This woodcut of the Anderson Block was published in the Dec. 26, 1891 issue of The Iron Ore. (Photo courtesy of the Ishpeming Historical Society)

ISHPEMING — The Anderson Block, located on the southeast corner of Main and Pearl, has a long history in the city of Ishpeming, although the current Anderson Block is the third such building to occupy that space. People of a certain age will remember it as the Nardi Building, housing the Blue Star (or Brown Derby) coffee shop and Nardi’s record shop.

The first Anderson Block was built in 1871 by Andrew August Anderson (usually known as A.A. Anderson) to house his jewelry shop. That building lasted a mere three years. “A corner building, belonging to A.A. Anderson, who occupied a portion of it as a jewelry store, another portion as a residence, a public hall in the second story and the dry goods store of J.C. Ward, and also a saloon on the Pearl Street side, was totally consumed along with most of the contents. Mr. Anderson estimates his loss at $10,000 (over $230,000 today) above insurance.” (Iron Home, April 23, 1874) It was only a few doors down from the source of the big fire of April 19, 1874, that consumed a large part of the downtown.

Anderson rebuilt his store. It was again a two-story building, but this time around, made from brick. It housed Anderson’s jewelry store, along with a second retail establishment and probably a third store on the Pearl Street side. There was no personal residence as Anderson and family had moved to a residence somewhere on Strawberry Hill.

In July of 1887, A. A. Anderson passed away as the result of a carriage accident. So, he was not even alive when the third, and final building to bear his name was built.

The building took over a year to be completed, as plans were first drawn up in 1890. Anderson’s brother, William, who lived in Negaunee and his son-in-law, Otto Eger, administered his estate and decided to build a fine, new establishment for the jewelry store. By that time, the Anderson estate was wealthy, as Anderson had invested in several mining properties in Negaunee that paid off handsomely when sold.

In April of 1891, the current stock was sold off and the building demolished. “The ground is the property of the August Anderson estate and in contemplating the erection of a building they desired to purchase the lot adjoining on the south. Eight thousand dollars were offered for the property, which is about twenty feet wide, one hundred and five deep, and would have been a satisfaction and credit for all concerned. They were unable to make the purchase.” (Iron Ore, December 26, 1891)

The contractors were Grip & Company, also known as E.E. Grip & Company, one of the premier contracting firms of the city. John S. Mennie designed the building, he was a master draftsman in the employ of Grip & Company.

“The extreme dimensions of the building are 41 ½ x 105 feet. The location is the very best, standing at the corner of Main and Pearl streets, the former one of the principal business streets and the latter the line of the electric railway.” (Iron Ore, December 26, 1891)

“The material used in construction is pressed brick, and black mortar, and trimmings of Portage Entry sandstone. The northwest corner is surmounted by a large tower and the whole appearance of the structure is one that plainly suggested beauty, stability, and permanence. It stands upon a foundation of piles – 1,277 in number – that were driven to hardpan at a cost of nearly two thousand dollars. This is remounted by the usual foundation of stone, and the building has come to stay and to furnish a model and an incentive to future builders. The entire cost as completed is $27,000.” (Iron Ore, December 26, 1891) The cost in 1891 of $27,000 would equate to $788,693 today and the Portage Entry sandstone was quarried at the Jacobsville quarry in the Copper Country. The 1,227 pilings would prove to be inadequate to support the weight of the structure and the building would be plagued with foundation problems for many years.

At three stories tall, the building was one of the tallest in the downtown area. The first floor was used for retail, with two store fronts on Main Street and a smaller store front on Pearl Street. It had all the modern conveniences (for 1891.) “The building is heated by a horizontal tubular boiler, stationed in the basement – a room 19×40 feet in size. It is piped for gas and wired for electric light throughout.” (Iron Ore, December 26, 1891) The building also had water and sewer connections.

“On the second floor are eight offices of an average size of 18×20 feet. There is one suite of three rooms and three of two rooms and they can be used either together or single. The floors are of hardwood and the entire finish of the second floor is oak in the natural wood.” (Iron Ore, December 26, 1891)

The third floor of the building was perhaps the most popular and most visited as it had a large hall. “The third story was built for a lodge room. It has a hall 39×60 feet with an anteroom connected. Joining the hall is a large dining room 18×41 feet, that can be u sed as such or in connection with the large room. There is also a kitchen, 18×20 feet, and the arrangement is complete for the purposes of any lodge. Since completion, the Anderson hall, as it has been called, has been occupied by several dances and entertainments, for both of which it is perfectly adapted. “(Iron Ore, December 26, 1891) The Ancient Order of United Workman was the first society to occupy the hall, but it was no means the last.

“The second room fronting on Main street will be occupied by Andrew Anderson and August Kilstrom as a dry goods store. They have recently returned from points below, where a full line of goods has been purchased. Shelving and counters have been put in this week and the rom, while not as good as the other, is a first class stand.” (Iron Ore, October 31, 1891) Andrew Anderson was A.A. Anderson’s son.

“The business of Anderson & Kilstrom, dry goods merchants in the Anderson block, was taken possession of under a chattel mortgage last Saturday by Augusta D. Gustafson, Mr. Anderson’s mother. The stock, fixtures, etc. were sold at public auction to the highest bidder at 10 o’clock Monday morning.” (Iron Ore, August 19, 1893)

There have been many tenants in the building on all three floors. The offices on the second floor were often occupied by doctors, dentists, and lawyers. A music teacher was located there for some years, as well as a beautician. In the 1970s the second floor was used as temporary housing for the workers constructing the concentrating plant at the Tilden mine.