Tennyson Businessmen & Businesses

Written by: Bernadine Pluemer

Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh was born in Cork, Ireland and came to America. He met and married Anna Wollenhorst in 1910. In 1913, Joe and Anna opened a small general store, which grew to be the largest "country store in the U.S.A." Although still an alien, Joseph became chairman of the third Liberty Loan War Bond Drive, and on the third day of the drive that German community was the first in the state of Wisconsin to go over the top. He organized the Potosi Oil Co.; was president of Peoples Community Oil Company and helped in the formation of the Tennyson Coop Creamery.

Tennyson Implement

The Tennyson Implement Company was started in 1938. Joseph Walsh, Anicet Leibfried and son Clarence, formed the company. Their shop was located east of Walsh's Store. They sold and serviced Allis Chalmers and Minneapolis Moline lines of machinery. Space became a premium, so in 1952 The Tennyson Implement Company moved up on the hill on U. S. Highway 61. By the 1970s Clarence Leibfried and son Dennis were the owners. Today Kevin and Gerry Leibfried operate the business.

The General Store

For years this was also a landmark. As it was known was purchased by Joe Walsh in the early years before World War I. It remained in the family until it burned to the ground in July, 1957.

The house next to the store was known as the Henry Wallenhorst home. Henry had a lumber yard.

Tennyson Lumber Company

In 1946, Karl Brandt built and maintained a lumber yard in the valley east of the Haverland Tavern. Arno Menne helped maintain the yard and carpenter shop. A paint store became necessary, so the yard supplied one for the convenience of its customers. The company is no longer operating.

Highway Café and Motel

The community had never had an eating place-—aside from the three taverns, so Harold and Alberta Hessling built The Highway Café in 1946 on U. S. Highway 61-35. The Hesslings ran the café for a number of years sold it and went farming. The café is still open for business; though it has changed hands a number of times.

In 1947 Alfred and Alberta Patzner built a house and motel just north of the cafe on U. S. 61. It was a thriving business. Adolph and Mary Langmeier purchased the motel in 1961and operated it until they sold it in 1967. Donald Kirschbaum bought the motel and turned it into apartments.

Service Station

Joe Stohlmeyer's Shell Service Station was built in 1957 by Walter David. Stohlmeyer bought it in 1967. It was later sold and rebuilt and today houses the Tenosi Stop-N-Go.