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The first bakery in Brooten was set up by Reed & Shelso Co in 1909 to help women who had baked bread for their family for years.
This bakery changed hands many times during the first years, and it changed ovens many times. The bakery was owned by many people who remodeled it in one way or other.
Reed & Shelso sold the building to Ed Johnson, a photographer, in 1924 who had his shop upstairs.
In the meantime the building which was one of the first in Brooten had a foundation built on rocks and had been taken over by rats and of course the rats had plenty of food living under the bakery. The building was demolished in 1961 and replaced by the Reslow Harness shop, and later Marcia’s bar.
Daniel Engen owned and operated the business, until it was sold to Lawrence and Woodrow Mathiason in 1948 which gave it stability. The war shortage items were again available and bakery business returned to normal. They moved it to its current location, and installed a new oven.
Lorny had hired many young people to work for him, and had taught them the art of baking. One of them was Larry Sagedahl who in 1979 purchased the business from Lorny. He remodeled the front of the building, installed the horse shoe style bar, and remodeled the display area. Lorny retired and spent his retirement days at Lake Amelia. He died suddenly at home in 1985 while taking a nap. Woodrow had retired to Colorado. The Mathiasons were all wonderful people.
The Mathiasons had developed a recipe and a method of frying doughnuts that became known in a wide circle. Individuals and even business places came there to buy these definitely different doughnuts and other pastry. There was no comparison. The Brooten Home bakery became famous.
The bakery had been the morning gathering place for local people since after WWII. It is the center of town at 8am when about a dozen men gather together for coffee and doughnuts. The object was not only the coffee and doughnuts, it was time for a little friendly gambling. The dice box was brought out, and everyone put a quarter on the table. The game began. Everyone shook the dice box to try to get 6-5-4 in three shakes. The process of elimination narrowed it down several times until only one man survived. He collected all the quarters. Until the next day that is.
What a wonderful gathering center that is with great pastry and coffee, great comradery and a great way to start every day. That is a happy place!
My friend Ole says it may be happy but I know of a restaurant that has three shakers on the counter. Salt, Pepper and alka seltzer.
Yes we go there for coffee and doughnuts to enjoy our community. What’s good for every person in Brooten, is good for Brooten and that is the goal for us all. We want to promote, encourage and help everyone, and we do that every time we have a chance. Right Dave?
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