• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 51: DOWNTOWN IRON MOUNTAIN – 415-423 SOUTH STEPHENSON AVENUE By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian The northeast corner of the intersection of South Stephenson Avenue and East A Street was vacant for many years following the fire which burned the Flanagan Block to the ground February 25, 1904. There was an ice rink at this corner at times prior to the construction of the United States National Bank in 1921. The building with the triangular peak was the Odd Fellows Block, erected in about 1888. The M. Levy Company Store, one of the two larger department stores in Iron Mountain at this time, was north of the Odd Fellows Block. This postcard view was postmarked in Iron Mountain on July 23, 1909. [William John Cummings] [NOTE: Dates, placed chronologically, are rooms at 415, advertising: “The first-class highlighted in boldface red letters for easier shop of the City. None but experienced reading, and names of individuals and and expert workmen employed. Everything places are highlighted in boldface black new and inviting.” letters to facilitate finding information.] The advertisement below appeared in the July 4, 1889 edition of Iron Mountain’s The 51st installment of Menominee weekly newspaper The Menominee Range. Range Memories, a series of articles by William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation historian, now available on the Dickinson County Library’s website, is titled “Downtown Iron Mountain – 415-423 South Stephenson Avenue.” History of 415: In 1892-1894, J.B. Eslick operated a barber shop and bath 1 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 51: DOWNTOWN IRON MOUNTAIN – 415-423 SOUTH STEPHENSON AVENUE By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian There was no listing for this address in Contractor Joergenson, of Green Bay, 1902-1903 or 1907-1908. However, by was verified as the contractor for the 1913, the M. Levy Company (Albert Levy, erection of the M. Levy & Co.’s department president; Isaac Unger, secretary- store. Joergenson had begun removing the treasurer) had expanded to include 415-419 old frame buildings at 415-419 South South Stephenson Avenue, selling “general Stephenson Avenue. merchandise.” The Levy-Unger The August 17, 1898 issue of The Daily Company, Ltd. (Henry M. Levy, Albert Tribune noted that the new Levy building Levy, Isaac Unger) still sold “general has reached the second story and the work merchandise” at 415-417 South will be rapidly pushed to completion, and Stephenson Avenue in 1925. By 1935 the added that the firm expected “to occupy J.C. Penny Company, Inc., occupied 415- their new building next month.” 417 South Stephenson Avenue, with An item in The Daily Tribune for August Claude A. Moore working as manager, 31, 1898 announced that the “new Levy offering “Men’s Furnishing Goods and building is completed to its full height and Ready-to-Wear.” In 1939 and 1941-1942 the work of finishing the interior will be the J.C. Penny Company, Inc., continued to rapidly pushed. It is a very handsome occupy 415-417 South Stephenson Avenue structure and the firm is entitled to praise with Claude A. Moore serving as manager. for their enterprise. George Dehn, the History of 417: In 1892-1894 plumber, is putting in an Eagle generator for Christopher Grossbusch was a “Dealer in an acetylene plant and 120 burners will be Fruit, Confectionery and Vegetables, used to furnish light for the building.” Notions, Toilet Articles, Toys, Cigars, On September 15, 1898, the Iron Tobacco, etc.” at this location, but resided Mountain Press announced that N.B. at 119 South Stephenson Avenue. Parmelee & Son had secured the contract The M. Levy Company store was one for building the fixtures for M. Levy & Co.’s of Iron Mountain’s first large department new department store and would have the stores, selling a variety of general same ready to place in position as soon as merchandise, and began operating at 415- Contractor Joergenson turned the building 417 South Stephenson Avenue sometime over to the firm. At this time in was between 1892 and 1898. anticipated that the building will be ready for The Range-Tribune noted in its April 30, occupancy by October 15. 