705 F Street

Address: 705 F Street

Legal Description:

Building:

1926 National Refining Co., C. M. Hourigan, manager.

1933 In May, Colonel Iryl Shaner was notified by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Co. that his request to lease some of the company's right of way on which to build a sales pavilion was approved. Colonel Shaner had been holding sales in his Chevrolet garage which had greatly grown in size.

1936 In June, Iryl Shaner leased the Sale Barn to Albert Woodhead and William R. Wilkins for one year. The business name was Geneva Livestock Commission Co.

1938 In November, the Geneva Sale Barn was reopened with Roy C. Miller as manager and Colonel Iryl Shaner as auctioneer.

1941 In January, Iryl Shaner was joined by his son, Rex, as an auctioneer. Rex had been helping his father at the Chevrolet garage, Shaner & Son.

1942 In June, improvements were made at the sale barn. The pens were improved. The old office on the west was turned into a cafe. A new office was built under the seating area on the north side of the barn.

1942 In December, Kenneth Shaner was sworn into the army for civilian pilot training.

1944 In October, Rex Shaner entered the army.

1946 In March, Rex and Kenneth were discharged from the army and resumed their work with their father at Shaner & Son and at auctioneering.

1950 In June, the manager of the Geneva Sale Barn, Roy C. Miller, died.

1950 In September, the business was reopened by Shaner & Sons.

1952 Shaner & Sons leased the Sale Barn to Harlen Jensen of Superior.

1956 Mrs. Edna Loghry purchased the lunchroom in the Geneva Sale Barn.

1957 Howard Axtell was the manager.

1958 Ed Erks became the manager.

1959 The Sale Barn was closed.

1960 Harold Kleinschmidt became manager of the Sale Barn.

1963 Improvements were made in the lunchroom and bathroom facilities.

1971 After Iryl’s death, his sons continued to hold sales. Over the years, there were several different managers.

1983 The Geneva Sale Barn was shut down.

1984 Sale Barn sat empty

2003 Stan Tatro of the Stan Tatro Salvage Yard purchased the Sale Barn from Mike Shaner. Prior to that time, Stan conducted his business from the Tatro farm.

2019 The sale barn was torn down. A new fire hall was built for the city of Geneva.

2020 The new fire hall was put into use.

This was ongoing as of the last posting.