79 Main - American Legion / Leiby Drug / Rithmiller Tax, Choice Financial

79 Main - American Legion / Leiby Drug / Rithmiller Tax, Choice Financial

This location is of particular interest, as it has served not only as Ellendale’s Legion Hall, but was the site of Leiby Drug, one of Ellendale’s most important founding fathers.

E. Steineau and E.W. Lee carried on a drug and stationary business in the location of the Leiby Drug Store (American Legion) which sits on its original site.

Ed. N. Leiby came to Ellendale in 1882 to serve as the Milwaukee depot agent. A very active businessman, he soon became a hotel operator, then bought the Steinau store, which had been founded by E. Steineau and E.W. Lee.

Ed had no training in pharmacy, but a “Drug Store” sign was in the front of the store, and a state grandfather law allowed him to continue the practice without certification. Thus began Leiby Drug, which operated in the same location for 71 years. In 1904 the old wooden building was pulled to the back of the lot and a new two-story brick building was erected. The first floor was the drug store and the second story was used for offices. Dentists and doctors worked ouf of this building for many years.

Edwin M. Leiby, known to everyone as “Ed,” became a trained pharmacist and worked with his father in the business. Ed’s numerous connections with residents of all generations gave him an intimate knowledge of Ellendale’s history, and he recorded several narrative histories of the town which are kept by the museum. When his father died in 1939, Ed became the owner and continued in the drug store business until 1960, when the company was sold to John Anderson, who owned the Amphlett Drug Store in the next block.

Rithmiller Tax Service is located next to the Legion at 75 Main, and Choice Financial is to the east at 83 Main.

79 Main - American Legion / Leiby Drug / Rithmiller Tax, Choice Financial

This location is of particular interest, as it has served not only as Ellendale’s Legion Hall, but was the site of Leiby Drug, one of Ellendale’s most important founding fathers.

E. Steineau and E.W. Lee carried on a drug and stationary business in the location of the Leiby Drug Store (American Legion) which sits in its original site.

Ed. N. Leiby came to Ellendale in 1882 to serve as the Milwaukee depot agent. A very active businessman, he soon became a hotel operator, then bought the Steinau store, which had been founded by E. Steineau and E.W. Lee.

Ed had no training in pharmacy, but a “Drug Store” sign was in the front of the store, and a state grandfather law allowed him to continue the practice without certification. Thus began Leiby Drug, which operated in the same location for 71 years. In 1904 the old wooden building was pulled to the back of the lot and a new two-story brick building was erected. The first floor was the drug store and the second story was used for offices. Dentists and doctors worked ouf of this building for many years.

Edwin M. Leiby, known to everyone as “Ed,” became a trained pharmacist and worked with his father in the business. Ed’s numerous connections with residents of all generations gave him an intimate knowledge of Ellendale’s history, and he recorded several narrative histories of the town which are kept by the museum. When his father died in 1939, Ed became the owner and continued in the drug store business until 1960, when the company was sold to John Anderson, who owned the Amphlett Drug Store in the next block.

Rithmiller Tax Service is located next to the Legion at 75 Main, and Choice Financial is to the east at 83 Main.