ALBION BUSINESSMEN PHOTO

While looking through my collection of photographs recently, I came across this downtown scene which I’d like to share with our readers this week in the Historical Notebook.

This photograph shows a group of Albion businessmen standing in front of the Merit Shoe Store, 225 S. Superior St. Judging from the stores in existence in this photo, it appears to have been taken in the early 1950s. In the distance moving from right to left, is Vaughn’s Women’s Store, Cartwright’s Shoes, and Mitchell’s Confectionery on the far left with it’s Soda/Coca Cola sign.

There are eleven men standing on the sidewalk. The first is unidentified. Who is it? The second person is R. D. Davis, proprietor of the Morning Star shopper! The third person is Addison Sigsworth, who served on the Albion Police Department. Number four is Bob Geyer from the Albion Lumber Company. Number five is Herman Zick who worked at Seelye’s Clothing. The sixth person of course is Charles “Bob” Young, owner of Young’s Men’s Wear. The seventh person is Howard Spencer, a clerk at Vaughn’s. Following Howard is Jim Frye of Albion Hardware. Number nine is King Cornell, former manager of the local JC Penney store. Number ten looks like it might possibly be retired Albion Public Schools superintendent Donald Harrington. The last person is insurance agent and real estate agent Charles Krebs.

Does anyone know the specific purpose, occasion or reason for this gathering and the date? If you do, please let me know, and I’ll share it with our readers.

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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