912 G Street
Also formerly known as Court Street
Address: 912 G Street
Legal Description: Lot 81 East ½
Building: Citizens State Bank / Masonic Temple
1872 Vacant Lot
1875 The State of Nebraska sold Lot 81 to Emilie V. (Emily V.) Northrup. A two-story frame building was built shortly thereafter. One or two other frame buildings may have been located on the lot on North 9th Street.
1878 R. A. McKee and D. H. Conant, attorneys, had an office three doors west of the courthouse.
DATE Emily V. (Emillie V.) sold Lot 81 to J. Jensen and W. H. Cooksey.
1883 J. Jensen and W. H. Cooksey and wives sold the East ½ of Lot 81 to D. W. DeWolf and C. C. Shumway.
DATE J. Jensen and wife sold their one-half interest in the West ½ of Lot 81 to The Citizens Bank.
DATE Wm. H. Cooksey and wife sold their one-half interest in the West ½ of Lot 81 to The Citizens Bank.
DATE The bank later sold the north 72 feet of the West ½ of Lot 81 to DeWolf and Shumway.
1884 J. Jensen made plans to construct a new business building in the first of 1885. It was located on the corner occupied by the old Northrup building. The new building was 28 x 60, two stories and had a lower store room. The upper story was finished off for offices.
1885 Citizens Bank opened under new proprietorship.
1885 Citizens Bank was organized and occupied offices at the corner of Center and Court Streets (9th and G Street). The building was a 2-story frame structure. The post office was located in one of the rooms that faced west on Center Street.
1890 The original wooden building was moved two blocks east to the corner of Pearl and Court Streets (11th and G Street). It was later moved to the north end of lot 96. Over the years it was used as apartments and commercial space. It was eventually dismantled.
1890 A new three story brick Citizens Bank/Masonic Building was erected. The bank occupied the south 112 feet of the west half of the building. The balance of the first floor was retail space in the shape of an “L,” with the foot of the “L” extending west behind the bank to 9th St. The “foot” was about 48 feet wide and divided into store rooms. The south room was 117 No. 9th, the center room was 121 No. 9th, and the north room was 125 No. 9th.
1890 Solomon & Nathan moved their business to the elegant and commodious rooms in the Citizens Bank Block.
1892 The Sanborn maps showed a bank and dry goods store on the main level. The second floor had offices. The third floor had the Masonic Lodge.
1897 The Sanborn maps showed a bank and dry goods store on the main level. The second floor had offices. The third floor had the Masonic Lodge. Solomon and Nathan’s store covered two floors. The lower floor had all kinds of goods. The upper floor had carpets, bulk goods and trunks. Mr. Solomon had died and Mr. Nathan owned and ran the entire store. Will Shickley was employed in the store.
1901 The interior of Solomon & Nathan’s store was improved. Glass counters were put in near the front entrance and in the rear and upstairs shelving was extended to the ceiling. Bicycle step ladders were hung to enable the clerks to reach the top shelves.
1902 The Sanborn maps showed a bank and dry goods store on the main level. The second floor had offices. The third floor had the Masonic Lodge.
1907 The Picard Pharmacy moved from the Dempster Building into the rooms vacated by Solomon & Nathan. The drugstore stock of wallpaper, paint, and other decorating items was located in this area.
1909 The Sanborn maps showed a bank and drug store on the main level. The second floor had offices. The third floor had the Masonic Lodge.
1910 Citizens Bank burned down February 13, 1910.
1910 A new building replaced it before Christmas. The first floor was a bank and business space. The new building did not divide this area into two rooms and the Picard Pharmacy used the entire area for their wallpaper, paint, and decorating stock. Various offices were located on the second floor. The third floor was used by the Masonic Lodge.
1922 The Sanborn maps showed a bank and drug store on the main level. The second floor had offices. The third floor had the Masonic Lodge.
1927 The State Banking Commission closed the bank on July 12, 1927.
1927 Ralph Reemts, registered pharmacist, joined the firm of Picard Pharmacy.
1927 Venus Oil was added to the business. Allen Kline managed the business. The warehouse was located at 820 G Street in the Brayton building.
1928 Sometime before 1930, this area was divided into two storefronts, each with its own entrance. The foot of the “L” was divided into two offices. The south part became the location of the Geneva Insurance & Realty Company, while the Picard Pharmacy continued to use the north part.
1932 In March, a fire started in the dental offices of Dr. Adams, Bukacek and Warner on the second floor. Most of the damage caused by the fire was confined to the second and third floors. The office of Charles H. Sloan on the ground floor in what was formerly the Citizens State bank room was damaged by water that came from the upper floors.
1933 The Sanborn maps showed a bank and drug store on the main level. The second floor had offices. The third floor had the Masonic Lodge.
1941 Picard Pharmacy filed with the State of Nebraska their notice of incorporation. Lawrence Doud, Ralph Reemts and Fred Picard were listed as owners of the corporation.
1943 The Sanborn maps showed a bank and drug store on the main level. The second floor had offices. The third floor had the Masonic Lodge.
The following video was submitted by John Kohler:
PICARD PHARMACY 1940'S_9th&G2.vpb.mp4
1951 Dr. Shultz’s Laboratory was added to the Picard Pharmacy business.
1957 This was the last year Dr. Shultz’s Laboratory was listed in the phone book.
1962 Picard Pharmacy expanded into 918 G.
1966 William Faimon purchased an interest in the Picard Pharmacy and the Venus Wholesale Company of Geneva. Allen Kline and Ralph Reemts, former members of the firm sold their interests, leaving Lawrence Doud and Bill Faimon the sole owners. The name was changed to Doud-Faimon Pharmacy.
1979 Lawrence Doud retired and Tom Meyer purchased his interest in Doud-Faimon Pharmacy. The name was changed to F & M Drug.
1980 Tom Meyer left the firm but the name was not changed.
1998 F & M closed due to the illness of Bill Faimon.
1998 The building was purchased by Olson Roofing of York, but there was no active business at this address.
2007 The building was sold to Rod Norrie who then sold it to Geneva State Bank.
2008 Geneva Java and Bistro, James Noyes, proprietor. Deb Tweedy moved her Whispering Wick Candle Company to the rear of the Bistro at 912 G.
2014 Geneva Java and Bistro closed the business to devote more time to other interests, Dairy Delite on North 13th Street.
2016 Molcajete Mexican Restaurant, Jaime Lopez, owner
This was ongoing as of the last posting.