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Archive through September 07, 2008Mortalman30 09-07-08  11:37 am
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Fareastsider
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 12:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

George Jerome is the oldest business in Michigan founded 1828. . . I used to work for them until this Michigan economy got most of us laid off! They have records stating the supplies needed for a survey crew and a trip that would last days to the wilderness of Royal Oak Twp! They even had survey crews killed by indians. They have all kinds of old surveys and maps of the area but most are stored away in lockers and files.
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Mortalman
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 1:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John F. Koenig, President, Koenig Coal Co., 1931


koenig
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Gistok
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 1:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Other old businesses... SmithGroup (formerly Smith Hinchman & Grylls) Architects, oldest architectural firm in Michigan, 1850.

The oldest restaurant in Detroit used to be Schweizers next to the Renaissance Center (1862), but that closed in the late 1980's or thereabouts.

Oldest church parish, St. Anne's, founded July 26, 1701 (currently in their 8th churtch).

And then there's those 1952 newbies... those Lucky people up in Pontiac...
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Gistok
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 1:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

... and lest we forget, the University of Michigan was founded in Detroit in 1817, Wayne State in 1868, and University of Detroit 1877.
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Mikeg
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 1:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Koenig Coal ads and photo:


1890's ad

Circa 1891-1897. Translation: Peter Koenig, dealer in coal, wood, coke and charcoal. Wholesale and retail. 364 Atwater Street. 368 Gratiot Ave. Corner of Scott and Dequindre.

1903 ad

1903. Translation: Corner of Scott Street and railroad crossing, Telephone Main 5320. Branch office: 1332 Gratiot Ave. Corner of Michigan Central Belt Line railroad, Telephone Gratiot 77.

1920 photo

1920 photo of the yard on the east side of the railroad, just south of Scott Street. The silos are still standing today.

(Message edited by Mikeg on September 07, 2008)

(Message edited by Mikeg on September 07, 2008)
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Iheartthed
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 1:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Campbell-Ewald was founded in 1911...
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Mortalman
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 2:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Great images Mikeg!

R.L. Polk, Jr., President, R.L.Polk & Co.


polk
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Mortalman
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 5:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Roma Cafe, Eastern Market Area, 3401 Riopelle, Photo 12/30/1980:


roma
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East_detroit
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 5:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Faygo was founded in Detroit on November 4, 1907

Kowalski has over 85 years in business in Hamtramck

Cross and Peters company was founded on August 1st, 1930.

I'm hungry.
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Sumas
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 6:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sanders doesn't count they went out of business. Morleys bought the recipes and name.

Absopure, founded in 1907 as an ice house and delivery service. They still use their original logo.
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Dan
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 7:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Isn't Mac's Bar (on third) the oldest continually operating bar in the city?
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Johnnny5
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 7:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The oldest business in my hometown of Milford is closing the doors after over 170 years this week (It opened in 1836) . The owner passed away unexpectedly a few weeks ago.

http://www.retailers.com/news/ retailers/02mar/mr0302memberpr ofile.html

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809040652

(Message edited by Johnnny5 on September 07, 2008)
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Mikeg
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 7:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Detroit's Stonehouse Bar at 19803 Ralston Ave. claims to be Michigan's oldest continuously operating bar. Their building is located one block south of the State Fair Ave. entrance to the Michigan State Fairgrounds. It is the original farmhouse from when the surrounding area (including the State Fairgrounds) was still farmland. During the Prohibition Era, the old farmhouse became a hangout for "rumrunners".

Anthony B. Grobbel (nephew of the founder of E.W. Grobbel & Sons, Inc, mentioned above) purchased the farmhouse shortly after the repeal of Prohibition on May 11, 1933. He moved his growing family into the upstairs living quarters and began selling legal beer and wine at the bar, which he called the "Sportsmen's Rendezvous Bar".

Whenever he was in town, one of Anthony's regular patrons was Emmett Kelly (1898-1979), who is famously remembered for his sad-faced character "Willie" the clown. After Anthony's death in 1940, his widow sold the place to his former partner, John Faust, who then renamed it "The Stonehouse Bar". Here is a 1987 photo of the Stonehouse Bar. The bar is still in operation today under that name, although with different owners.


(Message edited by Mikeg on September 07, 2008)

(Message edited by Mikeg on September 07, 2008)
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Chitaku
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 10:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

st. Anne's catholic church would be the oldest business in the city.
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Mortalman
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Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 10:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Kowalski with 85+ years in business located on Holbrook just west of Jos. Campau in Hamtramck.


kowalski
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Hudkina
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 2:58 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A better question would be which business has been operating in the same building for the longest time.

