I’ve mentioned before that my great-grandfather, Adrian Zuidweg, Sr. (Adriaan Zuijdweg) owned a fish market when Grandpa was young. In this photo he stands with an unidentified young employee.
Fish Market on Eleanor Street
I found some ads he ran in the Kalamazoo Gazette on Genealogy Bank. This one is from September 16, 1910.
This is a pretty fancy ad for a little market like he had. Some of the time he did a more simple ad like this one at Easter time–April 6, 1904.
Most of his ads, like those of many small businesses at that time, were a mere sentence or two in the JOTTINGS. I underlined his little ad so you could find it easily amidst the other “jotted” notes. This one is from December 24, 1907. Note the date and the hours listed.
The Family Kalamazoo 
Our ancestors worked much harder than we do, even when we think we are totally stressed. I think the whole idea of leisure time didn’t exist until the 20th century—and not in any real way until after World War II. We sure are spoiled!
I remember how the novel House of Mirth by Edith Wharton seems to be all about the new leisure class and the cost of that leisure. More than spoiled, people have become way too ignorant of history and have no idea of how to contextualize current issues. It frightens me.
There is an awful lot out there to be frightened by these days. Just so awful.
So interesting! And I enjoyed all those old Jottings. I don’t think they’re in the Gazette anymore, not since it’s become a shadow of its former self.
It is such a shame about the Gazette, but the old papers are wonderful. I love that they are online!
Fascinating. Thanks for looking them all up, and sharing.
Old newspapers are such treasures!
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I really enjoy reading business advertisements in old local newspapers. They often provide such a wonderful sense of what the businesses was like.
And such a feel for what it was like to live in those days. I love the idea of reading fresh fish in the morning and running over to the fish market to buy some!
More treasures! Simply awesome!!
Definitely get a subscription to Genealogy Bank if you don’t have one! There is some great information in those old papers!