Local business continues into 2nd century at same location

Donna Heiser stands in front of the heirloom safe at Crescent Jewelry, 207 Broadway. She is carrying on the legacy of the Heiser family following her husband's death in 2021. Photo by Mary Lou Montgomery

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

A century ago, the Heiser Jewelry Company was in business at 115 S. Main St., operated by brothers Alvin and Carl. The brothers subsequently divided the business, and Alvin opened a shop of his own on Broadway, Crescent Jewelry Co.

The Heiser Jewelry Co., closed some years ago; but the jewelry store operated by Alvin has continued on in business at the same location, 207 Broadway, for 100 years.

Today, Donna Matson Heiser, widow of Alvin’s grandson, Robert L. Heiser Jr., (1947-2021) operates the business with the same dedication to customer service as did the Heiser men who were her predecessors.

As the only traditional jewelry store in Hannibal, Crescent Jewelry makes accessible a full range of services, from gemstone mounting and remounting, to watch repair, engraving, and watch battery replacement.

And, of course, they carry a large inventory - both costume and fine jewelry.

“Donna likes to shop. ‘That’s pretty, let’s get that,’” she said, laughing at herself.

Banker by trade

Donna, who spent her half-century career at F&M Bank, is well versed in conducting the paperwork side of the business, but admits that her artistic talents may be lacking.

Even though Bob Heiser’s shoes are impossible to fill, Donna has a team of experienced and talented people on staff who have stepped forward to make sure that customers have a positive shopping experience.

“I just happen to be in the precarious position to be the owner. I have people who know how to run it, honest and caring, to carry on tradition. Bob would appreciate that.”

• Mick McGuire has been with Crescent’s for 15 years. “He’s actually from the Kansas City area originally. He worked in factories, then he decided he might want to repair jewelry. He was working in a store in Springfield, Ill. He and his wife decided to move to her hometown of Hannibal. “He has been a wonderful addition to the staff," Donna said. “Bob would have died five years sooner if Mick wasn’t here to shoulder the load. That worked out well.”

• “Lisa Willet has been here forever; I knew Lisa, we both grew up in Oakwood. She was a small child and I was her sister’s age. Eleanor Miller, who worked at Crescent’s, was Lisa’s aunt, and she suggested Lisa, who has been here since high school. She is my go to,” Donna said. “Lisa knows everybody and everything.”

Lisa helps people with repairs or remakes of their costume jewelry, often heirloom pieces. “It might not be a valuable piece of jewelry, but is a family heirloom, it means something to them. Sometimes we can’t fix it, but we certainly try to.

“Lisa has an artistic mind and can envision: This is Grandma’s and I want to do something with this.”

* Jon Painter, who will turn 80 this month, has been in the jewelry industry for over 50 years, Donna said. He was an over-the-road salesman, and has lived in Hannibal 40 something years. 

“He came in here one time when Bob was sick. Jon was working in Quincy at a jewelry store. Bob was in the hospital, and Lisa needed help,” Donna said.

Donna told her husband that Jon wanted a job, and Bob said, “Bring him on.” That was November 2020. “Jon knows the industry, and as a salesman he knows how to talk to people. He knows a lot of jewelers around Missouri. Like in Mexico, Mo., there is Melody’s Quality Jewelry. They have a laser machine. Some things you can’t put a torch on it or it will melt. Jon will go to Melody’s to get things fixed that we can’t repair.”

“Jon is my salesman. They will pick out a mounting they like and he will tell them what kind of stone will fit. I need all these people to make it go.”

Watch repair is another speciality. “Tom Benny worked for Crescent's for years and years, but he passed away. The same with Bernie Chambers. You don’t just find watch guys anymore.

“Jon Painter will drive up to Quincy and take watches to get them repaired. When they’re ready he goes back and gets them.”

"I had some people that I had to replace when they went for different positions” after Bob died. “I called some of my girlfriends, some of whom had had stressful real careers. They enjoy seeing people and getting out, and they like the jewelry.”

The store is open 20 hours per week, Tuesday through Friday, and four hours on the second Saturday of each month.

“I’m the payroll clerk and bill payer. When Bob was sick, Lisa was doing all that stuff. Once I got down here (after her retirement from F&M Bank) that’s something I knew how to do. I can tell them how to balance their checkbook.”

Ultimately, she would love to be able to sell the store, so she can enjoy her retirement years. But in the meantime, “As long as I have my people,” she will continue the legacy left by her husband, his father and his grandfather, at 207 Broadway.

Evolution

One thing that has certainly changed in the past century since Crescent’s opened at 207 Broadway is the way people find their way into the store.

When she was in high school, Donna and her friend, Marlene, would meet downtown on Saturdays, window shop and go through the stores. “There was Klines and Kilhams and the Emporium - all those gorgeous clothes. We didn’t have any money, but we could look at them.”

Today, people aren’t walking up and down Broadway looking into the store windows. Instead, they are often repeat customers who are coming into the store for something specific.

Young people, she said, often say they were referred to the store. “That’s good to know,” she said, but she is sometimes puzzled by those who say they didn’t know Crescent’s Jewelry was here. “Don’t they ever drive downtown?”

Another change is the gift section that used to fill the eastern half of the building.

“I can remember 50 years ago, the whole other side (of the building) was filled with crystal, china. When young ladies were getting married, they would register their crystal and china patterns. Nobody does that any more.”