If you stand on the sidewalk in front of the handsome brick Post Office, you
can still experience the underlying structure of turn-of-the-century Ely.
It is characteristic of town growth patterns that the main commercial districts
develop along the street connecting the railroad and the highway (State
Street). The brick Post Office is one of the oldest and most imposing
buildings with its double storefront, cast iron supporting columns, and pressed
metal cornices. It was built in 1889 as a Woitishek General Store and
Grain & Livestock dealership.
Across Main Street to the east lies the grain elevator; its solid
timber-framed building, now sided with metal, was built by Joseph Woitishek near
the end of the year 1900. It was sold to C. S. King about 1903. In
1910 Frank J. Krob and Wes Fiala, his brother-in-law, purchased the
elevator. In 1952 Frank Krob sold out to his three sons and his
son-in-law.
