After 80 years and three generations of operation by the Hamann family, Hamann's Variety Store is going out of business. Rick and Patty Hamann, the current owners, have set no date for the closing, but are currently conducting a going out of business sale.

For a business that has delighted the thousands of customers who have entered its doors, it actually began as the result of a serious accident. Henry Hamann, Rick's grandfather, had lost a hand in an accident at the old woolen mill in Prairie du Chien, and could no longer do factory work.

He and his wife, Gertrude, bought the old Central States Store in 1929 from Billy Garrity. The store, located between the current Prairie du Chien City Hall and the former Prairie Prescription, was stocked with a lot of patent medicines, said Rick. They didn't require a prescription or a license to sell, and many, he said, were probably of questionable value.

Henry and Gertrude expanded the operation into a variety store, and in 1931 added Mautz Paint to their line.

The present building, half a block from the old one, was built in 1939. The basement, according to family records, was dug with a power shovel owned by the county, and the building was constructed by Steiner Brothers' Construction of Prairie du Chien.

When it opened it was described by "The Wauzeka Chief" as "one of the most modern stores in Southwestern Wisconsin." An addition was constructed at the back of the store in 1946, and a stockroom was added in 1957.

Stanley (Henry and Gertrude's son) and Leona Hamann purchased the building in 1959, and Rick and Patty bought it from them in 1984. Leona died in 1999, but Stanley has continued to help out in the store from time to time.

Over the years, there have been many changes and improvements, but the basic variety store concept has not changed. They have added more gift items and souvenirs, expanded the fishing tackle and carried live wax worms for winter fishing. They have also built up candy sales, continuing to sell delectable bulk candy by weight from glass cases.

Some years back, many individual salespersons stopped at the store. Patty recalls ordering candy and chips from Junior Hazen of Wauzeka and from Eddie Benish of Prairie du Chien. Now, all of that is purchased from Holiday Wholesale, although Butch Boland of Prairie du Chien is the company's local representative. Some of the salesmen, Rick recalls, were a little cantankerous. Patty remembers one salesman in particular, Sam the Plastic Man, from Chicago, who sold plastic curtains. He was grouchy, she remembers, but she had no trouble dealing with him.

Over the years, many of the companies they order from have been bought up by other companies, and some of the original product line is eliminated. A great deal of their stock is now ordered through Variety Distributors, of which they are members.

Rick recalls the years when Santa Claus came to the store and handed out candy. Santa was stationed in the basement, and kids came in the front door and down the front stairs, then exited via the back stairs. Some of them, he's sure, then got in line and went through again. They discontinued the program for fear that someone would be injured from pushing and shoving on the stairs.

Some time in the 1950s. the store started stocking toys in the basement. Since the paint was also stocked there, it was temporarily shoved to the back for the holiday season, and the toys were put at the front of the shelves. In 1974 or 75, the paint was moved to the back and the entire front devoted to toys.

As anyone who visited the old toy section knows, it was a treat for adults as well as children. Adults, seeing games and toys they had played with as children, took a trip down memory lane while children browsed the aisles, finding items that would never be stocked by a big-box store. Patty said they deliberately ordered things that older people would remember from their childhood.

The toys are one example of how they have worked to preserve the store's uniqueness. At one time they were asked if they were ever going to update their wooden counters. They said, no, that was part of their uniqueness. They have been visited by countless tourists who can't believe such a store still exists. They recall a man and woman from Texas who came off a tour boat to visit the store. The wife was so taken with the stationery that she had whole boxes shipped to her home in Texas.

They chuckle about a call from a woman on the east coast, who found out they carried Mendets for mending pots and pans. They shipped them to her, but felt it was ironic because they ordered the product from somewhere on the east coast.

Local people know that if they can't find an item elsewhere there's a good chance Hamann's will have it. However, said Rick, "if we had everything that people have asked for, the store could have to cover a whole block."

Their biggest selling items have been paint and wallpaper, fishing tackle, candy and gift items. They have learned that if something is a fad item, they don't order it twice or they'll be left with an overstock. They recalled a fad for trolls, when they had one whole wall stocked with trolls.Rubiks' Cube was another big seller, and at one time they had people on a waiting list for butterfly yo-yos.

The Hamanns are closing for health-related issues. "We didn't want to wait until we are any older or frailer," said Patty. 'We want to be able to travel while we're physically able and be there for our folks."

They want to thank all their long time employees, both past and present, as well as all their loyal customers.

