E. Fetters, originally of the Smith & Fetters Company of Cleveland, came to Detroit a few years ago, and made it his home. Mr. Fetters is an artist in his line, as well as a successful business man. He conducts two stores.
The genial J. F. Sullivan, beloved by every traveling man, has contributed his share toward the advance of horticulture in Detroit. Mr. Sullivan is, above all else, an optimist; and optimism, it is claimed, goes hand in hand with prosperity.
Beard Brothers have been recently succeeded by Sidney Beard, the son of the late Frank Beard. Although still a young man in the early twenties, Sidney—if one is to judge him by the extent of his enterprise, and the results achieved—has all the experience of a veteran. There is no question but that the young man is on the road to success.
Nor has J. K. Stock any ground for complaint about his business ventures. Starting in a section of the city that did not promise much so far as retail trade was concerned, he confined himself at first to the growing of ferns and bedding plants for the wholesale trade. But Detroit has grown, and so has the section where his greenhouses are located. About three years ago, he remodeled his place, and erected a modern flower store on Warren avenue. His retail trade has grown by leaps and bounds.
The late Gus H. Taepke, a pioneer florist of Detroit (for he was one of the oldest in that city) contributed his share toward the growth of floriculture in Detroit. His place on Elmwood avenue is covered by a large range of glass, where a miscellaneous stock is always grown successfully A number of years prior to his death, finding that his business equipment had become inadequate to meet the growing demand, he built a range of glass on Gratiot avenue, on the outskirts of the city. There he grew Roses and Carnations for his ever-increasing retail trade. His son, Walter Taepke, who succeeded his father upon his death, conducts a prosperous retail business, his store being located in the heart of the retail section. Between his store and his greenhouses, young Walter has ample responsibilities, but is fully equal to the task.
Robert Flowerday, a florist of the old school, though not an old man, has of late divided his time between his business and the parks of Detroit. The responsible position of superintending the parks finds him equal to it on all occasions. His young son is of great help to him in looking after the business.
W. B. Brown kept full pace with the growth of Detroit itself. Starting about twelve years ago, with no visible means, but with plenty of grit and determination as assets, he plugged along until he attained his end. Today Brown is among the successful florists in the city of Detroit.
Growers and Retailers in Detroit Suburbs
Detroit seemed to be much in need of Roses. While a few Roses were grown in the immediate vicinity, there was not enough stock produced to supply two big stores, let alone the stores that sprang up in every part of the city. The man to supply this demand, or to meet it at least in part, appeared on the scene, though his appearance is of but recent date. A. J. Staehlin of Redford, Mich., a suburb of Detroit, has demonstrated his ability to accomplish results in whatever he undertakes. A few years ago, it occurred to him that movable houses, something unheard-of before, would pay. His idea was that he could plant his Carnations in the field, give them the full benefit of a Summer's growth in the open, and when the time came to plant them inside, instead of lifting and taking them into the greenhouses, he could just as well move over the greenhouses to them. In this way he could accomplish two purposes: First, he would save himself the labor of planting in the Fall; and second, the Carnation plants that were under the glass during the Summer would remain there until late in the Fall and he could continue picking the flowers until the frost set in. It was a case of
