It’s old news that Potosi used to be a town that was prosperous because of its mining industry. A majority of the buildings that were once notorious in Potosi have since suffered natural or man-made consequences. Few survived, but one that did is the building that is now known as The Hub and Pages & Parcels. The Hub and Pages & Parcels is more historically known as 101 North Main Street in Potosi, Wisconsin.
101 North Main Street was constructed in 1882 by William H. “Henry” Hunt. The building was intended to be a brick mercantile store. Hunt moved from British Hollow to Potosi and partnered with his father-in-law, C.M. Jackson. The store earned the title W.H. Hunt Store. After several years, Jackson withdrew from the business, leaving Hunt as the sole owner of 101 North Main Street. Melissa Emler, the current owner of the building at 101 North Main Street, claimed that Hunt was described by many as “The best businessman that was ever in Potosi.” The store sold general goods and traded in grains and poultry.
In 1900, after nearly two decades of owning the store, Hunt sold the building to W.H. Thomas and H.C. Orrick. Under a new name, Thomas & Orrick, the building ran until 1912. The general store survived three fires in 1900, 1913, and 1919. After the 1910s, the building stood vacant and was likely used for storage.
In 1962, a resident, John J. Brunner, purchased the building, opening Brunner’s Food Center. It served as a full-service grocery and general store. John and his family operated the store for 45 years, from 1962 into the 2000s. Locals fondly recall the charm of the creaky floorboards and the personal touch the Brunner family added to the store.
Ray Schink, who works for an education consultancy firm, acted as Melissa Emler’s right-hand man and worked vigorously to help operate and build The Hub. He also operated the day-to-day systems and turned ideas into working businesses and contracts. Ray claims that “The Brunners’ era brought new attraction to the building, making it a popular sight in Potosi through the 1960s to the 2000s.”
The Brunner family was deeply involved in community events, including veterans’ groups, church functions, and school events. This community participation brought attention to Brunner’s Food Center. In the late 2000s, John Brunner retired after 45 years, and Brunner’s Food Center closed its doors. In 2011, the building was listed for $189,000 on the market.
In the 2010s, 101 North Main Street was renovated to house artistic paintings, sculptures, and other pieces of art. Wes and Janet Hemlick purchased the building in 2013 with the intention of converting the building into a fine arts museum. In late 2013 and early 2014, the Great River Road Museum of Contemporary Art was open to the public. The museum showed art from renowned artists to locals. The museum did not charge for admission; it was free to locals and tourists alike. As the museum grew in popularity, artwork began to cycle through the museum, which only further encouraged tourists to come from far and wide.
In 2020, the building ceased being used as an art museum and was instead used as a storage facility. Ray believes that during these recent years, an archery club might have taken place in the basement of the building. Ray claimed, “That was the most shocking detail about this building; it’s an unexpected mystery.”
The building was purchased by Melissa Emler in 2024. Ray describes the building as having a multitude of purposes, saying that it is a “bookstore, a pack-and-ship, and a tea place” all in one. Melissa acted as the “visionary,” as Ray described it, while he turned ideas into reality. Upon being asked if this building had reached its full potential, I received a thrilled response from Melissa Emler: “Ray wants to cut me off, but this has got places to go and people to see. This ain’t gonna quit now.”