Title: Fankhanel's Variety Store Records, 1930-2001

ID: OGLMC1435

Primary Creator: Fankhanel's Variety Store (1929-1995)

Extent: 7.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 11/14/2001

Subjects: Business and Industry, Hillsboro, North Dakota

Languages: English

The Fankhanel's Variety Store Records consist of materials related to the history of Fankhanel's Variety Store in Hillsboro, North Dakota.

Series I: Personal - contains personal scrapbooks pertaining to the store's anniversaries, 1979 to 1994. To better preserve contents of the scrapbooks, materials from the books were removed from their original three-ring binders, while maintaining original order.

Series II: Inventory - consists of the store's annual inventory, 1940-1995.

Series III: Financial Records - financial information including taxes, check stubs, and expenses, 1930-1995.

Fankhanel's Variety Store in Hillsboro, North Dakota, was a family operated business for 66 years. Paul Fankhanel and his wife, Julia, opened the store in September 1929. They ran the store until 1949, at which time Paul contracted tuberculosis. Paul died in 1964 followed by Julia in 1976. Paul and Julia had five children: Dolores, Earl, Lois, Julian, and James. Earl Fankhanel returned to Hillsboro in 1949 after serving in the Navy Air Force. Earl and his mother operated the store together from 1949 until 1964, at which time Earl and his wife, Joyce, purchased the store.

The store sold a variety of merchandise including crystal ware, kitchen items, crafts, and clothing. There was also a candy counter which was well-known for selling penny and bulk candy. Fankhanel's candy counter was the only one in the state which sold Brach candy in bulk. Fankhanel's Variety Store closed in 1995 upon the retirement of Earl and Joyce Fankhanel.

Business and Industry
Hillsboro, North Dakota

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Earl Fankhanel, Hillsboro, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; 2001-2539

Separated Materials:

One income tax record book, 1964-1995, was placed on the shelf adjacent to the collection.

One audio tape was separated and placed in the audio tape collection

Audio Tape #2044: Interview with Earl Fankhanel on Fankhanel's Variety Store's 65th Anniversary, August 13, 1995

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Fankhanel's Variety Store Records. OGLMC 1435, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in July 2013.