Eclectic Grouping of Historical Businesses

Continue walking west up Main Street.

The building at 227/229 East Main with buff-colored, Lannon stone was constructed in 1896. Owner Alfred Johnson provided an unusual combination of businesses, combining undertaking and funeral services with furniture sales. The funeral home was accessed through the door on the left (227). Following Johnson’s death in 1909, his wife Millie rented the building to Ed Krebs who continued the funeral home and furniture business.

Given its curious utilization over the last century, it’s no surprise that occupants have since reported odd “experiences” in the building. Strange whiffs of pipe tobacco smoke coming from under the stairs to the basement; heavy furniture chairs that seemingly rock a bit on their own and unusual noises that disturb resident’s pets. In 2019, the building was the subject of an investigation and video released by “Paranormal of Wisconsin.” The Ghost Hunters feel that the main spirts in the building are that of a little girl who seems to like Christmas and that of an older gentleman. The hunters found both to of the friendly, “social” type, merely interested in what’s happening in the building, so nothing to fear in shopping at the current commercial establishments.^[1]

At nearly 150 years old, the Maloney Building (note name on upper cornice; 223/225 E. Main St.) is the senior member of Sun Prairie’s downtown district. George Maloney had this structure built to house a general store which he had owned since 1865. 

Continue walking west back to the Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum to complete the tour circuit.

227-229 E. Main​

Historic Name: A. Johnson Double Block​

Constructed: 1898​

Current Businesses: Razor Sharp Screen Printing, Wisconsin Apparel Company

Alfred Johnson provided an unusual combination of businesses from his 227-229 E. Main property, combining undertaking and funeral services with furniture sales. The funeral home was accessed through the door on the left (227). Following Johnson’s death in 1909, his wife Millie rented the building to Ed Krebs who continued the funeral home and furniture business. In 1922 Krebs purchased the building, which at that time also included a millinery store. The exterior buff-colored Lannon stone was added in January 1935.

219-221 E. Main, 223-225 E. Main​

Historic Names: B.F. Haberman Building, George Maloney Block​

Constructed: 1896, 1878​

2023 Businesses: J.J. Stitches, Nest Interior Design

George Maloney built this structure in 1878 to house a general store. A clothing store then operated in the building until 1928, when the storefront was combined with the Haberman Building’s Pioneer Meat Market and became known as Freidel’s Food Market. The combination storefronts operated as a food market into the 1960s.

^[1] Downtown Sun Prairie Facebook Page, Accessed July 6th, 2023. Posted October 16th, 2020 https://www.facebook.com/DowntownSunPrairie/posts/pfbid0F1eWNKxpv6wvSjbKSoCuuNzD4kZH8EhmRn63cFto9nYWX2eigCnDAoEvbtoccXS6l