Did you know?
Did you know... where this photo was taken on 2nd Street? Louis Crist built the building at 1107, 1109, and 1111 2nd Street for cigar manufacture in the rear of these buildings. You can see a cigar store Indian in front of his cigar shop, a sign for a cafe, and a barber pole. Today this area is home to Atelier. In the era before cigarettes, cigar shops were a common feature in Perry. I'm not sure when Crist Cigar Shop closed but it was still there in the 1920s. Later it was home to Crist Insurance until 1966. What got me thinking about cigars was the arrival of several new smoke shops in Perry. Now I for one love to see new business in town. I have not needed a smoke shop since I quit smoking in 1963 after I got out of the Army. If you look around, there are quite a few places to buy alcohol and smokes. When I need a new belt, shoes, or just recently a new vacuum cleaner, where do I go? I want to shop in town and keep my money local, So if you know of anyone wanting to start a new business, I think Perry is a great location to consider. Remember, SHOP LOCAL.
Next week...
Did you know… where this building is located and its history in Perry?
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Did you know column for May 16, 2024
