Downtown – Albion, Michigan (2018)
When we visited Albion it was a considerable surprise to see Superior Street being repaved. The last time this was done in the 1990s it was a novelty and at considerable expense, because few if any other state highways were paved in brick.
We took a look at the buildings suspended over the Kalamazoo River, effectively continuing the street wall rather than allowing it to break at the river.
Later in our visit we had an opportunity to view the river from the opposite direction facing west from the porch at the back of the Ludington Center.
The former freight depot continued to serve as a bar and restaurant. In the distance to the left was the original depot that was fully restored decades prior.
One of the big changes this visit were several new businesses on Superior Street, including Brick Street Marketing at 408 S Superior St.
Pure Albion is a gift store located at 410 S Superior St.
The Albion Malleable Brewery at Superior St and Ash Street was perhaps the most surprising of all additions. Here a non-descript and easy to forget building was now the heart of the downtown.
The Albion Food Hub was located on Erie St. This is where I had an opportunity to eat breakfast along with a few guests.
Stirling books & brew replaced an earlier book store at this location.
One of the most surprising changes for me to see was a rehabilitated Bohm Theater. For the first time ever I remember entering and not smelling and feeling moisture in the area. Everything was clean and renewed, except for the organ that was still awaiting restoration. Officials with the Albion Community Foundation joined off to show off the results.
Back on Superior Street at the southwest corner of Erie Street is the Peabody Block. Built in the 1850s by the founding family of the town, it was undergoing a rehabilitation for housing and so a bakery could go on the ground floor.
The Sheldon Block with the Parks Drug Store remained largely unchanged with the second and third floors still vacant.
Kids ‘N’ Stuff in the former Sears Building continued to be active, while the opera house on the second and third floors of the building to the north remained vacant.
Kids ‘N’ Stuff was in the process of expanding into the building next to it – one where the upper floors continued to be unoccupied.
The Commercial Romanesque block on the southeast corner of S Superior St and Erie Street received a still largely fresh three-color paint scheme, though the third floor was most definitely vacant.
Continuing northward past the Opera House, this two story row of brick Italianate commercial buildings was totally vacant. Previously Fedco and the former Gordon Pahl Jewelry had been located here. A sign proclaimed “Albion Reinvestment Corporation at Work” with “Completion Expected Winter 2019.”
Across the street the building that once housed the Eslow Block, Howard Hall, and numerous other three and four story buildings, had been demolished and redeveloped as a Courtyard by Marriot hotel.
On the same side of Superior Street just north of the hotel was Cascarelli’s. An Albion institution known for its peanuts, it continued to persist.
Huntington Bank occupied the former Albion Mills building, a portion of the stone wall to the side dating to 1845. This was built by the founder of Albion, Jessee Crowell.
To the north past the Bohm Theater was a slightly more intact row of Italianate commercial buildings. The greenish colored one used to be the Fire House with an impressive cupola that once rose above the roof.
Across the street the building at the southwest corner of Superior and Cass was not faring so well. Built around 1900 it was as of yet awaiting a major renovation.
Our last quick stop on Superior Street was this building by the railroad tracks. While the second and third floors were long vacant, the first floor housed Lopez Taco House and one time a business by the name of Honest Johns.
We caught just a few more photos of the downtown before leaving. A row of two story brick-commercial buildings remained on West Porter Street. Charlie’s Tavern was at111 W Porter Street. This iconic pub-style restaurant has been serving pizza and classic pub food to the Albion community since 1944. Albion Appliance Service located next door at 113 W Porter Street, provides retail home appliances along with local maintenance and repair services.
The Mary Sheldon Ismon House continued to serve a valuable function as a community gathering place, years after its rehabilitation following the departure of the Leisure Hour Club.
Going out a few blocks west from the downtown, we visited the headquarters of the Gale Manufacturing Company that dated back to the 1860s. Here they manufactured the plow that helped to break the western prairie.
Outside of town on Austin Avenue is the Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church. The distinctive onion dome helps it stand out from other religious buildings.
One last sign of progress we were pleased to see was Swingin’ at the Shell – a free live music series at the Victory Park Band Shell every Sunday from July-September.