The Busy Bee Cafe, located at 1520 DeWitt on the east side of Main Street, was a beloved establishment owned and operated by Frank and Roxanna Dalbey.   The Dalbey’s had relocated to Ellsworth from a farm north of town and purchased the building in 1909.   F. R. Dalbey, proprietor, purchased the stock and fixtures of the Farmers Restaurant, then changed the name to Busy Bee Restaurant to keep pace with his much increased business.  This reastaurant was located on the east side of Main Street, where the Ceramics Shop used to be.

     Roxanna Dalbey was an exceptional cook, and her culinary skills were highly regarded.    During the summer months, she cultivated a garden on the lots at the corner of Dayton and Brinton, where she grew an abundance of vegetables that were used in the restaurant’s delicious meals.    Many patrons traveled from far to savor their delectable dishes.   In addition to its culinary offerings, the Busy Bee Cafe served as a general store, providing a 
wide range of goods including yard supplies, shoes, overalls, dresses, and groceries.   Frank Dalbey managed this aspect of the business.

     The Dalbey’s resided in quarters above the cafe and also had  rooms available for transients.   Tragically, in 1917, the corner hardware store caught fire, destroying the hardware store, the adjacent garage, and the harness shop.   The firemen had to use a large hose and run up the cafe stairs, to combat the blaze, which engulfed the cafe building in water.   As a result, spectators flocked to the scene, taking advantage of the chaos and stealing candy, 
cigars, fruit, and other items they could carry away.

     Following Frank’s passing, in 1918, the cafe underwent several changes of  ownership before becoming a Dry Goods and Furniture Store in the 1940s.   Over the years, it has served various purposes, including a variety store, 
veterinarian’s office, newspaper office, ceramics shop, real estate office, and apartments.   Currently, it is owned by Stone Masonry Services.

Frank Dalbey built a new building and he along with his wife Roxanna operated a restaurant known as the Busy Bee Cafe.  Roxanna was a wonderful cook and they had a good trade.  The business also sold yard goods as well as shoes, overalls, dresses and groceries.  The Dalbeys lived in the quarters above the cafe, and had rooms for transients.

     On December 31, 1918 the hardware store on the northeast corner of DeWitt St. and Dubuque St. caught on fire.  Clifford Grund came home on the midnight train and as he turned to go east to his home, he saw fire in the basement windows.  He ran to the telephone office and put in the alarm.

     The fire burned the hardware store, and the next building, which was a garage, and the next, which was a harness shop operated by Henry Becker.  The firemen had to take the big hose through the Busy Bee Cafe and up the stairs to a window where they could run it out and fight fire from above.  Thus saving the restaurant building.

     The spectators came in and stole candy, cigars, fruit and anything they could put in their pockets.  The building was water soaked, water all over the floor, running down the stairs.  Display cases were broken and much of the inventory looted.  (written by Leoan Keesee Coates, Dalbey's granddaughter)

This is what the North part of the East side of Main Steet looked like on a postcard dated 1915.  The signs on the buildings say, starting from the right, 1) Estate Stoves, Dalby - 2) Thompson Auto Co. and Auto Supplies, 3) Harness Shop, and 3) the Busy Bee Restaurant.