The Fraser Building
Cameron W. Fraser, a prominent businessman, came to Menomonee Falls in 1890 and first worked as an accountant for the I.B. Rowell Co. He also edited the Menomonee Falls News. Starting in 1894, he served two terms as the Clerk of County Circuit Courts.
He purchased the land for the Fraser Building in 1896. The building originally housed Citizen’s State Bank (Fraser was on the Board of Directors and a charter member), the post office, the Menomonee Falls News office, the Menomonee Falls Telephone Co. (Fraser was the President and General Manager) and a drug store.
By 1900, Fraser was the publisher of the Wisconsin Sugar Journal. It also contained offices above for physicians such as Dr. Siewert’s dental office in 1902, Dr. Stark in 1902, and Dr. W.B. Campbell in 1906.
G.E. Hoyt was the president of Citizen’s State Bank from 1902-1925 and operated the drug store in the Fraser Building. Fraser died in 1930 and Citizen’s State Bank closed in 1933.
The building remained in the Fraser family until the 40s. Prior to the 1927 remodeling, the building featured a round, arched corner entrance, accented by white stone keystones and two storefronts with large plate glass windows on the west end of the Main St. facade. The original large, arched windows on the east end of the building were made rectangular at this time and the corner turret had a domed roof as well.
The original steel vault was installed by the Wagner Iron Co. in 1901.