Seneca had many different businesses in its time

Businesses

Home - Railroad - Interview - Works Cited

Seneca had many different businesses in it's time. At its peak, Seneca had some fifty or more businesses. In addition to the banks and hotels from the 1920’s through the 1940’s, there were three grocery stores, two garages, a telephone office, two liquor stores, a drug store, an implement shop, a millinery, dress and notion shop, a theater, a post office, a blacksmith shop, two automobile agencies, a livery barn, newspaper, two banks, and a courthouse. The Seneca was called “The Clipper” and the two banks were Stockman and Seneca State Bank. Unfortuately, the courthouse burned down in October of 1920.

East Side of Main Street Other of Seneca’s businesses were Seneca Sundries, A.W. Franks Implements & Undertaking, Fortune’s Garage & Service Station, Farmer’s Store, J. A. Davitt, Pool Hall, and Dance Hall.

The Bell Telephone Company was located across the street from the Proudfit Lumber Company. They later moved to the Shoe and Harness Shop in 1922 and sold to Consolidated Telephone Company in 1963. R. S. Proudfit Co., a clothing store, was liquidated in 1953.

The Charlie Welch Building had the first floor as a bowling ally and the second floor as a roller-skating hall.

Left to Right: Franks building, Telephone office, Leather shop, and Dalton's Market Dalton’s Market was one of the grocery stores on Main Street. The building was there until it was tore down in the 1970’s.

Seneca had many different hotels, among them Main Street Hotel and McIntyre Hotel. McIntyre had been destroyed by a fire. Among the rooming houses were McCann, Bollhoefner, and McCauley. The McCauley place has been restored and is now a Bed & Breakfast.

Inside Dalton's Market One of the first restaurants, Burlington Café was severely damaged by fire in December 1946. It was then restored and called Ruby’s Café until it was tore down in the mid 1960’s.

Seneca’s schools were first started in a big building with two floors--elementary on the first and high school on the second. Many other school buildings were built after that. In 1954, the existing high school closed resulting in the students being bused to Thedford until 1965 when it merged with Mullen. The grade school held on until 1988 when it closed. Elementary school students were also then bused to Mullen.

The only businesses and buildings that still are used today is the Auditorium, Post Office, Cattleman's Restaurant and Lounge, and the Bed & Breakfast. The building where dances were held was damaged by a storm; so the Auditorium was built in its place. The Post Office, having its twist and turns with fire and moving, still sits there but is threatening to close. The Cattleman’s Restaurant and Lounge is the only place left to have your night-out family dinners.

Seneca’s only church, the First Congregational United Church of Christ, is still there and still being used. Although the congregation has declined, there is still an active Women’s Fellowship group. The church was built in 1904 and is planning to celebrate its centennial next year.

Many unused and badly deteriorating buildings still stand. But for the businesses that exist, the buildings have been updated. People in Seneca and near by towns have done a great job of supporting the businesses.