Racine Floral Company

Sunday Sale on Potted Plants 50% Off No Delivery Under $1.00. Racine Floral Company, 1940 Asylum Avenue
June 13, 1908. Racine Floral Company. 1940 Asylum Avenue (now Taylor Avenue).
FLORAL FIRM'S OPENING SOON POTTED PLANTS AS SOUVENIRS FOR ALL VISITORS. Distinct Innovation Will Be the Taking Complete Charge of Decorating for Weddings, Parties, Etc.—Four Large New Greenhouses Erected. The Racine Floral company which last spring purchased the old Fidler property and greenhouses on Asylum avenue and announced its intention of equipping the property into one of the most up to date greenhouses in the state, certainly has made good its promise. That the proprietors have a firm belief that a modern plant will prove a profitable business undertaking is apparent from the thousands of dollars worth of improvements they have put into the property. Few people who admire beautiful flowers have had any conception of the vast amount of labor entailed in the nurture and growth of the plants on a large scale. It will pay every lady and gentleman in Racine who have a taste for horticulture to visit this greenhouse on Asylum avenue. They may be sure of a cordial welcome and the sight of thousands of roses, carnations and other of nature’s choicest flowers in bloom, filling the air with their delicate fragrance ought to be compensation sufficient for those who make the visit. Four Large Greenhouses. The plant which has been entirely rebuilt and remodeled consists of four large new greenhouses, each containing six long beds. Two of the houses are devoted entirely to carnations, over 3,000 plants all told. Two more are given over to the culture of roses, of American beauties and nearly every variety known to the florist. Here are nearly 4,000 plants and the fragrance from the thousands of buds makes one reluctant to break away. A fifth house is devoted to chrysanthemums, geraniums and assorted plants, and the sixth house the palms, ferns, and tropical plants. Here also are the Holland bulbs and Dutch bulbs. Everything about the houses is modern and every arrangement has been made for the most convenient method of handling the business. Under Expert's Supervision. The growing and gardening is under the supervision of Mr. Paul Bork, an experienced gardener and landscape artist. Mr. Bork was for seven years superintendent of the green house at Oak Grove cemetery at La Crosse and it was he who laid out the beautiful cemetery and park. Later he was foreman at the Evanston greenhouses for John Wyland, one of Chicago’s leading florists and wholesale growers and later was in business for himself. It is Mr. Bork’s intention next season to lay out the grounds about the Racine Floral Co.’s plant into the most attractive garden in this section. One innovation so far as Racine is concerned which the Racine Floral Co., is to undertake is the complete charge of floral decorating for weddings, parties, etc. This department of the business will be under the supervision of Mrs. E. Miller who for several years was in charge of the decorating at Hotel Pister. That Racine society people will appreciate this new departure goes without saying. To Give Ideal Display. In about a week the Racine Floral Co., will open their city office at which time it is intended to give those unable to visit the greenhouses an ideal display. Souvenirs in the form of potted plants will be given to the visitors on their opening day. The exact time and place will be announced later. That Racine people will welcome the advent of this modern up to date plant and show their appreciation by a liberal patronage is a foregone conclusion. Meanwhile callers at the greenhouses will be cordially welcomed and shown the most attractive greenhouses in this section. Racine Daily Journal, September 18, 1908.
Racine Daily Journal, September 18, 1908.
A Park avenue street car struck the delivery wagon of the Racine Floral company yesterday afternoon, and broke the beveled glass in the rear doors. The wagon was standing at the side of the road, and one of the doors was open. The door projected over the street car track, and the motorman, instead of stopping his car ran right past it with the above results. Racine Daily Journal, February 25, 1910.
Racine Daily Journal, February 25, 1910. Streetcar strikes delivery wagon.
Racine Daily Journal, June 28, 1911. Janes Company Secures Sixth Street Property. Another important real estate transfer took place today when the D. G. Janes company bought the property occupied by the Racine Floral company, 219 Sixth street. The consideration is private. It is understood that the Janes company intend to erect a large and modern building in the near future, with offices on the upper floors.
