Lipsett Hardware Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lipsett Hardware Building
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 175 Main St., Pickford, Michigan |
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| Built | 1912 |
| Built by | John B. Irwin |
| NRHP reference No. | 12001171 |
| Added to NRHP | January 14, 2013 |
The Lipsett Hardware Building is a historic store located at 175 Main Street in Pickford, Michigan. Today, it is home to the Pickford Area Historical Society Museum. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 because of its history.
Contents
Building History: From Store to Museum
Early Days of Pickford
The town of Pickford started when Charles W. Pickford created a farm there in 1877. His brother, Thomas, opened the first store in 1880. The area grew, and by 1903, about 500 people lived there. The village of Pickford was officially planned out in 1899. Many new shops and businesses were built in the early 1900s.
Meet James L. Lipsett
James L. Lipsett came to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in 1875. He was a blacksmith for many years. He also ran a stable for horses, a farm equipment business, and a construction company. He even helped build some buildings at Fort Brady. James Lipsett was also the president of a local bank and served as the mayor of Sault Ste. Marie.
The Hardware Store Opens
In the early 1900s, Lipsett opened a branch of his farm equipment and hardware business in Pickford. By 1911, he planned to build a new, bigger store. He hired John B. Irwin to construct the building. The new Lipsett Hardware Building was finished in August 1912.
Family Business and New Owners
James Lipsett's son, Verne L. Lipsett, managed the hardware store. Verne also sold Ford cars from the building between 1912 and 1917. After 1917, the car dealership moved to its own building. Verne took over the hardware store in the mid-1920s.
Lipsett Hardware stayed in the family until 1953. Then, Verne sold the business to two families: Harvey R. and Margaret Blair, and Lewis H. and Etta Marie Harrison. The store kept the "Lipsett Hardware" name until 1960. At that time, Harrison bought out his partner and changed the name to "Harrison Hardware."
The Harrisons ran the store until 1979. They then sold it to Clifford R. Waybrant. He continued the hardware store for three more years until it closed in 1982. The building was updated and rented out to different shops for several years. In 1991, Waybrant sold the building, and it was empty for ten years.
A New Purpose: The Museum
In 2001, the Pickford Area Historical Society bought the building. They worked hard to restore it over the next few years. In 2011, they even put a new decorative top part, called a cornice, on the building. The Historical Society moved into the building in 2006. As of 2025, the Pickford Area Historical Society still uses the building as their museum.
Building Design and Features
The Lipsett Hardware Store is a two-story building made of brick. It has a flat roof and sits on a concrete base. The building is about 40 feet wide and 100 feet long. The ground slopes down at the back, so there is an entrance directly into the basement from the rear.
Outside Appearance
Small, arched windows for the basement are along the back and sides of the building. The sides do not have other windows. The back of the building has four windows on the first floor and three pairs of windows on the second floor.
The front of the building looks balanced and even. It has an entrance that is set back with slanted sides. Large glass display windows are on each side of the entrance. On the second floor, there are three sets of paired windows. A brick band runs above the entrance, forming the bottom ledges for the upper windows. A metal cornice, a decorative top edge, runs across the very top. The front of the building was restored in 2004-2005 to look like it did when it was first built.
Inside the Building
The first floor inside is one large open space. The ceiling is covered with a beautiful pressed tin design, which is original to the building. This tin ceiling has a slight curve around the edges and the main support beam. A staircase at the back leads up to the second floor. The second floor is also one large, open space. It is unfinished and lets you see the timber roof structure above.
