Familly in front of their home - early 1900's

The picture of a family in front of their home in the early 1900's, was scanned at the Hammond House while I was visiting in September 2013.  Does anyone recognize where the home is???  If you think you know, please email me at rchard1960@gmail.com. 

Chivis Grocery - about 1903

The picture from around 1903 of Chivis Grocery on Woodruff Street was scanned at the Hammond House while visiting in September of 2013.

Jack's Grocery was located where the Chivis Grocery once was located from 1966 to 1973, when they moved to their present location.

Prior to Chivis Grocery, above picture indicates the building was occupied by Alex W. Kinyon who also used the building as a grocery store the "A.W. Kinyon Groceries and Supply House".

This picture which was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013, shows the earliest view of the building and area I have seen.  In the background you can see the floor mill.

Barbershop - early 1900's

The picture of a barbershop located three buildings down from the Union Hotel in the early 1900's.  The picture was scanned while I visited the Hammond House in September 2013.

This picture was cropped from a postcard noting the location of the barbershop above.

In talking to my brother Marty, he agreed with the location of the barbershop, and provided me with a list of businesses that have since been located in this building.

    

        Listing for 207 N. Broadway

• Law Office (Terri A. Norris)
• Professional Offices - Ron Gibson
• Positive Image Dance Academy
• Needham Floors & Cindy’s Flowers
• Boynton Travel
• Mary Jane’s Clothes Closet - 1965 
• Bessie’s Beauty Shop
• Girard Restaurant (Al Girard)
• Barber Shop - Bathrick - Bill Bathert, Bill Ward, Dar Swain

Park Street Bridge - early 1900's - Updated 29 Nov 2013

An early picture postcard of the Park Street Bridge being erected in the early 1900's with the school in the background was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.

Update - My brother Marty thinks the logs were being added to support the bridge during the 1908 flood that took out the Broadway bridge.  Notice the water level behind the men on the right side of the picture.

Delivery Wagon

The delivery wagon was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.  Location not noted on the picture.

Bostwick Home/Methodist Church Parsonage

The postcard picture of the Bostwick Home that was located on the NW Corner of Broadway and Charlotte Streets was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.  The home was then willed to the Methodist Church who used the home as their parsonage until sometime in the 1950's when it was demolished to build the Sinclair Station. 

Park Street - Updated with comment from Noel Spooner

The picture postcard of Park Street was scanned at the Hammond House during my visit in September 2013.  I am guessing this was taken from the top of the hill on the South end of Park Street seeing a faint image of the Park Street bridge at the bottom of the hill.

Comment from Noel Spooner:  I believe that this picture is taken from the north end of Park.  I currently live right around the corner from here.  The first house on the right is where Anita Wessel currently lives.  The front porch is a bit different, but the house is mostly the same.  Posted on November 4, 2013

Union City High School - Class of 1890

The picture of the Union City High School Class of 1890 was scanned while I visited the Hammond House in September 2013.  Those people identified on the back of the picture were: Claude Whitney (standing 2nd from left), Byrd Gaw (seated 1st from left), and Daisy E. Buell (seated 2nd from the left).

Names from the 1890 graduating class found in the Alumni Handbook: Daisy Buell, Ray Burlingame, Laurene Corbin, Byrd Gaw, Felia Mathews, Georgia Smyth, E. Mae Thompson, Mertis Wellman, and Claude Whitney 

School Picture - 1902

The picture taken in 1902, appears to be classmates from the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, based on names found in the graduating classes of 1908, 1909, and 1910 (graduate lists below from the Alumni Handbook). The picture was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.

Union City High School's Freshman Class - 1947

The picture of the 1947 Union City High School Freshman Class (Graduation Class of 1950).  The picture was scanned at the Hammond House in September 2013.

Union City High School Football Team - 1933

The picture of the 1933 Union City High School football team.  Names were provided on the backside of the picture.  The picture was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.

Union City High School Football Team - c 1900

The picture of the Union City High School football team from about 1900.  Was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.  The only information provided on the picture was "Katz Photography".

Union City 2nd Grade Class 1912-1913 (Graduating Class of 1923)

 Scanned the picture of the Union City 2nd Grade Class who were the graduating class of 1923, while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.

