Little Traverse Bay, Past and Present

Howard Street

166 Petoskey Howard Street has long been a connection between Lake and Mitchell streets. In many ways it is one of the most architecturally unchanged streets in Petoskey. Prominently located on its southwest corner with Lake Street is the original First State Bank building, which retains its original look and purpose.This street has housed drug and shoe stores, barbershops, and the PalaceTheater, one of Petoskey’s first movie houses.The flatiron building’s unique shape has remained unchanged, though the types of businesses occupying its spaces have varied greatly. Howard Street The structure commonly referred to as the flatiron building has housed a number of businesses. For years it was the site of the Phoenix and then McCarthy’s barbershops. (Courtesy of Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University; courtesy of Little Traverse Historical Society; Rebecca Zeiss) Howard Street 167 168 Petoskey Patrons today know this as Northwestern Bank, but when it opened in 1907, this was the First State Bank of Petoskey. Like the corner at the block’s southern end, this site has remained a bank for over one hundred years. (Courtesy of Little Traverse Historical Society) Howard Street 169 The west side of Howard Street between Lake and Mitchell streets. (Courtesy of Little Traverse Historical Society; Rebecca Zeiss) 170 Petoskey The Galstar Building opened as the Palace Theater in 1916 and remained a theater until the 1950s. It had a single screen and could seat up to 347 people. (Courtesy of Little Traverse Historical Society; Rebecca Zeiss) Howard Street 171 ...