For example, Martin's Shoe House has been operating in the same building by the same family in downtown Monroe since 1846. That's over 160 years in the same place!
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Novine
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 4:14 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Article on George Jerome as the Detroit area's oldest continuing business (originally in Crain's):

http://www.georgejerome.com/de troit-at-300-2.htm
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Goat
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 8:33 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Prostitution by any number of hoes is number one in Detroit. The second oldest business in Detroit is begging.
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Gnome
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 9:40 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Not in Detroit, but the New Hudson Inn, in New Hudson I believe is the oldest restaurant in Oakland County.

It's about 170 years old and recently was sold to the same folks that own Gusoline Alley in ROyal Oak. The place is a friendly dive, a biker bar, it's haunted and my greatgrandfather's photograph hangs on the back bar.

Here's their myspace page, it features a catchy little tune:
http://profile.myspace.com/ind ex.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewpro file&friendid=204371330
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Raptor56
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 10:14 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jacoby's German Biergarten since 1904.
http://www.jacobysdetroit.com/ history1.html
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 11:36 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wow, Johnny, that's so sad. I remember as a kid cutting through Arms Brothers (never shopped there) because there was parking behind it and we'd go to the Shutter Shop or the bakery or whatever. But that guy and this other older man would always just smile and wave. He was a great guy. Sad to see that such a tradition will change in Milford - just like everything else has in that town as urban sprawl has turned it from quaint to Novi in the last 10 years.
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Novine
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 12:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"just like everything else has in that town as urban sprawl has turned it from quaint to Novi in the last 10 years."

Are you kidding? Milford is nothing like Novi. There's definitely areas of sprawl outside of downtown but the downtown area looks a lot better and more active now than it did when I visited as a kid.
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D_mcc
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 12:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My Dad's business was forced to close down Last year on Jan. 4th 2007 after almost 90 years in business, my grandfather bought it from the original owners in 1952, and my father purchased the company in 1985.

Not quite detroit, but it was across the street on W. Warren.

Chances are...some of you have our products on your property. If you have a little Dachsund on your fence post caps, chances are you did business with my family.

(Message edited by D_mcc on September 08, 2008)
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Mortalman
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 12:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

WOW, Raptor56, I checked out that link to Jacoby's German Biergarten and I was shocked to see that blacks were immigrating from Germany back in the day! :-) He is black isn't he?
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Raptor56
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 1:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mortal: Not completely sure. Never really paid that close attention to the picture, but now that you mention it, old Albert does look rather tan...
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Walkerpub
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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 10:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hiram Walker & Sons- 1858- still at the same location on the Detroit River in the self-named town of Walkerville.

http://www.walkervilletimes.com/hiramwho.htm


Loading dock




walkerville 1884
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Raptor56
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Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 - 3:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

^^Same Location on the Detroit River. . . in CANADA! I don't think that one counts
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Walkerpub
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Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 - 9:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If you know your history you would surmise that Walker was American, lived in Detroit and owned mucho property on both sides of the strait- so what's the big deal, mofo?
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Mikeg
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Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 11:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I just came across a Koenig Coal & Supply Co. ad from 1950 that states they were founded in 1870. In 1950, they were located at 1486 Gratiot Ave., Detroit 7, Michigan. Telephone WA. 1-1584
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Mortalman
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Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 1:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Michigan State Fair since 1849 in Detroit at the site of the State Fair off of State Fair, Woodward and 8 Mile Rd!


MSF
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Mikeg
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Posted on Monday, October 06, 2008 - 7:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here is an early (1878) bill of sale from the Peter Koenig Coal and Wood Company. It is written in German and it has Peter Koenig's signature on it.

Peter Koenig bill of sale
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Detroitnerd
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Posted on Monday, October 06, 2008 - 7:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I believe the oldest operating business is a surveying company, isn't it? Elmwood Cemetery is another golden oldie.
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Zitro
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Posted on Monday, October 06, 2008 - 7:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)



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Lefty2
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Posted on Monday, October 06, 2008 - 8:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

prostitution?
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Alan55
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Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 10:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Westview Orchards in Washington Township at 30 Mile and Van Dyke is the oldest farm in continuous family ownership in Michigan. Here is an interesting quote from their website:

"Dating back to 1813, Westview Orchards began as a small garden and orchard, established by Michael Bowerman shortly after his service in the war of 1812. Though Michael was awarded a bounty of land in an area of Detroit known as Joseph Campau Street, he found the land unsuitable for farming due to its swampy conditions and insect infestation."


http://www.westvieworchards.co m/