Lurk Brothers Building

Lurk Brothers Building. . The Commissioners of Perryville sold the original town Lot 33 to Levi Block. After Block's death, the building/land was sold to Leon and Joseph Delassus for $1,200. Later, Joseph would sell his interest in the property to Leon. When Leon Delassus died, his wife, Mary inherited the property. She sold the southern portion of Lot 33 to John Boland and William Scherer in September 1867 for $800. It is believed the house/store was built around this time. John Boland kept a store (cited as "Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, and Clothes") but later partnered with Frank Smith. He and Mr. Smith moved their business eight miles east of Perryville. In 1868, Louis Doerr opened a dry goods business., By August 1881, both William Scherer and John Boland had sold their half-interest in the property to Andrew Huber for $1,900. There is no evidence that Mr. Huber ever used the building for a store, but we do know that Charles Kurre sold tinware, stoves, and cutlery at this location. Louis and Rosa Doerr purchased the property in 1886 for $1,950. The Doerr operated a general store for 37 years until August 1905 when his partner, Henry J. Rauh, became the proprietor. In 1908, the building was remodeled with a modern front, and August Beckmann moved his stock of hardware to the old Doerr building. Beckmann Hardware Co. was selling stoves and tinware until 1915 when Otto Stuebner bought in interest, and the store was renamed Beckmann-Stuebner Hardware. Leonard Bergmann bought out Mr. Beckmann and renamed the shop Stuebner-Bergmann in 1920., In November 1924, the building was sold to the Lurk family for $5,000. Their business became known as Lurk Brothers, selling appliances and hardware. The property has been in the Lurk family ever since with the owners of Main Street Signs being direct descendants.