Bergmann-Bartels dissolved partnership in 1916

Bergmann-Bartels store, 521-523 Broadway.

Aside from the news out of Europe about the growing conflicts there and the excitement locally of a circus coming to town, the big news the third week of August 1916 was the dissolution of the big Bergmann-Bartels grocery and dry goods store on Broadway.

The business had been around since 1902, and the proprietors -- William C. Bergmann, Alvin Bergmann and Will G. Bartels -- were among of the most respected merchants in Cape Girardeau. The front-page story that carried the news indicated both operations had outgrown their quarters. Patrons were assured "the quitting of business by the corporation comes about amicably in every respect."

Here's the Aug. 14, 1916, article from The Daily Republican newspaper.

BIG BROADWAY STORE DIVIDES

Bergmann and Bartels to Sever Corporation Into Parts.

PAPERS NOT YET SIGNED

Bergmann to Have Tremendous Grocery Store in Entire Present Store -- Bartels Goes to Vacant Store at Frederick Corner.

Bergmann and Bartels, the big grocery and dry goods store on upper Broadway, is to be separated into two parts.

Will Bartels will take his dry goods stocks from the building to the vacant store room at the corner of Broadway and Frederick, where formerly a picture show was operated.

Will Bergmann will continue to run a grocery store in the building now occupied by the joint stores.

He intends, he said today, to make it one of the biggest grocery stores in the state ad will occupy all three store rooms. The retail grocery department will occupy the room occupied by the dry goods department.

To Enlarge Grocery.

The division of the corporation into two parts and the quitting of business by the corporation comes about amicably in every respect, the members said. They have a perfect understanding of how the division shall be made and the books of the corporation closed, said Bergmann this afternoon. The papers have not yet been signed up but will probably be finished tonight or tomorrow.

The third member of the firm, Alvin Bergmann, will have charge of the collection of all accounts outstanding. He will immediately set about these collections and expects to have the business wound up by Nov. 1. Such was a statement made by Bergmann this afternoon.

It is said that the growth of the business in both branches has made necessary more room for both. The grocery department has been operated in cramped quarters for years and it has been the desire of Bergmann to have better and larger quarters. It is his plan now, it is said, to lay in a stock of goods of such proportions that buying will be productive of better prices and that selling will benefit to the same extent.

Better Credit at Bergmann's.

Bartels will increase his stock of goods also and have a store that will be second to none in Cape Girardeau.

Bergmann expressed himself rather lively this afternoon on the sort of credit business he would do in the future. Instead of doing close to $100,000 worth of business and losing tremendously on bad accounts he will cut down his totals and let those who have insured their lives by filling their stomachs at his expense in the end eat from their own gardens. He said that he had many bad accounts on his books which would not be there in the future. He has learned from experience and he will take advantage of such experience and do business with those who do business with him.

It was said at the store this afternoon that Bartels would move his dry goods out as soon as the papers are signed. It was intimated that the moving would start probably this week.

Bartels store, 537 Broadway.

Obituaries for all three men fill in a lot of the gaps regarding the history of the Bergman-Bartels store.

First, William C. Bergmann, who died July 1, 1919, just three years after the partnership was dissolved.

Alvin Bergmann apparently left the retail business shortly after his brother went out on his own. Alvin became a banker.

Published Dec. 24, 1945, in the Southeast Missourian:

And finally, Will Bartels, died Aug. 22, 1947:

Fred Lynch wrote two blogs that tell the rest of the story of the Bartels store:

Bartels Mercantile Co. burns in 1937

Bartels Store, 430 Broadway, closes in 1957