Built in 1873

The Hob Nob is the oldest commercial establishment in Brown County. This building was built in 1873 by the Taggart family as a general store. The original floor of 1” oak boards, smoothed down by generations of shuffling feet, is still durable. Meat hooks still remain in the back room. The second floor of the large frame building was used for some time as a lodge hall. In 1919, pharmacist Charles Genolin purchased the building and installed an ice cream parlor.

The building has been owned by the Miller family since 1925, during which time it also served as Hooks Drugs. The building caught fire in 1968 when it was being reroofed. The fire was extinguished by the Brown County Volunteer Fire Department. Many family relics in the attic were destroyed. The burned roof was covered with plastic and business continued during repairs.

(Information from Ada Jones research notes and the 1972 Brown County Artist Sketchbook)