A New Bank for Clontarf!

John Conroy submitted this clipping from the Hancock Recorder…

The new building was scheduled to be built “as soon as the weather permitted” in the Spring of 1912. The bank was Mystery Photo #3 back in July of 2010. Take a look at the post and the comments to learn more about the bank.

Bank - Clontarf, MN

Recently Gretchen, who lived in the bank building as a child, told us about when the nearby elevator burned down, the building grew so hot they were actually able to fry an egg on the floor! I would love to hear any other memories you have of living in the old bank, Gretchen…please feel free to leave another comment!

My last post Remembering Julia was very popular and that got me thinking. Wouldn’t it be great to feature residents of Clontarf, to remember them on their birthday, wedding, or the day they died? The problem is, I don’t know much about the personalities who have called Clontarf home (other than my relatives, and you may be tiring of reading about them!)

Here’s what I propose:

If your grandma, great-grandparent, aunt, or father (you get the picture) was born in or lived in the Clontarf/Tara area and has a special day coming up and you would like to remember her or him, let me know. You can either write a short essay telling us all about your family member from Clontarf, send it on to me, and I will publish it on the blog,  or if writing is not your thing, simply fill out the form below with the details and I will write the tribute. Of course, photographs always make the stories special.

Remembering a common relative is a great way of reaching out to family members scattered all over the country. Think about it…

If you would like me to write the essay, I will need a little bit of notice. But if you send me one ready for publication, I will post it right away.

I can’t wait to see learn more about the people who made Clontarf their home! Use the form below, add a comment to this post, or email me directly clontarfhistory@gmail.com.

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The Clontarf Grace Avenue Theatre Proudly Presents…

Anne Schirmer shared this gem with me on my last visit to Clontarf in April:

A Jack Langan Production.

Anne had a chat with Mary Reardon Langan, wife of play producer Jack Langan, and Mary shared some of her memories of the play…

Mary said the action of the play centered around a game of Buck Euchre, which apparently was a big part of “a typical business day in Clontarf” during the 1920s and 1930s!  The actors are listed on the left and each portrayed a Clontarf resident from back in the day.  A couple of guys (Bob Perrizo and Jim Benoit) did double-duty playing two characters.  Jack based the play on his first-hand observations of these Clontarf businessmen and card players, according to Mary.

Mary also remembered some of the special guest celebrities: Brother Bones was played by Dick Perrizo, and The Dolly Sisters were Gretchen and Robbie Apitz.  This must have been quite a production!  I bet the people of Clontarf really enjoyed themselves.  I love the idea of an old-fashioned basket social.

A couple of other notes from Mary…

• The first actor on the list should be Jerry Goulet, not aTerry.
• “Gus’s” Place refers to Gus Heschke’s.
• Sis Mikkelson was responsible for creating many plays in Clontarf over the years, especially St. Patrick’s Day productions.

Anyone out there remember this play, or events like this in Clontarf?  I am not sure if Mary and Anne came up with a year for this…maybe the late 1950s?  I must say that I am impressed by Mr. Langan’s production, and I would love to know about others he presented in Clontarf over the years.  Please share any memories you have by leaving a comment.  Let me know if you have any photos from this time (school photos, baseball team, etc.) or any other momentos…it would be great to see them.

Many thanks to Anne and Mary!

Have a great weekend!

Roy Perrizo: 41 years as Clontarf Postmaster

Since we are on the topic of the Perrizo family, let’s take a look at Roy Perrizo’s (son of Bruno and Melinda) story from the 100th anniversary booklet:

Prior to entering the U.S. Army in 1918, Roy Perrizo was a rural mail carrier at Clontarf. After he retired from service. he was employed at the Farmers State Bank of Clontarf. In 1925 he purchased the McDermott General Store and operated it until May of 1964 when he sold it to Victor Haroldstad who sold the business to Robert Fennell in 1965.  Roy Perrizo and Winifred McDermott were married in 1926 and in 1928 Winifred McDermott Perrizo died. Roy Perrizo was postmaster of Clontarf from 1926 until 1963 when he retired. He was a charter member of the American Legion, the V.F.W. organization, and the Benson Golf Club. He became a member of the Knights of Columbus in 1916.

