Andrew Krammer, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. –
Cates Construction stumbled upon a piece of downtown Stillwater’s history while renovating a liquor store.
An old, painted wooden sign reading “Starkel’s Candies and Lunches” was discovered last week on the facade of Kinsel’s at Chestnut and Second streets.
The sign was buried under “layer after layer, year after year” of building materials, said Jennifer Cates, owner of Hamel, Minn.-based construction company.
“It was super hidden,” she said. “But we discovered not only the cool sign, but we found really cool brackets and old touches.”
The finding has Cates Construction rethinking the renovation, which is being funded by a $66,000 facade-improvement loan from the city.
“Our plan has completely changed; we want to bring out all the historical elements that are relatively easy to replicate,” Cates said. “We couldn’t use the real stuff, because it’s so old and damaged. But we can replicate it.”
Nate Starkel was known as a candyman and bakery owner, according to Brent Peterson, executive director of the Washington County Historical Society.
“Around 1915, 1920, I guess (Starkel) tried to start a little lunch counter thing as well,” Peterson said. “That’s probably what the sign is from.”
Cates said she had planned to showcase the historic sign on an outside wall of Kinsel’s, but the Heritage Preservation Commission of Stillwater didn’t like that plan.
“We might display it inside the store, we’re not sure yet,” Cates said. “We just want to put
it to good use.”
Cates is also considering donating it to the historical society.
“We would accept it,” Peterson said.
