history
Hauck’s Handy Store Began Serving THE Schnitzelburg Community As A General Store And Hangout In 1912.
Elizabeth Sprenger Hauck and her husband, William, began Hauck’s as a dry goods store. The stock of dry goods and notions gradually shifted to milk, bread, butter, candy, soda, and beer. Elizabeth’s son, George, would eventually take over the business in 1946. While operating the store, George began many great Schnitzelburg traditions that are still celebrated today, including the World Dainty Contest and the #1 Citizen Dinner. In his later years, George enlisted the help of his two daughters, Lynn and Karen, to manage the store, making them third-generation owners. After 106 years in operation, the Hauck family made the difficult decision to list the store for sale in 2018.
George Was A Pillar Of The Community And Was Known For Helping Others.
What made Hauck’s the heart of the neighborhood was George Hauck and the Hauck family. If you were late on a bill or short on food, you could count on George to help. He seemingly knew everyone’s name in the community and he was a fixture within the store. Almost every day of his life, even well into his nineties, George could be found in the store or sitting on the bench in the front of the store.
George graduated from Male High School and was later inducted into the Male High School Hall of Fame. After high school, he voluntarily answered the call to serve his country during World War II by joining the Navy. He was stationed on the USS Haggard DD-555. He was a life member of VFW Post 1170, a Kentucky Colonel, a big fan of the Kentucky Wildcats, and loved his family’s annual trip to Disney World.
George passed peacefully on September 1, 2020, at the age of 100.
“I Guess If You Lead A Good Clean Life And Mind Your Own Business And Work Like Hell, It’s Surprising How Quick You Get There And How Fast Time Goes By And How Many Wonderful People You Have Met.”
— George at his 99th birthday celebration
ALTHOUGH GUTTED, HAUCK’S WAS PRECIOUSLY PRESERVED DURING THE RENOVATION PROCESS.
The foundation needed repair, antiquated knob and tube wiring were still intact, floor joists needed to be replaced…the to-do list was long. We filled two entire houses and garages with wood, relics, and materials that we wanted to preserve. Over the course of a year, we gradually put back as much as we could, repurposing as much as possible. Although the layout may have changed, nearly every piece of wood you see in Hauck’s Corner is original to the building. Even the trim was fashioned out of the old wooden shelving that once carried the milk, bread, candy, and other products once offered by Hauck’s Handy Store. The old mint green tileboard was carefully removed from the walls, cleaned, and readded. The 1950s cooler that once held lunch meats was also salvaged and updated.
Outside, under many layers of siding, we unveiled an old Coca-Cola handpainted mural that hadn’t seen the light of day in decades. Thought to have been painted in the early 50s, we were able to remove each piece and move it inside where it will continue to be preserved for future generations to enjoy. Check it out in the back room!
The middle room serves as the Dainty Museum, displaying donated photos, videos, articles, and other objects that show the unique and rich history of the World Championship Dainty Contest. We have even digitized old VHS footage from Dainty Contests of yesteryear that play on loop in the Museum. You can also find many of the relics we found during construction in this room, including the old Hauck’s safe.
