 Jim and Louise retired in 1960 and sold their interest to Charles and Sharon.

1961 Two 20’ x 100’ Quonsets were built.

1964 Delores Barbur Votipka joined the firm and became the office manager until her death in 1984.

1974 With depleting soil reserve, high energy costs, extreme national competition, and improved transportation, all cut flower production was halted and only potted plants were grown. Barbur Floral gets flowers from all over the world for all occasions.

1975 Charles Barbur, Jr. and Dean Waldron joined Barbur Floral as after school and weekend employees, later to become full time employees.

1984 Dean became the wedding and special occasion designer and office manager.

2006 After celebrating Barbur Floral’s 80 years in business, Charles Sr., learned that he had cancer. Barbur Floral was sold to Charles Jr. and Deb Barbur.

This business was ongoing as of last posting.