Washington County, WI – In West Bend, The Exclusive Co. had carried the torch for vinyl records. But some predecessors that served the musical beat for groovy chicks and hippy dudes in West Bend included places like Loomans & Hicken and Plischounigs on Main Street.
Jeanne Mueller was about 20 years old when she worked as a clerk at Plischounigs on Main in the early 1950s.
“It was just one big store and Mr. Plischounig had his records in the back and that department grew so much he moved it downstairs and filled the whole basement with records,” said Mueller.
Selections at Plischounigs included Elvis, the Beatles, and Liberace.
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“Mr. Plischounig took a coffee break twice a day; by 10 o’clock he’d stand and look around and say “where is she now” and I’d run downstairs and straighten up.
“Most of the time when I was down there, we’d have something playing on the turntable,” said Mueller.
Frank and Elizabeth (Betty for short) Plischounig owned the department store on Main Street which featured glassware and greeting cards on the street level, along with clothing and underwear.
Upstairs, the Plischounig’s lived in a small apartment and in the basement – records.
“I unpacked all the music downstairs and I’d tell Mr. Plischounig which album I’d like and he’d give me a break on buying it,” said Mueller.
A 45-RPM record cost 99 cents and albums were between $4 and $5. “Mr. Plischounig liked music, too,” said Mueller. “If a new album came in, I’d put it on the turntable just to see what it was like so I could talk about it.
“By playing it once you haven’t wrecked it but if somebody would say, “this isn’t sealed” I’d tell them we tested it to make sure it didn’t have any flaws,” said Mueller.
– – What do you remember about your first record album or a record that made a difference in your life.
I’ll get you started. While growing up we had a phonograph in the dining room. When it was raining (in order to keep us quiet and help maintain her sanity) my mom would put on Peter and the Wolf. We’d listen to Peter’s adventures with “Sasha” the bird, “Sonia” the duck, and “Ivan” the cat. We’d sit mesmerized. Later during my teen years, the dining room was headquarters for after-school homework. By then we advanced to a stereo system with turntable, 8 track and cassette player. My sister would crank Sammy Hagar and Billy Squire. She said she needed it loud so she wouldn’t be distracted by my ‘arm scratching’ across the table. Oh, how I miss those teen years and being agitated about everything.
Plischounig’s memories
Last week’s photo from the Washington County Historical Society of Plischounig’s Gift Shop struck a chord with a lot of neighbors. Plischounig’s was located at 103 S. Main Street, the current location of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County.
Plischounig’s was a popular retail store run by Elizabeth and Frank Plischounig. The store started as a paint and wallpaper store and later became a general department store, selling gifts, clothing, records and the first TV sets sold in the area. Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Plischounig was the first woman to be a member of the West Bend Businessman’s Association. She was also active in the West Bend Woman’s Club and acted in the Children’s Theater of West Bend. She and Frank retired from business in 1966. Frank died in 1967 and Elizabeth died April 18, 2007.
Dee Kilby of West Bend worked in the ladies department at Plischounig’s from 1961 – 1966. “They top of the line Garland, which was a ladies line of clothing, and Pendleton, a ladies suit line and cashmere sweaters,” Kilby said. “That’s where I fell in love with cashmere but I could never afford to buy one even though I worked there.”
Kilby sifts through a list of female clerks that also worked Plischounig’s including Jeanne Mueller and Loretta Riley. “All the gals that worked at J.C. Penney’s like Marge Heisler, Dorothy Kuehl, Lucy Juech and Paula Espen would come over and shop at Plischounig’s during their lunch hour,” she said. During her break Kilby ventured next door to Rexall Drugs. “They had the best malted milks,” said Kilby. “I was so skinny back then I drank a lot of malted milks so I’d get some kind of a shape.”
Maxine Frank of West Bend also remembered shopping at Plischounig’s during the 1960s. “I lived at 107 N. Main at the time and I remember buying most of my cards there and a few records. The Plischounigs were very nice people,” she said.
Therese Kohn of West Bend said her Noritake China came from Plischounig’s. “The china has little tiny red roses in the center and a silver rim around the edge,” she said. “I was about 17 when I got my rosary from Plischounig’s; it was crystal and then I took it to Schroeder jewelry by the West Bend Theater and they engraved my name on it and I still have it.”
Archives in the Research Center at the Washington County Historical Society show Plischounig’s expanded their business “adding an important component” of ladies Lingerie and the lower level “held the record, radio, and television departments.
‘Frank spent many hours spinning 45 and 33 records, for folks who needed to hear them before buying. When he became the first authorized television dealer in West Bend, he sold the first TV to Monsignor Stehling from Holy Angels parish. In the early days of tube television, much could go wrong, and Frank was frequently called upon to make TV house calls to repair them, frequently during meal times. Frank could be seen on many roofs in West Bend putting up TV antennas.’
The Plischounigs eventually sold their business to Jack and Doris Hansen. The couple were trying to get out of the tavern business in Hubertus. Later the Hansen’s bought the Piggly Wiggly stores. “They came from a tavern in Hubertus and they wanted to get out of the tavern business and they bought the business and they were my boss. Other correct answers were submitted by Jon Coutts, Darlene Hefter, Allan Kieckhafer and Vicki Kania.
Photo courtesy Washington County Historical Society
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