Three Oaks Township in Berrien County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
22 North Elm Street
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, July 23, 2025
1. 22 North Elm Street Marker
J.W. Spinning operated a novelty and dry goods store here in the late 1800's and early 1900's. In April of 1946 Clayton and Wilde DeWaters purchased the business from Frances Goble and in the early 1950's bought the building. They soon expanded it to include the area behind the building to the immediate south. At the time that building was Chuck Covert's Barber Shop. The Dewaters family served Three Oaks with the prototypical dry goods store appropriately named "The Dime Store" until 1979. Preteen kids of that era always wondered if they kept the penny candy near the door so school kids could help themselves or if it was a trap so Mr. DeWaters could call their parents when he caught them. Clayton DeWaters served his fellow residents on the Village Council and later as Village President.
Kim Pruitt purchased the building in early 2004 and led the artist migration to Three Oaks with Art the Dawning. Colleen and Dan Altman purchased the building in 2008 and Martha Franklin operated Refind until fall of 2015 when Poppy Hill Vintage opened their doors.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music
this page online
Location. 41° 48.108′ N, 86° 36.618′ W. Marker is in Three Oaks, Michigan, in Berrien County. It is in Three Oaks Township. It is on North Elm Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22 N Elm St, Three Oaks MI 49128, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. 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 Viceroyalty of New France and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Vickers Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Apple Cider Century 50th Anniversary (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Three Oaks Michigan (about 500 feet away); The Dewey Cannon (about 500 feet away); 1854 Site First School
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, July 23, 2025
2. 22 North Elm Street Marker
The marker is on the left side of the 22 North Elm Street building.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 60 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
