Link to Fergus taxi days is no more

Published Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Photo by Tom Hintgen

The former taxi dispatch center, in back of Lundeens and next to Swenson, Saurer and Co. on North Court Street, was in disarray and demolished July 18.

Even though a small brick building in back of Lundeens and next to Swenson, Saurer and Co. on North Court Street had historic interest — used once as a taxi dispatch center — the time had come to dispose of the structure.

Victory Lundeen Company, which owned the small building, said the structure was not in good shape, was a potential safety hazard and would not have been used for any viable purpose had it been remodeled. Refurbishing also would have been expensive, and not justifiable for the size of the building, said Paul Lundeen.

Thus the building came down late last week.

Taxi service, before, during and after World War II, was a thriving business with several taxis in service throughout the community. Many residents, such as the late Ken Berg, drove a taxi to supplement their income for their families.

Brothers Edwin Helleckson and Merton Johnson started the City Cab Company about 1940, according to Kathy Evavold of the Otter Tail County Historical Society. At that time the business was located at 208 W. Lincoln Ave.

In 1941-42 the city directory listed Alvin R. Evenson and Merton Johnson as owners, still at 208 W. Lincoln Ave. An article in the Daily Journal on Sept. 29, 1945, said that Francis M. Seegar purchased a site for a cab business.

"Francis M. Seeger and Frances M. Seeger, his wife, who operate the City Cab business, have purchased from Adolph Johnson the lot facing Court street, next to the Webber building, and the lot facing Cavour Avenue, west of the city parking lot.”

The lot facing Court Street had a 30-foot street frontage and was 75 feet deep, while the one facing Cavour was 25 by 142 feet. The two lots connected.

On the lot facing Cavour was a building occupied by the Olson Auto Electric Co. The Seegers extended this building 25 feet. On the Court street lot, the Seegers built an office building near the sidewalk line, with a driveway on either side, and at the rear were garage stalls, wash racks, etc.

They had these buildings ready for occupancy before winter set in. The property acquired by the Seegers was of sufficient size to house the City Bus business.

In 1944-45 the city directory listed Francis M. Seegar and the address 118 Court N. In the 1948 directory Francis M. Seeger was listed as the president and the business was located at 118 N. Court Street.

In the following directories the address was listed as vacant until 1967 when Lundeens purchased the building. Francis M. Seeger died in Los Angeles in 1990.