1898 edition that “J.E. Clancy, the architect The October 5, 1898 edition of The for the new Levy building, came up from Daily Tribune noted that the “plate glass Green Bay yesterday with the plans for the windows for the new Levy building were building. The firm will send out for bids for placed in position yesterday and are very constructing same at once and they must handsome. They cost nearly $100 apiece be received by May 16. The building will be and there are four of them. A traveling man two-story, brick, and the main rooms will be remarked this morning that there was not a 50x100 feet, both the lower and upper handsomer store front in Chicago than the floors being occupied by the firm. It will be Levy front.” a modern building in every particular and However, on October 17, 1898 The will be heated by steam.” Daily Tribune noted that “two of the large In an article appearing in the June 2, plate glass windows in the new Levy 1898 edition of the Iron Mountain Press, building front cracked from being set too 2 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 51: DOWNTOWN IRON MOUNTAIN – 415-423 SOUTH STEPHENSON AVENUE By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian tightly. The windows were insured and the Carbis (Thomas Wills and William J. insurance company will have to replace Carbis), groceries and meats; 409, Khoury them.” Bros., (Paul Khoury and Sam Khoury, salesman, who lived upstairs), confectioneries, fruits, cigars, ice cream, etc.; 413, L.M. Hansen, livery stable (single story with diamond-shaped windows); 417- 419, M. Levy Company (Albert Levy, Henry M. Levy and Isaac Unger), department store. The M. Levy Company, of Ft. Atkinson, Wis., established a branch store here in September, 1887, which proved very successful. On April 30, 1898,The Range-Tribune noted that J.E. Clancy, the Green architect for the new Levy building, brought the plans for the two-story, brick structure with the main rooms being 50x100 feet, and the firm occupying both the lower and upper floors. This building burned February 28, 1982. [Menominee Range Historical Museum] The following article appeared in the November 18, 1898 edition of The Daily Tribune under the headline: NARROW ESCAPE: Incipient Blaze in the Levy Store Which Might Have Proved Serious: Last night about 11 o’clock, while the Levy and Unger boys were working in the new Levy store on Stephenson avenue preparing to receive the stock, the electric arc lamp in the store went out and they could not work longer. They left the Postmarked Iron Mountain, July 18, 1910, building and went to the old store for their this view shows the north end of the 400 overcoats and as soon as they opened the block of South Stephenson Avenue, looking door smoke was plainly seen in the store north. Tommy Perkins stands beside the room. A telephone call was made at once wheeled barrel used to pick up horse to the engine house and an investigation manure from the streets. In 1907, the was made. It was found that a spark had following businesses were located here: dropped from the arc lamp in the rear of the 401, John McKenna, liquors and cigars, store and set fire to a covering on a line of with Mrs. James (Jennie) Lalley living cloaks. It had burned clear through the upstairs; 405, The Parent Clothing Store covering and had communicated to the (Charles Parent), clothing, furnishings, coats, which were smouldering [sic – trunks, valises, shoes, etc.; 407, Wills & smoldering]. It took but a few minutes for 3 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 51: DOWNTOWN IRON MOUNTAIN – 415-423 SOUTH STEPHENSON AVENUE By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian the firemen to extinguish the fire, but it was continued business successfully in the a narrow escape. If the boys had not left quarters just vacated, sailing through the their overcoats in the old building, the fire dull years of 1892 and 1893 without no doubt would have remained financial mishap and carrying on its books undiscovered until it got a good start and many miners out of work and who greatly serious damage would have resulted. It needed assistance, thus tiding them over was a fortunate thing that it turned out as it until better times came. did. The loss will amount to less than $20. Early last spring the volume of business M. Levy & Co. moved into its new store of the concern began to increase so rapidly on Saturday evening, November 19, 1898, that steps were taken to construct a and Monday, November 21, 1898. building exactly suited to their firm’s The following article, appearing in The demand. Daily Tribune on November 21, 1898, under The property adjoining the store on the the headline: IN A NEW HOME: The Firm North was purchased from Mrs. Amelia of M. Levy & Co. Moves to Its New Pascoe and on June 1 a contract was Quarters: ESTABLISHED NEARLY entered into to construct a modern business TWELVE YEARS: Steady Increase of block at a considerable cost, work upon Business – The Individual Members of the which has just been completed. Firm – The Handsomest Storeroom in the Saturday night and this morning the Upper Peninsula, provides a history of the immense stock of goods in the old store company in Iron Mountain from 1887 until was moved into the new building which is the new store opened handsomely fitted up with convenient Early in 1887 a firm in Ft.

Load more

  24

Copy Link