This early 1900’s antique photo, picked up at an antique store near Detroit, Michigan, shows a group of men standing outside of “Lemke’s Cafe”.
Here is the image without the mat.
The only writing on the back indicates a year of 1907. This fits with the style of clothing the men are wearing. Here are some close up images of the photo. Note the “Koppitz Melchers Brewing Co. Beer” sign, a Detroit area brewer of the time.
My research suggests that the proprietor of this establishment was Walter Lemke (1871-1940). Here is his obituary:
Lemke was a resident of Harsens Island, near Detroit. His cafe/tavern was located near Tashmoo Park (Wikipedia) which:
was an amusement park in Algonac, Michigan. Opened in 1897, it closed in 1951. Most of it was later demolished, though the dance pavilion remains today, used by a marina to store recreational boats over the winter.
The park's name was given to the steamer Tashmoo and probably comes from Lake Tashmoo on Martha's Vineyard.
The park was located on Harsens Island in the St. Clair Flats at the northern end of Lake St. Clair. The St Clair Flats is the largest freshwater river delta in the world. Tashmoo Park offered visitors an escape from the oppressive heat and humidity of packed, sweltering Detroit in the summertime. Tashmoo Park had picnic tables, a baseball diamond, swings and rides, as well as a casino and a dancing pavilion.
I found several other newspaper advertisements that add to the story of Lemke’s Cafe.
This advertisement from 1915 shows an image, albeit a grainy one, of “Lemke’s New Cafe and Grill Room” that might resemble the original image. What do you think?
Finally, there is this image from Images of America: Tashmoo Park and the Steamer Tashmoo by Arthur M. Woodford. I am guessing that the cafe and hotel were in the same location.
Images of America: Tashmoo Park and the Steamer Tashmoo by Arthur M. Woodford (page 114)
Related Posts: 1900s
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