Kearney

Kearney Store Savage circa 1956From the City of Savage's

Sharing our History | Kearney's Grocery Store

Back in the 1950s, downtown Savage was a bustling area. Many remember the Kearney grocery store which opened in 1945 by Eugene and Mary Pat Kearney. It was located in an old Camp Savage building at what today is the corner of 124th St. and Ottawa Ave. In 1954, the grocery store (pictured here) was remodeled and expanded. But then tragedy struck when the store burned down in 1961.

The Kearney’s rebuilt the grocery store as part of a brand new 14-store shopping center known at Valley Center. In addition to the grocery store, they added a variety store known as Kearney’s “V” Store. Over the years, the shopping center housed not only the grocery and variety stores but also the post office, a drug store, and a hardware store.

To this day, the strip mall tucked behind the American Legion, is home to a dance studio, the Masonic Center, Lavonne Music, and Fendler Patterson Construction. Other well-known businesses in the downtown area during this time included Mark Egan’s Texaco Station, Savage Village Liquor Store, George Egan’s Place, Gopher Heating and Plumbing, Art’s Café, Reil’s Barber Shop, Buckingham Beverage Distributors, Allen’s Garage, Savage Supply Co., Westerberg Inc, and the Windmill Café.

Rose Kearney Rose Kearney was the wife of John Kearney - early settler in Hamilton/Savage and later lived in St. Paul. She is the great-grandmother to Gene (owner of the grocery store in Savage) and Joe Kearney. Her son Peter, was the father of George, who was the father of Gene and Joe. She died in St. Paul and is buried at Calvary Cemetery.

Peter and Andrew Kearney 1870Peter Kearney (1839 - 1928) established the Kearney family who still reside in Savage.

Andrew Kearney moved to Stillwater in 1869, at the age of 19, walking from St. Paul, where he used the proceeds of his father’s estate to establish himself as a blacksmith.

Eli Kearney 1899Eli Kearney (1877 - 1951) was the son of Peter and Catherine Kearney, brother to George and Sarah (Sadie) McCoy. He married Clara Fahey.

Catherine Kearney around 1904Catherine (1844 - 1925) was married to Peter Kearney and mother to George, Elias and Sadie McCoy.

Peter and Catherine Kearney around 1906Burnsville pioneers, parents of George Kearney, Grandparents of Gene and Joe Kearney.

Clara Fahey Kearney 1908Clara (1894 - 1981) married Elias Kearney (1877 - 1951). Their children were John (1925-1943) and Patrick (1934 - 1976). They farmed in Burnsville.

Peter Kearney house 1908Peter Kearney house on border of Savage and Burnsville.

Sadie Kearney (McCoy) valentineA photo valentine from Sadie Kearney 1909.

Wedding of Anastasia McNamara and George KearneyJune, 1911 Dakota County Tribune reports on the wedding of Anastasia McNamara and George Kearney.

Peter and Catherine Kearney, Mary Welsh and Andrew KearneyThis 1914 photo shows Peter and Catherine, parents of George, Elias and Sadie McCoy, Mary Kearney Welsh and Andrew Kearney.

Wedding of Clara Fahey and Elias Kearney 1919Elias was son of Peter Kearney. Clara a Fahey.

Wedding party of Clara and Eli Kearney 1919Sadie Kearney (McCoy) Cal Sparrow, Clara and Eli Kearney

Sadie Kearney McCoySadie Kearney McCoy 1919

Wedding of Clara Fahey and Elias Kearney 1919Both members of Burnsville founding familes - Fahey and Kearney, both lived in the School District 16 area of Burnsville.
Some of the people in the photo have been identified:
HENRY, UNK, ROSE SHERIDAN, KATE &CAL SPARROW, SADIE, CATHERN, PETER, MARY FOLEY,ELI, PAT FOLEY, CLARA KEARNEY, MIKE FAHEY, UNK, (L-R) UNK, TOM, JULIA & JOHN FAHEY, MARY PAT FOLEY, JOE kEARNEY, SHERIDAN GIRLS & UNK.

The Kearney brothersGene and Joe Kearney 1921. Joe would continue to farm the land where he was born, Gene open a grocery store in Savage and eventually be named Postmaster.

Sadie Kearney (McCoy)"Sarah" Sadie before her marriage to Luke McCoy. Her parents were Peter and Katherine Kearney. She was the sister of George and Elias.

Catherine and Peter Kearney (seated) Sadie and Luke McCoy (standing) 1923Catherine, Peter, their daughter and her husband pose for a family picture.

Catherine Kearney 1923Catherine (1844 - 1925) was married to Peter Kearney and mother to George, Elias and Sadie McCoy.

Joe, George and Gene KearneyJoe, George (the father) and Gene Kearney Burnsville pioneers photo 1927.

Kearney brothersJoe, Stasia and Gene Kearney, who lived on the site of Neill School.

1929 Cows at the George Kearney farmPhoto shows one of the cows at the George Kearney farm on what is now Upton Avenue. George and his wife Stasia McNamara Kearney were parents to Joe and Gene.

George Kearney farmTurkeys at the George Kearney farm 1930s.

Joe Kerney, Jim Davis, George, Stasia and Gene KearneyJoe Kearney, Jim Davis, George, Stasia and Gene Kearney 1931.

Horse at the George Kearney farm 1933A horse owned by the Kearney's who farmed near today's Neil School.

Eli Kearney farm scene 1936Photo shot at Eli Kearney farm with wagon and horse.

Joe KearneyJoe Kearney with his car 1939.

George Kearney 1940The farm truck parked outside the Kearney house.

Gene Kearney 1940sGene Kearney born 1920 and raised in Burnsville on the property that is now Neill School and park. After his marriage moved to Savage where he and his wife Mary operated a grocery store. He later became postmaster. He died in 1970.

Frank and Gene Kearney 1941Cousins Frank and Gene Kearney hunting.

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