Everyone around Walworth County remembers Waals Department Store. Of course they do, there was nowhere else to shop. (Except maybe Bradley’s in Delaven.) One out of every second person on the street will tell you that Waals was where they got their dungarees when they were a kid. That kind of thing sticks with you. The store is gone, but the memory remains, and the best part is, Heritage has some of the original wood! We have acquired gorgeous southern yellow pine floor joists 2 1/2” x 11” at 24 foot lengths. This is special wood from a piece of Wisconsin’s history.

Pictured: Shots of the demolition (not done by Heritage) in the summer of 2015

Photos by: Cathy Long

For all of you historians out there here’s a little timeline of the history of Waals, never to be forgotten:

1902: Myer and Dora Cohn open Waals Department Store in Walworth County, WI.

1912: New Waals store opened after being in two other locations since incorporating.

1929: Warehouse is added onto the property along with other improvements.

1935: After remodeling, Sam and Clara Cohn become the new owners.

1949: Store expands over the IGA store and begins offering rugs and furniture.

1960: Richard and Linda Cohn Freeman return to Walworth to run the store.

1968: Property to the South (owned by Dr. Wallace Coon) is acquired.

1972: Bert Booth Building is acquired by Waals. 1974: Extensive remodeling completed.

1998: John and Roberta Hunt purchase the building.

1998: Interior restored to expose original tin ceilings and wood floor. New complex is called On the Square Antique Mall.