{"id":6732,"date":"2026-06-24T15:24:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T15:24:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/?page_id=6732"},"modified":"2026-06-24T19:59:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:59:52","slug":"racine-floral-company","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/features\/racine-floral-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Racine Floral Company"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_06_13_5-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"689\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_06_13_5-1024x689.jpg\" alt=\"Sunday Sale\non Potted Plants\n50% Off\nNo Delivery Under $1.00.\nRacine Floral Company,\n1940 Asylum Avenue\" class=\"wp-image-6733\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_06_13_5-1024x689.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_06_13_5-300x202.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_06_13_5-768x517.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_06_13_5-1536x1034.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_06_13_5-2048x1379.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">June 13, 1908. Racine Floral Company. 1940 Asylum Avenue (now Taylor Avenue).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_09_18_5-purchased-old-fidler-property-with-greenhouses-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"481\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_09_18_5-purchased-old-fidler-property-with-greenhouses-481x1024.jpg\" alt=\"FLORAL FIRM'S OPENING SOON\n\nPOTTED PLANTS AS SOUVENIRS FOR ALL VISITORS.\n\nDistinct Innovation Will Be the Taking Complete Charge of Decorating for Weddings, Parties, Etc.\u2014Four Large New Greenhouses Erected.\n\nThe 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.\n\nFew 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\u2019s choicest flowers in bloom, filling the air with their delicate fragrance ought to be compensation sufficient for those who make the visit.\n\nFour Large Greenhouses.\n\nThe 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.\n\nUnder Expert's Supervision.\n\nThe 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\u2019s leading florists and wholesale growers and later was in business for himself. It is Mr. Bork\u2019s intention next season to lay out the grounds about the\n\nRacine Floral Co.\u2019s plant into the most attractive garden in this section.\n\nOne 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.\n\nTo Give Ideal Display.\n\nIn 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.\nRacine Daily Journal, September 18, 1908.\" class=\"wp-image-6735\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_09_18_5-purchased-old-fidler-property-with-greenhouses-481x1024.jpg 481w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_09_18_5-purchased-old-fidler-property-with-greenhouses-141x300.jpg 141w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_09_18_5-purchased-old-fidler-property-with-greenhouses-768x1636.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_09_18_5-purchased-old-fidler-property-with-greenhouses-721x1536.jpg 721w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_09_18_5-purchased-old-fidler-property-with-greenhouses-961x2048.jpg 961w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1908_09_18_5-purchased-old-fidler-property-with-greenhouses-scaled.jpg 1202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 481px) 100vw, 481px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Racine Daily Journal, September 18, 1908. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1911_06_28_1-Janes-Company-secures-Sixth-Street-Property-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1911_06_28_1-Janes-Company-secures-Sixth-Street-Property-1024x740.jpg\" alt=\"Racine Daily Journal, June 28, 1911. Janes Company Secures Sixth Street Property.\nAnother 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.\" class=\"wp-image-6738\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1911_06_28_1-Janes-Company-secures-Sixth-Street-Property-1024x740.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1911_06_28_1-Janes-Company-secures-Sixth-Street-Property-300x217.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1911_06_28_1-Janes-Company-secures-Sixth-Street-Property-768x555.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1911_06_28_1-Janes-Company-secures-Sixth-Street-Property-1536x1110.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1911_06_28_1-Janes-Company-secures-Sixth-Street-Property-2048x1480.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Racine Daily Journal, June 28, 1911. Janes Company Secures Sixth Street Property.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1943_11_01_9-miss-ruth-spring-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"869\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1943_11_01_9-miss-ruth-spring-1024x869.jpg\" alt=\"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.\nRacine Journal Times, November 1, 1943.\" class=\"wp-image-6743\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1943_11_01_9-miss-ruth-spring-1024x869.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1943_11_01_9-miss-ruth-spring-300x255.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1943_11_01_9-miss-ruth-spring-768x652.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1943_11_01_9-miss-ruth-spring-1536x1304.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_1943_11_01_9-miss-ruth-spring-2048x1739.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Racine Journal Times, November 1, 1943. Shower for Miss Ruth Spring by Co-Workers at Racine Floral Company.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B1-Millers-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"715\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B1-Millers-715x1024.jpg\" alt=\"CLARISSA GARZA PHOTOS, CLARISSA.GARZA@JOURNALTIMES.COM\nHilary and Mark Krejcha have been running Millers Flowers their entire adult lives \u2013 and they \u201cstill enjoy it too much\u201d to retire.\n\nAll in the family\n3 generations, 116 years at Millers Flowers\n\nCLARISSA GARZA\nclarissa.garza@journaltimes.com\nRACINE \u2014 Millers Flowers, 219 Sixth St., which recently celebrated 116 years in business, has been in Hilary Krejcha\u2019s family for three generations.\n\nHer 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.\n\nWhile the first official day of business at the flower shop is unknown, Millers Flowers\u2019 anniversary is celebrated each year on Ethel Miller\u2019s birthday, Oct. 27.\n\nThe Millers\nIn the early 1900s, Hilary Krejcha\u2019s grandparents moved to Milwaukee from Stevens Point, and her grandmother, Ethel Miller, or \u201cGrandma Miller,\u201d started to work at a carriage trade flower shop, which \u201cserviced all the fine families\u201d in Milwaukee, and then started working at The Pister Hotel.\n\nAfter Grandma Miller moved to Racine and opened Racine Floral Company, she became involved in the community through her loyal customers at the shop.\n\nIn 1915, she took down her storefront and built the current three-story structure that\u2019s seen today.\n\nShe later added \u201cThe Millers\u201d to the \u201cRacine Floral\u201d sign and changed the name to \u201cMillers Flowers\u201d in the 1930s, Hilary Krejcha said.\n\nRobert and Ethel Miller in their best clothes, for perhaps their wedding photo, according to Hilary Krejcha.\n\nHilary Krejcha\u2019s 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.\n\nPlease see MILLERS, Page B2\n\nRacine Journal Times, February 4, 2024.\" class=\"wp-image-6748\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B1-Millers-715x1024.jpg 715w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B1-Millers-209x300.jpg 209w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B1-Millers-768x1100.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B1-Millers-1072x1536.jpg 1072w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B1-Millers-1429x2048.jpg 1429w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B1-Millers-scaled.jpg 1787w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Racine Journal Times, February 4, 2024. All in the Family. Racine Floral Company. Millers Flowers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B2-Millers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"946\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B2-Millers-946x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6752\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B2-Millers-946x1024.jpg 946w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B2-Millers-277x300.jpg 277w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B2-Millers-768x832.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B2-Millers-1419x1536.jpg 1419w, http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The_Journal_Times_2024_02_04_B2-Millers-1891x2048.jpg 1891w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 946px) 100vw, 946px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Racine Journal Times, February 4, 2024. All in the Family. Racine Floral Company. Millers Flowers. Part 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":33,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6732","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6732"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6754,"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6732\/revisions\/6754"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vindustries.com\/racinehistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}