Rickard's Store
From the Benkelman Post: "This is the original Jake Rickard store in Max, the successor of which is the grocery-market operated by his son, Otis Rickard in Max. The original building situated on the south side of the street was built by John R. King and later sold it to John Roemmich and it then passed into the hands of Jake Rickard, in 1904, who had completed a term as County Clerk and found a liking to the merchandise business after working for Mr. Roemmich. Mr. Rickard operated the store until his demise in 1936 when his son, Otis, took over its operation. In August 1945 the building was destroyed by fire but it did not end the Rickard tradition as Max merchants as Otis re-established the enterprise in the then unused Max State Bank building where it continues to be the favored shopping place of that community. The Rickard enterprise ranks as the oldest retail business establishment in the county."
Rickard's Store in 1897
Rickard's Store circa 1920's
Left Side, Front to back, Margaret Ann Rickard and Unknown, Right Side, Milt Powell inside Rickard Store, circa 1920's
Vintage advertisement from Rickard's Grocery. The original of this advertisement is on display in the "Little Church" museum
Rickard's Grocery Market as it appeared in the 1970's
Closed for many years, this is the Rickard's Grocery Market building (former Max State Bank) today
Other Stores in Max
Although it was the longest running store in Max, Rickard's was not the only store in Max. Over the years, there were several different stores - variety stores, grocery stores, general merchandise stores, etc., in business, in the town of Max. Here are a few of them:
Hi Stotsenburger in front of the Bahret Cash Store in Max, circa 1920's
Former site of the Lizzie Walters Store
Max Variety Store and Barber Shop and Post Office, built and operated by Emmett "Stub" Reynolds and his wife and Vera Reynolds
Vern Hartsock's Store in Max, circa 1920's
George Mills' Garage & Blacksmith Shop
George Mills was born December 9, 1871 in Montford, Wisconsin where his parents had homesteaded. George came to Max in 1918, and he set up his blacksmith shop where he plied his trade for many years.
George Mills stands in front of his garage with his family, circa 1920's
George Mills in front of his garage in 1918
George Mills Garage & Blacksmith shop being moved in 1942
Harley Howard's Gas Station and the Krotter & Fitzgerald Gas Station
Although George Mills did not sell gasoline, there were at least two other stations were passing motorists and locals alike could gas up. They were Harley Howard's Texaco Station and the Krotter & Fitzgerald Station. Both were right on the Goldenrod Highway (Highway 34).
"You can trust your car to the man who wear's the star, the big bright Texaco star!" (Remember that?) Here's a photo of Harley Howard's Texaco Station in Max
Harley Howard standing in front of his Texaco station in 1940
And another photo of Harley Howard in front of his Texaco Station
Although we do not currently have any old photos of the Krotter & Fitzgerald gas station, the original sign is on display in the Dundy County Musem in Benkelman, NE
The old Krotter & Fitzgerald Station as it appears today.
Krotter and Fitzgerald not only owned and operated the service station, but they also operated a lumber yard and the Max elevator for a time. The old Krotter & Fitzgerald service station is currently being remodeled and cleaned up, and is scheduled to become an antiques and collectibles store.
The Max Elevator and Train Depot
In a town like Max, a rural agricultural and ranching town, two of the most important businesses are the local elevator and the train station. Here are some photos of both of these landmarks, which are unfortunately now gone from our landscape.
A view of Max's first elevator in 1919, taken (appropriately) from the Max Train Depot
The Farmer Elevator and Livery Barn in Max, in 1921
The last incarnation of the Max elevator. It was torn down in 2013
The Max Train Depot was built in 1912
Another view of the Max Train Depot
The Max Train Depot, sadly being demolished in 1963
For those railroad workers who were assigned to the area, the Max Section House was built. Here it is in 1919
The Max State Bank
Just as important as any business, is the local bank. In Max, this was the Max State Bank. The Max State Bank holds two local distinctions: it was robbed in July 1931 in a very daring daylight holdup perpetrated by three desperadoes from Denver (you can read original newspaper articles about this robbery under the Max History tab above), but more importantly, the Max State Bank was the only bank in the county that did not go under during the Great Depression. In fact, after the bank in Benkelman folded, it was the Max State Bank that came to the rescue when it relocated in Benkelman in order to better serve the residents of Dundy County.
The Max State Bank in 1929
An original check written on the Max State Bank is on display in the "Little Church" museum
A safety deposit box rent receipt from the Max State Bank dated 1915
In 1932, the Benkelman Lions Club "invited" the Max State Bank to move to Benkelman. The invitation was accepted, and the move was made, thus providing county residents with a central location to do their banking
Other Businesses in Max
Irene Mills Barker and son, standing in front of the "Max Central Office" telephone exchange. For a short time, the Max Post Office was also located in the same building as the telephone exchange. The building still exists and sits next door to the current Max Post Office. In this photo, the view is on the north side of Main Street looking east
Max Telephone Office and Hattie Williams Cafe on Main Street Max, circa 1940's
During 1930-1931, the Max High School paper featured advertising from The State Bank, John Updike’s Variety Store, G.F. Mills and Son Machine Shop, Bahret’s I.G.A. Store, Jacob Rickard’s General Merchandise Store, Krotter and Fitzgerald Lumber – Grain – Coal & Wire store, and the Goldenrod Garage operated by A.J. Walters. Here are some other advertisements that were found in the Max High School paper:
"Oh! How we long for the Good Old Days!"
