Three generations of Buchmanns owned and operated the Republican Valley Jewelry store in Clay Center from 1880. Arnold Buchmann Sr. was born in Chicago in 1855 he moved to Stockton, KS in 1878 to open the Ballentine & Buchmann’s jewelry store. He later bought out John Ballentine and moved to Clay Center in October of 1880.
Sr. met and married his wife, Elizabeth, who went by Lizzie, locally and they married in December of 1886. They lived in the 400 block of Crawford, then later moved next door at the corner of Crawford and 4th Streets.
Arnold Sr. traveled to Chicago to purchase goods, including jewelry, silverware, watches, grafanolas (a furniture-style phonograph), and clocks. The location also had a full repair section, which also serviced full-sized clocks. His brother, Walter, worked as an engraver and would often visit while taking on work at his brother’s store. Customers would be notified to have their engraving orders in by a certain date. Walter made the paper in May of 1882 after running into a wagon tongue, which broke his leg.
By 1906 the business was located at 417 Lincoln Avenue (the west portion of Central Office). In 1908 a local contest included a $100 diamond ring from Buchmann’s Jewelry. (At some point the formal name is dropped.) First place was a $350 Davenport and Treacy Piano from R.L. Broughton’s Music.
Arnold Jr. took over the business in 1911 after 31 years. However, Sr.’s obituary stated he had been a local jeweler for 52 years at the time of his death in 1932.
Arnold Jr. was born in 1888 in Clay Center and graduated from Clay County High School in 1906, before attending optometry college in Chicago. He advertised free eye exams in the jewelry store. Arnold Jr. worked six days a week and remained open until 10 or 11 pm.
Arnold Jr. also worked as an optician, having attended Optical College of Chicago. He was born in Clay Center and graduated from the Clay County High School in 1906 before attending college and returning to the family business. They advertised no charge for eye tests.
In 1916, Arnold Jr. and family were involved in a wreck when turning south on 3rd St. the drainage sewer trench caved and the front wheel of their car sunk two feet into the ground. Mrs. Buchmann received cuts on her face when she hit the windshield. The collision was due to a broken water pipe that filled and eroded the trench.
In 1937, the store installed a blue and white neon sign.
Arnold Jr.’s son, Edward, was born in 1915. He served in WWII before taking over the family store in the 1960s, though Arnold Jr. still worked full-time. Edward’s sister, Charlotte, also worked at the store at times. She taught at both the Clay County High School and the junior high.
Arnold Jr. retired at 93 and died a year later, in 1983. In 1984 Buchmann’s was closed after 106 years in business. At the time, it was believed to be the oldest jewelry store in the state.
Edward sold the building to Central Office, who expanded into the next-door building. Display cases still remain in their windows today.
