(BEAVER DAM) McKinstry’s Home Furnishings, the oldest business in Beaver Dam and the oldest family-owned home furnishings store in Wisconsin, has announced plans to close its doors in 2026. President and Store Manager Ric Fiegel is retiring and has decided not to sell the business.
McKinstry’s was founded by the first John McKinstry, who immigrated from Quebec, Canada, in 1855. According to McKinstry’s website, he arrived in Beaver Dam to make hand-crafted furniture pieces and burial caskets for early settlers starting in 1858.
McKinstry’s company soon outgrew the original location and moved to the present site at 131 Front St., where it established itself as a cornerstone of Beaver Dam’s historic downtown.
The business was renamed John McKinstry and Son Furniture when W.D. McKinstry became associated with it at the age of 16. W.D.’s son, William Randall, joined the company in the early 1920s. In the 1960s, John B. McKinstry’s great-grandson, John McKinstry, and Ric Fiegel joined the firm.
Longevity is a hallmark of McKinstry’s staff. President and Store Manager Ric Fiegel has been with the company for 59 years. Treasurer/Secretary Sandy Dray has worked at McKinstry’s for 41 years. Office Manager Linda Genett has been with McKinstry’s for 19 years, and Setup and Delivery Manager Scott Kutzke has worked there for six years.
The family not only ran the business, but has been active in the community for generations.
W.D. McKinstry served on the Beaver Dam Police and Fire Commission for decades. Bea McKinstry offered free physical therapy services to those in need. Fourth-generation John McKinstry was on the Police and Fire Commission for 19 years.
McKinstry’s has actively contributed to many organizations in the area, and John McKinstry was significantly involved in contributions to them, including: The Beaver Dam Community Hospital Foundation, the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater, the YMCA of Dodge County, the Dodge County Humane Society, The Dodge County Toy Bank Wayland Academy, and scholarships to Beaver Dam High School.
McKinstry’s staff in the 1950s. (Courtesy Mc Kinstry’s Home Furnishings)
