The History & Mystery of Three Rivers

In the late 1920’s / early 1930’s, many streets in our city were renamed as Canada (3rd Ward), Lockport (2nd Ward), Brooklyn (4th Ward) and the Village of Three Rivers (1st Ward) had come together to become the City of Three Rivers. West Michigan Avenue had been known as First North.   Streets parallel to the north also were numbered 2nd, 3rd, etc.  North Streets. South of First North was 1st South (now our only South Street) 2nd South Street became Millard.

West Michigan intersection at South Lincoln – 1959: # 618 W. Mich. was Lee’s Drive Inn (G. Lee Barnes, owner). It was a popular place for many years where all the teens in town met their friends. Great fun and great food. Across Lincoln at # 700 W. Mich. was the Bible Church, Rev. Rudolph Moore, Pastor. The building built in 1870 was first home to the German Reform Church which was later called the Reformed Church and then the Bible Church which is now on North Erie.  A shopping plaza was built in place of the church. The 1977 map shows South Lincoln #103 Burger Dairy Store and #105 Red E Coin Wash & Dry Clean.

The 1959 City Directory shows 73 buildings on Lincoln Avenue from West Michigan south to the TR Sewage Disposal Plant. The 1990 Directory shows 70 buildings.  No #400 block is shown.

A few South Lincoln addresses: #117 (1959) Willard Drumm, machinist Armstrong Machine Works, wife Kora, Cook TR High School Cafeteria (ch: Linda, James), (1990) Mark Roth, mechanic Bippus Shell, #212 (1959) Martin A. Mayer, Shell Oil Co. Driver, Mrs. Roma, bookkeeper, Huddlestun Lumber (ch: Kenneth), (1990) C.W. and Imogene Kursner, retired, #306 (1959) Dr. J. M. Jacobowitz office, (1990) Dr. Edward Yaple MD PC and James Simonds Jr. DPM office. #513 (1959 -1990) Edgar Bradford, truck driver Rogers Cartage Co., wife Lorraine, (ch: Luanne, Edgar, Ronald, William), #630 (1959) Edwin Hilpert, asst. mgr. Peterson Spring, wife Mary (ch: Charlene, Susan), (1990) John Ridgley – Pharmacist, D&W Family Pharmacy, (Jeanette, food service TR schools) (Diane, clerk D&W), #722 (1959) Raymond C. Wetherbee Sr. truck driver, G&A Truck Line (ch: Raymond, Harold). (1990) P. E. Wetherbee retired. #814 (1959) Charles E. Chrisman, Continental Can, Marybeth (ch: Kathy, Janis). (1990) David Weiandt, machine shop Armstrong. # 918 (1959) Lyle Ward, welder Standard Steel & Supply, wife Eva,(ch: Kay). Last building on South Lincoln is the TR Sewage Disposal Plant.

Next time:  Grant Avenue

Submitted by Anna Smith, a Three Rivers history and mystery lover.