Individual Details

Bernard Francis "Ben" Condon

(1 Jun 1901 - 16 Sep 1969)

"Ben" Businessman in St.Cloud. Their Marr. Date is listed as 29 Nov 1924 in the DeGraff church records.

Ben early worked for Northern States Power Co. and the Great Northern Car Shops.

Leo and Bernard Condon, were in business together. They operated a dry cleaning business and then added a liquor store. When the business man in the shop next to them was killed in a hunting accident they bought his shoe repair business and operated that also. Ben operated the shoe business.
Mother worked at the shoe shop after school and on Saturdays. Dad worked for Ben as a shoe shine boy in high school.

Ben ran for Councilman at Large after being in business in St Cloud for 20 years.
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Newspaper article about the shoe shop:
St Cloud Daily Times 9 May 1939 p5

Buy Jim's Shop
Leo and Bernard Condon, who have been in business in St Cloud for the past 10 years and are now operators of Condon's Liquor store, announce that they have purchased Jim's shoe shop at 904 St Germain street and that Bernard will operate it in the future.

Bernard was formerly in the dry cleaning business for a period of seven years. Jim's shop, operated by the late Jim Kacures, killed in a hunting accident last fall, repairs and reconditions all types of shoes as well as handles a dry cleaning business.

The Condon brothers will retain the present employees of Jim's shop.
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Ben Condon of 423 8th Av So is a resident of St Cloud since 1916. Owner of Condon off-sale liquor store. Prior to the store (started in 1938) he ran a pool hall here. Married and 4 kids
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St Cloud Times 17 Sept 1969 p 9 Wednesday
Obituary:
Bernard F. Condon
Bernard F. (Ben) Condon 68, 423 8th Ave S, a retired St Cloud business man, died Tuesday at his home. He was born June 1,1901, in Clara City, Minn., to the late Thomas and Nora Condon and married Ethel Yager in 1924.

He has lived here since he was 16 years old. He owned and operated the Condon Liquor Store, retiring in1956.

Mr. Condon is survived by his widow; children, Robert, Mrs. BettyPutnam and Mrs Jerry (Dayle) Roos, St Cloud; and Mrs. James (Nippy) Feltl, Sacramento, Calif; 13 grandchildren; and brothers, Charles and Leo, St Cloud; and Roy, Elmwood, Wis. He was preceded in death by five brothers and five sisters.

He was a member of the Elks Club, Moose Lodge and Eagles Club.

Funeral services are at 2 pm Thursday from St Mary's Cathedral with burial in the Calvary cemetery.

Friends may call at the Daniel Funeral Home after 1 pm today.

St Mary's Cathedral will say the parish prayers at the funeral home at 8 pm tonight.
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Ben was 5'6" tall and heavy set.
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Betty Condon: Ben and brother, Leo were partners in Condon Liquor Store and dry cleaners for many years. They had the first off sale liquor license in the city of St Cloud. The "St Cloud Poker Club" was operated and owned by Ben and Leo and at this time was a first of its kind of venture. Govenor Benson approved their license.
The two brothers had their own pool hall in the basement of the old Breen Hotel. They had 38 pool and snooker tables and many tables for "cards only".
Ben was a partner in the "Family Liquor Store" with Al Thienes. This was located at 8th and St Germain and later moved to 6th Ave and 1st St So in St Cloud. They bought Jim's Shoe Repair shop for an expansion project.

