Foresters' Hall
603 2nd St, Jackson, MN 56143
In 1916, the Catholic Order of Foresters constructed what would become one of Jackson’s most enduring landmarks at 603 2nd Street. Built to support the social life of the St. Wenceslaus Parish, the new brick building offered both function and elegance. Its second floor served as an open hall for large community gatherings, while the first floor was designed for offices and retail—bringing people together for both faith and commerce under one roof.
Before the Foresters’ Hall rose in brick, the site held two modest wooden structures that cycled through various small businesses. Over the years, it had been home to a feed store, a monument company, a candy shop, and a tobacco store. A hotel stood just next door, making the corner a busy and well-known spot in early 20th-century Jackson.
The first tenants in the newly built Foresters’ Hall reflected the style and necessities of the time—a jewelry store and a fashionable millinery shop. Meanwhile, just to the north, the Dew Drop Inn restaurant offered locals a place to gather over a hot meal. As decades passed, the building’s ground floor continued to adapt, housing a rotating mix of businesses including Harold Strom’s photo shop, R.C. Hoesli’s plumbing service, Edwill Muir’s appliance store, a produce market, and even a veterinary clinic.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, the southeast corner of the building developed a reputation as a restaurant space. It began with Thompson’s Café, operating from 1939 to 1943, followed by Anderson’s from 1944 to 1950, and then Pavelko’s, which served the community from 1951 until 1973. One of Harold Strom’s historic photographs captures “Deim’s Café” during this vibrant era.
That café holds a special place in Jackson’s memory, thanks in large part to the Deim family. Marty Deim, a former minor league baseball player with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, and his uncle Artie “Pappy” Deim were both standout athletes on Jackson’s town teams in the 1930s. In July 1950, Artie purchased the southeast restaurant space from the Andersons, further entrenching the Deim family in the local story.
In 1945, the basement of Foresters’ Hall gained new life when the local VFW Club leased it to operate a bar and social club. It quickly became a favorite gathering spot for veterans and townsfolk, adding to the building’s legacy as a community cornerstone.
By 1962, the building entered a new chapter when it was purchased by attorney Maylon Muir. He remodeled the space to serve as the headquarters for his law firm, ushering in an era of professional service that continues to this day with Carlson & Butzon.