Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
RENIER'S
RENIER'S. Renier's had one of the longest records of business in Dubuque. The company was started by Mary Renier in 1899 who sold sewing machines out of her house on Queen Street. In 1904 she added pianos when her son, Al, who was associated with a piano factory in Chicago joined the firm.
When her nine-room home became too small for the business, Mary Renier opened a store on Clay Street. Phonographs were added to the store's inventory in 1908. Irwin C. Renier joined the company which moved to 10th and Main in 1910. It was here that Ralph V., Alina M. and Tillie Renier joined their mother in the business. In 1915 the company, RENIER MUSIC HOUSE, expanded with its move to 537-545 Main.
In the late 1920s, Reniers moved to 531 Main as radios were added to the company's sales. The building was four-floors high in addition to a basement. The basement was planned for the mechanical department for the repair and service of radios, phonographs, and pianos. The first floor had sound-proof booths for records and player rolls. This was also the radio section and small goods department for the sale of band instruments and sheet music. The second floor was used for the display of Ampico Reproducing pianos. Third floor was renovated into studios for pupils of the Renier Music School and a concert hall with stage. This was to be used for rehearsals of the DUBUQUE JUVENILE BAND. The concert hall was also available to local music teachers for concerts or recitals. Storage was the purpose of the fourth floor. (1)
The 1964 Dubuque City Directory listed 520 Main.
The company, a franchised dealer for Magnavox, Zenith, Hammond, Wurlitzer, Everett, Steinway, and Conn instruments, relocated to 500 Iowa Street in 1971.
The 1985 through 1993 Dubuque City Directory listed 3500 Dodge.
Maurice Renier, son of Ralph V. Renier, began with the company at the age of fifteen. Beginning at the tasks of tuning pianos and learning installation, he became president in 1946 after the death of his father. Stores were opened in Clinton, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; and Sterling, Illinois. These were closed when Ralph and Philip, his brothers, retired. Over the life of the company, thousands of pianos and organs were sold to churches and schools within a one hundred-seventy mile radius of Dubuque. In January 1989, when no buyer could be found, the business was closed.
An interesting story links Renier's with the history of the FABER'S. When Ralph V. Renier courted Lucille Faber they were chaperoned by Tillie, his sister, and Lucille's brother, Mike. When Ralph and Lucille married, so did their chaperones. Tillie and Mike Faber later opened their own music company.
See other Renier entries.
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Source:
1. "Modern Music Building for Dubuque," Telegraph-Herald, October 10, 1926, p. 21
Sources:
Chronology '79, Telegraph Herald, p. 5
