Monthly Archives: February 2016

Wm. Middlebrook – Pioneer Merchant & Civic Leader

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Interior of the Middlebrook Grocery located on Manistique’s Westside. The stock included a mixture of grocery, dry goods and hardware items. The shelves were lined with canned goods and signs in the rear of the store advertised “Mexoja” high grade coffee and Oleo margarine

Interior of the Middlebrook Grocery located on Manistique’s Westside. The stock included a mixture of grocery, dry goods and hardware items. The shelves were lined with canned goods and signs in the rear of the store advertised “Mexoja” high grade coffee and Oleo margarine.

           William Middlebrook was born in Lindsley, Steuben Co. New York on July 22, 1864. He received his early education in Lindsley and then went on to attend Allen’s Business College in Elmira, New York. Middlebrook worked for a time as a bookkeeper in New York before coming to Manistique in the spring of 1886. Here, Middlebrook found employment with the Weston Lumber Company and was placed in charge of the Clothing and Dry Goods Department of the company’s general store on Deer Street. He married Dora R. James in a ceremony at Manistique on June 2, 1887. Read More...

Lazarus Rosenthal – Dry Goods & Clothing Merchant

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Circa 1904-06 image of Rosenthals Clothing Store (last two awnings far right)

Circa 1904-06 image of Rosenthal’s Clothing Store (last two awnings far right)

           Lazarus Rosenthal was born on November 4, 1874 in Syracuse, New York to Saul and Celia (Rubenstein) Rosenthal. He came to Manistique in 1895 and operated a dry goods store for four years under the name of Rosenthal & Blumrosen. Rosenthal married Rachael Blumrosen in a Jewish ceremony in Detroit, Michigan on January 28, 1898.

            Becoming sole owner of Rosenthal’s Clothing Store in 1899, he remained in business in Manistique for 27 years. In February of 1926, he sold the clothing store to Henry Neville and W. J. Raredon. The Rosenthal building later housed the Lauerman Department Store. While in business in Manistique, Rosenthal was active in civic affairs and a great booster for Manistique and Schoolcraft County. Read More...

Julius Larson – Pioneer Woodsman & Merchant

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The City Meat Market was opened in 1899. It stood on Oak Street next to the Barnes Hotel. In the above photo, posters can be seen in the widows advertising coming attractions at the opera house.

The City Meat Market was opened in 1899. It stood on Oak Street next to the Barnes Hotel. In the above photo, posters can be seen in the windows advertising coming attractions at the opera house.

           Julius Larson was born in Vastergotland, Sweden on June 20, 1868. He immigrated to the United States in 1888 and arrived in Manistique on April 3, 1888 at age 19. He was employed with Frank N. Cookson’s crew, working in the woods. In 1893 he traveled back to his native Sweden for a visit. Returning to Manistique in 1894, he continued his employment with Frank Cookson in the woods.

            Larson left Cookson’s employment in 1899 and opened the City Meat Market in partnership with Albert Gustafson. The first customers at the store were Margaret Curley, Mrs. A. S. Putnam and Mrs. Virgil Hixson. Paddy Hunt was hired as the first delivery boy. Read More...

Thomas J. MacMurray – Clergyman, Poet, Lawyer, Lecturer & Journalist

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Thomas J. MacMurray

Thomas J. MacMurray

            He traveled alone on horseback, riding for miles through an uninhabited wilderness before coming at last to a tiny hamlet. While there, he conducted religious services, visited the sick, buried the dead, comforted the grieving, joined couples in marriage and baptized the faithful uninitiated. The names and exploits of many of these frontier clergymen have faded into obscurity with the passage of time. But the Methodist circuit rider who visited Manistique left a legacy that endures to this day. Read More...