Building Streets in Secor
The accompanying undated photograph was recently discovered in an old album. This shot was taken on North Second Street, looking northwest. You can see from the photo that ditches were being created, possibly, for the first time. In the background, the houses shown still exist, although considerably altered. The one closest to the camera is at the corner of Second and Van Alstine. Mike and Pearl Garrels lived there for a time. Mike was once owner of what later became Doc’s Tap, and following several other versions is now the Secor Saloon. The house beyond is the former Herman Prior home. Mr. Prior once owned and operated a creamery and produce business on Gilman Street. That building later became for a time, the home of the Secor Fire Department and still later, of several businesses. If you look closely, you can see a gas or kerosene lamp in the yard of the nearest house.
The men operating the equipment are unidentified, although the back of the photo has the word “father” printed in pencil. It is possbile that the man on the engine is Morris Gassner, who owned a steam tractor and did quite a lot of grading. The photo also shows a two story frame house on the far left of the photo. It is unknown who lived in that house or what became of it, since that is the site of a single story house that for many years was known as the Lew Powell residence. If anyone might have any information about that house, or anything else about the photograph, please contact the website administrator at the address on the lower home page. For that matter, anyone having any historic photos of the Secor area should contact the site administrator for potential posting on this website.
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