On Dec. 18, 1888, a disastrous fire destroyed 13 buildings on the east side of the 100 block of South Stephenson Avenue in Iron Mountain’s business district. This enlarged detail from a photograph taken by Jorgen J. Eskil, pioneer Menominee Range photographer, in about 1899 from the Ludington Mine Location shows the 100 block. The brick structure is actually two buildings which were built in 1889, replacing the buildings lost in the fire. The first building with lighter-colored brick contained two stores, while the second building with darker-colored brick contained three stores. Note the difference in the cornice brickwork in the two buildings. Also note the small building to the left of the five-store, two-building brick structure which was probably Gust Pederson’s shoe shop. The Swedish Mission Church, on the southeast corner of East Ludington and Iron Mountain streets, is visible at the upper center of the photograph. Businesses listed in the 1892-1894 Iron Mountain City Directory, the city’s first directory, included the following: 101, Gust Pederson, cobbler; 107, George Emma, saloon; 109, L.A. Rouse, barbershop; 113, John Virsella, saloon; 115, Wallner & Banardi, Joseph Wallner and Frank Banardi, saloon; 117, C.A. Petterson, hardware, and Edward Peterson, saloon; 119, William P. Bray, justice of the peace and insurance; 121, Samuel Rusky, general merchandise and 125, Merritt Bros., Samuel Merritt and Matthew Merritt, sample rooms (saloon). (Keen S. Scott)

IRON MOUNTAIN – The 41st installment of Menominee 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 Businesses — 101-117 South Stephenson Avenue.”

Documentation of the history of businesses in downtown Iron Mountain begins with this installment of Menominee Range Memories. Although many buildings have disappeared over the decades, a surprising number of early structures still survive, sometimes under a remodeled facade.

Most dates are given based on city directories, the earliest being 1892-1894, 1902-1903, 1905-1906, 1907-1908, 1913, 1925, 1935, 1939, 1941-1942 and 1946. Then there is a large gap until the Polk’s Iron Mountain and Kingsford City Directory which included other areas of Dickinson County began regular publication in 1959. Building history has been traced to 1990.

The series begins with the downtown commercial district located on South Stephenson Avenue and then will continue with downtown side streets and later businesses on Merritt Avenue and Carpenter Avenue.

The east side of the 100 block of South Stephenson Avenue is one of the most confusing blocks to attempt to trace the history of business places, mainly due to changing addresses used over the past century. It is probable that the buildings in this complex were constructed after a terrible fire on Dec. 18, 1888. Thirteen wooden buildings were completely destroyed at a loss of $40,000 and there was little insurance coverage. The fire started after midnight on a Tuesday and was one of the worst in the city’s history.

According to accounts taken from the Dec. 22, 1888, editions of Norway’s The Current and The Florence Mining News, the fire broke out in the Silverman, Davis & Levy’s general store shortly before 1 o’clock, and rapidly spread to the surrounding buildings. The alarm was given and quickly responded to by the efficient volunteer brigade, but although three streams were quickly brought to play, the flammable nature of the wooden building and the prevalence of a strong wind made it impossible to control the flames.

The following business and dwelling houses were destroyed: Peter Baptiste (loss, $5,000, saloon and buildings; insurance, $2,750); Phil Bender’s barber shop (loss, $100); David Bergeron, justice of the peace office (loss, $150); Thomas Buzzo’s saloon (loss, $250) and boarding house; Michael Carrigliotti’s double saloon (loss, $3,000, buildings); D. Conterini, saloon (loss, $200); John Friedrich, building, (loss, $2,500; insurance, $1,000); Edwin Freeman, saloon and livery barn (loss, $3,500); M. Goldman & Co., notions (loss, $300); Grenfell, candies, etc. (loss, $235); Christopher Grossbusch, general store (loss, $4,000; fully insured); Edward J. Ingram, druggist, goods, (loss, $500; fully insured); H.N. La Duke, boarding house (loss, $2,500; insurance, $1,500); Mrs. Manning, boarding house (loss, $800); V. Nomilini, saloon (loss, $1,000); Gust Pederson, shoe shop (loss, $150); Peterson, household goods (loss, $150); Silverman, Davis & Levy, dry goods store (loss, $5,000; insurance, $4,000); Fred Smith, building (loss, $1,000); C. Sundstrom’s Locomotive Bakery (loss, $150); William Sundstrom, general store (loss, $8,000; insurance, $4,500).

The figures for losses ($49,485) and insurance coverage were quoted from Iron Mountain’s The Menominee Range by The Florence Mining News. Tullgren’s brick building was the only building remaining intact in the whole block.

The article in The Current noted:

“Had it not been for the recent snow it is probable that many more buildings would have been destroyed. Even now the blow is a severe one and it is a question if some of the sufferers will be able to resume business.

“It has been asserted that the new volunteer fire company was inexperienced, and some reflections have been cast upon its manner of handling the fire. Perhaps this may be true, but during a short visit immediately after the fire we noticed some ice coated volunteer brigade men who have often done able and valiant work at fires in days gone by, and we cannot think that they have lost their cunning or their grit. It is often easier to stand by and criticize the work of others than it is to improve upon it. The writer has “been through the mill” and knows that being a volunteer fireman is one of the most thankless jobs on earth.”

According to The Florence Mining News reporter:

“With but one or two exceptions, the burned buildings were mere fire-traps, and but for the losses sustained by some of the uninsured victims, the conflagration was a good thing for the city. The fire was bound to come sooner or later, and if it had occurred at almost any other season of the year, it is fair to presume that an infinite amount of other valuable property would have been sacrificed to the destructive fire fiend.

