On June 13, 1941, Gerrit and Herman Bussis purchased this building and started the Bussis Brothers Implement Company. They remained in this building until they relocated in 1946 to a location across the street immediately East of the Borculo Garage. The old implement building was then sold to Elmer Nienhuis and Jerry Por. It was first used as an auto body shop and used car lot. It was then converted into a restaurant by Jerry Por. He operated it until 1979 when he sold it of Vern and Wanda Bohl. They operated the restaurant until they sold the property to the Ottawa County Road Commission so the Road Commission could realign Port Sheldon Avenue at the Borculo intersection.
On Feb. 14, 1945, Bussis Brothers purchased a lot just east of the Borculo Garage and erected a large state of the art farm implement building on this site.
Bussis Brothers had already obtained the franchise to sell Minneapolis Moline line of farm equipment some years earlier. The "MM" equipment was painted a yellow color called Prairie Gold. The wheels were painted red.
The combine was pulled by a Model R Minneapolis Moline tractor. This was the most popular model of tractor that the Bussis Brothers sold in the area. It was also the best selling tractor for Minneapolis Moline in its run from 1939 to 1956. It was the last tractor operated with a hand clutch.
The Bussis brothers seemed to me to be as different as the roles they played operating the business. Gerrit seemed to be the CEO who managed the dealership, from buying the equipment from Minneapolis Moline to also selling it to local farmers. Herm could always be found in the back half of the huge building. He was the mechanic, repairing and welding the equipment farmers brought in the back door. He coud be kind of gruff, but the broken parts he welded were like new again when he fixed them. John could be found in the front part of the building as the parts man, bookkeeper, and the salesman of the hardware and other items the dealership carried up front.
I remember the Farmer's Day events Bussis Implement Company would host each year. Minneapolis Moline Company would come for the day and evening and show 16 millimeter movies of the latest MM farm machinery that was available. They would also include some cartoons for the kids so they would persuade their fathers to come. The implement business would also serve delicious lunches prepared by the Bussis womenfolk.
I also remember the community plays that were put on by the young people of Borculo on a stage in the back section of the implement building. These young people were called the Northerners as most of the actors lived North of the Borculo intersection.
Photo is furnished by Mark Bussis.