Barbers and Beauticians Serve Traer Community’s Styling Needs
Retired barber Wallie Musselt left the trade in May 1973 after about 45 years serving Traer men. He began with Dan Conner, then opened his own shop in 1935. The shop moved from Jeb's Country Store basement to the telephone building and later to the Masonic building on Second Street. Jon Trousdale joined Musselt eight years ago and will continue operating the Masonic building shop. Paul Baker began on Second Street in 1936, bought the 1948 Street business, and has run it since. Gordon Reynolds, from Shenandoah, arrived in June 1964, later moving to current premises two doors east. Beauty shops active in Traer include Jean Redmon’s Bu-Tee Box opened December 7, 1955, in 206 South Main, with 33 years in the National Hairdressers Association of Cosmetologists. Carol's Cut ’n Curl has operated since June 1957. Roy Fuller now runs from home at 100 Levering Street after a first-year location in 206 South Main. Leland Hulme began JoAnn’s Beauty Salon in May 1961, moving to home in 1968 at 416 4th Street. Donna’s Beauty Salon opened May 1967 at 804 1/2 Elm Street behind a home, with three full or part time operators and a second Second Street shop briefly operated by Donna Franklin.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wallie Musselt
Dan Conner
Traer
Jeb
Hesperia Masonic Lodge
Traer Theater
Second Street
Jon Trousdale
Musselt
Trousdale
Paul Baker
Homer Street
Baker
Gordon Reynolds
Shenandoah
Jean Redmon
South Main
Carol
Roy Fuller
Carol’s
4Th Street
Cham
Milford Overton
Wunder Funeral Home
Dysart
Wunder Furniture
Boettcher Furniture
Wir
Overton
Milford
Lee Overton
Tracr
Steve
Bruce Overton
Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science
Bruce
Overton Funeral Home
First Street
Traer Overton Furniture Store
Boettcher’s
Irene Spiers
Barbara
Paustian) Overton
Blair
Brent
First Community Bank and Trust
Overtons Begin Here in 1960
Milford Overton bought Wunder Funeral Home in Dysart in 1953 and Wunder furniture in 1955. In 1960 he acquired the Boettcher Furniture home furnishings part in Traer, guiding a family transition. The Dysart operation continued with Milford active as funeral director while son Bruce moved into Traer as manager.
Bohnstengel Still Harnessing Horses
Ed Bohnstengel, a Traer craftsman with 53 years in harness and saddle making, shifted from harness repair to selling saddles and horse care products as riding for pleasure rose after 1941. He now sells about 100 saddles yearly and serves customers from town and sometimes out of state, adapting his business to a changing market.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Traer
Ed Bohnstengel
Bohnstengel
Second Street
Ed Wins Accord Through Consistent Support
A note reflects on Ed's steady presence and hopeful outlook for continued involvement, despite being newer to the scene and lacking a broad network of long-time friendships.
Insurance Firms Start Here Early In Traer History
In Traer the insurance sector grew with several firms and agents. Notable players include Lyle Bitcon at 610 2nd Street, Franklin Marley at 912 Mill Street, L. L. Owens and Associates at 615 2nd Street, Jack Norman, Robert Himschoot at 604 Mill Street, Gerald Howard at 340 2nd Street Farmers Mutual building, Roger Corbin at 300 First Street, and Richard Dahms at 527 2nd Street. Firms evolved from 1920s to 1970s, with moves and rebrandings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Traer
Lyle Bitcon
Bitcon
Hyland
Lyte Bitcon Agency
Gener Insurance
Moohai Building
Coast To Coast
Franklin Marley
Mill Street
Barley
L. L. Owens and Associates
Tama County Mutual Agency
Owens
2Nd Street
Jack Norman
Norman
Gene Rottler
C. O. Owens
Firra
Robert Himschoot
Gerald Howard
Farmers Mutual
Jerry
Farmers Mutual Insurance Association
Roger Corbin
First Street
Richard Dahms
Boettchers Serve Traerites 80 Years
The 1960 sale of Boettcher's Furniture Store ended an 80 year Traer business started in 1880 by Herman Boettcher and partners. The firm expanded to Dysart, Vinton, Waterloo, and Marshalltown. Ed Boettcher led as general manager and community leader before the sale to Milford Overton and Webster Latting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boettcher
Herman Boettcher
EF. H
Ed) Boettcher
E. 4. Boettcher
Dysart
Vinton
Waterloo
Marshalltown
Ed Boettcher
Traer Lions Club
Traer Merchants
Buckingham Cemetery Association
Claude States
Robert
Margaret Boettcher) Powell
Traet
Powell
Traer
Milford Overton
Webster Latting
Overton
Latting
Cleaning Firm 45 Years Old in Traer
John Rollins started a Traer cleaning business in 1952 after prior shop work. He bought the building in 1956, remodeled in 1961, and expanded with a rear area and front lobby. The Rollins family runs the shop with Joyce and Steven, joining a line of former owners including Lars en and Derr dating back to 1928.
