The Dollar Saver in August 2012. Note that the exterior is essentially the same as it was in 1910. (Photo by James Hales)
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Local residents brought wood on Saturday to sell in front of the Rogers Wholesale Grocery about 1910. Note that there is not a single female in the picture. (Photo courtesy of the Rogers Historical Museum)
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Remembering the Dollar Saver Building
By James F. Hales
There has been much interest lately in downtown Rogers with new businesses opening and several of the major historic buildings being purchased. One of the buildings recently sold was the historic Dollar Saver building on Walnut Street between First Street and the railroad tracks.
In 1907, construction was booming in Rogers and some of the town’s most magnificent buildings were constructed along the dirt streets – Applegate’s Drug Store (now the Rabbit’s Lair), the Bank of Rogers (now several businesses), and Rogers Wholesale Grocery (now Dollar Saver). Local architect A.O. Clarke must have been very busy that year because he designed all of these buildings.
The Rogers Wholesale Grocery was built by John Mylar with red pressed brick, limestone headers, and two large skylights. The front of the building housed offices and the large warehouse in the north end of the building had loading docks on the east and west sides. At the time of construction, all merchandise came in on trains and the merchandise was unloaded on the east side and shipped out in wagons from the dock on the First Street side of the building.
Rogers Light and Water was also located in this building in the early part of the century until the new city hall was built in1929. In those days, Rogers’ water was supplied by Diamond and Frisco Springs near present day Lake Atalanta.
Several prominent citizens were connected with Rogers Wholesale Grocery including Ed C. Baker, the first manager, Lockwood Searcy, and Z.L. Reagan. Reagan became the manager in 1917 for many years and was the father of the famous Reagan educator sisters – Agnes Litton, Mary Sue, and Betty Lynn.
In 1935, Griffin Wholesale Grocery acquired the business and continued at 101 E. Walnut until 1966. Griffin was a chain based in Muskogee, Oklahoma and is still in business today. Local citizens who worked at Griffin’s included: Ralph Brooks, manager; Irene Forsythe, bookkeeper; Henry Grissom, shipping clerk; Ross Schopp, mechanic; “Doc” Briley, and many others.
I asked for memories of Griffin Wholesale Grocery on a popular Rogers’ web site and got many responses:
Ann Nickell: “My mother, Margaret Nickell, worked for Ralph Brooks at Griffin Grocery in the early to mid-60s. If I remember correctly, Rand Grocery was a competitor of Griffins. In my high school years I helped my Mom file invoices. I remember one of the invoices was for Lookout Grocery (a small rural grocery on Highway 12 east of War Eagle). I also remember Miss Irene Forsythe. She lived on West Walnut and stayed up every night to watch Johnny Carson.”
Barbara Champagne: “My stepfather (Henry Grissom) worked there until they closed in the sixties. Henry worked for the company as a salesman before WW2, and after in the Rogers warehouse. Later he worked in Muskogee until he retired in the late 80s. He thought very highly of the Griffin family and they of him.”
Betty See Feast: “My brother in law, Leonard Beebe, worked there. He brought home outdated canned biscuits. His family got so tired of them they won't eat them now.”
Vennis Pollock: “Good memories of Griffins as a kid, my Dad worked for them 20 years. Good memories of Miss Irene parking her 1959 Cadillac on the side of the building, I loved that car.”
Griffin Grocery closed in 1966 ending the era of the wholesale grocery business that operated in this building for 60 years. It has been reported that John T. Griffin closed the business when the employees voted to unionize, but it was probably due to competition from larger wholesale suppliers and the decline of “Mom and Pop” groceries in the 1960s.
The next occupant of the historic building was the Outlet Salvage, owned by Troy Miller and operated from 1966 for several years.
In 1974, the building was in need of repair, with the windows and front door boarded over. Jack Parker, who had been in the cattle and farm business for many years, decided to make a change and renovated the building. He opened the Dollar Saver, a variety store and offered bargains on factory close-outs, overages, and merchandise from bankrupt companies. In 1982, Jack’s sons, Bruce and Brent Parker bought the business and operated it until this year.
The Dollar Saver is closing but the interior is a step back in time with the original wood floors, big skylight, freight elevator, and exposed beams. During a recent tour, Bruce Parker pointed out a hand-written date on one of the beams – May 28, 1908.
