The Surprise - Hessel Building

1903 - Mar 5 - "The Sursprise"

The Hessel Brothers, who have purchased the stock of merchadise of Adams & Co., are business men of long experience. They had been successful young men because they have made their business astude and know just how to cater to the wants of the public. They had the enterprice and the means to keep pace with the times and propose to do business in a manner that will meet with the approval of the public. Watch for the dates announcing their great opening day, as the firm desires to meet each and every farme in this section. They will do them good.

Adams & Co. is no more, the firm has gone out of busisness. But the storer will sill remain under the ownership of the Hessels. The name of the store will be "The Sursprise".... Mar 5 - 1903

1903 - Nov. 5 - Sam Medbourn will build a 16 X 60 store room, just north of the room occupied by the Surprise store. It will be used for the sore and carpet department of the Surprise.

1906 - Aug 16 - Main Street to have Another Fine Addition to its Improvements.

S. E. Medourn has secured plans and is getting figures for the construction of a two-story and basement brick block on the vacant lot adjoing Hessel's store.

The building will be 99 feet deep and will have a frontage of 35 feet.

The first floor and basement will be occupied by the Hessel store whose growing trade demands larger quarters that in occupies at present.

The second floor may be constructed for a town hall though this has not been fully decided.

The vacated double store will have the opening closed to convert it into two rooms. One of these Mr. Hessel will undertake to fill with some business enterprice which will not be a competitor in his lines. - Citizen

1906 - Hessell's Store "The Surprise Store"

1906 - Oct 18 - Another Improvement

The Hessels have pruchased the double store building now occupied by their general merchandise store, together with the 30 foot lot on the south, and 70 X 90 feet on the other side of the alley in the rear of the property. It is their intention to remodel the store, putting in a new front, removing the dividing wall betweent he two rooms and otherwise making a modern store. Plans have already bee prepared and its expected to get at the work next week. The business section will be conspicuosuly improved by this change and the Hessels will provide themselves with quarters which their growing business demandfs. The Citizen congragulates the firm on its enterprise and prosperity.

1906 - Nov 1 - Hessel is at work this week on a 30 foot extension of his two store rooms. The building at the rear which has been used for storage purposes has been moved to an adjoining lot on the south. The extension will be a one-story frame, but will eventually be covered with brick or steel.

1910 - Nov. 3 - Going out of Business The Surprise store will soon go ut of exisence as the big ad this week indicates. Sam and Isadore Hessel have conducted this store for the past eight years, but no have other plans in view. They want it clearly understood that this sale is a genuine closing out of their business.

1910 - Nov. 17 - The hessel store building and the two lots on which it stands have been sold to Milton G. Hopper for $6,800. The Hessels haver retained a year's lease on the property which they say will insure it being occupied by a desirable tenant after the vacate.

1911 - Jan 5 The Surprise store will continue in Culver. Samuel Hessell will take a much needed rest and Isador Hessle will taske complete charge. The business will be enlarged with new stocks of goods.

1911 - Oct 19 - In Financial Difficulties

Application for an order of bankruptcy against Fanny Hessel, proprietor of the Surprise store in Culver, Isadore Hessel manager, has been made by creditors. The hearing takes place before the U. S. commissioner in Indianapolis, Oct. 23.

By an agreement among the creditors J. D. Thomas a wholesaler merchant of Logansport, has been selceted as trustee pending the appointment of a receiver in bankruptcy, and he has placed H. J. Meredith in charge of the store as his representative.

It is understood that the claims against the store amount to $10,000 or $12,000. Marshall Field & Co. is the heaviest creditor with a claim of over $1,000. The store has upwards of $6,000 of accounts on its books, only a small portion of which is regarded as collectible

1911 Nov 23 - The stock of the Surprise Store was put up for auction yesterday afternoon by the trustee in bankruptcy, to be sold in bulk. Several bidders were present, and the stock was sold to Ezra Hawkins for $2860.

1911 - Dec 7 - Notice All persons knowing themselves indebted to F. Hessel should call at my office at once and settle to avoide trouble and expense. H. J. Meredith, Attorney for Trustee.

1912 - May 30 - Sale of Town Property - Mr. Hopper has traded the Hesseil store building to O. J. Warner of Argos. Mr. Warner gives a $1750 automobile and assumes a mortgage of $2,000.

M. S. Hopper to O. J. Warner, lot 41 and pt. lot 32, Houghton's corrected plat, Culver, $4000.

1912 Jun 20 - Sale of Hessel Building

John Osborn last week bought of O. J. Warner of Argos the double store building formerly owned by the Hessells The consideration was $4,000, half of which was represented by the house built and formerly owned by Lem Crabb. Mr. Osborn will raise the building 18 inched and otherwise improve it.

1912 - Aug 29 - Messrs. Hishaw and Vandenbark have rented the Hessel building and will open a general store.

1913 - Nov. 13 - One of the Argos Wickizers is coming to Culver to open a furniture store in the Hessel Building.

1914 Feb 26 - The new furniture store is getting settled in the Hessel building