Andrew Rian was born in 1859, in Borsen, Trondheim, Norway. At the age of 21, he immigrated to America with his brother, Olaf Rian, in 1881. They brothers settled in Milwaukee. Andrew Rian worked as a carpenter until the fall of that year, and went on to Hermansville to work in a sawmill.

By the spring of 1882, Rian had moved to Metropolitan, now Felch Township, and opened a shoemaker shop. He made boots and shoes, using the skills in that trade he had learned in Europe.

Rain met Anna Rosvold, who also immigrated in 1881 from Borsen, Norway. She had settled in Metropolitan and worked as a housemaid for Captain and Mrs. Felch. She had moved to Racine, Wis., to work for a Norwegian family, receiving letters from Andrew periodically.

In the spring of 1885, Rian traveled to Racine, telling the Felch Flyer train conductor, Mr. Gibbs, he was going “to buy a pair of shoes.” A week later he came back to Metropolitan married to Anna Rosvold.

This 1916 photo is a view of the Rian’s Hotel and Rian’s Store on Main Street in Felch Township with two early automobiles. This real photo postcard identified as “Felch, Mich. Foto Conant.” Conant was a photographer in Escanaba. (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum, Iron Mountain)

It was stated that Mr. Gibbs said, “Well, you bought a pretty good pair of shoes, Andrew.”

A few years after their marriage, they purchased an old building for $125 to run his shoemaker business. The Rains later added on a small grocery store.

It was noted that the store was prosperous for the couple and the couple also grew their family who would help in the store.

They had eight children, but only four lived to adult age – Olaf, Minnie, Anna and Gilbert.

In the summer of 1899 they started construction of a new family home, which was also the hotel. Anna died in October before the structures were complete.

The real photo postcard identified as “Rian’s Store and Hotel, Felch, Mich.” is postmarked Felch, Aug. 12, 1927. The view shows the hotel and general store run by Andrew Rian and his wife, Anna (Beseth) Rian. (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum, Iron Mountain)

About year later he married Anna Beseth, who immigrated from Norway to Felch with her sister, Mary Beseth, in May 1900.

In 1906, he built the Rian Blacksmith Shop and hired a blacksmith. Blacksmiths who worked for the business included Olaf Pearson, Alfred Pearson, Joseph Louris, Louis Byers, Andrew Engelquist, and Alphonse LaLonde.

An addition to the hotel was constructed in 1907, to board teachers as well as workmen.

The Rian Hotel featured ornate two-level porches with lots of gingerbread woodwork.

In 1912, he began a foundation for a new two-story stone and brick structure that was finished in May 1913, at which time the Rians moved into the new store.

After Andrew Rian died in 1942, the store became Helmer’s General Store. Shown in this 1950-1960 photograph is the front of the building. Note that bread was 21 cents a loaf; 10 pounds of flour was 93 cents, and ice cream was 69 cents. (Photo provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum, Iron Mountain)

Rian also put up a creamery building in 1913, along with a larger structure in 1928. The buttermakers known to have worked at the creamery, included Mr. Buck and Christian H. Jochumsen, who began work in 1925, coming from Bark River.

He also had logging camps, where Martin Rian was foreman for many years. He wasn’t a relative, but also came from Norway.

Rian died in 1942 and it’s unknown when it became Helmer’s Store.

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.