B&B Restaurant
PLAY AUDIOThe B&B opened April 12, 1926. The original building was moved to Nappanee from Locke. Bernard “Bunk” Widmoyer and Russell “Buss” Hostetter started the business. B&B stood for Bunk and Buss. Their partnership only lasted one year because the restaurant could not support both their families. They flipped a coin to see who would retain the business and Bunk won.In 1963, the original building was razed and a new building was built. They never lost a day of business during the renovation. In 1972, two more dining rooms were added.During the depression, the B&B offered 1 cent egg sandwiches. A bowl of soup or a piece of pie for a nickel each. It was a family-type restaurant with home cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They had fifteen varieties of pie that were baked daily. In the restaurant’s history they only had three pie bakers.The B&B restaurant closed in 1993.
E. Newcomer and Son Jewelry
PLAY AUDIOEnos Newcomer started his jewelry store in Nappanee in 1880. He purchased his stock from Mr. Stahly for $100. It is unsure if this was for the entire stock or just a down payment.Enos was a watchmaker and bench worker. He was also a carpenter. He helped build the original B&O Depot and the Napanee House (Nappanee’s first hotel). Enos thought $8 was too much to pay for a watch.In 1919, his son John joined the business and it went from being Newcomer’s Jewelry to E. Newcomer and Son. John was a watchmaker and an optician to repair glasses and watches.John had two sons Reed and James. It was said that Reed always carried around a pocket full of diamonds. Reed added sewing machines and thimble to the store. James was the Mayor of Nappanee from 1972-1975. James added a variety of stemware, silver, housewares, and gifts to the store.James’ son Brad joined the business in 1977 and he is a trained watch maker and jeweler. There has never been a day that a Newcomer hasn’t been in the building running it.
Metzler’s Shoes
PLAY AUDIOMetzler Shoes started in 1924 and had been owned and/or operated by several generations of the Metzler Family until it closed in 2015.Ralph Metzler and his brother in law Ora Smucker, invested together to open the shoe store at 111 S. Main Street in the old First National Bank. Ralph’s son Bill and his first cousin Wendall Metzler were the second generation to run the store. Diana Davis and her brother Dan Metzler were the third generation of Metzlers to run the store.In 2008, they sold the business to Yoder’s Department Store in Shipshewana. In 2015, Metzler’s Shoes closed their door.The Metzlers were descendants of one of the first settlers and founders of Nappanee, Daniel Metzler. He was known to of had a broom and shoe store on the corner and had made his own brooms and shoes.
Napanee House
PLAY AUDIOThe Napanee House was Nappanee’s first hotel. Proprietors of the hotel included Sam Hartman, Fred Richmond, L.B. Winders, Mrs. Jacob Pippenger, and Edgar Pippenger.Napanee house had only one “p” because a former landlord paid a sign painter a $1 a letter and by dropping a “p” he saved himself a dollar.The Napanee House closed in March of 1908. It was purchased by the First National Bank and moved down two doors to make way for the bank structure. The hotel was turned into a harness shop.
Hartman Brothers
PLAY AUDIOAt one time Hartman Brothers was one of the biggest general stores in Elkhart County. It was owned and managed by brothers Jacob, John and Tobias.The store originally started in Hepton in 1871 with Jacob and their other brother, Samuel. In 1873 the store transferred to Locke and in 1875 Samuel disposed of his interest in the store to his brother John and Tobias. In 1876 the brothers started doing business in Nappanee. It was not until 1879 that their entire stock and interests moved from Locke to Nappanee. Jacob and Tobias ran the Nappanee store and John had stayed in Locke.They conducted a general mercantile establishment, carrying clothes, groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, notions, carpets and queensware. Along with their store, they owned an elevator and largely interested in shipping grain.
Farmer and Trader Bank
PLAY AUDIOThe Farmer and Trader Bank was the first Nappanee Banking House. It was established in 1884 by Daniel Betchel and his sons Samuel and Henry.In 1890, Samuel Coppes sold his interest in Coppes Brothers to Daniel Zook. In 1891, Samuel Coppes and his son Harvey purchased the bank and it remained a private bank. It became an institution on the purchase of the bank by the Coppes men.At the start of the bank, Samuel served as President, John C. Mellinger (Samuel’s brother in law) was the cashier with Harvey serving as assistant cashier. John retired in 1895 and then Harvey became the cashier.The original incorporators of the bank (1891) were Samuel, Harvey, Fred, John and Frank Coppes, George Freese’s sons, Noah Lehman, John Brown, Chas Mutschler, Harry Greene, F.E. Baker, and Anthony and B.F. Deahl.
Johnson’s Drug Store
PLAY AUDIOIn 1900, the firm of C.W. Johnson, druggist and booksellers were founded at the location across the street (101 E. Market St.). The store here was purchased in 1924 from TJ Prickett. Mr. Johnson’s son Harold Johnson became an active partner and was with the company until the family purchased their Goshen store in 1926. Another son Lloyd Johnson became a partner in 1929. The company then became C.W. Johnson and Son.Mr. Johnson started out his career as a drug clerk working for Mr. J.S. Walters. One of the first duties was to assist the moving of Walter Drug building from Locke to Nappanee. He worked for Mr. Walters for about two years.
Nappanee Telephone Company
PLAY AUDIOThe Nappanee Telephone Company started in 1898. The initial installation consisted of fifty two telephones with an ultimate capacity for a hundred telephones. ClaudeStoops led the way for this new innovation to Nappanee.The first switch board was installed in Mr. Stoops’ Jewelry Store and all the business was handled by one operator from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm. In 1916, the Telephone Company experienced rapid growth, 720 telephones were in service with over 12,000 feet of cable. There were also six operators, two lineman and they were able to give 24 hour service.
