Gerber Hall / McDonald’s Store

Location: 36 Center Street, Douglas
Date: Ca. 1863

Daniel Gerber walked to Douglas from the harbor along an Indian trail in 1863 or 1864 and opened a tannery business on Water Street. He eventually acquired a large section of Douglas land on which he built a large home at Union and South Streets, and just before his death built this large brick building at the corner of Spring and Center Streets, known as the “Gerber Block,” which included an upper “Gerber Hall.” L. W. McDonald opened his general store on the site shortly thereafter, calling it “The People’s Store.” One story goes that it was here in Douglas that the Gerber family invented what became known worldwide as Gerber Baby Food. The claim has been disputed by the Gerbers, however, who subsequently began the manufacture of the product in Fremont, Michigan where they claim the original recipe was invented.