Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Casteels & Hershberger, Princeton


It is believed that this picture was taken before the July 4,1911 fire, which was one of the most destructive blazes in the history of Princeton. The fire destroyed six full blocks of business houses and residences, including the entire north side of the Princeton square. In 1910, Dr. George Drury was listed as a dentist in Princeton (office on the left). John and William Casteel formed the Casteel Brothers Department Store in 1867. The merchantile was passed on in 1896, to two of John's sons, Orville and Herbert, a son-in-law, W.E. Hershberger, and his nephew, Edward R. Casteel. The store remained a family business until 1945, one of the oldest family owned businesses in Missouri. Today the building is owned by Chuck & Donna Herdrich and houses The Famous Store and the Missouri License Bureau (photo given from the archives of Coleman & Rosalie Hill, now in possession of the Mercer County Genealogical & Historical Society.)