In 1931 he married Rose Hughes of Tara Township. They had three sons, Richard, Burton, and Robert. Mrs. Rose Perrizo lives in Clontarf at the present time (1978).

Mark Becker, who so generously shared some Perrizo family photographs (click here to view the photographs), told me that his mother (Winifred Fiala Becker) was particularly fond of Uncle Roy and Aunt Rose and has warm memories of her Perrizo cousins.  Mark recalled many trips to Clontarf to visit Aunt Rose.

Next time we will take a look at Mr. McDermott’s ledger…

Some More Perrizo History…

Mark Becker, the grandson of Frank and Belle (Perrizo) Fiala, recently shared some great photographs, and I would like to share them with you…

Bruno Perrizo and his brothers - submitted by Mark Becker

Now, these are some great moustaches!  I am not sure which one is Bruno, and I don’t know if all of these men are actually Bruno’s brothers.  Maybe Mark will see this and help us out?

Bruno and Melinda Perrizo - submitted by Mark Becker

To read an earlier post on Bruno Perrizo family click here.

Belle Perrizo Fiala and sisters - submitted by Mark Becker

This is a photograph of Belle Perrizo and two of her sisters.  Not sure which sisters, but my bet is that it is Winifred and Della.  Just a guess…

Frank and Belle Fiala Wedding - submitted by Mark Becker

Mark told me his grandparents Frank and Belle (Perrizo) Fiala were married at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Clontarf.  His grandfather Frank suffered a fatal stroke while in the barber chair in Clontarf on August 18, 1937.  Belle then took over her father’s cafe, and Belle and her daughter Winifred (Mark’s mother) lived above the cafe in the old bank building.

Thanks Mark for the fantastic photographs and stories!  Much appreciated!

If you have memories or stories you would like to share, leave a comment or send an email to clontarfhistory@gmail.com.

Bruno J. Perrizo: Renaissance Man of Clontarf

Mr. Bruno J. Perrizo certainly was a busy man!  This excerpt is from the 100th Anniversary booklet:

Bruno J. Perrizo was born in Delavan, Minnesota in 1868. He was married to Miss Melinda Litterneau in Delavan in 1889 and came to Clontarf in 1903. After conducting a land office in Clontarf for two years, the family moved to Hancock where B. J. Perrizo operated a saloon for the next six years. In 1911 the Perrizo family returned to Clontarf where B. J. Perrizo entered the hay business and operated a saloon until 1917. In 1912 B. J. Perrizo and his nephew, Wm. J. Perrizo, organized the Farmers State Bank of Clontarf with B. J. Perrizo as President and Wm. J. Perrizo as Cashier. The bank was sold to the First State Bank Stock Corporation in 1931.

B. J. Perrizo operated a stock and dairy farm in the Clontarf area for a quarter of a century. He was also a livesock buyer for a number of years prior to the organizaiton of the Clontarf Shipping Association. In 1933 he opened a cafe and beer parlor in the Clontarf bank building. He was a great lover of horses and raised blooded stock for several years; he raced some of his horses in Canada.

There were six children in the Perrizo family: Della, Belle, Roy, Hazel, Archie, and Winifred. Belle Perrizo Fiala operated the cafe for several years after B. J. Perrizo’s death in 1938.

You were correct Jackie!  Mystery Photo #3 is the old Clontarf bank building.  Thanks for the history of the building after it was used for the bank.  You can read her comments here.

Anyone know when the bank was torn down?  Any memories of the building, in any of its incarnations?

Only a couple of days left to build your entries in the Clontarf Prairie Pub T-shirt drawing!  Just leave a comment or a reply and you will be automatically entered.