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.
He relocated to Detroit in 1933. Rosenthal was one of the founders of the Temple Israel synagogue of Detroit in 1941. Rosenthal donated the Ark which had been used by the Manistique Jewish community in their religious services. The Ark held the Torah scrolls and was crafted by a Manistique artisan in 1891. The sacred relic was used in the first religious service of the Temple Israel synagogue, and was still in use at the time of Rosenthal’s death on September 6, 1943.
Rosenthal was survived by one son, Samuel, of Chicago and a daughter, Mrs. Sidney Immerman of Detroit. His son, Samuel Rosenthal, a 1916 graduate of Manistique High School, established a scholarship fund in memory of his parents. It was established in 1948 and given to deserving graduating senior girls throughout the 1950’s and 60’s.