All of us who love Rogers are waiting in anticipation to see the next chapter in the life of this unique Rogers landmark.
By James F. Hales
There has been much interest lately in downtown Rogers with new businesses opening and several of the major historic buildings being purchased. One of the buildings recently sold was the historic Dollar Saver building on Walnut Street between First Street and the railroad tracks.
In 1907, construction was booming in Rogers and some of the town’s most magnificent buildings were constructed along the dirt streets – Applegate’s Drug Store (now the Rabbit’s Lair), the Bank of Rogers (now several businesses), and Rogers Wholesale Grocery (now Dollar Saver). Local architect A.O. Clarke must have been very busy that year because he designed all of these buildings.
The Rogers Wholesale Grocery was built by John Mylar with red pressed brick, limestone headers, and two large skylights. The front of the building housed offices and the large warehouse in the north end of the building had loading docks on the east and west sides. At the time of construction, all merchandise came in on trains and the merchandise was unloaded on the east side and shipped out in wagons from the dock on the First Street side of the building.
Rogers Light and Water was also located in this building in the early part of the century until the new city hall was built in1929. In those days, Rogers’ water was supplied by Diamond and Frisco Springs near present day Lake Atalanta.
Several prominent citizens were connected with Rogers Wholesale Grocery including Ed C. Baker, the first manager, Lockwood Searcy, and Z.L. Reagan. Reagan became the manager in 1917 for many years and was the father of the famous Reagan educator sisters – Agnes Litton, Mary Sue, and Betty Lynn.
In 1935, Griffin Wholesale Grocery acquired the business and continued at 101 E. Walnut until 1966. Griffin was a chain based in Muskogee, Oklahoma and is still in business today. Local citizens who worked at Griffin’s included: Ralph Brooks, manager; Irene Forsythe, bookkeeper; Henry Grissom, shipping clerk; Ross Schopp, mechanic; “Doc” Briley, and many others.
I asked for memories of Griffin Wholesale Grocery on a popular Rogers’ web site and got many responses:
Ann Nickell: “My mother, Margaret Nickell, worked for Ralph Brooks at Griffin Grocery in the early to mid-60s. If I remember correctly, Rand Grocery was a competitor of Griffins. In my high school years I helped my Mom file invoices. I remember one of the invoices was for Lookout Grocery (a small rural grocery on Highway 12 east of War Eagle). I also remember Miss Irene Forsythe. She lived on West Walnut and stayed up every night to watch Johnny Carson.”
Barbara Champagne: “My stepfather (Henry Grissom) worked there until they closed in the sixties. Henry worked for the company as a salesman before WW2, and after in the Rogers warehouse. Later he worked in Muskogee until he retired in the late 80s. He thought very highly of the Griffin family and they of him.”
Betty See Feast: “My brother in law, Leonard Beebe, worked there. He brought home outdated canned biscuits. His family got so tired of them they won't eat them now.”
Vennis Pollock: “Good memories of Griffins as a kid, my Dad worked for them 20 years. Good memories of Miss Irene parking her 1959 Cadillac on the side of the building, I loved that car.”
Griffin Grocery closed in 1966 ending the era of the wholesale grocery business that operated in this building for 60 years. It has been reported that John T. Griffin closed the business when the employees voted to unionize, but it was probably due to competition from larger wholesale suppliers and the decline of “Mom and Pop” groceries in the 1960s.
The next occupant of the historic building was the Outlet Salvage, owned by Troy Miller and operated from 1966 for several years.
In 1974, the building was in need of repair, with the windows and front door boarded over. Jack Parker, who had been in the cattle and farm business for many years, decided to make a change and renovated the building. He opened the Dollar Saver, a variety store and offered bargains on factory close-outs, overages, and merchandise from bankrupt companies. In 1982, Jack’s sons, Bruce and Brent Parker bought the business and operated it until this year.
The Dollar Saver is closing but the interior is a step back in time with the original wood floors, big skylight, freight elevator, and exposed beams. During a recent tour, Bruce Parker pointed out a hand-written date on one of the beams – May 28, 1908.
All of us who love Rogers are waiting in anticipation to see the next chapter in the life of this unique Rogers landmark.
Parade in front of Griffin Grocery in 1950. Notice the lovely girls driving the Newt Hailey Ford tractors. (Photo courtesy of Sam Wood and Rogers Historical Museum)
