The Story

When James R. Hogg sold his half interest in the Vine Street livery stable in April 1908, W. A. Malugen was joined by his brother, and the business advertised as Malugen Bros., Livery and Boarding Stable at an unusually revealing address: 412-14-16-18-20 Vine Street, telephone 32.

The firm described itself as the best equipped stable in Southeast Missouri, offering new rigs, new horses and a new Tally-Ho, everything first-class, prompt service, and open day and night. A 1909 article praised a matched bay team at Malugen Brothers and declared that no stable in Southeast Missouri could furnish a finer turnout. A period postcard looking west along Vine Street shows the words "MALUGEN'S LIVERY" on the south side of the street — one of the few photographic glimpses of the property in its horse era.

The 1910 and 1911 city directories list Malugen Bros. as a livery at 418 Vine Street, with W. A. and H. F. Malugen as the proprietors. In March 1911 the Frank Livery and Undertaking Company purchased the stable, returning the livery business to J. J. Frank, who had built the barn.