Racine Daily Journal, June 28, 1911. Janes Company Secures Sixth Street Property.
An Easter Without Flowers Is Like a Christmas Without Gifts They give an atmosphere of beauty, purity and contentment that can not be secured otherwise. Our stock is a complete assortment of beauty. The Racine Floral Company Floral Designs and Decorations Phone 719 219 Sixth Street Racine Journal-News, April 1, 1920.
Racine Journal-News, April 1, 1920. An Easter Without Flowers Is Like a Christmas Without Gifts.
Give Thanks With Flowers. Give Thanks With Flowers! Your good will on Thanksgiving Day can be expressed in no better terms than by "saying it with flowers." Always a welcome gift -- they are bound to bring a warm response from the lucky person who receives them. For the choicest flowers and promptness in delivery, telephone Prospect 719. Racine Floral Company 219 Sixth Street Racine Journal-News, November 26, 1923.
Racine Journal-News, November 26, 1923. Give Thanks With Flowers.
Flowers ... Fragrantly scenting the rooms and joyously adding color to the charming Model Homes in Sunset Heights The adoration of every housewife ... flowers! What charm ... what loveliness they add to the setting of any interior. Let us furnish YOUR home with flowers! Retain the joy of nature in your home throughout the entire year. Gloom will be transposed into happiness with gorgeous flowers! See Our Floral Display These two model homes will be open for two weeks more. Don't fail to attend the opening and see our display of beautiful flowers. Racine Floral Company 219 Sixth St. Jackson 718 Racine Journal-News, August 24, 1929.
Racine Journal-News, August 24, 1929. Flowers in model homes.
Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Miller of the Racine Floral company have just returned from a three weeks' trip through the east. Part of the time was spent in Boston at the national convention of the Florists' Telegraph Delivery association. On the way home, they left Robert Miller Jr., at Ithaca, N. Y., where he will attend Cornell university. Racine Journal-News, September 28, 1929. Three weeks' trip through the east.
Racine Journal-News, September 28, 1929. Three weeks’ trip through the east.
"Miller's Flowers" Special Blooming PLANTS $1.00 Racine Journal-News, February 28, 1930.
Racine Journal-News, February 28, 1930. “Miller’s Flowers”
Miss Ruth Spring, who is to become the bride of Erwin Sorensen, aviation cadet now at Garden City, Kans., was the guest of honor at a shower given Friday evening in the recreation room at the home of Miss Joyce Perkins, 1629 College avenue. Co-workers at the Racine Floral company, where Miss Spring has been employed for the past five years, gave the party at which there were fortune telling, games, music, and Halloween refreshments. Racine Journal Times, November 1, 1943.
Racine Journal Times, November 1, 1943. Shower for Miss Ruth Spring by Co-Workers at Racine Floral Company.
CLARISSA GARZA PHOTOS, CLARISSA.GARZA@JOURNALTIMES.COM Hilary and Mark Krejcha have been running Millers Flowers their entire adult lives – and they “still enjoy it too much” to retire. All in the family 3 generations, 116 years at Millers Flowers CLARISSA GARZA clarissa.garza@journaltimes.com RACINE — Millers Flowers, 219 Sixth St., which recently celebrated 116 years in business, has been in Hilary Krejcha’s family for three generations. Her grandmother, Ethel Miller, opened the shop in 1908 and her father started running the business in the 1930s. Hilary Krejcha and her husband, Mark Krejcha, have been running the family business their entire adult lives. While the first official day of business at the flower shop is unknown, Millers Flowers’ anniversary is celebrated each year on Ethel Miller’s birthday, Oct. 27. The Millers In the early 1900s, Hilary Krejcha’s grandparents moved to Milwaukee from Stevens Point, and her grandmother, Ethel Miller, or “Grandma Miller,” started to work at a carriage trade flower shop, which “serviced all the fine families” in Milwaukee, and then started working at The Pister Hotel. After Grandma Miller moved to Racine and opened Racine Floral Company, she became involved in the community through her loyal customers at the shop. In 1915, she took down her storefront and built the current three-story structure that’s seen today. She later added “The Millers” to the “Racine Floral” sign and changed the name to “Millers Flowers” in the 1930s, Hilary Krejcha said. Robert and Ethel Miller in their best clothes, for perhaps their wedding photo, according to Hilary Krejcha. Hilary Krejcha’s father, Bob Miller, started learning the family business in the late 1930s when Ethel Miller developed cancer. By the time his mother passed away in 1945, Bob Miller had developed a reputation as the neighborhood florist. Please see MILLERS, Page B2 Racine Journal Times, February 4, 2024.
