Central Township in Perryville in Perry County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Antoine's Carriage & Upholstery

Photographed by Thomas Smith, July 19, 2025

1. Antoine's Carriage & Upholstery Marker

Inscription. Though little of the early history is known, we do know in 1820 this portion of the original town Lot 35 was owned by R. Brown. In the possession of Moritz Schall in 1891, the property was sold to Frank Antoine for $500. Antoine's home was located here and was the center of an active cultural life. Frank and Anne Catherine Stegle Antoine, who were both born in Paris, lived here with their family of five, of which three reached adulthood. They were of the community's most beloved "adopted" families. Frank Antoine later constructed an adjoining building for his carriage and upholstery business facing the square. with a large workshop located behind. In his shop, he turned out several fancy bandwagons, including those used by the Nesslein Band of Perryville and the Schnurbusch Band of Apple Creek. Following the death of Mr. and Mrs. Antione, their two daughters, Jeanne and Cecile, known as Ceil, lived in the house, with Cell offering instruction in dress making.

Cletus Nesslein had originally started his furniture business in 1939 in the Hotel Perry Building a few doors north on Main Street. When the last

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Antoine daughter, Jeanne died in 1957, the Antoine's had lived there for 66 years. Mr. Nesslein began the process of razing the two buildings on this site to construct the current Friendly Furniture building. Erwin Hotop was the contractor, hired to construct the 7,500 square foot, two-story decorative brick building with plate glass display windows. Friendly Furniture opened on May 14, 1959. Ther business continues to operate in this building under the direction of Cletus Nesslein's son, Ken.

Erected 2023 by Perry County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.

Location. 37° 43.499′ N, 89° 51.737′ W. Marker is in Perryville, Missouri, in Perry County. It is in Central Township. It is at the intersection of North Main Street and E. St. Joseph Street, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street. across from the Perry Co. Court House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7 N Main Street, Perryville MO 63775, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

Photographed by Thomas Smith, July 19, 2025

2. Antoine's Carriage & Upholstery Marker

is in Southeast Missouri. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Arsan Callier - Toohey Law Firm Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Cashion-Ziegler-Greenwell Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Hotel Perry (within shouting distance of this marker); Buehler's Meat Market (within shouting distance of this marker); Lurk Brothers Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Doerr - Zoellner Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Levi Block Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Electric Theater Bey Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Perryville.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 99 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.