A Measure of Webster Business

Baker Lightning Rod Protection | Hawley's Store | Jones & Abel | Klem Chevrolet | Martin & Sons | Morgan's Hardware | Netzman Electric Co. | Neisner's | O'Dell Bros. Lumber | Prinzing's Do It Yourself | Russell B. Mason | Smith & Lotze

The history of Webster business is hanging out at the Webster Museum.

The signage along Main Street has changed over the years as businesses have come and gone. Little but vague recollections remain of some, while others stir lasting fond memories. Often businesses will have promotional novelties like yard sticks, and wall calendars produced to help keep their name in your mind. Today, those novelties are something of a historical record of their time here in Webster.

Brothers Abraham and Joseph Neisner opened their first variety store in Rochester in 1911. Their sons, Fred and Melvin, followed as the heads of Neisner’s. During the 1960s and ‘70s, the Big N division was created, a format resembling the “big box” stores of today. Although the former Eastway Plaza already boasted a Neisner’s department store with Webster’s 14580 zip code, Eastway is actually in the town of Penfield.

Webster’s own Big N opened in the new Webster Plaza at the corner of Hard and Ridge Roads in 1970. Zoning for the new plaza was fraught with discord. While some residents welcomed the new, convenient shopping experience, others saw it as a blight on the former open space and a detriment to village merchants. Neisner’s was acquired by Ames Department Store in 1978.

1919 - Frank Klem opened an auto repair shop in Union Hill and began selling Oakland automobiles.
1921 - Walter Klem joined his brother and took over the Johanson blacksmith shop at 28 West Main St (site of the current village office building). The repair shop continued in this location and the brothers began selling Chevrolets.
1927, 1947, and 1950 - Additions were made to the building and a showroom was added.
1950 - William White became a part owner of the dealership and served as the general manager.
1963 - The property at 28 West Main was sold to the village.
1964 - Klem Chevrolet moved to 740 Ridge Road.
1968 - Donald Shoemaker bought the business, changing the name to Shoemaker - White Chevrolet with Shoemaker serving as president and William White as vice-president and secretary.
1975 - Ownership changed to Doyle Chevrolet.
2020 - Doyle became part of the Garber Automotive Group.

Safford Mason and his wife, Mehetabel Newland raised 3 sons: Fred, George, and Henry.

1871 – Safford purchased a drug and grocery store.
1885 – Fred and George succeeded Stafford as partners in the business.
1890 – Henry purchased Fred’s interest and worked with George. At some point, George, a licensed pharmacist, took over the entire business.
1894 – George was appointed Webster postmaster and ran the post office from this store.
1899 – George sold the business.
1900 – In partnership with William Jayne, George opened the Jayne and Mason Bank.
1902 – Working with John Siegler and Dufay Wright, George secured the necessary rights-of-way for rural telephone extensions.
1906 – George was serving as a trustee on the village board that approved the formation of the original fire department in Webster.
1910 – George’s son, Russel, started the E.M.F. and Flanders 20 Auto Agency with Dillaplain Wright.
1914 – Russel and Earl Smith purchased the Harris & Nagle Furniture and Undertaking firm.
1920 – Russel purchased interests in Ebner & Wahlings coal, feed, farm supplies, and produce firm, changing the name to Wahling & Mason.
1923 – Russel became the sole owner of the business, known as Russel B. Mason Company, Inc., located at that time at 205 North Avenue.
1950s – The business expanded to sell pool supplies.
1965 – Upon Russel’s death, his son, Hugh Mason, assumed control of the Russel B. Mason business.
1975 – A massive fire in January destroyed 3 of the Russel B. Mason buildings, including the warehouse at 180 North Avenue. Rebuilding, Hugh decided to focus the business on pool supplies and chemicals.
1982 – Hugh Mason sold the business to interests outside the Mason family.

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