By Sue Sylvester
On Thursday April 4th, I found a photo waiting for me at the library. It was brought in by Kobe Mendelson. I was just blessed with the scrapbook by James J. Jude photos of Maple Lake in 1946. This photo I believe is the oldest photo taken of Maple lake Village. I started on my journey of researching Maple Lake history in 1989. For the last 15 years I have collected every photo I can get from Maple Lakers. However, this photo is the jackpot. We now have a photo of Maple Ave. never seen before in our collection. On the photo was written the date 1900 and that the photo was possibly taken by Frederick Adickes from Franklin Township.
Once I got a magnifying glass out and took a look at the photo, I knew exactly what I was looking at. However, I believe the date was wrong on the photo. I think the photo was taken before 1890. I spent a day going over all my town research and hope to identify what you are actually seeing in the photo and why this was taken before 1890. The following information is what I have discovered in my research.
I can speak with some certainly of what was on Easy Street or Maple Ave. right before 1890 because in the Buffalo Journal of 2/20/1890 an article described the fire that burned all these buildings to the ground except for the first building on the left. The gap between the buildings saved that building.
1. Block 3 Lot 7-The first building on your left was owned by O’Loughlin/Hamilton. The name is clearly is at the top of the building. On the side you see the sign for John Deere Plow and prominently displayed in front is the Post Office sign. Martin O’Loughlin was the first post master at Maple Lake Village and his term ran from 1887 to 1889. Then AA Jewett took over and moved the post office to his site. I have ads that O’Loughlin in 1888-1889 was now selling plows, wagons, and buggies at his building. By 1900 he was into grain and insurance.
2. Block 3 Lot 6- The next building was the Mansard House, a hotel built by Patrick and Mary Leahy. This was built in 1886 and he immediately had eight borders. Locals would go and eat dinner at the Mansard House. It burned to the ground in 1890 but he rebuilt it and sold it to Al Phillips in 1899 to run a hardware store.
3. Block 3 Lot 5- The Welton Bros. The last ad I could find for this store was in 11/6/1889. They were a general merchandise Store. I believe the brothers were John and Michael Welton. Only one reference after the 1890 fire was that Mike would soon have his new store building underway. He has commenced the erection of a shed for lumber and lath. Mike disappears to Clara city by 1895. Whether they ever opened a store again is not known. I did see a property transaction between John Welton and Mary Leahy and it appears the Leahy’s bought the property in Block 3 Lot 5 as the transaction was recorded on 8-14-1890. On the 1900 plat map the hotel is on both lots 5 and 6. John Welton takes over his family farm in 1890 and probably was not running a store.