In October of 1897, H. B. Koolman bought two lots from Mr. Wells opposite the hotel. Mills & Son of Parkersburg had the contract for the 40×70-foot building. December 11 was opening day and a full-page ad listed something for everyone; groceries, canned goods, clothing, dry goods, ladies and children\’s jackets, dress goods, blankets, millinery, handkerchiefs and mufflers, hosiery, crockery and glassware, tinware, and horse blankets. Or how about a wolf skin robe for 55 cents or a coon skin overcoat for 45 cents?!

Two stories high, the second story was used as a public hall for a number of years. The five plate-glass windows and corner entrance was most attractive. The first dance in the hall was held January 7, 1898; 50 cents for a ticket including dancing, and 15 cents for a spectator ticket! In 1904 the hall was converted into apartments to help ease the demand for living spaces. Photo studios operated by Mrs. Dunn and and later, Mrs. Wright, were on the second floor. In 1905 the second floor was again remodeled into an opera house. W. F. Martin, Chas. Beibesheimer, B. H. Lindaman, D. J. Riekena, H. B. Koolman, O. B. Eells, W. F. Diebner, John Tjaden, and Dr. Heddens headed up this change.

By 1907 Koolman was expanding to the east, which necessitated the stairway be moved to the main street side to access the second floor. In 1914, the Shermerhorn Company of Waterloo, put pebble dash on the outside of the building.

In 1918, Mr. Koolman retired and Miner Haack purchased Koolman\’s stock and business. Miner\’s brother, Herman, bought into the business which then became known as the Haack Brothers. In 1928, the Haack Bros. moved across the street to make room for H. B. Koolman to re-enter his building again in the merchandise business. After Mrs. B. C. Koolman completed a course in a Chicago beauty college, she had a beauty parlor in the northeast part of the store in 1930. The Moderne Beauty Shop advertised a permanent wave with the new Nestle-LeMur Triplex machine for $5 in 1931. Meint H. Tjaden bought the Koolman business in 1934. His son, Russell, a 1930 WHS graduate, was in charge of the business. The new Cash & Carry store opened in January 1934. In June 1934, the business property was bought by Miner Haack. R. B. Tjaden continued his Cash & Carry, affiliating himself with United Buyers Corporation of Chicago and San Francisco in August 1934. In October 1934 R. B. Tjaden moved his business a couple of doors south into the Ackerman building.

In November 1935 Neil Okones purchased the building for $2,525 from First State Bank who acquired it on foreclosure. In 1935 Mr. Okones put in the corner gas station; selling Standard Oil. He handled a filling and service station as well as farm implements which he purchased from H. H. Doyen and a complete line of McCormick-Deering farm machinery. January 11, 1936 was the grand opening. The opening for the International Harvester Co. line was held mid-March 1936. In December 1936 he leased the oil business to Clarence and Ted Beecroft. They operated the station under the D-X name and installed a brand new computing gas pump. In September 1937 they went down to a six-day service week.

In 1940 R. B. Tjaden purchased the building when Okones Implement moved to their new building on the west edge of town. Fred Potter opened the Recreation Parlor in May 1940. In October 1940 (Alfred) Meyer\’s Market opened in the building. In 1941 the Beecroft Bros. introduced the D-X Dumbo Club; with members eligible to receive the D-X Dumbo Weekly, a comic magazine created by Walt Disney himself!

In 1945, the Beecroft Bros. purchased the building from R. B. Tjaden. In 1948 they installed a four-post electric hoist to better serve their customers.

In late 1953 the building was sold to John Kruse and Odie Meyer. In 1958 Kruse moved his equipment to the Cities Service station at the 4-corner stop on Highway 214. In January 1960 work began to tear down the landmark building.

In August 1961, plans were approved to build the new post office in this spot.