Businesses - Copper City

• In the boom years of the Copper Country prior to 1913, Edward Ulseth, contractor and builder, was active in construction of home and business establishments. One of the many brick structures built is the two-story one on Ahmeek Street which for years has been in the Stimac family.But when it was built in 1908, John R. Bennetts was the manager of the concern known as J. R. Bennetts & Co. He was a dealer in groceries, hardware, gent's funishings, dry goods and clothing.In a 1916, Houghton County directory, it indicated that Albert E. Everetts was a partner in the firm. In the 1920's, William Stimac, Anton Stimac and Thomas Silich took over the store as a partnership. Edward Chaput, now of Detroit, was the bookkeeper.William Stimac has been an employee of the Peninsula Market in Copper City, a branch store of the Calumet establishment on Sixth Street.The Stimacs and Silich made deliveries even as far as Calumet with two teams out daily.In addition to staple groceries and meats, feeds and hay were delivered. William Stimac stayed in the business until 1942 and Anton Stimac died in 1943. Silich then sold out his interests to Vicent and Mike Stimac, sons of William in 1948. Mike Stimac has operated the store since the early 1950's when his brother left the area. Stimac still carries a supply of staple groceries and meats in lesser supply. Some deliveries are made and there are still some credit customers.An unusual site in the store is the appearance of the original one story high refrigeration unit used for meats and cold storage. It was manufactured by Wolf, Sayer & Heller of Chicago and New York.During the depression years, the second story was the scene of dancing and card games. The old Mandan Hayseeds Orchestra furnished the music.Today, Copper City has about 200 residents, far less than in the hey-day years, but in time of need the 70 year old grocery can be depended on to supply a resident's immediate need when it arises. [Daily Mining Gazette Article - March 8, 1978.]
1/13/2009 9:16:47 AM by Christine Holland, Archives

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• I am related to the Stimac family through my mother, Victoria Stimac Fink. William and Anton were my grandfather's brothers. We lived downstate but visited my grandparents in Copper City every summer while I was growing up and it was always such a treat to visit Mike at the store!
12/7/2014 12:34:39 AM by Anonymous

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