  Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3881 Registered: 01-2005 |
I had always heard that this store of my great uncle's was on W. Warren somewhere.  However, I happened to scan the old family photo into my computer today, when the sign in the upper left corner of the store caught my eye. I enlarged it, which revealed this:  Well, obviously the store was not on Warren, it was somewhere on Pallister, which is about a mile long. Anyone have a c. 1895 city directory that shows a grocery store on Pallister? I'd love to pin the location down a bit better, although I'm sure the buildings in the photo are long gone. Propieter's name is likely to be Volkert and/or Bloesser. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3478 Registered: 07-2004 |
Burton Collection, Detroit Library, Main Branch. The 1890s city directories are in the open stacks, so you don't even have to consult the librarian and pay the non-resident fee. Just sign in, roll back to the directory stacks, and have a look at the businesses on Pallister until you see your family name. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3882 Registered: 01-2005 |
I'd love to. But my wrinkled old ass sits in Henderson, NV, Detroitnerd. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3479 Registered: 07-2004 |
Haha. Well, if I drop by the library this weekend, I'll have a look for your WOA. ;) | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3883 Registered: 01-2005 |
Would appreciate it greatly, D.! | ||
Rjk Member Username: Rjk Post Number: 1171 Registered: 11-2003 |
https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/5843/171175.html?1231869 897 Check out mikeg's post about 7 or 8 up from the bottom. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 2195 Registered: 12-2005 |
1895: Chas Volkert, groc 306 Clay, business and residence According to the same directory, Clay, e. of Woodward was Pallister previous to 1895, but it does not list any names and addresses because it was on the outskirts of town at that time. If this is your relative, then the photo is pre-1895. I'll do some more searching for you in the 1893 & 1894 Directories. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 2196 Registered: 12-2005 |
1897: Conrad Volkert, 306 Clay, Meat Market | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3884 Registered: 01-2005 |
Mikeg, that checks because Volkert moved to a new store at Clay and Oakland about that time. The photo I first posted shows the old store he had before the move. Here's the new store at Clay and Oakland.  | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 2197 Registered: 12-2005 |
1893: Conrad E. Volkert, grocer 306 Pallister, h. same | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 2198 Registered: 12-2005 |
1910: Conrad E. Volkert, agt. Frank Wise jr, h. 271 Clay | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 2199 Registered: 12-2005 |
The 1910 Directory street section confirms that 271 Clay was at the corner of 284 Oakland. 306 Clay is at the corner of 115 Melrose and it is identified as Volkert Dry Goods. It indicates that Clay Ave. started at Oakland, was paved with cedar east to St. Aubin and ended at Jos Campeau. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3885 Registered: 01-2005 |
306 Pallister it was. Wonder where that would place it in 1893...around Third, maybe? | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 2200 Registered: 12-2005 |
The original store at 306 Pallister became 306 Clay when the street was renamed circa 1894. It was on the corner of Melrose, I think on the SE corner. The second store was one block to the west, on the northeast corner of Oakland. 1895 Street Directory describing Pallister:  1910 map showing approx. location of both stores:  | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 3556 Registered: 10-2003 |
hey, I remember that building (the "new" store) was a hardware store...It was still standing up to ten years ago, don't remember if it is still there or not... | ||
Eastsideal Member Username: Eastsideal Post Number: 286 Registered: 10-2007 |
Gone. I remembered the building too, so I looked it up on Google street view. Alas, it's now a field, as is the Melrose - Clay corner. | ||
Johnnny5 Member Username: Johnnny5 Post Number: 708 Registered: 06-2005 |
I did a search on GoogleEarth and it looks like the 2nd store location is still standing. I can't figure out how to post it, but someone here may be able to. Edit: Perhaps I am looking at the wrong corner, but there is very similar building at that intersection on the Google map. (Message edited by Johnnny5 on February 10, 2009) (Message edited by Johnnny5 on February 10, 2009) | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 2201 Registered: 12-2005 |
Here's a good link and it shows an empty lot on the NE corner of Clay & Oakland. Ray1936, check you e-mailbox. | ||
48202 Member Username: 48202 Post Number: 61 Registered: 10-2003 |
Barnesfoto, Nope, it’s gone now. Ray1936 started this thread about it in 2006. The buildings on the southeast corner of Oakland and Clay (Pallister) that were there for that thread – also gone now. | ||
48202 Member Username: 48202 Post Number: 62 Registered: 10-2003 |
MikeG, In that old thread, you had the hardware store at 7800 Oakland in 1935, and in this thread you’ve got the same building at 271 Clay, corner of 284 Oakland in 1910. One street has been renumbered, the other street has been renamed and renumbered, and the address for the building was moved from one street to the other – and still you find it. I’m impressed! Edit - Just noticed that original post was Mikem, not MikeG. Two different people, I assume... (Message edited by 48202 on February 10, 2009) | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3886 Registered: 01-2005 |
Okay, I got it now. I didn't know about the name change from Pallister to Clay. It all makes sense now; the new store was just a stone's throw from the old, I guess. Thanks to all for the help! | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 2202 Registered: 12-2005 |
Thanks, but that was MikeM on that 2006 thread. I didn't even know about that old thread until you pointed it out! | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3887 Registered: 01-2005 |
Um...just to wrap this up, Conrad Volkert had two children, but they died without issue, so his line has ended. Conrad built a home at 759 Webb (which is still there) in 1923 and lived there until his death in 1935. He was an early automobile enthusiast, taking many trips by auto to California in the 1920s and camping along the way with his wife, Jenny. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.  | ||
Dtctygrl Member Username: Dtctygrl Post Number: 75 Registered: 03-2007 |
Ray1936: As a fellow genealogist, my hat is off to you. Love the D and it's history! | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3892 Registered: 01-2005 |
Thanks, Dtctygrl! History is most interesting. When it ties in with family, it's downright fascinating! But you know that.  | ||
Eastsidedame Member Username: Eastsidedame Post Number: 658 Registered: 12-2006 |
As I'm not from that side of town, a quick virtual tour uncovered some really interesting buildings. I like the mid-rise on the corner of Hamilton and Burlingame. There's also a craftsman house directly across the street with a great wrap-around porch. Really enjoying this thread, everyone! Thanks. (Message edited by eastsidedame on February 12, 2009) | ||
English Member Username: English Post Number: 433 Registered: 10-2003 |
What a great thread! Thanks for sharing your great-uncle's story with us, Ray... | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3894 Registered: 01-2005 |
Ah! Thank you, all. Okay, I'll throw in one more. Here's Conrad about 1922 on one of his trips west. The back of this photo is marked "Near Blythe, California".  | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 2177 Registered: 10-2003 |
What a great snapshot of then and now with the personal touch!!! One of these days, I'm going to dig through the family photo albums and diary notes and pull something together like this...to pass along to kids and future generations so they don't forget or know what it was like not that many years ago! Thanks, Ray!! | ||
Bobl Member Username: Bobl Post Number: 494 Registered: 07-2008 |
Ray: Would like to have a beer or coffee next time I visit my sons and grandson in Henderson! Your posts are informative and very interesting. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3896 Registered: 01-2005 |
Bobl, I'd be delighted! When you plan your next trip, email me at RDown3657@cox.net and we'll get together! | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3897 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kathleen...uh...thanks, thanks, and thanks.... |
