Historical Note

E. Bosshard and William Doerflinger entered into a partnership August 1, 1881, in order to run a one-story department store on 4th Street, opposite Market Square. Although the business was appropriately named Bosshard & Doerflinger, the shop was nicknamed the Park Store because of its proximity to Cameron Park. Business increased and in 1888 the partners relocated the store to the Funk Building on the corner of 4th and Pearl streets. In 1891, Doerflinger purchased Bosshard's half of the business. Three years later, Doerflinger again moved his enterprise, this time to a building next to the Trade Palace on 4th Street. In 1898 Doerflinger took over the Trade Palace and later the corner store. The department store essentially consumed the entire corner at Main and 4th streets. Archways were constructed to link the buildings. On the night of April 21, 1903, fire broke out in the back of the 4th Street addition and completely destroyed the store. A year later, on April 27, 1904, Doerflinger held a grand opening and honored Mons Anderson, a well known La Crosse merchant. William Doerflinger died in 1926, and John Halik assumed responsibility for the store until his death in 1935. At that time Doerflinger's daughter Viola (Doerflinger) Fellows became president and general manager of the business. Extensive remodeling was done in 1939. Her son, Sam Fellows, assumed control in 1954. Under his reign the store opened two branches at Jackson Plaza and Center 90 (later moved to Valley View Mall). A chapter in La Crosse's history closed when Doerflingers Department Store closed, liquidated its merchandise, and went out of business in 1984.