Vigo County Historical Society

Krietenstein opened first drug store in 1881

Carl Krietenstein arrived in this county from Germany in 1858 at age 21. In 1860, he married Marie Glazner and had two sons, William and George, and a daughter, Minnie. When the Civil War broke out Carl joined Company E, 32nd Regiment of Volunteers, the first German regiment raised in Indiana, and served at the front for three years. He received an honorable discharge in September 1864.

Krietenstein returned to Terre Haute and in 1868 was employed by Barr, Gulick and Berry, proprietors of a drug store. In 1881 he opened a drug store with Will W. Adamson at 641 Main St. after a short partnership with William Shinkle, and became sole owner in l885.

In 1896 Krietenstein bought the brick business block at Fourth and Cherry streets where the store became a drug and paint store and later a glass and paint store. His sons joined him in business but William soon left to open a bicycle shop. Carl Krietenstein died in 1919 at age 87.

George Krietenstein, born July 4, 1871, was reared and educated in Terre Haute. He married Wilhelmina Schirathin, known as Minnie, and had two children, a daughter Bertha and a son Carl Mount. He became active in politics and served under Govs. Durbin and Mount and later was elected sheriff of Vigo County, appointing Minnie Krietenstein as deputy. She accompanied him on trips transporting female prisoners.

George Krietenstein became interested in community service and gave the home on North 13th Street for the use of the American Legion Post named for his only son, Carl Mount Krietenstein. In 1922 he deeded a tract of 43 acres in Clay County to the Boy Scout Council for a camp in memory of his beloved son.

Young Carl served as a lieutenant in the Navy in World War I, where he contracted influenza and died of tuberculosis in 1920 at age 22.

In the early 1930s George Krietenstein befriended local artist Gilbert Wilson in his endeavor to paint the murals at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School. Wilson was allowed to paint his murals, and painted George Krietenstein’s portrait into them as a businessman and as a Scoutmaster surrounded by a troop of Boy Scouts.

Later, after Krietenstein’s death, Wilson painted his portrait from memory and presented it to the Boy Scout Council where is hangs in the Boy Scout headquarters. Also, a portrait of George Krietenstein with young son Carl in his lap hangs in the conference room.

George Krietenstein died in 1940 at age 60 and the store was operated by his son-in-law, Herschel Tuttle, until his retirement in the 1960s.

The store was taken over by Tuttle’s son, Richard G. Tuttle, and later sold in 1981, 100 years after Carl Krietenstein open his first store. It soon ceased to exist as Krietenstein’s Glass and Paint Store.

This week’s Treasure picture is from the photograph collection in the museum.