Union City Post Office - early 1900's

The two pictures below were scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.  The post office was then located next to the old opera house on Hammond Street.  The first picture would have been taken in the winter ...look at the coat the mail carrier has on (the gentleman in the right front).

Poe's General Store and Post Office

Poe's General Store and Post Office located on Hammond Street.  The edge of the old Opera House is on right and American Express Company is on the left.

Comment - Bob Warner sent me an email and noted that his dad's pool hall was located in the building with the American Express Office sign.  He also noted that the Nichels Opera Hall was torn down about 1950.

Comment - In 1945 the store to the left of Poe's was the Baylis Jewelry Store; the picture labeled Poe's was Maude Lake's Hat shop and the store on the right was the Union City Locker Co. purchased from the Coldwater Meat Locker in 1945 by Carl and Elma Ratzow and Ed and Wilma Zarmstorf. submitted by Elma Carpenter

Post Office and American Express Company

This picture was taken on Hammond Street, includes the American Express Company and the Post Office.

Note - Regarding the building on the right side of the picture ...(from the publication titled "Historical Industrial and Social Record of Peerless Union City Michigan" edited, compiled, and published by Tom F. Robinson in March 1903) identifies this building as the "Tower-McCausey Block".

Comment - Bob Warner sent me an email and noted that his dad's pool hall was located in the building with the American Express Office sign.  He also noted that the Nichels Opera Hall was torn down about 1950.

Comment - In 1945 the store to the left was the Baylis Jewelry Store; the store in the center was Maude Lake's Hat Shop and the store on the right was the Union  City Locker Co. purchased from the Coldwater Meat Locker in 1945 by Carl and  Elma Ratzow and Ed and Wilma Zarmstorf. submitted by Elma Carpenter

Opera House on Hammond Street

Picture taken on Hammond Street, included in the picture are the ?? Market, American Express Company, ??, Post Office, Opera House, and the Buell home in the distance.

Comment - Bob Warner sent me an email and noted that his dad's pool hall was located in the building with the American Express Office sign.  He also noted that the Nichels Opera Hall was torn down about 1950.

Comment - The one-story building on the left was the WRC (Women's Relief Corps) meeting place in 1945. Submitted by Elma Carpenter.

Boy Scouts - early 1900's

The three pictures were scanned from postcards at the Hammond House while visiting in September 2013. The only information noted was they were Boy Scouts.  If anyone recognizes anyone in the pictures, please email me and I will add the names to the posting ...rchard1960@gmail.com

Mrs. Ford - in front of the schoolhouse on Ellen Street - 1920's

How many of you had Mrs. Ford as a teacher.  She was my 6th grade teacher at the new elementary school 1953-1954 school year ...the first year the elementary school was open.  Guessing the picture would have been taken prior to the new addition to the school in 1931 (addition was on the Ellen Street side of the school).   I scanned the picture at the Hammond House while visiting in September 2013.

Donkey Basketball in the school gym - 1950's

Remember the donkey basketball games played in the old gym in the 1950's?  The picture was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.

Looking South on Broadway from the 1930's, 1940's and 1960's

The three pictures below were scanned at the Hammond House in Sept 2013 while visiting Union City.

Broadway looking south 1930's

Broadway looking south 1943

Broadway looking south 1960's

School Buses and Drivers lined up behind old school on Ellen Street - early 1950's

The picture of the school buses and drivers lined up in front of the school in the early 1950's, was scanned while at the Hammond House visiting in June 2010.

Union City Schools Buses and Drivers - 1950's

The picture was scanned while visiting the Hammond House this past September.  Names of the bus drivers was written on the back of the picture: L-R are Art Manchester, Clyde George, Claude Whikop, Ken Maurer, Floyd Powell, Earl Zongker, George Brundige, and Forest Warner.

Union City High School Football Team - 1907

The picture of the 1907 Union City High School Football team was scanned while I visited the Hammond House in September.  The picture appears to have been donated to the Hammond House by Harold Tower, as the letter below was with the picture. 

Below are the members of the classes of 1907 to 1910, of which would have been the boys on the 1907 Union City High School football team.

