Velkommen til Westby

Velkommen til Westby

Sunday, June 8, 2014

View from the Cargill Grain Elevator — 1908

Taken from the top of the new Cargill Grain Elevator, this photo was taken about 1908. The big building at the top center with the eyebrow windows on second floor is the Bekkedal-Unseth Block finished in 1906. The three-story Evans hotel is another noticeable building left of center. At the time of its completion, it was one of Vernon County's best. Remolded in 1899 in preparation for a New Year’s Eve party Westby has not seen again.

A few buildings also visible in the photo: On the very right is the La Crosse and Southeastern Railroad depot; the house located at the bottom would be torn down in a few years to in order to construct Hotel Syverson, later Hotel Ender, and finally the Times Hotel. Before the building became the current private residence it was the Old Times, Assisted Living; The long shed looking building toward the bottom left had numerous businesses located in it throughout the years. It was used as Johan G. Michelet’s general store in 1879  the last being Nielson’s Department store when they built a new building next door and tore this building down to make room for the DX gas station that is now Connelly Law Office.

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