Manistique High School Junior Stephanie LaFoille receives her 2nd Prize award of $150.00 from Rebecca Peterson of the Schoolcraft County Historical Society for her essay “Businesses in Schoolcraft County.”
In writing her essay, Stephanie used resources on the web, but also talked with her family including her grandmother, parents, aunts and uncles. The following are excerpts from her prize winning entry.
Businesses in Schoolcraft County
Entrepreneur was a word to describe the LaFoilles; in a short amount of time, they had 10 children, all following in the footsteps of their father. Hildreth, Harrison, Henrietta, Harry, Hazel, Homer, Helene, Harvey, Harold and Hera were all names of future business owners. Homer grew up to open a bar where the current St. Vincent De Paul’s is standing on Cedar Street. Harrison opened up an ice cream parlor near where the modern Jacob’s Dentistry stands on the corner of Cedar Street. This was known as a hangout for high schoolers on lunch break. Whether they were getting a bite to eat, or sharing a sweet treat, everyone seemed to love and enjoy the parlor. Hildreth opened up a motel on Main Street, where an apartment building occupies today. Helene had a beauty shop, and the location of this is unknown. [Their father] Delor owned a peanut/popcorn stand that he brought to a new location daily, selling hot peanuts and freshly popped popcorn to support his large family. All of these businesses were long-lasting and successful.
Delor LaFoille and his peanut/popcorn stand.
Standing, left to right: Helene (LaFoille) Moon, Hazel (LaFoille) Anderson, Mrs. Malvina LaFoille, Hera (LaFoille) Jahn, Henrietta (LaFoille) Wright, Hildreth (LaFoille) Binder. Seated, left to right: Harvey LaFoille, Homer LaFoille, Harrison LaFoille, Harry LaFoille, Harold “Pete” LaFoille.
The Winkelman Store
Another business was the Winkelman store. This was a clothing shop that Mr. Winkelman, a Russian immigrant who migrated here in 1882 at the youthful age of 18, owned. He began as a peddler, which is a person who goes from place to place selling small items. Mr. Winkelman sold dry goods after his short peddling career. He located near a drug store. It was a small business to begin, but soon became popular.
Mr. Winkelman married Hattie Friedman and they had four children. Not too long after, he decided he was ready to relocate into a larger store. In 1909 he moved to a larger building, and a local newspaper stated how advanced it was with light fixtures and a steam powered heat system. They also explained in depth what new items were about to be stocked. He sold clothing there and it is now a Ford car dealership on the corner of Cedar and Oak Street. Two of his children opened up a chain store in Detroit featuring women’s apparel.
Winkelman’s Clothing Store on Corner of Cedar and Oak in Manistique