The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1937-05-13
II. M. Aune Completes
50 Years In Business
PIONEER MERCHANT HAS
SURVIVED TWO FIRES.
SEVERAL PANICS

the founders and a present heaO
of the firm of Hart, Schaffner and
Marx, will arrive in Redwood
Falls today to attend the celebra-
ton of the fiftieth anniversary OF
Aune and Thune, Redwood Falls
mems clothing firm.
The celebration will be staged
today and Friday and Saturday
with a special sales event featur-
ed and gifts will be given those
visiting the Second street store.
Fifty years ago this week when
Redwood Falls was in the midst
of the biggest "boom" in its his
tory, H. M. Aune then a young
man of 26, came to the village
from Zumbrota. With P. M. Ring
dahl, another young man, he es-
tablished a mems clothing store
in a building located on the pre-
sent site of the Red and White
store.
Weathered Depressions
Since 1887 the firm has known
two disastrous fires and weather.
ed several periods of panic and
depression.
After Is months in the partner
ship, Ringdahl sold out to C. G.
Thune, former station agent at
Zumbrota where Mr.. Aune had
been clerking in a general store
previous to his move here.
The store was moved to the
present location of the Redwood
Cleaners after about three years
and located at its present site in
1891.
In 1892 business warranted the
opening of a branch at Echo and
in 1900 another store was opened
at Dawson.
Flames which swept away the
hotel at the corner of Second and
Washington streets also wiped out
the entire stock and fixtures of
the Aune store, October %, 1908.
Fourteen days later the undaunt-
ed partners were doing business
in, the Masonic block and July 21,
1904 they held grand opening of
their new store in its present
location.
Fire in 1926
The new brick, two story struc-
ture was put up by George Hogh-
master and Richard Sears, found
er of Sears, Roebuck and COM
pany. 1t was the last word in up
to-datenesS with its own gas
lighting plant and hot water heat
ing system.
In 1926, October again brought
a disastrous fire to the place. The
damaged goods were bought by
an outside firm and sold in Red
wood Falls but in March 1927 the
store again reopened for business
with a new front.
Mr.. Hart has an especial inter-
est in attending the observance
of the golden anniversary here as
Aune's is the second oldest &C
count of Hart, Schaffner and
Marx in the United States.
In the days when there was
no such word as fit in mems
clothing, Frank Hubbard, wearing
knee pants, clerked for the part
ners here. Prince Alberts, sack
suits and getaways were the rage
and Julius Schmahl, former
secretary of state and state trea-
surer habitually wore a high silk
hat purchased from the store.
MIR. Thune died several years
ago and the present firm includes
MIR. Aune and his son Harold
Employees include B. E. Marsh,
M. c. Crosby, Frank Arp, John
Rollins and Calvin Alexander.
Besides running his business,
Mr.. Aune has found time to oc-
cupy commanding position in
the official life of the city. He
served four years as alderman,
four terms as mayor and was a
member of the board of county
commissioners for Is years, serv-
ing as chairman for Is. He was
member of the board of educa-
ton for Is years, ID of which he
served as clerk. He also assisted
in organizing the Redwood Falls
Electric Telephone company and
served on its board for 10 years.
He just returned from st. Paul
where he served in the legisla-
ture, elected by Redwood county
voters last fall.