Mikulich General Store facts for kids
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Mikulich General Store
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of Co. Rts. 1 and 44, Limestone Township, Traunik, Michigan |
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| Area | 2.6 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1922 |
| Built by | "Indian Bill" Copeland (or Coplin) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, Commercial Block |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000428 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 15, 1993 |
The Mikulich General Store is a special old building in Traunik, Michigan. It sits where two roads, County Road 1 and County Road 44, meet. This store is important because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993. It's also a Michigan State Historic Site, recognized in 1987.
Contents
History of the Mikulich General Store
In the early 1900s, Traunik became a busy center for many Slovenian families. These families had settled on land that was once used for logging. In 1922, a man named William J. Kehoe bought 2.6 acres of land in Traunik. He was a logging camp operator and a former teacher.
Building the Store
Mr. Kehoe hired a local Native American carpenter, known as "Wild Bill" Copeland, to build a store. Construction happened between 1922 and 1923. However, soon after the store opened, a new school was built nearby. Mr. Kehoe decided to go back to teaching.
New Owners and Community Hub
Mr. Kehoe sold the store to John Knaus Sr. Then, in 1926, John Knaus Sr. sold it to Louis Mikulich Sr. In 1927, Louis Mikulich Sr. became the postmaster for Traunik. He updated the store and opened a post office inside. The Mikulich family lived on the second floor of the building. The store quickly became a very important place for the community. It was a center for both social life and business.
Louis Mikulich Sr. ran the store until 1961. Then, his son, Louis Mikulich Jr., took over. Louis Mikulich Jr. managed both the store and the post office until 1987. He then sold the building to Delayne (Dee) K. Morgan.
Modern Changes and Reopenings
Dee and Bill Morgan spent five years fixing up the building. In 1992, they opened it as "Morgan's Country Store and Museum." Later, the store was sold again. In 2008, it opened as "Lily's of Traunik," which was a cafe and health food store. The store was sold one more time in 2010. After a lot of work and updates, it reopened in September 2013. David and Laura Coleman opened it as the Mikulich General Store & Deli.
What the Store Looks Like
The Mikulich General Store is a two-story building. It is shaped like a rectangle and has a flat roof. The front of the building has a main entrance that is set back a bit. On each side of the entrance, there are two large windows for display.
Building Materials Over Time
The store probably had wooden siding when it was first built. In the 1920s, it was covered with asphalt siding. Later, when the asphalt started to wear out, it was covered with clapboards. The building originally sat on wooden posts. In the 1980s, these posts were replaced with a strong concrete foundation.
Inside the Store and Other Buildings
Inside, the first floor held the general store and the post office. The original post office area is still there today. The upper floor was where the owner lived. The property also includes a small outdoor toilet (privy). There is also a one-story shed for grain and fuel. Plus, there's a two-car garage and a concrete tennis court from the 1930s.
