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This circa?1910 image of the Corner Drug Store in Harbor?Beach shows a steam tractor pulling a wagon, with another team behind. The building, constructed by Robert?W.?Irwin in 1883, became the Charles Pettit Drug and Optical Store within a decade. Initially, I wanted to focus on the tractor. I still don’t know what the make is, but I suspect it may have been a Case.
The Corner Store in Harbor Beach, Michigan: A Century on Main Street
Harbor Beach’s Corner Store in Pictures
My focus changed when I looked at the photo further. The picture was taken in front of the Corner Drug and Jewelry Store. It turns out that this store has been featured in many photographs and postcards over the years.
The Corner Store is an icon for Harbor Beach. It’s been the focal point of the city’s business on the main street and is featured in the city’s promotional brochures. According to the book, Traveling Michigan’s Thumb, the building was constructed by Robert W. Irwin in 1883. Less than ten years later, it became the Charles Pettit Drug and Optical Store.
Harbor Beach Corner Drug Store From State Street
The Corner Store From Nearby
Corner Drug Store in Harbor Beach Newspaper Ad December 1921
The Corner Drug and Jewelry Store Today
This iconic Corner Drug Store Harbor Beach store continues today as a unique retailer with a wide range of products. The Corner Store in Harbor Beach offers CDs, posters, memorabilia, magazines, and entertainment collectibles. It also has a selection of vintage, collectible books focusing on Michigan and the Thumb region.
The Corner Store is notable because it’s the Upper Thumb’s only true record store. It has thousands of vintage vinyl records from the owner, Mike Busick’s collection. The store’s neat feature is its 70 wooden drawers built into the wall, which were originally part of the drug store. These now hold a large variety of collectibles. Bustick encourages customers to look through the store and open and skim through the drawers.
Related Fun and Nonsense
The Bay Port Hotel – The Bay Port Hotel was one of the first tourist locations in the Thumb. Using rail as transport, guests could get to the calm waters of Wild Fowl Bay in a 1/2 a day yet still have all the amenities of a big city hotel. The days of frontier resorts would soon end in the early 1900s as lumbering ended in Michigan. This tale is also one of the most unique ghost stories in the Thumb.
The Bach Michigan General Store – The Bach General Store, long since closed, was once the center of the community. These shops were a common sight in the days before Walmart and Dollar General. They served as a local focal point for conversation. These types of general stores were scattered all over Michigan as one could walk to or arrive on horseback or wagon.
5 Top Instagram Worthy Locations In Michigan to Visit – Michigan is known for its Great Lakes and long sandy shorelines. As such, when you’re looking for Instagram-worthy photos to post, look no further than your own backyard here in Michigan. From the many magnificent waterfalls to natural wonders along the national lakeshore, here are five locations every photo-avid traveler needs to visit where they’re in the area.
A Collection of Rare Letters from Ora et Labora Founder Found in Ohio – Archives of Michigan is transcribing a collection of Ora et Labora colony letters written in English and German by Emil and Bertha Baur. Found in Ohio in 1974. The letters are in the process of being scanned, translated in preparation for being available online.