Ben worked for Claire Lantz and helped develop the bi-focal lens for glasses. He ran the fusing oven on the third floor of the old American Linen Building which is now part of the Norwest Bank Complex (1979). He retired from Condon Liquor Store in 1956.
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Grandpa Ben told us stories of going for picnics with the neighbors at Buffalo Lake. When I drove through that area there was still a recreation spot administered by the county on Buffalo Lake.
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5'6" tall and heavy set. Had darker hair and wore glasses.
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Jan 1986, Betsy Putnam Ask wrote about Grandpa Ben:
He always wore a suit with a white shirt and white socks (had to wear white socks due to perspiration). Also he used to have 50 cents in his hand and would go up to the grandchildren and get them to shake hands with him and the little ones would end up thinking they were rich. He would always sing "She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes". He considered himself a good Catholic and attended mass every Sunday. When we were growing up and questioning some aspects of the church, Grandpa Ben did not like to hear any discession concerning the Church. He took Betsy to her first movie, Jimmy Stewart in "Little Brown Jug" when she was 4 or 5 years old. He'd always take us out to eat with him especially for hamburgers and ice cream. He used to say "How can you eat all that Betsy? Someday it will catch up to you," and it has. I remember staying overnite at the big brick house...Ben and Ethyl would hide me behind the curtains so no one would find me and I would stay over nite. I stopped at the white house to visit Ben the night before he died. He was in good spirits playing solitaire with the card table in front of his chair and the TV on. We had a nice visit.
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Bernard Francis Condon
in the U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

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Add alternate information
Report issueName: Bernard Francis Condon
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 40
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Place: Clair City Chippewa, Minnesota, USA
Birth Date: 1 Jun 1901
Residence Place: St Cloud, Stearns, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Employer: Condon Cleaners
Weight: 210
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Black
Height: 5 8
Next of Kin: Ethel Condon
Household Members: Name Relationship
Bernard Francis CondonSelf (Head)
Source Citation
The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 41
Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
In digital files
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City Directory, St Cloud, MN
1931
Condon, Bernard F (Ethel) optical grinder, h. 617 7th Ave So
Chas M (Frances) filling station 1000 9th ave aoh. 17 Metzroth pl.
John (Edith) Driver Fire Dept h. 1618 St Germain
Leo P (Freda V) clk Breen Hotel Cigar Stand h. 610 6th ave N
Vincent optician r. 821 14th Av So
Wm Sr moved to Litchfield, MN
==
1933
Condon Bernard F (Ethel) atnd Sinclair Oil Co h 617 7th Av So
Chas M (Frances) filling Station 1000 9th Av So h 17 Washington Memorial Dr
John (Edith) city fireman h 1618 St Germain
Leo P (Frieda) clk Breen Hotel Cigar Stand h 608 6th N
Ray J (Kath E) inspr US Veteran's Hospital h 320 1st So
==
1938
Condon Bernard F (Ethel) clk Family Liquor Store h. 617 7th Ave So
Chas M (Frances) filling station 1000 9th ave So h. 17 Washington Mem Dr
John (Edith) city fireman h. 520 7th Av N
Leo P (Freda V) beverages 904 St Germain h. 608 6th N
==
1940
Condon Bernard F (Ethel) shoe repair 904 St Germain h 617 7th Ave So
Chas M (Frances M) fillinf station 1000 9th Av S h 17 Washington Memorial Dr
John (Edith) city fireman h 520 7th Av N
:eo P (Frieda V) beverages 904 St Germain h 608 6th N

U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
DetailRelatedSourceSelect all textSource CitationDescription
Title: St Cloud, Minnesota, City Directory, 1940
Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information.
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1947
Condon Bernard F (Ethel E Condon's Liquor Store & Condon's Shoe Shop) h. 621 the Ave S
Betty J student r 621 7th Ave So
Chas M (Frances M) fctywkr Lantz Optical Co h 17 Washington Memorial Dr
Dorothy F sten Raymond Bros r17 Wash Mem Dr
Geo T (Clara A) slsmn Sears h rear 349 6Av S
John (Edith) firemn Fire Dept h520 7th Ave N
John E student r411 7th Av S
Leo P (Frieda) dry clnr St Germain h15 11th Av N
Loretta M r15 11th Av N
Marjorie M priv sec Lantz Optical Co r17 Wash Mem Dr
Phil hlpr L.P. Condon r15 11th Av N
Robt L Clk Condon's Liquor Store r 621 7th Av S
Thos M (La Vetta C) bank exam h411 7th Av S
Condon's Liquor Store (Bernard F Condon) 904 St Germain
Condon's Shoe Shop (Bernard F Condon) shoe reprs 904 St Germain
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1958
Condon Bernard F (Ethel E) h. 524 7th Ave So
Chas M (Frances M ) supt Vision-Ease h 229 13th Ave So
Cleaners (Leo P Condon) 13 11th Av No
Geo T (Clara A; Geor T Condon Realtor) h 836 27th Av N
John (Edith) h 615 8th Av So
Kathleen Mrs Nurse St Cloud Hospital r 511 2nd SE
Leo p (Frieda; Condon Cleaners) h 15 11th Ave N
Marvin A salesman Thielman Hardware r 229 13th Av So
Paul J laundry worker VA Hospital r 15 11th Ave N
Robt L (Eliz M; Condon's Concession Supply Co) h 1620 9th Av So
Thos V studt r 1304 8th Av N
Vincent V (Dorothy E; X-Cel optical Co) (Sauk Rapids) h 1304 8th Av N
Condon's Concession Supply Co (Robt L Condon) whol paper prod 16 11th Av S

