| Summary: | Oscar Polis in his barber shop with Vernon "Tuck' Wold in the chair. which had housed Frank Mardoff and Hans Olson in their Furnace and Plumbing Repair and Tinsmith business. In April, 1929, George Nelson purchased the O.K. Barber Shop from Bill Sorum. There were also several earlier barber shops. In 1923, Al Knutson of Aneta opened a barbershop in the August Rickford building (Magoris building) on March 5, and left for Fargo in July, 1923. Scott Hall of Cooperstown leased the south side of the Larson building and fitted it up for a barber shop in August, 1929. However, he soon sold his shop and fixtures to George Nelson who closed the Hall Shop and served the public with 3 employees in his own shop, and Hall returned to Cooperstown. Magnus Midstokke barbered in a shop on the west side of Main Street, and Jack Hardman had a barber shop on the west side of Main Street in the Larson building in 1931. When the Hard- man's spent several weeks at Hamar, Ervin Helgeland was in his shop. The Polis Barber Shop was closed in 1942 when Oscar had to leave to fulfill his Army obligations to Uncle Sam. He returned in November, 1945, and re-opened his shop. In June, 1962, Gene McLean of Lakota became the owner of the O.K. Barber Shop. Mr. Nelson assisted at the shop. Dick Simundson managed the O.K. Barber Shop in 1964, continuing for several years, until he decided to leave McVille and go into farming. In September, 1968, Hubert Brosseau of Drayton, N.D. had charge of the Polis Barber Shop when Mr. Polis was absent for three weeks after undergcing surgery. Bob Aaser opened the McVille Barber Shop on June 8, 1970, taking over from Oscar Polis who had been in business continuously since 1927 except for 2V2 years in the military service. In November, 1970, the Barber Shop was given a face lift with a new front. Bob Aaser sold his business to Guy Johnson in the fall of 1977, to devote his time to his farming endeavors. MCVILLE TAILOR SHOPS In March, 1911, an advertisement in the McVille Journal appealed to the citizens of McVille to patronize a tailor establishment recently begun in town if they wished it to become a permanent feature in town. JO. Gordon, Petersburg, was open for business in the building on Main Street used as the McVille Club Rooms, and was known as "Gordon, the Tailor". However, nothing further could be learned of the venture. A Tailor Shop was established by A. Bernstein who moved to McVille in November, 1913, and occupied the G.T. Mark building vacated by Floyd Becker (also called the Magoris building where Oscar Polis' Barber Shop was located). In 1914 he moved into L.S. Jacobson building and called it "The Model". A notice appeared in the 1914 McVille Journal said, "The tree in front of Bernsteins' is not a hitching post." It was planted by Lars Jacobson several years previously. Bernstein closed "The Model" and left with his family for Grand Forks in 1915. That same year, Percy S. Priddel, who was in charge of M. St. Clair's "McVille Pantorium" tailor shop located above the Drug Store, purchased the business and moved into the building vacated by Bernstein. Later, in November, he moved his business from that building into the Palmquist building next to the old Journal Office (Kathleen's Kut & Kurl). He also rented the living quarters above the Drug Store which had been vacated by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hauge who had moved into the country. But in March, 1916, he left town without notice. In August, 1916, a Tailor Shop was opened next door to Vangsness and Braaten millinery by A.J. Gitlin which was still in existence in June, 1918. Iver Knutson had a Tailor Shop over the Cash Store and later over the Opera House in 1923. The Model was also opened again in the 20's by Lars Cameron, but in November, 1923, closed out the business, and in 1925 O.K. Brandvold and family arrived in town and opened a grocery store in the Model building. In 1930 Olaus Djuvstad, formerly employed at a tailor shop in Warren, Minn., started a shop in McVille at his residence in the Frost house. He later moved his business to the Farup building (Gronaas Floral), and in July, 1930, advertised "Clothes made to measure, $25." T.N. Osmon operated a tailor shop at several different locations in McVille, the last being in the small white building east of the Olson Body Shop (when it was located in the former Ford Motor Co. building). This building also housed Ed. Loe's Shoe Repair at one time. MCVILLE OPERA HOUSE by Maxine Mueller On October 6, 1907, work commenced on the building of a first class Opera House in McVille, dimensions to be 28x80 feet and two stories high. According to the owners, Archie MacMillan and George Thomas, it was intended to be one of the best play-houses on the new railroad line. The public hall was located on the first floor with arrangements for lodge rooms and offices on the second floor. The contract was let to Gus Bulger. The Twin City Scenic Company, through Harry M. Case, had the scenery contract. The stage curtains and scenery arrived on January 8, 1908, and the lodge rooms were plastered and completed that same month. The Opera House was finally opened with a Grand Ball on January 10,1908, which was a decided success. All towns between Hope and Devils Lake were represented, and music was furnished by the Band and Orchestra, both local organizations. The supper served at the Palace and McVille Hotels did credit to the occasion. The opening plays of the Opera House, held January 20, 21, and 22, 1908, were a group of three by Maxam and Sights, reserved seats were 75 cents and tickets were on sale at the Drug Store. Presented were "What Happened to Smith," "Gambler's Wife," and "Street Waifs of New York." On January 29 followed the play, "Was She To Blame?", a favorite play with the ladies. From the sound of the titles, one would guess it was the era of the Melodrama. The Commercial Club began holding its meetings upstairs in January, 1908. The McVille Military Band Dance was held on February 7, 1908, which entailed elaborate preparations. Admission charge for the dance was $1 and 50 cents per couple for the supper served in the lodge rooms upstairs. 42 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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