Owen Shoe Shop

Owen Shoe Shop. . In the early years of De Smet this building served S.B. Owen as a shoe-making shop and residence for his family. Mrs. Owen was a tailor by trade and taught suit-making to at least one of her children, V.S.L. Owen. He was often mentioned in the files of the local newspapers, as he was principal of the De Smet school for some years., The building was erected in the spring of 1882. Mr. Owen had built one a year earlier on the lot to the south, selling when he went to reside on his homestead, as required by law., In later years, Fred Cummins purchased the building and remodeled it for a barber shop. An insurance office was in the back of the barbershop. It was remodeled to house the insurance business in the south part and the north part left for a barbershop., Laura could see almost the whole town, because nearly all the buildings were in the two blocks across the street. All their false fronts stood up, square-cornered at different heights, trying to make believe that the buildings were two stories high. , Little Town on the Prairie.