Post by Eric Standridge on Oct 20, 2011 8:42:20 GMT -6
This is a rough draft of a portion of Chapter 3. This except comes from the middle of the chapter and depicts several of the businesses in Poteau during the time. Extra notes have been included throughout the chapters to provide additional details of people and places, and a complete bibliography has been included as well for those who wish to do further research. As this is a rough draft, it still requires a lot of editing before it can be marked as complete.
Business Thrives in Poteau
...Residents of Poteau got a little sweeter after George Brehm arrived in Poteau. George Brehm [1]was originally from Lupfig, Switzerland. After immigrating to the United States in 1851, he went on to serve the Union Infantry during the Civil War. Not much is known of the Brehm family after the war, but it is known that George and his family finally settled in Poteau in 1896.
After they arrived, they quickly set about building the first bakery and confectionery in Poteau. Unusual for this time, the Brehm Bakery was located on the southeast side of the Frisco tracks. The wood frame building was constructed with an odd approach, but one that worked remarkably well. The building was set into two parts. The front room consisted of the showcase area, where a wide variety of baked goods and candies was offered for sale. The actual bakery was offset from the front room by several feet. It consisted of a large brick oven that spanned almost the entire room.
Residents of Poteau enjoyed the many sweet and tasty treats that the bakery had to offer. During the hot summer months, people would congregate on the front porches of the bakery to escape the heat. The bakery offered a wide variety of breads and candies. Fruit Syrups, Jellies, pastries, and several varieties of breads dominated the front room, as well as rock candy, round stick “pulled” candies, and the always-popular chocolate candies.
In 1897, a few blocks south of the Brehm Bakery on Railroad Avenue, construction began on the first rock building east of the Frisco tracks. Captain Edmund McKenna[2], a Civil War veteran, began construction on this two-story rock building on May 27, 1897....
[1] J. Ulrich Brehm (used George in U.S.) born Lupvfig, Aargau, Switzerland 8 Dec 1843; married Anna Foulk Logan, OH 19July 1868; married Alby Calvert date/place unknown; died Poteau, Oklahoma 11 Mar 1924. Civil War records listed is as follows: “BREM, George” Private Mansfield Jan 31, 1865 Mustered out Jan 24, 1866
[2] Edmund McKenna was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1843. He was married to Madeline Zauld. He achieved rank of captain while fighting for the Confederate States of American during the Civil War. He died on February 9, 1910, and was buried at Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He lived to be 67 years old.
Business Thrives in Poteau
...Residents of Poteau got a little sweeter after George Brehm arrived in Poteau. George Brehm [1]was originally from Lupfig, Switzerland. After immigrating to the United States in 1851, he went on to serve the Union Infantry during the Civil War. Not much is known of the Brehm family after the war, but it is known that George and his family finally settled in Poteau in 1896.
After they arrived, they quickly set about building the first bakery and confectionery in Poteau. Unusual for this time, the Brehm Bakery was located on the southeast side of the Frisco tracks. The wood frame building was constructed with an odd approach, but one that worked remarkably well. The building was set into two parts. The front room consisted of the showcase area, where a wide variety of baked goods and candies was offered for sale. The actual bakery was offset from the front room by several feet. It consisted of a large brick oven that spanned almost the entire room.
Residents of Poteau enjoyed the many sweet and tasty treats that the bakery had to offer. During the hot summer months, people would congregate on the front porches of the bakery to escape the heat. The bakery offered a wide variety of breads and candies. Fruit Syrups, Jellies, pastries, and several varieties of breads dominated the front room, as well as rock candy, round stick “pulled” candies, and the always-popular chocolate candies.
In 1897, a few blocks south of the Brehm Bakery on Railroad Avenue, construction began on the first rock building east of the Frisco tracks. Captain Edmund McKenna[2], a Civil War veteran, began construction on this two-story rock building on May 27, 1897....
[1] J. Ulrich Brehm (used George in U.S.) born Lupvfig, Aargau, Switzerland 8 Dec 1843; married Anna Foulk Logan, OH 19July 1868; married Alby Calvert date/place unknown; died Poteau, Oklahoma 11 Mar 1924. Civil War records listed is as follows: “BREM, George” Private Mansfield Jan 31, 1865 Mustered out Jan 24, 1866
[2] Edmund McKenna was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1843. He was married to Madeline Zauld. He achieved rank of captain while fighting for the Confederate States of American during the Civil War. He died on February 9, 1910, and was buried at Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He lived to be 67 years old.