In
1871, at age 21, Andrew Lund left Haggie, Sweden and came to the United
States. In 1873 he took a steam ship from Minneapolis to Wisconsin,
and set off on horse back for River Falls where he founded A.W. Lund
Co. that manufactured and repaired buggies, cutters, carriages, and
wagons as well as horse drawn farming equipment. Andrew Lund's quality
of workmanship and reputation for honest dealings made A.W. Lund Co.
an important part of the River Falls area economy.
In 1894
Lund's moved into a new building on the corner of Walnut and Main which
is where it is still located today at 201 South Main Street. In 1906,
retail goods were introduced at Lund's. In 1918, the first truckload
of International Harvester tractors arrived for sale. A.W. Lund Co.
also sold Chrysler and Willies vehicles as well as major appliances
& power equipment.
After many years of change Lund's Hardware has focused it's products
to self service hardware and paint. The addition of sporting goods,
particularly fly fishing, was added in 1993 which quickly made Lund's
the best place around to find fly fishing equipment and general fishing
tackle.
In 1912
Elemer Benson joined the staff at Lund's. He worked his way through
high school and college at Lund's and quickly became Andrew Lund's right
hand man. Elmer continued to work at Lund's until his death in 1959.
Elmer's son David also worked at Lund's for over 50 years. Lund's Hardware
& Fly Shop is currently owned by David's son Fred Benson and his
wife Yvonne.
