The building at 141 Bridge Ave. can be traced back a far as 1894, and perhaps even earlier. In 1894 it was a boot and shoe store, owned by Olof Peterson.

In 1905 Mr. Peterson, in conjunction with Louis and Henry Bock and John Stein built the Brick Block Building on Bridge, adjacent to his shoe store. Ole moved next door and occupied his new store. The Delano Eagle reported that his former building was rented by to the Schmidt Bros., of Belle Plain, who bought and shipped poultry, butter, and eggs.

In 1909 Ole Peterson put an addition on his old store and raised the ceiling.

The Columbia Clothing Store was in the building ca. 1913.

It seems likely that Ole Peterson sold his business and buildings to John Berlin, who was also in the shoe business.

In 1919 John Berlin tore out the west wall of his former shoe store and connected the building to his present adjoining store. In December of that same year, O.C. Damsberg opened his Clothing & Gents Furnishing Emporium in the Berlin Building. Damsberg was a tailor, and became known as “Curley the Tailor”

Jasper Berlin, son of John, opened a shoe store in the old stand in 1922. He sold out to Homer F. Ehle in 1926. Ehle had a bankruptcy sale at the end of the year.

In 1936 Robert Gamble opened a new store in the building across from the Delano City Hall, a M.W. Associate Store. The Marshall-Wells Store remained there until 1939.

William Heinen moved his hardware store into the east end of the Brick Block, Ole Petersen’s space, in 1933. It was connected to the building adjoining to the east.

In 1940 Lebovsky’s moved from their store on River Street to their new location on Bridge Street in the Heinen building, across from City Hall.

Inside Lebvosky’s Store

Lebovsky’s original store was built and opened on River Street in 1906 by Thomas S. Lebovsky. When Thomas passed away in 1932, his wife, Mary, continued the business, with the assistance of her son Richard and daughter Ruth. The store was taken over in 1942 by sons Frank and Richard. Richard came from Minneapolis, and Richard recently returned from the service. Frank and his wife Winnifred worked at the family store between 1944 and 1955. Richard and his wife, Madeline “Maggie” Alger, then continued as the proprietors the Lebovsky Store.

Bridge Street, 1970’s Lebovsky’s on the left side.

Lebovsky’s Store closed in 1984 and was sold to Lola Pool, who opened

the Calico Cat Fabrics Store with her co-owner Shirley Krueger.

In 1989 the Crow River News office was in the building, followed by Dwayne’s Games, and from 1991-1993 it was Bridge Avenue Ceramics

Joe McDonald moved into the building in 1994, and it has been the McDonald Photography Studio since then.