This series of photos, many of them from postcards, show views along Lake Street in Arcadia, Michigan from the 1900s to 1930s. The photographs are arranged by their position along Lake Street from east to west from M22 to the furniture factory near Lake Michigan. (Also available: More detailed Tour by Neighborhood.)
1 The East End of Lake Street
Imagine standing on Lake Street just below Sixth Street, shown along the bottom of the map.
Lake Street almost to Sixth Street. View west. Winter.
Sixth Street, also called M22, runs from left to right about
half way up the photo.
1903 Plat Map
This is part of a plat map showing Lake Street from M-22 west to Lake Michigan.
Each numbered arrow identifies a set of photos for that neighborhood.
To jump to a neighborhood, click its arrow in the map.
To view this map throughout the tour, click here.
North
Walk a few steps up
the street.
Lake Street at Sixth Street Facing West.
It's summer.
On the left in the foreground is Matteson Manor built by William
Matteson. On the right is the Matteson Store built by William’s brother
Charles Matteson. Behind the Matteson Store is the Wareham Store
and Macabee Hall.
Cross
Sixth Street. Look at the north
side of the street.
Buildings along Lake Street Near Sixth Street
From right to left as if you were walking up the street are the Charles
P. Matteson store, the Wareham store, Irwin's Blacksmith Shop, a house
(hidden among the trees), and the
Arcadia High School just barely visible in the background.
2 The Fifth Street Neighborhood
Walk west on Lake Street toward Fifth Street.
Look west.
Lake Street at 5th facing west.
The twin buildings in the background right are Arcadia's twin schools at
the corner of Lake Street and 4th Street. The photo was taken prior to 1910,
when the twin schools were moved, and Arcadia High School was built at that
location.
Walk west half way to Fourth Street.
Look left.
The Lang Gas Station
Ted Lang sold Sinclair gas on the corner of 5th Street and Lake Street.
In the background between Fifth Street and Fourth Street is a vacant lot
with a movie screen used in the summer for free movies. Four buildings that
had been on that lot along Lake Street burned to the ground.
The Beaver Store
This building was on the south side of Lake Street between Fifth and
Fourth Streets. Built in 1900, this building changed hands several times and
finally burned.
Look ahead toward Fourth Street.
One of the Twin Schools
Before Arcadia High School was built, one of the twin schools was moved
across the street to the northwest corner of Lake Street and Fourth Street.
The Preston Saloon had been on this site, until it burned in the spring of
1897.
From Lake Street near Fourth, look to the right.
Lake Street and 4th Street Looking Northwest
This is where the twin schools were before they were moved. One was moved
across Fourth Street. The other one, the old Burnham School, was moved to
Third Street temporarily and finally to the northwest corner of Oak and
Third Streets, where the building is today.
Look farther to the right.
Arcadia High School
Built in 1910, this was the school for all public school students in
Arcadia, not just high school students.
3 The Fourth Street Neighborhood
Walk west on Lake Street to Fourth Street.
Standing in the school tower, look to the southwest.
High School Tower View
This is the intersection of Lake Street and Fourth Street.
Note the platform across Lake Street next to the wide path that was Fourth
Street. The house on the corner is the Boss house. The Lutheran Church is in the
distance.
Look up Lake Street toward Third Street.
Lake Street and 4th Street Looking West
On the left is the Arcadia Meat Market. On the right, the sign says "Drug
Store."
Walk up Lake Street toward the market.
The Arcadia Meat Market
This building was on the south side of Lake Street about half way between
Fourth and Third Streets.
Look west up Lake Street again.
Lake Street Next to the Meat Market Looking West
The banner crossing the street advertises Columbia Phonographs. Barely
visible at the
end of the street is the Company Store.
Look to the right.
Meitz Barber Shop
Across from the Arcadia Meat Market where the museum is located today, stood
the Meitz Barber Shop.
Walk to Third Street. Look right.
William H. Ebert General Merchandise
The vacant lot adjacent to the museum at the corner of Lake and Third
was the site of the Ebert General Store. Owned and operated by William and
Arthur Ebert, the store carried a complete line of mens' and ladies'
clothing, shoes, dry goods, and general merchandise. The second floor of the
building was used as a meeting place for the Masonic Lodge. The store closed
in 1941, and the building was torn down.
