South Amana Store

    The South Amana Store was built in 1885.  It is of brick construction on a wood beam frame.  The actual construction for this building began in 1860.
    Communal use for this building included a store, post office, and residence.  The east-facing building had the post office in the west end.  It was the place where South Amana residents could purchase items on a credit-based system.  Account books were kept by the store keeper and monitored very closely.   The south addition and upstairs were dwelling spaces.  This is generally where the store keeper/ postmaster lived.
     The store was always an essential part of the town both before and after the change.  It would have looked much like an old-fashioned general store.  Residents got almost all of their material goods here.  After the change (1932), the store housed a sandwich shop for community members as well as visitors.  It is currently called Fern Hill.  This store sells handicrafts and antiques.
    There is one thing that makes the South Amana Store almost legendary.  This is it's tie to the famous Jesse James.  On the rainy evening of April 27, 1877, it is believed that the store was robbed by Jesse James and his gang.  There are many accounts of this printed in various publications.  Most of these can be found at the Amana Heritage Museum in main Amana.  I will give a brief summation.
    The gang, assisted by the Green brothers of rural Marengo, broke into the store and demanded money.  This money was kept in a safe and while one of the residents was tied up, the other was made to open the safe at gun point.  This done, the gang tied up the other man and made off with what was estimated to be $2000.00.  A handsome reward for the time.  The gang made their way back to Marengo and escaped by train.  Jesse James was not apprehended for this crime, though it is my understanding that the Green brothers were.
    The two pictures below are of the store.  The top was taken pre-1932.  The bottom, as indicated by the advertising signs, was post-1932.  My guess would be in the late 1940's or early 1950's.

All pictures shown here courtesy of the Amana Heritage Society.