Knechtel Collection

    This St.Paul Lutheran Church was built on South Second Avenue in 1890, and destroyed by fire on March 29, 1923. The current building replaced it 3 years later.

    The men of the Mystic Shrine photographed on July 27, 1895. Commonly known as the Shriners, the full name of this fraternal organization is the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine

    Elementary students and teacher of the Obed Smith School in c1895. The school was built at the corner of North Second Avenue and Spratt Street in 1883, and burned in 1922.

    Numbers noted on picture indicate 1) Erwin Wendt (front row). 2) Arthur Wendt (3rd row). 3) Flora Wendt (2nd row).

    Front row, left to right: 1. Else Gehrke 2. G. Werner 3. M. (Millie?) Fabianski 4. Ida Gehrke 5. Lena Baum 6. Elsa Gapski 7. Ida Igatske 8. Martha Kollin 9. Lena? Werner 10. H. Gehrke Second row: 1.

    Probably St. Paul Lutheran Church School Students posing outside of new church building, c 1926.

    Altar area of old St. Paul Lutheran Church on Second Avenue during the 25th Anniversary in 1915.

    Possibly a banquet and program for the 25th Anniversary of the St.Paul Lutheran Church in 1915.

    Fay McGee was a laborer and worked at the Huron Portland Cement Company. In the 1930 Alpena City Directory, he is listed as boarding at 203 W. Washington Avenue, which was the Iroquois Hotel.

    Egg Day at the Royal Theatre on Chisholm Street on April 20, 1914. On designated days, could bring a fresh egg as admission to a movie.

    The St. Anne's Catholic Church burned on August 4, 1907. It took 13 years to rebuild to the same specifications is the French Romanesque style. Hillarie Gagnon supervised the construction. The steepl

    Alpena's Fraternal Order of Eagles Baseball Team

    Most of the following was taken directly from an article published in the July 2008 issue of Michigan History Magazine titled “A Historic Cannon Comes to Alpena” written by Raymond Herek. The battles

    Tragedy struck on Maundy Thursday, March 29, 1923 when the original St. Paul Lutheran Church was completely destroyed by fire.

    Potter Lumber Company was one of many mills that lined the Thunder Bay River. Each mill had its own dock for loading lumber to be shipped to market.

    The Obed Smith School was built at the corner of North Second Avenue and Spratt Street in 1883, and burned in 1922.

    Unidentified woman and child in front of rosebushes at the side of a house. Believed to be of Linke Family in Alpena...Margaret Linke is probably the young girl.

    Arthur Linke on right with one of his sons, Albert or Leo.

    Group of children at probably Thomson Beach in Alpena. Boy in forefront is believed to be Dennis Knechtel.

    Dwellings in unknown location.