• Sunday-What'sUP August 22 - 12:42 pm

It's the time of the Summer when State Fairs and County Fairs are back for one more blast before the end of the season. Most often this includes marching bands, floats and parades. This week in 1943, Bert deVriendt captured such a moment in time, on a street corner in Hancock, Michigan. The 48 star flag looks familiar, for those of us old enough to remember. Trying to identify the exact location of this photo, I notice the sign says, "NEW VENICE CAFE". Wonder if anyone recalls eating there back in WWII days?

Our thanks to Brian Rendel for a whole album full of great Shoebox Memories as seen through the lens of Bert deVriendt, notable Copper Country resident from the last century. He certainly had an eye for the action, the people, and the beauty of this region. The nature trail at Sturgeon Sloughs Wildlife Area is named in honor of Bert. One of my favorite all-time Pasty Cam shots was taken there earlier this year:

Good Morning everyone. Rise and shine. It's beautiful out.

I thought I was the only one awake.

Charlie, I have to agree with your choice of favorites from this year. Has been on one of my screen savers since published. So many fantastic pictures!
Good morning all, starting to feel like fall!

The Greatest Generation. I don't know where this was taken but I do now that my Dad was in combat in Europe at the time and I'm sure many of these young men joined him. Very emotional photograph. Thanks, Charlie

The picture out Sharon's deck s very beautiful! Thanks for the parade pics. Sometimes you need one to start the day off just right.

I believe if someone where to take a picture today from this spot. They would be standing next to the Uphill 41 (Golden Pheasant) looking down highway 41 towards the bridge.

Very good morningday from SUOMI!

This my link today - from Ii :

http://www.ii.fi/kuvagalleria.php

It is definitely US41, you can see the sign between the flag the soldier is carrying and the one in the crowd in the background.
Also on the left side of the photo, it looks like an A&P food store sign.

I think the bottom of that New Venice Cafe sign has Italian Food served on the bottom. The sign next to it looks like it has Hancock ***** No 30.

The big building on the corner was the Superior National Bank. Just wondering why the men were marching towards the east end of Hancock? Neat picture of our city with the men from the service.
This is the first block turning up in Hancock just north of UpHill 41.

Now that my husband and I looked at this picture again, you're right, this would be Front Street looking towards the bridge. The light colored building in the picture is now a parking lot across from Dave's Marathon.

I believe the light color building was a gas station/auto repair in the 50's run by a young guy named Jimmy Kirkish???

I don't understand the color in such an old picture. Someone please explain......

Thanks Lulubelle, I believe you have it right. The soldiers have just passed the spot where Dave's Marathon is today, and they are turning up the street which passes in front of Uphill 41.

Way back in 1998 the Pasty Cam had a shot looking in the same direction, just a bit further down the road. This shot was taken just after passing the buildings on the right (or at least where the buildings used to be.) Compare the shore of the canal/lake in the distance:

PS.........Golden Pheasant........we always called it the Brass Duck...........but we helped Jon Davis build the Library too, and it has changed a few times........(about 7)

The building between the old bank and the gas station used to be the Tervo-White Refrigeration Sales and Service. I worked on Louis White's farm when I was a kid, up near the Sunshine location. Them were the days. :>)

Lulubelle/Hancock (Lulubelle)
...Just wondering why the men were marching towards the east end of Hancock?
This photo had me fooled at first as well. Coulda swore they were headed up Reservation Street and turning left (?) onto East Quincy, but the persective was all wrong, and of course made no sense at all!

But no, in fact they're just making the turn from westbound Front St. to the north, up Reservation St. as has been noted above.

Does anyone remember when the Superior National Bank disappeared from that location? I'm having a hard time remembering it from the late '50s & early '60's, 'tho I remember the "Ruptured Duck" quite well (along with the Scott Hotel & Kerridge Theater)!

Oops, typo: "Ruptured Duck" should of course have read "Brass Duck"! What am I doin' mixing memories and metaphors... somethin' about the "Blue Goose/Ruptured Duck" Airlines of yore? :-)