See back for a brief historical description of each location.

M&M Architectural Tour
of Main and Mill
Sites can be visited in any order.
There will be someone at each stop
providing historic interpretation.
• Bode-Jobusch building
(Mill Street Treasures)
• Ruch Hall (Gallagher’s)
• Kunster Building
(Wightman’s Pharmacy)
• Oddfellow’s Lodge
• The Nickel Block
(Bean Tree Cafe)
• Michael Schorr Brewery*
(JV’s Downtown Bar & Grill)
• The Berger Building*
(IPM Insurance)
• Senator Rickert Residence
Bed and Breakfast
*These sites will offer architectural
interpretation of the buildings!
See back for a brief historical description of each location.
M&M Architectural Tour of Main and Mill
Building Historical Descriptions
Mill Street Treasurers, 125 W. Mill
The Bode and Jobusch Building has housed many businesses during the years;
hardware, appliances, sheet metal, Farm Bureau office, floor and wall covering,
building contractor and floral shop. The present owner, Wilbert Kohlmeier, is
the third owner of the property since the Civil War. Note the old wrought-iron
balcony on the second story.
Wightman’s Pharmacy, 127 S. Main
Originally Kuenster Drug Store, the Kuenster name remains carved in stone
above the door. Built in Italianate style, it was once considered the largest and
finest business building in the county. P.A. Hamacher, druggist, purchased the
building in 1897. His granddaughter, Betty Wightman, now owns the building.
Her nephew, Steve Wightman, is the current pharmacist.
Gallagher’s, 114 W. Mill
The building was built in the 1870’s. John and Susie Gallagher purchased the
building in 2003 with the intent of making it into a destination restaurant that
serves wonderful food. Family members did almost all of the physical labor to
bring the building up to modern standards. The outside porch railings came
from St. Louis’ McKinley Bridge. The antique stained glass bar is original to the
building and has been lovingly restored. Look for the old pocket doors used as
paneling on the first floor; some were salvaged from the Chase Park Plaza Hotel.
The tabletops on the first floor were handcrafted from the bowling lanes of the
old Bee Hive Bowl in Waterloo.
IPM Insurance, 119 E. Mill
Bill Wirth is giving tours of the Berger Building. This building dates back to
1844, has a rock foundation and 14-16-inch walls. It was once a saloon, with
rooms for lodging on the second floor. It has been a residence and law offices.
JV’s Downtown Bar & Grill, 117 N. Main
Visit the three levels of cellars located directly under the establishment. Prior to
refrigeration, ice was stored in the cellars to keep beer chilled during the warm
summer months. The ice was transported from Schorr Lake (the Waterloo Water
Works/Lakeview Park Lakes) to the building where the ice was slid down longsince filled in slots on the side of the building. Enter from the alley; about 20
visitors can go down to the cellars at a time.
Oddfellow Lodge, 202 S. Main
The Oddfellow Lodge is an international fraternal organization composed of
men only who aim to “seek to elevate the character of man.” The local lodge has
been in continuous operation for 133 years, currently meeting in the building at
Main and Third streets. The building housed The Capitol Theatre which is now
the home of MASC (Monroe Actors and Stage Company).
Bean Tree Café, 219 S. Main
The center of the “Nickel Block” between Fourth and Third streets, at one time
housed fifteen businesses and several large residences. The story goes that one
day a salesman came to town, visited some of the shops, when he returned to
his hotel said, “Well, this is some nickel block. Everything’s a nickel here-paper,
pencils, an ice cream cone, some books and cookies.” Thus the area came to be
known as the Nickel Block.
Senator Rickert Residence, 216 E. Third
End your tour at this home and Bed & Breakfast owned by Ed & Kathi
Weilbacher. The house was originally a one-story building when it was
constructed in 1865. When state Senator Joseph Rickert owned the home he had
it enlarged and the French-Italianate style mansard roof added.