Exploring Traer’s historic Porterfield building as Retro Rooster closes its doors
- IMAGE COURTESY OF GEORGE KADRMAS
- The interior of the Porterfield building before it was remodeled and updated by Keith Cold. At the time of the photo, the building housed a grocery store known as Dean Wilson Company which operated from 1925 to 1959. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE KADRMAS
- IMAGE COURTESY OF GEORGE KADRMAS
- The original wooden Porterfield building – displaying “THE FAIR” on its storefront – in historic downtown Traer at 548 Second Street. The Fair, one of Traer’s first businesses, was a thriving general merchandise store founded in 1874 by David, John, Sam and William Porterfield. Today the building is home to Linda Caldwell’s and Bev Espenscheid’s home decor/antique shop Retro Rooster which is currently in the midst of a closing sale. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE KADRMAS
- Patty Heyda.
- Tammy Schuett.
- Melanie Blocker.

The original wooden Porterfield building – displaying “THE FAIR” on its storefront – in historic downtown Traer at 548 Second Street. The Fair, one of Traer’s first businesses, was a thriving general merchandise store founded in 1874 by David, John, Sam and William Porterfield. Today the building is home to Linda Caldwell’s and Bev Espenscheid’s home decor/antique shop Retro Rooster which is currently in the midst of a closing sale. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE KADRMAS
TRAER – The Retro Rooster antique shop in downtown Traer is in the middle of its closing sale. After first opening in July of 2017, shop owners Linda Caldwell and Bev Espenscheid are selling out their stock of home décor and antiques items. Many of us wonder what will be the next business to occupy the large Porterfield building. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to see what’s been in the 548 Second Street building in the past…
The Porterfield Bros. general merchandise store was one of the earliest businesses in Traer. David, John, Sam and William Porterfield opened the firm in 1874. The store called “The Fair” was a thriving business from the start. John and William opened a branch store in Reinbeck until William died of diphtheria in 1877 at the age of 31. John soon left for South Dakota engaging in a tree nursery business.
In 1879, David married Addie Taylor, daughter of Giles Taylor and brother of the newspaper editor, Elmer Taylor Sr. Sam married Nettie Davis in Chicago in 1880. The Porterfields were active in business, community, and social circles.
The Portfield Bros. Department Store opened in the fine new brick building in September, 1895. Grant Reynolds bought the Porterfield business in 1904 and opened Reynold’s Dry Goods Store. He leased the building. David and Addie Porterfield moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, hoping the drier climate would be better for their son who suffered from tuberculosis. Sam and Nettie Porterfield soon followed.
Reynold’s Dry Goods operated for 10 years before selling to J. W. Potter of Cedar Rapids in 1914. Potter operated for 10 more years under the name Traer Mercantile Company. Maurice Moroney, from Earlville, owned the business for one year.

The interior of the Porterfield building before it was remodeled and updated by Keith Cold. At the time of the photo, the building housed a grocery store known as Dean Wilson Company which operated from 1925 to 1959. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE KADRMAS
In 1925, Walter Dean of Woden, Iowa, and Robert Wilson of Dysart bought the business and changed the name to Dean Wilson Company. In 1934, Walter Dean purchased the interest of Mr. Wilson but retained the name. Walter’s wife Florence Dean served as the Methodist Church organist for many years and passed away in 1953. In January 1959, Walter retired and sold the grocery business to Keith Cold of Dysart.
Bob Johnson, a representative of the Welch Cook & Beals wholesale dry goods firm of Cedar Rapids, bought that portion of Mr. Dean’s stock. He rented the Allaben building two doors down and opened Johnson’s Dry Goods store.
Keith Cold completely remodeled and modernized the building with a new storefront, entry doors and windows, tile flooring and the latest fluorescent lighting. The balcony area was removed to make the store more spacious. Refrigerated and frozen sections were added as well as a complete meat department. Cold converted the business and building to a modern store called Cold’s Supermarket. Cold constructed a new building on the corner of Walnut and Second street in 1969.
Daryl Wiese purchased the building for S & W Appliance in 1970. He came to Traer In 1967, from Belle Plaine, purchased Ted’s Appliance and operated in an older wooden structure east of Farmers Savings Bank. Moving to the Porterfield building allowed more space for his growing business. David Simpson bought the appliance business in 1986 and operated as Simpson Appliance for almost 10 years.
Marvin and Nancy Boldt purchased the building and operated an auction house there until 2012 when they moved to another larger location. The building then sat vacant for a time before the Retro Rooster opened with their home décor and antique business. The community is sorry to see them close their business and wonder what the future will hold for the building.

IMAGE COURTESY OF GEORGE KADRMAS
Porterfield building timeline
1874 – 1904: Porterfield Brothers
1904 – 1914: Reynold’s Store
1914 – 1924: Traer Mercantile Company J. W. Potter
1924 – 1925: Moroney Department Store

IMAGE COURTESY OF GEORGE KADRMAS
1925 – 1930: Dean Wilson Company – Walter A. Dean and Robert Wilson
1930 – 1959: Dean Wilson Store – owned solely by Walter Dean
1959 – 1970: Cold’s Supermarket
1970 – 1986: S & W Appliance Store
1986 – 1995: Simpson Appliance
1995 – 2012: Boldt Auction
2017 – 2024: Retro Rooster