Centerville Business

The Creamery

  Dairying was an important farm activity in this area during the first half of the 1900's.  The creamery, built to make butter,  was both a farmer co-op and a privately run operation.  From 1916-1920, the farmers owned it, but sold it to the Twin City Milk Producers Association.  The large creamery was built in the mid 1920's and became a cheese factory.

In 1945 the creamery closed down.  It was empty for a number of years, but was then remodeled into apartments.  Mr. Houle, newly hired as the custodian for Centerville School, occupied the first apartment available in the 1950's.

Picture taken May, 1999

The Barber Shop

Possible location of the barbershop - located across from St. Genevieve's of Paris Catholic Church.

The Blacksmith Shop

General Stores:

LaMotte's and LaLonde's

Local Entertainment

This may be one of the local places that were centers of entertainment.  There were several dance halls and above the present Kelly's, there was a dance hall, boxing ring, and pool hall.

Picture taken May 1999.  Formerly own by Pelletier and Burque families.

Trio Bar

Ice Houses

Because of the lakes around Centerville, it became a source of ice for St. Paul and the surrounding area.  It is reported that there were as many as 40 icehouses in Centerville.  This is one that was remodeled into a home.

Town Hall and Jail

There is now a very new city hall located on the east end of town on Main Street.  The picture below shows the interim city hall. The Anoka County jail replaced the need for a local jail.

Miscellaneous

Former doctor's office and house                     Former Rivard garage

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