“The roofs of the buildings were laden with snow on Tuesday morning, which materially aided the department in staying the progress of the flames as soon as the wooden rookeries were consumed. Nothing could save them.

“The fire was in the last block on the principal street, at the northwesterly end of the street, where the track running up to the Chapin mine cuts off the street. A portion of the same ground has been burned before. The loss is estimated at about $50,000, though it is likely it will come considerably under this amount when the adjusters complete their work.

“Nearly all of the heaviest losers were adequately insured. The fire is believed to have been of incendiary origin and the hand of suspicion ominously points to certain individuals of Iron Mountain as the authors. Actual proofs of guilt are lacking at present and no arrests have yet been made.”

The Florence Mining News also congratulated “Ed. Ingram, Iron Mountain’s leading druggist”, over his fortunate escape, noting:

“Ed recently moved out of one of the burned rookeries into an elegant brick store, thus happily saving himself a heavy loss. He lost a few goods and fixtures, however, but the loss is covered by insurance.”

According to The History of Iron Mountain by the Iron Mountain Women’s Club, published Feb. 20, 1914, the buildings destroyed by fire in 1888 were all rebuilt later in brick. Because of the damage this fire caused, the city appointed a new fire warden and an ordinance was amended so that only stone or brick buildings could be erected in the business district.

When the two buildings later housing the former Fontana’s Supper Club were built in 1889, the long facade was constructed parallel to railroad tracks which went to the Chapin Mine. The tracks are long gone, but the sharp turn in the architecture still marks their route.

History of 101: Gust Pederson repaired shoes at this address in 1892-1894. In 1902-1903 Sam Anderson was found in the street listing for 101-103 South Stephenson Avenue, but was not found in the alphabetical listing. Mrs. P.A. Lagerfelt ran a boarding house, probably on the second floor, at 101-107 South Stephenson Ave. in 1902-1903.

Perry Morrison did “cleaning and pressing” here in 1907-1908. There was no listing for this address in 1913 or in 1925.

In 1935, the Beckstrom & Greenquist Decorating Company, operated by Harold C. Beckstrom and David E. Greenquist, was located here. The Beckstrom & Greenquist Decorating Company was listed at 103 South Stephenson Avenue in 1939, but was probably still located at this address.

By 1941 this address was not listed, but 103 South Stephenson Avenue was listed as “vacant.” This address was listed as “vacant” in all Polk city directories from 1959 through 1990.

History of 103: In 1902-1903 Sam Anderson was found in the street listing for 101-103 South Stephenson Avenue, but was not found in the alphabetical listing. Mrs. P.A. Lagerfelt ran a boarding house, probably on the second floor, at 101-107 South Stephenson Avenue in 1902-1903. There is no listing for this address in 1907-1908. This address was listed as “vacant” in 1913.

In 1925, Fred. H. Gustafson ran a garage at this address and Louis Johnson sold automobiles. Louis Johnson operated a garage here in 1935. The building at 103-107 was known as the Chapin Building.

The Beckstrom & Greenquist Decorating Company, operated by Harold C. Beckstrom and David E. Greenquist, was listed at this address in 1939, but had been listed at 101 South Stephenson Avenue in 1935. In 1941 this address was listed as “vacant.” This address was listed as “vacant” in all Polk city directories from 1959 through 1990.

History of 105: Mrs. P.A. Lagerfelt ran a boarding house, probably on the second floor, at 101-107 South Stephenson Avenue in 1902-1903. There is no listing for this address in 1907-1908. This address was listed as “vacant” in 1913. There was no listing for this address in 1925 or 1935.

By 1939 the Nelson Garage, Axel Nelson, proprietor, was located here, and was still listed at this location in 1941 and again in 1946. This address was listed as “vacant” in all Polk city directories from 1959 through 1990.

History of 107: George Emma ran a saloon at this address in 1892-1894. Mrs. P.A. Lagerfelt ran a boarding house, probably on the second floor, at 101-107 South Stephenson Avenue in 1902-1903. In 1907-1908 Raffaele Corsi sold wine and liquors and resided at this location with his wife Lena Corsi. Alex Vespa’s name appears in the street listing, but not in the alphabetical listing in 1907-1908. This address was listed as “vacant” in 1913.

This address was named the Chapin Building in 1925, and served as a residence for Willis J. Wilson, an autoworker, and his wife Mary J. Wilson, Ronald Wilson, a machinist, and Vada Wilson, a student, as well as Mrs. Exilda Belfi, widow of Willam Belfi, Dorothy Belfi and Eli Belfi, an autoworker. Louis Johnson ran a tavern in this portion of the Chapin Building, (103-107 South Stephenson Avenue) in 1935, and also resided here.

By 1939 the White Star Tavern, Louis Johnson, proprietor, was operating here, and was still located at this address in 1941 under the same ownership. In 1946 Sallmon Otto operated the White Star Tavern here.

Beginning in 1959, the Polk city directories the White Star Tavern was operated by Eric A. and Ingrid Hedlund. By 1967 Robert T. and Emily L. Anthony operated the White Star Tavern. In 1969 and 1970 the owners were Chester D. Lindholm and Earl J. LaCount. In 1971 and 1972 Earl J. LaCount was listed as the sole owner, and the name changed to the White Star Bar & Grill under the same ownership in 1973, continuing operation until 1976. From 1977 until 1990 the structure was an apartment building.

Part 2 of the 41st installment will detail the history of 109 through 115 South Stephenson Ave.