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Since 1939Preserving our past, Embracing the futureWelcome! Our dream is to transform Stewart's historic Red Owl building into a Red Owl Museum and Community Center. We are a 501c3 nonprofit.
Visit Our Gofundme Page! Become a member now! |
HistoryWhen William Sunde came to Stewart in 1939 he had a dream to open his own Red Owl Store, a company he had worked for since he was 16. With a $600 dollar loan and cash from selling an old car, a pair of hip boots and a gun Sunde's Red Owl Agency opened on Oct 6 1939. He rented this building till 1955 when he was able to purchase it. In 1960 he expanded his store by adding on to the west side more than doubling the size. Bill and his wife Darothe worked faithfully in their store until Bill died in 1978. In 1979 Darothe sold the business to Larry and Virgene Roepke
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Larry and Virgene continued to run the business for another 20 years under the name of Larry's Red Owl. At one point even opening up a second location in town. When Supervalu acquired Red Owl in December 1988 It was decided to continue using the Red Owl name. In 1990 Larry's Red Owl became the last grocery store in Stewart. Larry's Red Owl continued to operate until 2001.
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Friends of the Stewart Red Owl was started in 2013 to acquire Stewart's historic Red Owl Building and restore it as a community center with space for a Stewart and Red Owl museum. Sadly years of no maintenance and vandalism have taken their toll on the building and it needs a restoration work (most pressing a new roof) before we can use it. We have partnered with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota to help us out. In April 2018 Friends of the Stewart Red Owl Became a member of the McLeod County Historic Partnership. In July 2018 we changed our name to The Stewart Area Historical Society But Our goal remains the same. In December 2018 we became a 501c3 nonprofit. Your donation is tax deductible and will help us realize our dream of saving this historic building for future generations.
