Kilmanagh Store

The Kilmanagh Store was built in1873 as a general store at the intersection of two new “State” roads thru the “swamp”.. Kilmanagh Rd was the route from Sebewaing to Bad Axe, Bay Port Rd went North to the Bay. it was built after the fire of 1871, and survived the Great Thumb Fire of 1881. It is distinctive for its Victorian façade and porch. Liken of Sebewaing built the store as a satellite of his vast operations in Sebewaing. He also built stores in Bach, Bay Port and Unionville. He opened the Sebewaing store in 1871. After the 1871 fire, the Shebeon creek was dredged, and a sawmill was floated up to Kilmanagh. The store came shortly after to support the sawmill work force. It is documented as existing in an 1884 history of Huron County. The Kilmanagh Lutheran Church was formed in 1876. Kilmanagh did not burn in 1881. In the 1890s store clerks John Rummel and Albert Woldt took over operations. By the turn of the century Rummel had moved on to Sebewaing, and Woldt became the sole owner. In 1920, Albert’s son Clemens P. returned from college and joined the family business, living in the upper level of the store until 1925. operated the store until it closed in early 1963. The current owners, Tom (a grandnephew of C.P.) and Brenda Voss purchased C.P.’s house and the store from his estate in 1980. Currently an effort is underway to restore the façade and to stabilize and weatherproof the building.