Business Owner Finds Piece of Hudson History During Remodel
John Bender, the owner of Home, Kitchen & Bath, is looking to donate the signed door frame he found in his store during a remodel.
During a 2008 remodel of his store, Home, Kitchen & Bath in downtown Hudson, John Bender replaced the door leading to the basement and found on its frame the signature of August Johnson, a pre-war builder for whom a St. Croix Street house on the National Register of Historic Places is named.
Bender wants to give the doorframe to a relative of Johnson's, but he said he believes Johnson to have been unmarried and hasn't been able to track down any kin.
John Bender
11:06 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
Actually the house I was referring to is at St. Croix and 5th.
Jacki Bradham
9:31 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012
Here is a short history on Johnson:
August Julius Johnson (1867-1936) was born in Sweden and moved to Hudson around 1899. He was a prominent builder and talented stonemason. His home, the “Stone House” at 427 St. Croix Street, took 4 years to build. He made each of the concrete blocks (with hand selected colored stones) himself. The current Hudson City Hall was also constructed by Johnson in 1927. That building was later enlarged in 1992.
Butch
1:51 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
What does it matter that Bender was believed to be unmarried if the door was signed by Johnson?
Micheal Foley
2:10 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Thanks for pointing that out. I made the fix.