320 5th St.

320 5th St. in downtown Calumet, MI.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Calumet, MI

Significance:

Contributing Structure to the Calumet National Historic Landmark District

MANAGED BY:

Private Property

Amenities

2 listed

Cellular Signal, Parking - Auto

People joke that every building in Calumet either currently has a bar in it or was home to a bar at some point in time. 320 5th Street is no exception, having been occupied by a bar for much of its history. This building was built sometime before 1884. In that year, it was occupied by a saloon called The Fashion owned by Martin G. Messner. The Fashion sold wine, liquor, and cigars – “everything after the latest fashion.” By 1903 William Jones was the proprietor of the saloon and had renamed it. The Ivy Saloon operated until at least 1916. By 1930 Albert Ford had purchased the business, changing the menu to soft drinks during the prohibition era. By 1948, prohibition was long over, and the name of the business had changed once again to Wheeler’s Tavern, as bars were known at the time. Wheeler’s was in business here until at least 1957.