Aebersold Florist celebrates a century of business on Silver Street

By CHRIS MORRIS
Chris.Morris@newsandtribune.com

December 04, 2007 11:49 am

— In 1908, Alfred Aebersold had a dream — a dream that took him to 1217 Silver St.
It was there that Aebersold cultivated that dream and grew it into a thriving floral business.
That dream is still living inside his grandson, David, who along with his wife, Lana, operate the business along Silver Street as well as the shop at 7414 Ind. 311.
Beginning Thursday, the two will begin a year-long celebration of Aebersold Florist’s 100th anniversary by hosting One Southern Indiana’s Five O’Clock Network from 5 to 7 p.m.
“We have been at this same location for 100 years ... that’s quite an accomplishment,” David said. “To stay here and run something for 100 years — it says something about our loyal customers.”
However, Thursday will only be the start of the celebration.
Special events and giveaways will be common during 2008. Lana said she plans on speaking about Aebersold’s history to various civic groups.
Aebersold also will give away one bouquet of flowers a month, as well as present flowers to strangers as random acts of kindness.
“We want to get people back in here,” Lana said. “We have great customers. Many of the same people have come here for years and tell us we do great work.”
David Aebersold’s father, Stanley, took over the business following his dad’s death in 1934. He stayed active until his death in 1999. David officially joined the business in 1967.
Lana said she asked for a job when she met David. That was more than 50 years ago, and the two have been together ever since.
“My love is right here,” she said. “My background is in fine arts and this has allowed me to be artistic. It goes right along with the floral business.”
Unlike his grandfather, David doesn’t deliver flowers by horse and buggy. The horses have been replaced by five delivery trucks and 17 employees.
Most of the fresh flowers are bought from wholesalers, and Aebersold no longer sells produce like his grandfather did.
The shop also has seen several transformations. A tornado destroyed the original building, and the current facility was constructed in 1969. A storage area was built in 1973; the atrium at the front of the store was constructed in 1982 and two new greenhouses were added in 2000.
David and Lana’s daughter, Lara Collett, helps manage the business.
While many things have changed thanks to modern technology, the same personal touch has not, Lana said. Arrangements are made up each day for funerals or other events and, as seasons change, so do the greenhouses.
“It’s a lot of work,” said David, who works seven days a week. “People think when you own your own business, you can just sit back, but that is not the case.”
“This is our life,” Lana said.
The two hope their daughter carries on the tradition and passes it on to future generations. They said there has been talk of branching out to a third shop, but they don’t see that happening in the immediate future.
“We hope after next year, everyone will know where Aebersold’s is,” Lana said.

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