Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-02-23
N[N STORE
One Of The Finest Department Stores
Of GfatlOt County
MARBLE SL|NGLUFF PROP.
coated in an Exceptionally Good Farming
Country

one OF the best farming sections of the !
state, in the heart of the sugar belt !
portion of Michigan. Therefore the |
town has an exceptionally large business
with the farmers surrounding it and |
does far more dealing i'll the general
merchandise demand by farmers, such |
as groceries, clothing, implements, hard
ward and so on that many towns double !
it's size that can draw only on a sparsely |
settled region for its trade. This is
sh own by the steady growth and pro-
gressiveness of the stores of Elwell, |
many of which are not excelled by shops
in much larger places.
On the main street are stores owned
by Isaac Hilsinger, Marble Slingluff and
also Taylor's Drug store, a hardware
st ore one of the famous sanitarium of
the state for the cure of rheumatism,
barber shop. pool room, a hotel and
blacksmith shop. 1t is expected that an
elevator will soon be erected which will
add much TO the already thriving little
village. The town is situated near
several of the main cross roads of the
county and on the Pere Marquette
branch between Saginaw and Grand
Rapids. 1t has very good passenger
and freight service, connecting at Alma
and Edmore with several Of the main
lines of the state. It's mail and express
service is good, getting two mails from
the east and two from the west every
day, excepting Sunday With such
& God territory to draw from and such
good facilities for getting goods, 1t is no
wonder at all that the progressive
merchants of the village are constantly
finding it necessary to enlarge their
business capacities in order to take care
of the growing trade. The latest and
most noteworthy improvement of some
time is the building built to house the
business of Marble Slingluff.
A number of years ago K. j. Lathrop
conducted general store and was post
master at Elwell. In April Of the year
! 903, Marble Slingluff took possession of
this store. He was an enterprisiug
young man and it was not long before
the business began to grow. In the
M can time he was honored with the
appointment OF postmaster OF the Elwell
pos tofice. This was on June IA, 1907.
He had been assistant before and so
understood the technicalities Of the
flee thoroughly. He was at the time
of his appointment the youngest post
master in the state, which is saying a
good deal i'll view of the hundreds of
postoffices in Michigan. He always
has had everything done and kept in
ship shape order and has often been
complimented by the various inspectors
who visit the Office upon the general
conduct of the governmental business.
A short time ago, finding the quarters
i'll which he was situated were uncom-
fortably cramped i'll view OF the every
increa sing bu mess, new building was
decided upon. Last May the structure
was commenced. It was completed
|
3, the first goods were placed in the
building 1t is large building, being
twenty-e light by eight feet, and is ex-
ceedingly substantial as it is constructed
of cement blocks. This also makes it
practi cally fireproof. There is a steel
ceiling thirteen feet above the floor
which makes high sales room with
plenty of space for shelves and so on at
the sides. The flooring is of maple. 1t
is finished in beautiful red oak and birds
eye maple, giving a very handsome
effect. The main sales room is twenty
eight by sixty feet. In this part are
handled dry goods, boots and shoes,
drugs, groceries, hats and so on. Be-
sides the general line of smaller com.
modities, Mr.. Slingluff sells clothing
for men and women by sample and also
carpets and rugs in the same way. The
line is complete as that of any general
store of its size. 1t is well shown by q
series of brand new show cases, while
the store is well lighted from the front
by two large plate glass windows. In
one corner of the main room is he
postofhce, which S nicely finished.
The stree is equipped with a gasoline
| lighting plant which is second to none
of its kind
Besides the main sales room there is
store room back of the store, eighteen
by twenty eight feet in size. In this
store room Is coal bin with arrange
ments for handling coal easily. The
store room has cellar for butter, six by
thirteen. The store has both telephones
and is the central for the Union.
The building itself was put up by
z. J. Lathrop and leased by Mr.. Sling
luff. The cement work was done. by
Frank Belknap of Riverdale and the