Rural Food Service Carrier Expands to Five Routes
Roger Dillon owns Thelmo Foods, a two year old firm growing from Mary Jane brand service. Operating from the Lone Pine Motel, his business serves five country routes from Traer to Shellsburg, Denver, Tama Toledo, Denver and Grundy Center. It supplies basic food needs plus frozen foods meats and ice cream.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roger Dillon
Thelmo Foods
Dillon
Lone Pine
Thelma
Traer
Shellsburg
Denver
Tama-Toledo
Grundy Center
Ericksons Open New Funeral Home in Traer in 1959
An open house celebrated the January 1959 opening of the Erickson Funeral Home, describing its new location one door east of the former facility. The large house, purchased from Dr. P. I. Eyres, includes a chapel and garage, as the States family transitions ownership after Willard Erickson and his wife Jean moved to Traer in 1957.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New Erickson Funeral Home
Boetteher Funeral Home
The
States Business
Erickson's
Ellsworth College
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Chicago
States Funeral Home
C. E. States
Boettcher Funeral Business
Rippey
Boettcher
States
Traer
Boettchers
First Street
Ed Boettcher
A. R. Erickson
Claude States
Willard Erickson
Jean
Vicki
Doug
Randy
Garwin
Cedar Falls
Post Office list from Tama county in 1860 almanac
Facsimile of the 1860 Towa State Almanac reproduces Tama county post offices and postmasters, including Butterville Oliver Scrimplin Collin's Grove L. B. Collins Crystal Robt. R. Chambers Heath Major Heath Kinisaw John J. Howard Ola Wm. T. Hawley Redman Jas. R. Graham Spring Creek Wm. B. King Tamaville Norman Lewis Toledo E. B. Bolens West Irving Hale and Wolf Creek D. Higgens. Traer area postmasters who have served include Stephen Kling.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Towa
Redman
Jas. R. Graham
Spring Creek
Wm. B. King
Tamaville
Norman’ Lewis
Toledo
E. B. Bolens
West Trving
Hale
Wolf” Creek
D. Higgens
Traer
Stephen Kling
Traer Postmasters Over Time From 1830s Through 1960s
The list records a sequence of Traer postmasters and acting postmistresses from Aman’s 1830s appointment through Dale M. Magnussen’s Aug 31 1960 appointment. It notes names and dates including Zoe Ann Taylor in 1873 as the town’s first postmistress, with numerous successors across decades and a late 20th century transition to Magnussen.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edwin T. Langley
John W. Hart
Wm. B. Gillespie
Elmer FE. Taylor
J. A. Ladd
Daniel T. Bower
Bert E. Bower
B. F. Thomas
Syr
Arthur Thomas
Joseph S. Guynn
Frank H. Hoeppner
Asa L. Ames
Herbert B. Kahler
Glenn F. Shortess
Mike W. Hyland
Milo Machal
Dale M. Magnussen
PCA Comes to Traer in 1969
Elwood Larson serves as manager for the Traer office of the Production Credit Association. The office opened fulltime operations on Jan 1, 1969, with Larson its only manager since then. The PCA central Iowa unit includes Traer and nearby offices. Loans rose from 214 million at establishment to 6 million by 1973 for Traer area producers. Larson and his wife Alberta have four children.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elwood Larson
Traer
Production Credit Association
Larson
PCA
Marshalltown
Vinton
Cedar Rapids
Newton
Central Iowa
Agricultural Credit Office
Toledo
Alberta
iCheri
Kari
Denise
Michael
Also Mentioned on This Page
Henry Holst
Traer-Clutier-Dysart
Hans and Jones
E. J
Hans) Watson
Traerites
John Rollins
Frank Hladik
Sims
Elmer Derr
Ackley
Larsen
Food Service For
Ericksons Fellow
States’ Business
Post Office
Zai
KLIN
Ralls Ben Franklin
George Yordy
Robert, Caroline, Jim and
JoAnn Ralls
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!