Excavation work on the basement for the new $35,000 store building of McKeirnan Hardware & Implement co., south of the Seeley theatre, was started this week by Ernest Poe of Clarkston.

-- Down Memory Lane column for 1946 in the 5/16/57 issue of the EW

Den's Closing Reasons Given

"Pirates' Den" will close its doors March 19, unless volume expands extensively in the next two weeks.

This was the opinion of Jerry Sherman, manager of the youth-owned business and youth club on Main street.

Sherman said that the Den was opened on the hope that enough business would be developed to pay the bills. He said it was his belief that a small amount of support from most parents, such as each eating in the den once a month along with regular student purchases would be enough. The parents haven't come in and volume is just enough to pay current expenses.

Youth club members met Sunday and launched a drive to get their parents to come in at least once, Troy Berglund, club president, said. They have two weeks to develop the volume of the den, which is their "clubhouse," or it will have to close.

Sherman said that no more donations would be accepted from local groups, because the donations were going into a losing cause. "What we want is for them to come in and purchase a meal."

Sherman explained that the organization was formed based on cooperation. "Vearl Johnson and the McKeirnan estate have given us low rent for a three months period; Ellen Ramos and her employes came over and bought their dinners here one night and ate them in her cafe; the students have given all the help needed—we have waiting lists for volunteer help," he said. But there are very few grownups who ever come in or order food by phone to be delivered.

A sign posted on the window was the result of that cooperation being ignored on the part of students. Two cue sticks were broken and several posters were stolen because the students did not police themselves. "We always have a regular, paid employee here, but we can't and shouldn't watch everyone every minute." He added that the thefts were largely cleared up after the sign was posted.