The graduating class names comes from the Alumni Handbook for the Union City High School handed out at the 2010 Union City High School Alumni dinner, which was the year that my class of 1960 celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Work Crew beside Whiting's Drug Store - early 1900's

Another picture I scanned while visiting the Hammond House this past September.  There were no notes with the picture, appears to be a work crew on there way to a job site.  The picture was taken on Hammond Street beside Whiting's Drug Store.

Old Livery Barn on West High Street

The picture was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in September 2013.  The picture notes it was "The Old Livery Barn on West High Street" and was donated by Dan Pendill.

________________

The following biography for Walter Wheeler was found in the booklet "Peerless Union City Michigan" by Tom F. Robinson, published in March of 1903.

Walter Wheeler

Was born in Lambton, Ontario, April 25, 1866, and his early life was passed in Canada.  He came to Michigan when he was twenty-one years of age and located in Jackson, where he made his home until he came to Union City eight years ago.  For two years previous to coming to this place he was in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, and for the past eight years he has had charge of the company's business a this and several neighboring towns.  Four years ago he first engaged in the livery business here and he still has a first-class livery in the Union Hotels barns on West High Street.  Here one can find up-to-date turnouts at reasonable prices, and quite a large business is done.  Mr. Wheeler was married Jan. 1, 1893, to Miss Catherine Clark.  Fraternally, he is a member of the local lodge of the Royal Arcanum.

Business that were located on the Southwest Corner of West High & Broadway (mid 1800's to present)

The earliest picture I have of the Ford Garage Corner from my collection of the March 9, 1908 flood.  The building on the corner 1908 was the Titlow House (hotel) that was built around 1845.

Another picture of the Titlow House (hotel) that I scanned while visiting the Hammond House during September 2013.

The picture above was scanned at the Hammond House during my visit in September 2013, of Spoore's Ford Garage from about 1915.  

Around 1920 the business was called Foodson Engle and Stanton Garage.

Picture I scanned at the Hammond House in 2010 of Bray's Ford Garage in 1952.

Picture of Carl Bray Sr. taken around 1935.

Currently located on the corner is the new Union Township Library and Union Township Office.

Hubbard-Wilkens - 1890 (updated)

Does anyone have any idea where this store front was in Union City? (see comments below)....  I scanned the picture while visiting the Hammond House this past September.  I have looked through all of the later pictures I have of the downtown and see no building resembling this store front.  Very noticeable that Union City still had wooden sidewalks in 1890 ...prior to Peerless Portland Cement Plant opening.  

Mystery location solved by my brother Marty.  The arrow points to the location of the business, which was located in the old Corbin Building where the bank now sits.

Below is a biography of the Hubbard and Wilkins Drug Store from page 20 of the booklet "Union City on the St. Jo." published by T. F. Robinson (copy can be found on the blog click on tag "Tom F Robinson").

Hubbard and Wilkins

The drug store owned and conducted by this firm is the oldest establishment of its kind in Union City, and, in fact, one of the oldest mercantile places in the town.  The present firm was organized seventeen years since, Mr. Wm. H. Hubbard coming here form Jackson, and Mr. Fred C. Wilkins from Kalamazoo County.  Both gentlemen are natives of New York State, and are resisted pharmacists of experience.  Mr. Hubbard was born in Steuben County, N.Y., Aug 5, 1852, and came to Michigan in 1857.  He was in the drug line at Jackson and Galesburg, where he obtained that practical experience in pharmacy which is his.  Mr. Wilkins was born in Erie County, N.Y., in 1847, and came to Michigan in 1875, first locating in Kalamazoo County.  He came to Union City in June, 1878, at which time the firm of Hubbard and Wilkins was organized.  Fraternally he is a member of the three local Masonic fraternities, and socially, as well as in a business way, both gentlemen and deservedly popular.  Their stock embraces not only a complete line of drugs, medicines, pharmacentical (sic) preparations, patent medicines, paints, oils, etc., but also a fine line of wall papers, second to none in this vicinity.  They also do an extensive business in books, stationery and fancy goods, a large portion of the trade in these lines being centered here.  The stock carried is a large one and the store is a commodious one, located in the Corbin Block.