The Boston Store

20
Jan

The Boston Store

The old town of Boston was named after the New England metropolis from which most of the Albany & Boston’s original investors hailed. But unlike its eastern namesake the Keweenaw’s Boston never grew to any discernible size. At its height the town only supported a few dozen buildings, including a Methodist Church, a public school building, an sandstone warehouse, and a general store. While taking our short walk through town on our way to the Franklin Jr’s No.1 shaft we came across one of old Boston’s long time residents: the Boston Store.

At its birth this plain wood framed structure was home to two store fronts – a general store on the left and a warehouse to the right. For the next century the old store managed to hold on, changing ownership several times over the years but always known as the Boston Store. I believe that it was still open when I first came up to tech around 1995, but I might be confusing this particular store with the several other small out of the way stores I use to run across back then. The store’s been closed for over a decade now at least, but it would appear that the current owner is attempting to fix it up a bit. For what future use I’m not sure…

A closer look to the building’s front facade reveals its most recent appearance when it was still a functioning store. Back then the main entrance and glass storefront had been closed in with a new entrance placed on its south facing end.

A closer look at the old sign still standing in front of the old sign seems to be proving my recollections wrong, at least when it comes to it being opened as late as 1995. The “tourist and farm supplies” tag line seems more early 80’s then mid 90’s.

Moving on….

No Responses to “The Boston Store”

Dale Beitz January 20, 2010

Considering the condition of the sign, I would have guessed its origins go back to the 60’s rather than the 80’s or 90’s.

Jay Balliet January 20, 2010

I agree with Dale. I’d guess maybe 50s though.

Pretty sure we’ve been past this store. I can’t imagine how many “tourist supplies” they’d be able to sell. Seemed pretty out of the way. Unless maybe this is possibly Old 41 (if there is such a thing).

dcclark January 20, 2010

Tourist supplies are probably useful when you meet the tourist herds (which signs on I-75 mention).

Bill In Indiana January 20, 2010

It looks like this sign was made from a portion of an old Standard Oil Gas Station sign…Like This One….

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9385421@N08/3920517516/in/pool-vintagechevron

explorer January 21, 2010

Boston Road was indeed old US41, before its realignment to its present condition in 1932. (Before then the current US 41 didn’t even exist – it was just swamp) Most likely at that time the store was probably a gas station as well, and I would guess of the Standard Oil variety. That would explain the sign similarities.

Bill In Indiana January 21, 2010

When Standard oil divested itself of a large number of company owned stations in the late 60’s early 70’s??? the practice from what I remember was to remove the oval, and leave just the post standing. So the oval may have come from a scrap yard or some defunct station in another location, thus explaining the lack of a post, and the home made looking hanger.

Chicaugon Lake Jim January 21, 2010

The sign also reminds me of the old “Bunny Bread” signs that you can still find around Iron County, MI.

mark January 22, 2010

speaking of bunny bread signs here is a link to the one that is now displayed at the u.p. children’s museum in marquette-http://www.yoopersteez.com/blog/upper-peninsula/bunny-bread-sign-a-marquette-icon/

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