Building Once Housed Button Factory in Warsaw, IL

Buttons cut from Mississippi River Shells

Most likely the only logical solution was decided by the Warsaw City Council concerning the three story building at 314 Main Street in Warsaw. The relentless march of time, as well as decades of neglect, has put the building in a dilapidated condition. If the old walls could talk they would speak of Warsaw in a different era. A busy river port with a bustling Main Street and a population that more than double what it is today. The following are a few examples of several businesses that operated in the building at 314 Main that likely will soon be razed.

The building was constructed in 1869 by Ike Broadhurst who built several structures in Warsaw, including the adjoining two buildings at 316 and 318 Main. Broadhurst operated a brickyard and all the bricks used in these buildings were fired at this yard. Known as the Mussetter building at 314 Main it housed a dry goods store originally. A few years later James McElwy started a billiard saloon which became very popular. One regular patron was a prominent attorney for the T P & W Railroad named Robert Ingersoll who spent much time in Warsaw in 1870s. Ingersoll later became president of the T P & W and later would serve as attorney general for the State of Illinois. He, like many, enjoyed shooting pool and patronized the billiard hall on his visits to Warsaw.

The Dory Brothers took over the building in the late 1870s and started a clothing and dry goods establishment, which was successful operation for over 20 years. A variety of dry goods and clothing was sold there including shoes, boots, coats and hats, and a large line of clothing for both men and women.

In the early 1900s the building was remodeled and made into an oyster bar, operated for a time by Henry Roth before he started in the grocery business which he remained in for many years. A few years later the Heffner family started up an eatery which proved successful. Known as the Heffuer Cafe the establishment had a good reputation for exceptional food and service. The restaurant was sold by Mrs. John Heffner in March 1925 to George Wepner of Lewistown, Mo. It remained an eating establishment for several years after.

In 1946 Ed Brownlee started up a button cutting plant in the building. Having been a button cutter in the days when the button factory was located on the riverfront and was one of Warsaw’s important industries, Brownlee had 15 cutting machines in operation and had 25 employees. Although the operation wasn’t as large as it was when the Mississippi Pearl Co. operated on the riverfront in Warsaw, the company still turned out 175,000 blanks a week. These blanks were then shipped to Muscatine. to be drilled and finished. All the clam shells that were used then in the cutting operation were shipped in from the Tennessee River. Ironically many of the finished buttons were sent back to Warsaw and used by the Osgood Garment Factory which was then located directly across Main Street from the Hawkeye Button works. Some of the employees at the time were Wallace and Melvin Bennett, Ruth Clark, Florence Brownlee, Henry Satory, Laun Brownlee, Joe Cline, John Zimmerman, Wendell Howren and Bill Courtois.

One local tale concerning the building was there was a small pulley on the framework of the door in the rear of the building which was bordered by a city alley. During the prohibition era a jug of local distilled spirits hung near the back door and if anyone asked quietly – or would “speakeasy” – for a stronger drink, it could be poured out of the crock jug hanging in back. The rope that secured the jug was tied off and could easily be cut if suspicion was aroused and the jug would fall onto a cement pad below destrtroying all the evidence. It was never said whether this precaution was ever needed.


SOURCE: https://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/daily_gate/building-at-314-main-has-housed-several-businesses/article_a4e559e9-03e5-5935-9409-1b6d8c28eab2.html