Tag Archives: Michigan

Artifacts from the Haywire Line – M. & L.S. R.R.

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Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad conductor hat badge donated by Gregory R. Miller (2015)

Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad conductor hat badge donated by Gregory R. Miller (2015)

The Story of the Hat Badge

            The above pictured hat badge was generously donated to the Historical Society by Gregory R. Miller in 2015. Mr. Miller writes: “Shortly before the demise of the M. & L.S. R.R. [in 1968], I was taking pictures of the recently painted snow plow. The boxcar color had given way to a bright fire-engine red. I was noticed by an employee of the railroad who asked if I wanted to see the inside. Of Course! He proceeded to show me the snowplow and gave me a tour of their still standing engine house. I was also told of the railroad’s history, shown pictures and given the conductor’s badge as a souvenir.” 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...

Pioneer Merchant – John A. Falk

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The John A. Falk Hardware Store was located in the former Weston Lumber Co. General Store building on the north side of Deer Street between Weston and New Delta Ave.

The John A. Falk Hardware Store was located in the former Weston Lumber Co. General Store building on the north side of Deer Street between Weston and New Delta Ave.

             John A. Falk was born on a farm in Dalsland, Sweden, on February 6, 1864; the son of Andrew Johnson Falk and Maja Lisa Eriksdotter. John grew up in a family of ten children and attended school in his home village of Grinstad.  A family crisis occurred when John was 15 years old which changed his life forever. His father encountered severe financial reverses including the loss of the family farm. John and his siblings, who were old enough to work, were forced to fend for themselves. Read More...

Central School Essay Contest – 1924

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The Central School building was erected in 1882 with an initial enrollment of 76 students. It was replaced by the new Junior High building in 1931

The Central School building was erected in 1882 with an initial enrollment of 76 students. It was replaced by the new Junior High building in 1931

        During the fall of 1924, the Manistique Women’s Club sponsored an essay contest at the Central School concerning the early history of Manistique. They hoped to kindle an interest in local history among the community’s young people. The Pioneer Historical Society had just been organized a year earlier, so there was little written material available for research. But the students had an even better source of information to draw upon—the pioneers themselves. Many of Manistique’s earliest settlers were still alive and residing in the area. The essays that the students produced are a treasure trove of information, but leave us wishing for even more. The winning essays were read before a school assembly at the Central School and were later published in the local paper as follows: Read More...