Caledonia Argus

50 years of family, friends and flowers

Posted: 4/2/02

by Jane Palen
Managing Editor

Mary Ann Schmitz has enjoyed a life full of family, friends and flowers. This week, she celebrates 50 years in business, but she only takes part of the credit for her success over the years.

ìOur family was good to help us, or we would not have made it,î said Mary Ann.

It was on April 2, 1952, that Mary Ann and Willie, who died in 1994, opened the first flower shop in Houston County 11 months after their marriage.

Mary Annís interest in flowers grew during her years in 4-H. Her mother, Suse Welscher, had a lot of flowers and Mary Ann was encouraged by 4-H leaders, Wayne Hanson, Gladys Lapham and Julie Bartlett, to demonstrate how to make corsages. Her Grandma Yehle had a greenhouse in La Crosse and gave her instructions on how to create corsages.

Mary Ann won a blue ribbon at the local level and another blue ribbon at the state level, and soon gained a reputation around town for her corsages. Soon, people were asking her to make corsages for them.

The first Mary Annís Floral and Gift opened in the former Joe Roerkohl building, now Sonny and Bevís. The store carried green plants, cut flowers, religious articles, and 33 and 78 rpm records.

Mary Ann and Willie then moved into the Bill Daley home, and later to the Bill Kamperschroer home across the street. They were told at the time that it was the second oldest house in Caledonia. The house had a summer kitchen which they tore down and replaced with the current floral shop. Mary Ann and Willie raised their family in the adjacent house. It means that Mary Ann actually never leaves work, but she doesnít seem to mind.

ìSundays and after hours, if Iím here, thatís fine,î she said.

As a florist, Mary Ann has had the privilege of being a part of the special occasions in peopleís lives-especially weddings. Nothing gives her more satisfaction than having someone say to her, ìYou did my wedding flowers.î

ìYou touch somebody somewhere along the line,î she said.

She is now on her third generation of brides, having done the wedding flowers for the mother and grandmother.

The first wedding flowers she did were for Fritz and Corrine Kubitz on April 13, 1952, just 11 days after she opened.

In the early years of her business, there were no trucks delivering flowers or plants. Mary Ann had to go to the greenhouse to select plants, and cut flowers came on the bus from the Twin Cities. The bus came through Caledonia twice a day-at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. In the winter, the flowers sometimes arrived frozen. She made a point of ordering ahead of time in the winter in case she needed to reorder. Itís much more convenient today.

ìNow we can get flowers every day of the week,î she said.

Several weddings stand out in Mary Annís mind, including one where she had the wrong date of the wedding marked down. She was shocked when the groom arrived on a Friday to pick up the flowers, because she had planned on making them up Saturday morning.

ìI called everyone I knew to come and help me make up the flowers,î she said. Her husband drove 85 miles an hour to the church and the couple had their flowers in time.

Another unique situation was a wedding she did from her hospital room after her son Kenny was born. In those days, women had to remain hospitalized for about two weeks after giving birth. But she had wedding flowers to make, so family members brought the flowers to the hospital and she made the bouquets there.

Mothers Day the busiest

Of all the occasions where flowers are appropriate, Mothers Day remains the busiest, with Valentines Day a close second. Years ago, said Mary Ann, if a womanís mother was deceased she wore a white flower, and if her mother was living, she wore a red flower. Such ìrulesî are not followed today, but it was very important in years past to get it right.

Holidays such as Thanksgiving and Easter are no longer big occasions for flowers. Easter was once a time to wear a corsage and get a centerpiece for the table. And Thanksgiving was also a time when centerpieces were in demand.

On the other hand, weddings are bigger than ever, with lots of attendants. A few years back, recalled Mary Ann, you couldnít make the bridal bouquets big enough, and now the bouquets are dainty, and brides like the stems showing.

A people person, Mary Ann enjoys working with the public and says she feels privileged to work in a town where she knows nearly everyone. Her kitchen is often a gathering place for coffee and conversation, and she has returned many times over the support she has received from the community. She was named Outstanding Senior Citizen of Houston County in 2001, and was Foundersí Day Volunteer of the Year in 1999. She has been involved in numerous church and community activities throughout the years.

Mary Ann has no plans to retire.

ìIím going to stay as long as the good Lord lets me,î she says. She is grateful to her daughter, Deb Halverson, who helps run the business.

ìIf not for Deb, I wouldnít be able to manage,î she said.

She is also thankful for the many fine employees she has today and over the last 50 years, and her family, including her four children and their spouses, in-laws, brothers and sister, nieces and nephews.

ìItís been fun,î said Mary Ann.

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