Gartner's Bakery

Joseph Gartner constructed this building in 1905 to house Gartner's Bakery, his flourishing bakery and confectionary business. Gartner came to Illinois from his native Germany when he was nineteen years old. Prior to settling in St. Charles, Gartner worked in the bakery business in Hampshire, Illinois. Gartner established his original St. Charles bakery and restaurant in 1890 in the old Dearborn Building on the northwest corner of Main and Second Streets, which was demolished in to make way for the St. Charles National Bank Building 1926. In 1893, Joseph's brother, John, opened the John Gartner Bakery and Restaurant at what is now 114 E. Main Street. John remained in business until the mid-1930s.

During the early years of the business, Joseph Gartner's bakery was popular among local citizens for its five cent dish of ice cream and twenty-five cent Sunday chicken dinners. When the business moved to the 203 W. Main Street location, Gartner's Bakery no longer served meals, but continued to offer baked goods, ice cream, candy, and fountain drinks. Joseph's son, Karl, worked at Gartner's Bakery during the early 1900s. Karl Gartner eventually took over his father's business and operated Gartner's Bakery until 1960.

Karl Gartner also pursued an interest in photography, and many of his photographs of St. Charles scenes and residents were donated to the St. Charles History Museum. Gartner's photographs of World War II veterans are of special interest.

In the late 1960s, the Bagge Pharmacy operated in the former bakery building. The Grossklag Real Estate Company took over the building in the 1970s, and the Southwest Trading Company was located here for over 25 years before moving to Geneva, Illinois in June of 2004. Kettley Realty currently occupies this building.

Sources:

■ St. Charles Historical Society. Celebrating History: A Pictoral Essay of St. Charles Illinois. St. Charles: St. Charles Historical Society, 1990. View Online

■ St. Charles Heritage Center. The Charlemagne. Summer 1995, p. 1.

■ Clauter, Hazel. Our Community--St. Charles. 1967.

■ Edwards, Wynette A. Images of America, St. Charles Illinois. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 1999. p. 38, 40.

■ Interview with Mr. Gartner of Gartner's Bakery (CD)

■ Pearson, Ruth Ann. Reflections of St. Charles. Elgin: Brethern Press, 1976. p. 36.

■ Spirou, Costas. St. Charles Culture and Leisure in an All-American Town. p. 25.