Kearney. A letter has been received from Mrs. Martin which will be printed elsewhere in this history as it relates interesting stories of her family in the early day. Her father, Tom Wade, homesteaded the southwest quarter of Section 18, Township 23, Range 2 two and a half miles south of town, later going to Page, Nebraska to engage in business. When he retired he moved to Sioux City.

The building which is now Pete's Cafe was occupied mostly as a restaurant but for some years from about 1915 on was occupied by Miss Minnie Tegeler, a sister of Fred Tegeler. Miss Tegeler operated a millinery and dress shop and had her living quarters in the upstairs rooms. On to the west was Dr. Tanner's office which is now occupied by Vince Kirby, attorney as a law office. The next building was the old Herman Claus Shoe Shop and shortly after 1900 became a barber shop. The next building is one erected by a syndicate about 1913 and housed the post office and it was so occupied until a few years ago when the postal department wanted larger quarters and it was then moved to the old Farmer's State Bank Building.

Next is an old time establishment, founded by August Steffen, the father of Simon Steffen. He conducted a furniture store and a mortuary. Mr. Steffen came to Battle Creek in 1888 but first engaged as a carpenter for a time before entering this business. The Norfolk Home for Funerals purchased the establishment but still continues to operate it under the name "Steffen Mortuary" to this day. The next four buildings in this block have been previously mentioned except the store room east of Esther's Store which is now occupied by Mrs.. Kenneth Scheerger as a beauty parlor. The original building was a part of the Bates Store but was sold to Charles Ulrich who came from Bassett, Nebraska in the early 1900's and who for about 25 years operated a meat market here. Mr. Ulrich bought the old F. J. Hale home and lived there with his family until Mrs. Ulrich passed away and he, because of ill health, had to leave Battle Creek to live with his daughter in Bassett.

In the block to the west on the north side of Main Street, we find the first building which was erected about 1910 by Herbert Heuerman and Fred Fuerst. This housed Battle Creek's first public garage. Later, about 1912, an addition was added to the rear to house the engines of the newly formed Municipal Light Company. The engines were closed down at 12:00 at night so people either went to bed or had to go back to their kerosene lamps. For a special occasion and a $2.00 tip the engineer would forget to close down until 1:00 a.m. Then on Tuesday the engines would be started at 8:00 in the morning so that those women who had acquired electric irons could do their ironing. Otherwise the engines were not started until dusk demanded light. Usually people living within a few blocks of the plant, especially when the wind was "contrary," were glad when the engines shut down to end the pounding noise and oil odor. There were other occasions when the engines were started during the day, such occasions being when light other than the sun was necessary on a mission of mercy such as lights for a surgeon performing surgery using

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