Zeigler has turned another milestone today – with the outbreak of flames that quickly engulfed one of Southern Illinois true landmarks – Kohlsdorf's Quality Corner clothing store. Kohlsdorf's is one of those places that is known for quality clothing and quality sales folks providing the best service available. People came from far and wide to buy in Zeigler on the Circle at Kohlsdorf's. Just after 5PM Fire Chief Bob Partee came around the circle on his way to city hall when he noticed the smoke from the building. He rushed to the fire department and reported the fire to Central. Within minutes the Zeigler Fire Department was on the scene and found the building was totally engulfed in quickly spreading flames. He became apparent that the building was not going to be saved as the clothing materials in the store continued to feed the raging fire. The Fire Department's new challege was to not only to contain the fire, but to keep it from spreading to the attached cafe and the old bank building. When the fire was under control, the fire fighters succeeded in containing the fire and saving the adjacents buildings, but atlast the saving of the Kohlsdorf's Quality Corner was not to be and with only a couple of partial walls just barely able to stand guard over the once proud store remains.
© 2006
(Fire through the front doors)
(photos by Allan Patton) © 2006
Looking out my window watching the embers burn out, I travel back just a couple of weeks ago when I and my wife and son was in the Kohlsdorf's store to purchase a set of bib overalls and carpenter jeans for my son and me. We all admired the wood work on the fixtures and Linda (my wife) had a nice conversation with Mike Restivo on how we enjoyed seeing such quality wood furnishings with the patina of a bygone age. My son, Erick and I spoke about the strength of coloring in the wood flooring that the age of the floor. As we walked home with our purchases I passed on a couple of my childhood stories to my son about my visits to the Kohlsdorf's store.
(Evening falls and the sky is lit up by the flames)
(photos by Larry Christy) © 2006
While sitting here and jotting these thoughts before the fleeting moment disappears, I hear the noise of the tractor from up on the Circle knocking the walls of the still burning building so the fire fighters can get at the smoldering fire. My thoughts begin to drift to a earlier time; as a small child, my grandfather (Clarence Payne) would take me with him to Kohlsdorf's to buy his mine work clothes and I would always play and eventally hide among the many racks of hanging pants and suit jackets. It seemed like so much fun then to watch my grandfather look for me and yell for me to come out to go home. I would snicker and bury myself deeper in the folds of the hanging clothes and then he would act as if he was leaving and when he got to the large massive front door, I would come out from behind the clothes and scamper along to him yelling wait for me Pop, wait for me.
(The magnitude of the flames are awesome)
(photos by Larry Christy) © 2006
Another time and much later in life, I was in J.C. Penney’s in Carbondale and I was looking at some shirt ties and the salesperson came over and ask if I was interested in a suit and I said no - in our conversation, I told him that I was from Zeigler. He quickly understood and told me that he had never sold a suit to anyone from Zeigler. Without a doubt, that is because of the fine clothing and service offered by Kohlsdorf's. He was right, in the first few years after I retired from the Air Force I had bought several suits, shirts and work pants at Kohlsdorf's as well as my shirt and pants that they sewed the insignias on my American Legion shirt. Where else are you going to find a clothing store with seamstress working right in the store. This is not a unique experience in Zeigler - most people that I know, their parents and grandparents also bought from the Kohlsdorf's and received the same service that I received.
(The truth as the night wear on - it is gone)
(photos by Larry Christy) © 2006
I will miss the Kohlsdorf's Quality Corner clothing store and what they stood for – my wife reminded me tonight after I came home from the fire that they always tried to offer American made items and that along with my childhood memories is what I want to remember. I am saddened, that many will not be able to experience the splendor of such a grand place – Kohlsdorf's Quality Corner – on the Circle in Zeigler.
Now that another era is slipping by as my years pass, but I feel comfort that my son got to experience a time and a way that is nearly impossible to find in today's busy and fast lifestyles.
By Larry Christy – on the evening of the fire and modified on 9/4/06 to clean up grammer and structure of the story © 2006