1959
Condon Bernard F (Ethel E) salesman, h 524 7th ave so
Chas M (Frances M) stockman Vision-Ease h. 229 13th Ave so
Geo T (Clara A; Geo T Condon Realtor) h. 836 27th av N
John (Edith) h 615 8th ave S
Marvin A salesman Thielman Hardware r 229 13th Ave so
Paul insp dept Franklin Mfg r 15 11th ave N
Paul J asst mgr Farmer Seed & Nursery h 1220 1/2 8th S
Robt L (Eliz M; Condon's Concession Sup Co) h 1620 Clearwater Road
Thos V student r 1304 8th Av N
Vincent V (Dorothy E; X-Cel optical; Sauk Rapids) h 1304 8th av N
Condon Concession Supply Company (Robt L Condon) whol paper prod 16 11th Ave S
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Uncle Bob said Ben ran moonshine to Iowa. I don't doubt it. He wouldn't say much about moonshining to me when I asked him.
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Events

Birth1 Jun 1901Louriston Twp, Chippewa, MN
Christen30 Jun 1901DeGraff, Swift, MN
Marriage29 Nov 1924Church of St Mary's, St Cloud, Stearns, Minnesota, United States - Ethel Emma Josephine Yager
Death16 Sep 1969St.Cloud, Stearns, MN
Burial18 Sep 1969Calvary Cemetery, St Cloud, Stearns, MN
Census (family)1940 US CensusSt Cloud City, Stearns, Minnesota, United States - Ethel Emma Josephine Yager
Census (family)1950 US CensusSt Cloud City, Stearns, Minnesota, United States - Ethel Emma Josephine Yager
Census (family)1930 US CensusSt Cloud City, Stearns, Minnesota, United States - Ethel Emma Josephine Yager
Alt nameBen
OccupationProprietor of liquor store.
Soc Sec No471-36-9508

Families

SpouseEthel Emma Josephine Yager (1903 - 1988)
ChildRobert Leroy Condon (1925 - 2008)
ChildElizabeth June Condon (1927 - )
ChildDayle Ellen Condon (1934 - )
ChildBernette Ethel "Nippy" Condon (1936 - )
FatherThomas Francis Condon (1853 - 1924)
MotherHonora Josephine "Nora" Hubbert (1865 - 1921)
SiblingMargaret Frances "Maggie" Condon (1885 - 1939)
SiblingThomas F "Tom" Condon (1886 - 1960)
SiblingAnne Josephine "Josie" Condon (1887 - 1915)
SiblingMary Rosalie Condon (1889 - 1963)
SiblingJames Paul Condon (1890 - 1961)
SiblingJohn Alphonse Condon (1892 - 1968)
SiblingEllen "Ellie Ella" Condon (1894 - 1922)
SiblingWilliam Sylvester Condon (1896 - 1968)
SiblingCharles Matthew "Charley" Condon (1898 - 1981)
SiblingJerald Roy "Roy" Condon (1899 - 1985)
SiblingLeo Phillip Condon (1902 - 1970)
SiblingCatherine Agnes Condon (1904 - 1968)
SiblingVincent DePaul Condon (1908 - 1965)

Notes

Endnotes