Back in the Day

This turn-of-the-century photo of a house at the southeast corner of Madison and State streets in Lapeer was the home of S.D. Brown, who owned Brown Funeral Home. The photo’s from Don McCallum’s historical collection.

This is an early view of the Elba area taken in front of John Winship’s store looking north up Elba Road. The 1880 photo includes (from left) John Winship, Mary Treadway with daughter Hannah and Mary’s husband Joseph. The photo and information comes from Don McCallum’s historical collection.

This picture in the office of the S. Brown Furniture Co. (and mortuary) in Lapeer is from sometime before 1922 and shows S.D. Brown (at left), the company’s owner — along with a little photo trickery that appears on the original photograph. Note that the unidentified woman’s dress can be seen through Brown’s pant leg and that the calendar on the wall shows through the shoulder of the man on the right. The photo came from Margaret Carrigan, Brown’s granddaughter, and is part of Don McCallum’s historical collection.

The Lapeer Grand Trunk Depot was nearly knocked down after a freight train derailed into the building in July 1970. Luckily, there were no injuries. The mishap occurred at a time when no one was present inside the building or on the passenger platform. Penn Central agent Ab Curtice (inset left) and Grand Trunk agent Jerry LaFountain survey damage to the building. Photo provided by Charlie Whipp of Lapeer.

This depot sat at Kings Mill along the Pontiac, Oxford and Northern rail line. It was built in 1884 and sat east of Smitty’s market. What was then the Village of Kings Mill was platted in 1880 by Harvey King of Detroit, and the rail line was first used to ship lumber from the Arcadia Twp. site south to Detroit. You can join the 150th anniversary celebration in Arcadia Twp. on Oct. 14. Photo courtesy of Arcadia Township 150th Anniversary Committee.