Commemorating 40 Years in Business--8 Signs Have Been Painted!

A Big Congratulations to Dennis & Barb--The Olde Plow Shoppe has been in business for 40 years--this April 2013! Eight signs have been painted this 4th of July weekend in celebration. Have you stopped in to visit? Many customers still come in saying they have driven by many years and decided to stop this time. It is quite the museum!

Olde Plow Shoppe History

 Upstairs cottage

 Old stove where many customers like to cozy up to in the winter.

 New entrance drive.

Above photo: before Hwy. 47 expansion.

History: The building "Olde Plow Shoppe" was built in 1900 and ran as a general store until 1969.  The original owner was Charlie Ganschow and in the 1950's was taken over by his daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Eddie Simonson.  The back addition of the store was a cheese factory and started operating in about 1908 until the farmers started a co-op cheese factory across the road.  The Dickman's bought the building in April of 1973.  From 1969 until 1973 it was owned by a couple of other people who did some remodeling of the upstairs apartment.   The upstairs has now become the owners' cottage near the lakes for fishing and family and friends' visits.

Dennis's Potato Gardens

Most years Dennis plants a potato garden. This year he has:
Pontiacs - top-notch mashing, thin red skin, shallow eyes, crisp white flesh
Kennebecs - large, light tan skin, uniform shape, fleshy insides, thin skin
Norkotahs - early maturing, released in 1987 by North Dakota State University, white flesh, long
                     oblong shape, medium to heavy russeted skin
Burbanks - large, dark brown skin, few eyes, dry white flesh

Fruit Jars & Copper Boiler

Dennis's antique business started with him collecting old bottles & fruit jars. He purchased a price guide book and began buying other items. Copper boilers were used for boiling water on the old wood stove for doing laundry, washing dishes and bathing.

Buying Plows & Picking Up Plow Handles

The Olde Plow Shoppe likes to pick up unique, unusual plows to display & sell--some are even for left-handers. These were purchased from an Amish Farm.
Dennis recently got back from a trip to Arkansas where he picks up plow handles to sell. He can only find them in Arkansas. Customers buy them to fix up old plows or cultivators where handles have rotted.

Fall Decorating

Inside and Out -- Ready for Fall. Come See What Ideas You May Find For Your Fall Decorating!

Dennis's Man Cave

Everything was totally taken out and the room cleaned and then items were chosen to display including many tools, antique tool boxes, old wooden doors, large iron kettle, milk cans, nail kegs,large barrel, old irons, etc.