Kane County History: Jewelry in Geneva

Kane County History: Jewelry in Geneva

/ March 15, 2019 / Comments Off on Kane County History: Jewelry in Geneva / Business, Communities, Education, Events, Government, History, Kane County, People, Photo Gallery, Quality of Life, WK-Communities
  • Editor’s Note: This article is part of a weekly series on Kane County’s amazing history. Today’s article was submitted by Terry Emma, executive director of the Geneva History Museum.

The jewelry business in Geneva has had a long and fashionable history.

In the 1880s and ’90s, Genevans could mosey down West State Street and choose to patronize jewelers such as Joseph Bell, A.R. Dow, Charles J. Peterson or W. R. Smith. Many would be surprised to know that today’s State Street Jewelers is a descendant of one of these early businesses.

Succession Legacy

South side of West State Street between Second and Third Streets. The red arrow indicates where W. R. Smith and subsequently John C. Ranbow’s jewelry store was located.

The succession legacy of Geneva’s State Street Jewelers goes back to 1891, when W. R. Smith, a traveling jewelry salesman from Harvard, IL, moved here to open a jewelry store on the south side of State Street between Second and Third streets. Smith sold more than jewelry, including silverware, stationary, sporting goods, candy, tobacco and cigars, as well as repairing watches, clocks and other novelties.

After 18 years in business, the 77 year-old Smith retired and sold his shop to John C. Ranbow of Decatur, IL. Ranbow modernized the building with a plate glass store front as well as adding a new stock of jewelry, showcases and fixtures.

Ranbow’s Jewelry

The Fargo Block replaced multiple buildings in 1915. Ranbow’s jewelry store moved to temporary quarters during the construction and then moved into what would become 216 West State St. This photograph was taken shortly after construction was complete and retailers were just beginning to move into their new quarters. Clocks can be seen hanging in the storefront.

In 1920, Ranbow decided to take a job in Chicago and sell his business. The new proprietors were S. R. Knox of Janesville, WI, and G. S. Bauder and Howard Bauder of Geneva. They incorporated the business under the name of Knox-Bauder Company. These experienced jewelers and repairmen carried a complete line of carefully selected stock.

By 1926, Knox and Bauder were both in failing health and decided to reduce their stock by auction and sell the business. Former milk retailer W. A. Britton of Elgin bought the company and hired an expert jewelryman, watchmaker and engraver to work in his new Geneva business.

F.J. Kohloff’s Store

Advertising brochure for F. J. Kohloff’s store, circa 1930.

Perhaps due to inexperience in the field, Britton sold the business within a year to F. J. Kohloff, who had 10 years’ experience in jewelry sales and repairing in Deerfield, WI. After several years, Mrs. Kohloff managed the store while her husband opened another store in the Baker Hotel, St. Charles.

In 1938, the Kohloffs decided to focus their attention on the St. Charles store and sold the Geneva business to L. D. Linneman, a watchmaker and jeweler from Elburn.

Marching Past Thorp’s

Geneva’s Memorial Day Parade, circa 1940s. Thorp’s jewelry store can be seen in the background.

Just three years later, Linneman’s ill health forced him to sell the jewelry store to C. M. Thorp of West Chicago. Thorp was a watchmaker of more than 20 years’ experience, once working for the Bradley Horological School in Peoria and later specializing as a railroad watch inspector. For the next 14 years, Thorp Jewelry became a fixture on West State Street.

Then, in 1955, after a long and established career, Thorp retired and sold his business to lifelong residents Robert and John Anderson.

Anderson’s State Street Jewelers

Robert (right) and John Anderson (left), circa 1955 in their new storefront at 216 West State Street.

The Andersons had been operating a jewelry and repair shop on Third Street since 1952 and took advantage of this opportunity to showcase their business on Geneva’s high-traffic thoroughfare.

Anderson’s State Street Jewelers facade, circa 1960s.

By 1985, the brothers semi-retired and sold Anderson’s State Street Jewelers to local jewelry retailers Donna Zollner and Jeffrey Hampton.

State Street Jewelers remained at 216 West State St. until 2000, when it was moved into more spacious quarters next door.

In 2013, State Street Jewelers moved to 230 West State St. after Merra-Lee Shops closed its doors.

This longtime business is connected with the community and generously partners with non-profit organizations such as Geneva History Museum, Mutual Ground and the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Robert (left) and John Anderson (right), circa 1960s in the store’s back workroom.

‘Bring Your Bling’ Brown Bag

To highlight this iconic business, Geneva History Museum invites guests to the Brown Bag Program “Bring Your Bling” where State Street Jewelers gemologists offer their expertise.

Join us at noon on Tuesday, April 9 at 113 South Third St., Geneva, where guests can have one piece of jewelry evaluated.  A limited number of items will be seen during the program.  Admission is $5 per person or $3 for GHM members. For more information or to register visit GenevaHistoryMuseum.org or call 630-232-4951.

FEATURE PHOTO CAPTION: W. R. Smith in his jewelry store, circa 1905. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GENEVA HISTORY MUSEUM.

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