Racine Journal Times, February 4, 2024. All in the Family. Racine Floral Company. Millers Flowers.
Part 2: Article Transcription Hilary Krejcha started working at the flower shop when she was 19, after two of her father’s employees quit to start their own floral shops. That summer proved to be a turning point for her. “It was an epiphany. Working with Dad was just wonderful,” Hilary Krejcha said. “Making flowers is fun, and we can, for the most part, be creative; you could always kind of give it your twist. It’s therapeutic because you’re working with your hands. And then, you know, it’s probably going to bring a smile to somebody at one end and a smile to somebody who sent it. It’s just an overall good feeling.” Mark Krejcha started working with flowers Memorial Day weekend in 1967. He wanted to take his then-girlfriend, Hilary, on a date, but Bob Miller wouldn’t let her go because they had about 100 bouquets to work on. After a quick run-through of how to set up the flowers and wire them together in the vase, Mark Krejcha was able to impress his future father-in-law and finished the arrangements in time for the movie date. Hilary and Mark Krejcha married in 1970. What is being in the floral industry really like? Hilary Krejcha remembers a time when most flowers were sourced locally from greenhouses in Racine, Milwaukee and in Illinois. “But in the 1970s the high cost of producing flowers locally resulted in stock being flown in from Colombia, Ecuador, Israel and Thailand, or driven up from California or Florida.” Moving into wholesale markets by getting flowers shipped from all over the world opened up the market for Millers Flowers. Hilary Krejcha said, “When people move out of town, I think they feel confident that they know that they still have a flower shop they could depend on and they call us directly. It’s just wonderful.” Hilary Krejcha has worked with numerous families for weddings. “You work with a bride and the mom for so long and then you stand in the back of a church; I’ve had many girls and watch them walk down the aisle,” she said. Even though they have plenty of customers who have been coming to Millers Flowers for years, Hilary Krejcha said they don’t get enough walk-in trade has gone down to almost nothing because people can’t find a parking spot. Image Captions (integrated into the article): Mark Krejcha cuts flower stems at an angle so that they can absorb more water. He then puts them in a bucket of warm water to hydrate. The Krejchas unbox a set of carnations. Millers Flowers gets its orchids from Thailand. “We still enjoy it too much” The Krejchas are planning to retire sooner than later, but saying goodbye to the business they’ve devoted their lives to is not going to be easy. “All the churches and organizations that we’ve become friends with, how do you just say ‘we’re done’? It’s hard,” Mark Krejcha said. “We’re in our mid-70s, so we should be thinking about it, but we still enjoy it too much.” The Krejchas don’t have any set plans for their children to take over the flower shop, and their grandchildren are too young to think of that as a possibility. “There’s gonna be a time when we just get up in the morning and say, ‘I think it’s time to retire,’ Hilary Krejcha said. “But as soon as we walk out of here, like on Friday or Saturday, at noon, we’re retired.” Racine Journal Times, February 4, 2024. All in the Family. Racine Floral Company. Millers Flowers. Part 2.
Racine Journal Times, February 4, 2024. All in the Family. Racine Floral Company. Millers Flowers. Part 2.