This unused, tinted halftone postcard view, identified as “Post Office and Residence of J.J. Larsen, Beechwood, Mich.,” probably dates between 1910 and 1915. The founders and first settlers of Beechwood were J. Jens Larsen, a Dane, and his wife, Lebbe Larsen, a Native American. Jens was born Aug. 19, 1852, and died Aug. 28, 1931. There is no date of birth or death for his wife, but both are buried in the Rosehill Cemetery in Beechwood. The upstairs of their tin-covered house was rented out as a rooming house. Jens was one of the first postmasters and ran the post office from his home, where settlers would congregate around his pot-bellied stove after their day’s work. Children were allowed to play to their hearts’ content in the basement, which could be reached through a trap door in the floor. Jens became postmaster in April 1891 and continued as postmaster until 1906. In 1912, the Beechwood Store was built and it eventually served as the post office until 1976. “Remember when?” appears every Wednesday in The Daily News. Those with suggestions or historical photographs they would like to submit can email Terri Castelaz at tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.
(William J. Cummings photo)