In the photo left to right: unknown, Carl Marowsky, Bill Larsen, William
Ebert (proprietor), and Jack Rigling
4 The Third Street Neighborhood
Walk west on Lake Street to Third Street.
Look up Lake Street toward Second Street.
Lake Street and Third Street Looking West
From here you can just barely see the Company Store in the distance. On
the left through the trees you can barely see the buildings used for the
bank or post office and drug store.
Walk a few steps closer to Second Street. Look right.
Shafer Store Front
This building was built to be an ice cream parlor by Orrie Lyons with bricks
made in the cement block factory located on Oak Street. It has been home to
many businesses but was best known as Schafer and Son Meat Market. In 1966,
Schafers moved their business to M22 and Lake St., and the building stood
empty until it was purchased in 1990. The storefront space was donated to
serve as the temporary home of the Arcadia Area Historical Society. It has
recently been renovated.
Look left.
Post Office and Drug Store
The drug store (on the right) was built by Donat J. Martineau.
After his death in 1924, his brother Albert inherited the business. For a
time, the building had the only telephone in Arcadia; Albert personally
delivered telephone and Western Union messages. Utility bills were paid
here, hunting and fishing licenses were issued here, and Greyhound Bus
passengers arrived and departed from this location. The soda fountain was a
favorite gathering place. The post office, which was
previously a bank, and drug store are now a privately owned residence.
5 The Second Street Neighborhood
Walk west on Lake Street to Second Street.
Look up Lake Street toward First Street.
Lake Street almost to Second Street Looking West
In the middle of the photo, the wide path to the left is Second Street.
The Company Store in the background is at Lake and First Street.
Walk a little closer to Second Street.
Almost to Second Street
The building on the right is the Foster Hotel.
Walk to Second Street. Look right.
The Foster House
The light colored building identified here as the Foster Hotel stood at the
northwest corner of Lake Street and Second Street. Hidden behind the trees
on the left is the Ruprecht Hotel.
The Louis Foerster Hotel, later known as the Foster House or Foster Hotel, was constructed for use as a lumberjack boarding house and consisted of two large buildings. One was for sleeping and dining. The other was a dance hall, saloon, and a small bank.
Carl Pickert operated the Foster House saloon. He purchased the hotel from Louis Foerster about 1920. The Pickert Hotel buildings were demolished in 1930. Pickert Park was dedicated on the site in the summer of 1955 as part of Arcadia's 75th Anniversary Celebration.
The view with younger, smaller trees
Ruprecht Hotel and Foster House
This photo was taken when the trees were still small. The Ruprecht Hotel is
on the left next to the Foster House.
Walk past the hotels. Look Right.
Rubel House
Carl Rubel came to America from Germany in 1882 and, after a short stay in
Pennsylvania, lived in Arcadia for 39 years. He worked as a laborer for the
railway and in the Starke sawmill.
6 The West End of Lake Street
Walk west on Lake Street to First Street (immediately above Second Street in the map).
Look straight ahead at the end of the street.
Almost the End of Lake Street: The Company Store
This building stood at the foot of Lake Street and was owned by the Starke
Land & Lumber Company. Behind the building was the company barn that housed
many of the horses the company used.
Wait a few years.
Henry Behrens & Son
This is the same building shown above but later when the business was
managed by Henry Behrens.
Back up, and climb fifty feet up a tree.
An Aerial View of the Company Store
Lake Street bends to the North a bit. Behind the store is the factory for
the Arcadia Furniture Company.
Walk past First Street and to the right
of the Company Store.
Northeast Corner of Furniture Factory
Note the railway passenger car on the left. The sign on the corner of the building says "A & B R RY CO." This is the train station
for the west end of the Arcadia & Betsey River Railway Company.
Walk past the factory and look back.
The Arcadia Furniture Company's Factory
This is a view east back to the factory and town beyond. Note the
Lutheran Church steeple in the background.
Detailed,
Neighborhood-Based Tour
Click here to open a multi-page version of the
tour with details about each neighborhood.