Kendall County, Illinois Genealogy

Business Directory of Helmar in 1906

"Store Business - Wealthy Farmers - Big Church"

Published in the Kendall County Record, October 10, 1906
Edited and compiled by Elmer Dickson

If one of the merchants of the other towns of Kendall County should have as many people in his store all at once with only three clerks to wait on the trade as was found in the store of "Mike" Fries at Helmar Saturday night, about eight o'clock, there would certainly be a scrambling that would set the town buzzing. A Record man had occasion to drop in to do a little business with Mr. Fries, Saturday evening, and there were at least forty people in the up-to-date country store. The clerks were all busy, and those who were waiting for a salesman were standing around talking crops and politics. It was a peculiar sight, to find that brilliantly lighted and well kept store out there away from the railroads, away from the cement walks and electric lights, with so many patrons standing about.

Helmar has become a prosperous dwelling center of numbers of wealthy farmers. The village is situated on the corners which divide four different townships, Lisbon, Fox, Big Grove and Kendall. A man on one side of the road goes several miles from his next door neighbor to reach his respective polling place. A row of beautiful homes extends from the store corner, commodious, well painted, with large lawns and convenient barns. On one side of the street is a telephone central office in Johnny O'Brien's home. Down the street from the store and dwellings is the handsome Lutheran church which was dedicated several years ago at a cost of some fifteen thousand dollars. It is one of the most imposing churches in Kendall County. Here these people have gathered to spend the remaining days of their lives.

A few miles from their doors they have their farms, occupied by tenants, which perhaps some of them took up at a very small figure years ago. Many of these people have their families of young people around them, and there is a busy social circle in Helmar to keep the long winter evenings from becoming too oppressive.

Miss Nelson, who used to write an entertaining letter each week for The Record, has gone to one of the northern states on a visit, and Helmar folks say they miss the local notations. The little village is becoming one of the busy centers for the country trade. It is a good market place, and prosperity is seen on the little short street with its pleasant homes, store and church.