Traverse City in Grand Traverse County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Hannah and Lay Mercantile Building
Photographed by Kathy Garman, August 18, 2022
1. Hannah and Lay Mercantile Building Marker
In 1851, Perry Hannah, Albert Lay and James Morgan founded Hannah Lay & Co. in Chicago. The next year, they purchased a lumber camp at the mouth of the Boardman River. The company supplied timber to Chicago and goods to the lumber camp. It built this structure in 1883 to house Hannah & Lay Mercantile, also known as the Big Store. Designed by Robinson and Barnaby of Grand Rapids, and built of locally produced white Markham bricks, the store boasted Traverse Citys first elevators. It closed in 1928. Montgomery Ward operated in the building from 1928 to 1980. A fire destroyed a quarter of the structure in 1940. Northwestern Bank founder Harry Calcutt became the buildings sole owner in 1954.
Erected 2012 by Michigan Historical Commission and Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L2238.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.
Location. 44° 45.868′ N, 85° 37.423′ W. Marker is in Traverse City, Michigan, in Grand Traverse County. It is on North Union Street 0.1 miles north of East Front Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located at the back of the building in the loading dock area on the northwest
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Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula and in the Grand Traverse Bay Region. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: City Opera House (within shouting distance of this marker); Con Foster and the Movies in Traverse City (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ladies Library Association / Ladies Library Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Central United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Park Place Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Novotny's Saloon (approx. 0.3 miles away); Congregation Beth El (approx. 0.4 miles away); Friends Meetinghouse (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Traverse City.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Ladies Library Building (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by Kathy Garman, August 18, 2022
2. Hannah and Lay Mercantile Building and Historical Marker
The marker is in the loading dock area of the building.
Photographed by John Garman, August 18, 2022
3. Hannah and Lay Mercantile Building
This view is of the front of the building from the corner of Front Street and Union Street.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2022, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 1,879 times since then and 177 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 4, 2022, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
