Booming Business on Jefferson St.

Booming Business on Jefferson St.. . , Elkhorn Valley Condensing Plant , The location of 137 N. Jefferson Street originally housed the Elkhorn Valley Condensing Plant, which produced Elkhorn Evaporated Milk. The plant opened in 1912 and was the first condensing factory in Nebraska. The plant ran for several years until it was closed due to financial difficulties in September 1920. The building was purchased by the Alamito Creamery Company of Omaha in September 1921 and burned down in the late 1920s. , Megel and Son Building , The original Megel and Son was a farm implement dealership founded in 1885 by Wendell Megel. It was a wooden building located at 123 N. Washington Street. His business was expanded to add the sale of furniture, coal, and windmills. He also served as a local caretaker of a funeral parlor. , The Megel and Son building was moved to 137 N. Jefferson Street several years later due to frequent flooding at the previous site. W. Megel added feed to his store in the early 1920s. After seeing much success over the decades, the original building was lost in a large fire in August 1944 and replaced in 1949 with the brick structure that remains standing today. Robert Megel, Wendell's grandson, retired and closed the three-generation business on December 31, 1976. , The Zeeck Hotel , The Zeeck Hotel stood near the northeast corner of First and Jefferson Streets, located at 117 N. Jefferson Street. It was initially built as Graham's Harness Shop and then Hiesel Meat Market before becoming a hotel. It was the Court House Exchange Hotel before the Zeeck Hotel. Less known than the other hotels during the early years, the Zeeck Hotel provided a place for transient visitors to stay while they were passing through Papillion. Located east of the courthouse it was known for having fine wines, liquors, and cigars. , The building still stands today in its original location. An article from the December 1, 1933 issue of The Papillion Times states that the wooden bar that was in the hotel was carried across Jefferson Street to the former Central Theatre building (Brownie's Watering Hole at 125 E. Second Street) in late November 1933, where it is believed to remain today.