When the news reached Gandy in 1912, that the railroad would be extended three miles farther west, there was a mad scramble among the business men to see who could relocate in the new settlement first besides attracting several new businesses. These were listed in a special edition of the Stapleton Enterprise in 1913 but there may have been many more: 1. Bank of Stapleton was started under the management of F.E. Peterson of the Farmers Bank. 2. The first building erected in Stapleton was owned by Mr. John Moran and was headquarters for the Loup Valley Land Company until Dec.3,1912. They founded the town and named it for Dan Stapleton. 3. The second building was built by George J. Viehmeyer on Main Street where he sold Fire, Life and Accident Insurance. Real Estate Business was added in 1911. 4. Nicholas Hotel owned by John Moran and run by Carl Rankin. 5. Dr. H.L. McLeay's fine two-story store, office and public hall building which is still standing. He also built a garage. 6. General store run by McCain and Newkirk. 7. Harness and saddle store by J.W. Barbee. 6. Koehler Meat Market. 9. The firm of Wells and Abbott was formed in October and purchased the auto business of L.J. Ford of Stapleton and removed their own stock from Gandy. They also did an auto livery business where one could get a good careful driver. 10. Dan E. Fowle's garage. 11. Clark Button, C.B. Johnson and Mansfield started a general store July 20th which carried dry goods, groceries, furniture and hardware. 12. Idding Lumber Yard started by Burtis O. Callender on May 22nd. 13. Western Grain Company was run by Harry E. Ambler who also bought and shipped all kinds of grain and hogs. 14. First meat market started on November 26 by Peter Becker and supplies the town and vicinity with Fresh and salted meats and fish. 15. Heating and cook stoves, plumbing work, furnaces, hardware and tin ware stock operated by John H. Bedford. 16. Charles R. Cobb started the well business on April 2Oth. 17. Neale-Stone Drug Company started business in September. 18. John E. Cassell erected one of the first buildings in Stapleton, the lumber being hauled from Maxwell before the railroad was completed to Stapleton and operated a livery stable. 19. Pool Hall and short order restaurant counter was started in the south room of Dr. McLeay's building. 20. Stickel Lumber Company opened for business in May. 21. Barber business and building was moved from Gandy on June 4th by Frank Stitt. 22. William R. Wills held and auction every Saturday night; selling anything anyone had to sell; and did house painting as a sideline. 23. Hilde Cafe started on June l0th by O.H. Heldenbrand and moved to his new building in December. He carried a stock of general merchandise in the north room and had the restaurant in the south room with sleeping rooms on the second floor. 24. Ice Cream Parlor was operated by Daisy M. Marrs in the Telephone Company Building. 25. Stapleton Co-operative Creamery Co. started by Guy C. Peckham. 26. Charles A. Callender opened a stock of general merchandise, groceries, etc. in the frame store building north of this present brick building, which has 50 feet of frontage on Main Street and was occupied in October. 27. Auto and Garage business started by Lyman A. Ford and sold in October to Wells and Abbott. He then had charge of the repairs in Dan Fowles' Garage. 28. D.E. Mallatte did house painting and sign writing business and did most of the signs on the stores and banks in Stapleton. 29. Johnson Barber Shop was bought out in Sept. 2, 1913 by J.H. George. He gave men a shave or bath and the ladies any attention required in the tonsorial line. 30. Salisbury’s Implement was built in the early months of Stapleton’s booming. Ed moved his business to town from his home one mile southeast of Stapleton. A school house and village lockup was built in 1912 and the moving, remodeling and repairing of the Presbyterian Church from Gandy was started. Dr. Carr started practice in a U.P. box car on May 30th, 1912. He was District Surgeon for the U.P.R.R. Co., but when his offices were completed he moved into them which were two doors north of the Enterprize. William Schmidt opened a saloon on May 21, 1913. 1. The large building housed John Cassells livery stable while the small building at the left housed the Stapleton Enterprize. H.E. Roush was the editor of the first issue printed. These were the first buildings in Stapleton and the livery barn was located where the Whiteway Motel is now. 2. Fred T. Travis, a publicity representative of the Lewis Stock Company helped H.E. Roush to get out first paper in the tent before building was built. Stock Company was performing in Stapleton at that time. 3. Miss Rosa Heldenbrand, an employee of the Hilde Hotel.
