260 So. 7th Street

Address: 260 South 7^th Street

Legal Description:

Building:

1883 John Shuster repaired his windmill and his grinder was running. He built an addition to his shop to use as a storeroom and office.

1884 John Shuster built a new windmill to run his feed grinder.

1888 Stone and Shuster had their new windmill factory and foundry well under construction. Mr. Best moved his planing mill into the Stone and Shuster windmill factory.

1888 Mr. Harbaugh left for Washington to secure a patent on a windmill.

1888 The Geneva Iron Foundry was completed and operation began.

1889 H. J. Russell, a machinist from Armstrong arrived and took charge of the work in the windmill factory.

1890 In October, the Geneva Windmill Co. began the construction of a 2-story brick building 49 x 100.

1890 Geneva Iron and Pump Co., dissolved and assets were turned over to the Geneva Iron and Windmill Co.The re-establishment of the foundry took place when several Geneva men formed a corporation named “The Geneva Iron and Windmill Co.” John A. Dempster, A. O. Taylor, W. H. Cooksey, W. V. Fifield, and E. J. Stone were elected as directors. The company manufactured windmills, tanks, and iron pumps.

1890 The most important article manufactured by the company was the Geneva windmill, invented and patented by John Shuster.

1890 Hickory and oak was used for arms and white wood and poplar for the sections. The company also manufactured water tanks. All kinds of repairs for farm machinery were cast here, also stoves, Monitor windowmills, iron fronts for buildings, and other things made by foundries.

1891 Robert and J. R. Schofield sold their interests in the business and retired.

1894 The Geneva Iron Foundry was sold at a sheriff’s sale.

1894 Property was vacant.

1904 In July, the Geneva Commission House rented the old Iron Foundry near the mill to handle its poultry business.

1904 In November, the Geneva Commission House business was suspended. Mr. Freshman, manager, was not paying the bills.

1904 The foundry property was sold to Charles H. and Frank W. Sloan for $1,100. The seller was Mrs. Emma C. Merrill of Spokane.

1905 Forby Rifles leased the second floor of the foundry and fitted it up as an armory.

1905 In January, Cliff Hosack and Joe Morris put a floor in the old foundry building and opened a skating rink. The skating rink was open Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoon and evening.

1905 In February, a Valentine dance was held here.

1905 In September, Hosacck and Morris sold their skating rink to Harry Klumb and Ed Terrel.

1961 Geneva Redi-Mix, Maury Nichols. They designed a building made of concrete.

1986 Maury Nichols retired and sold the business to Overland Ready Mix of Stromsburg, Vayden Andersen.

2006 The business was purchased by Nebco, Inc., a Lincoln based company.

2019 Geneva Milling purchased the property.

This was ongoing as of the last posting.