With the lots purchased from George Wells for $600, Leibsohn Bros. erected this beautiful 2-story brick building in 1898. Completed cost of this all-brick building was said to have been about $7,000. During construction in September 1898 there was a terrific storm which in great part ruined two months worth of construction – lightning struck the building and masonry was scattered and the iron pillars were twisted and one of them was hurled to the opposite side of the street! Despite the setback, the building was completed and Leibsohn\’s were able to move their general merchandise business in mid-November. H. H. Frerichs succeeded the Leibsohn Bros. in 1903. This remained a general merchandise store for many more years under a few different proprietors until 1936 when John W. Ross moved his Allis-Chalmers implement and tractor store in. Later becoming Ross & Purvis, this firm remained in business until 1976.

For many years the second story was living quarters.

The basement was used for different purposes over the years; barber shop, lunch counter, pool room, garage/work shop, storage. In the early 1980\’s the Wellsburg Firemen had their Halloween haunted house in the basement.

The building was demolished about 1983.

This is now a vacant lot and is frequently used for the beer garden during Wellsburg Daze.

(This was originally shared on 12 March 2021 on the Facebook Group – Wellsburg IOWA Historical Foundation)