SRHS
Steamboat Rock Historical Society
NEW BEGINNINGS
POTGETER’S
On September 19, 1950, George Potgeter held an open house in celebration of the 61st anniversary of the grain elevator his father Henry had founded October 15, 1889.
In addition to the anniversary, the business had just undergone a major renovation which made it one of the most modern up-to-date lumber and building supply, elevator and feed mill businesses around.
They had recently finished building 500 feet of lumber sheds and warehouses. A 20 x 40 combination office and display room was also completed.
The Potgeter Company or as George put it, “ The best Elevator in the county by a dam site.”
There was a complete carpenter shop for making prefab farm buildings such as hog houses, hog feeders, and grain bins, that were delivered and set up on the farm.
The elevator had a capacity of 60,000 bushels and a total volume of about 150,000 bushels. The company was now doing a half-million-dollar annual volume.
George commented that it had taken 31 years to remodel, through two depressions, two world wars, and now the Korean conflict, but they had finally gotten it done.
Pete Luiken was manager of the elevator and Ed Frerichs was assistant manager. Margaret Frerichs was secretary and bookkeeper, and Martin Kruse, Arthur Frerichs, and Joe Trittien worked in the lumber yard and feed mill.