At present, they have no plans for the building. They will wait until after the sale to make any decisions about that.

This is the second of a three-part series on Crawford County Celebrates. The first article discussed the birth and growth of the Driftless Area Art Fair, which celebrates its fifth anniversary Sept. 19 and 20. in Soldiers Grove.

KidsArt has been a part of the art festival since the beginning. It started, says KidsArt chairperson Sherry Quamme, as a way to promote a venue for children in the area to exhibit their art. "We want to "help grow the next generation of artists," said Quamme, and if numbers are any indication, it has been tremendously successful. Participation has grown each year, and this year, they are planning for over 500 grade and middle school students.

Schools in Prairie du Chien, Wauzeka, Seneca, DeSoto, North Crawford, Viroqua, Richland Center and Ferryville are already involved in the program, and more registrations are anticipated. Home school students are also participating.

With many schools being forced to cut back on art-related programs due to budget restrictions, the KidsArt committee hopes to provide an additional creative outlet for children.

They also offer a small financial incentive to young artists through their awards program. The first place winner in each of three award levels—grades 1 to 3, 4 to 6 and middle school—receives $30 at a presentation in the student’s classroom, plus a framed photograph of the piece of art. The art work itself becomes the property of the art festival, and is sold at live auction the following spring as a fundraiser. The money generated is then given to the art department at the school in which the student is enrolled, or, in the case of a home-schooled student, to an area arts center.

Presenting a student with a picture of his or her art work has not always been a part of the award. The committee discovered during the first year that it was needed. The first child who received the award was thrilled, but when she realized she had to part with her work of art, she burst into tears. Since then, each winner receives a photograph of the art.

Jerry Quebe, co-chair of the Arts Festival, said some of the young artists have been disadvantaged, but their talent comes through despite some of the hardships they have suffered. He added, however, that awards are based on a student’s talent. "We choose an art piece because of its quality, and then we learn the story behind it," he said.

Although the KIdsArt committee would also like to include high school students in the competition and exhibit, at this time they cannot afford it.

To further encourage young talent, the committee last year introduced a KidsArt creativity zone, where children of all ages can paint and create in fabric art. Quamme said it was packed on both days of the art festival. High school students from North Crawford worked in the gallery as volunteers, and other volunteers are welcome.

The KidsArt feature of the festival has been endorsed by the professional artists who exhibit at the festival, and festival-goers are encouraged to visit the KidsArt gallery to view the works of the artists of the future.

As the new school year is beginning, along with the new traditional influenza season, Wisconsin is expecting to continue seeing cases of the novel H1N1 influenza, commonly known as swine flu. School and public health officials are working to keep children safe and healthy and are asking for help from parents.

The following are some guidelines by which parents and caregivers can help area school districts.

Each morning, parents and caregivers should check their children and other family members for flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat. A few cases of H1N1 influenza have begun with nausea, vomiting, and /or diarrhea symptoms (especially in the younger child).

Keep your child home if he or she is ill. All sick students should stay out of school until their fever has subsided for 24 hours without the aide of fever reducing products. Students will likely be home with H1N1 for seven days. Ill students should not attend alternative childcare. If a child or adult is ill with other symptoms, they should stay home at least one day to see how the illness develops and until completely well for 24 hours. Children and adults who are ill should stay home and not go into the community unless they need medical care.

If your child is so sick that you would normally seek medical care, please do so. H1N1 is very similar to the ordinary seasonal flu so the treatment would be the same. Anti-viral medication is available but must be given within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. Please call your healthcare provider first. They may be able to handle everything over the phone.

Notify the school of all flu-like absences and symptoms or confirmed cases of H1N1.

In addition to staying home when sick, here are four important things you and your family can do to help stay healthy and keep others safe:

Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based cleaners are also effective.

Remember to wash for 20 seconds and scrub all surfaces. Young children like to sing "Happy Birthday" twice for the time span.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not your hands.

Stay home if you or your child is sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing products).

Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others.

Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines become available. All children 6 months to 19 years are encouraged to get vaccinated for the seasonal flu as soon as possible.

More information about new H1N1 influenza is available on the following we sites:

www.pandemic.wi.gov

www.cdc.gov

www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflue/en/index.html.

Parents may also call the Public Health Flu Information line at 211, Crawford County Public Health at 608-326-0229, or Karen Reilly, Prairie du Chien School Nurse at 608-326-0503 ext. 3264.

The patience and cooperation of parents during this time is greatly appreciated.