Putnam’s Gas Station with several additions ca. 1950
Courtesy of Ed and Caroline Oberndorf and Omena Historical Society
In 1938, John Putnam looked around and saw that Omena had three competing gas stations, two general stores, two churches, two schools, two cemeteries, a bookstore and an ice cream parlor. What it didn’t have, and never had was a bar. He added on to his little gas station to change that. Putnam’s was now a full featured service station and a bar with seating for about 30 people. It was a success and for the next twenty years Putnam’s was the place to go for gas and drinks.
John Putnam, Ed Egler Jr. and Myles Kimmerly standing in front of Kimmerly’s Grocery. – Courtesy of Leelanau Historical Society
Then in 1957 Putnam sold his business to Keith Brown, who enlarged the bar to a 40’x88’ dining hall seating 150 people and named it Harbor Bar featuring Friday night fish fry and live entertainment which echoed across Omena Bay on Saturday nights in the summer. It was also open all winter.
Ice Fishing from the bar with binoculars
Ed Hallet remembers a fellow named Jack Sweany from Traverse City who would come up to Harbor Bar in the winter, drill a spud hole in the ice, set out Tip-Ups on the ice with fish lines, and sit in old Harbor Bar and play cards. Using binoculars, he could check and see if the flag was up on his Tip-Ups. Ed once took a friend’s VW out on the ice to see how close he could come broad sliding over to Jack’s Tip-Ups. After several tries, and several beers, he got too close and demolished Jack’s Tip-Ups. Jack was furious, but Ed bought him a beer and that smoothed things over. Lots of fun memories were created in Harbor Bar.
Leelanau Wine Cellars and “The Knot”.
By 1981, with price competition from Traverse City becoming too intense, Keith Brown ended the automotive service part of his business and focused on the bar for the next twenty years until he retired.
In 2002, the building had been vacant for two years, was sold at auction, and the community held their breath hoping that the new owners would keep the tradition set by John Putnam so many years before. And they have. Knot Just A Bar and Leelanau Wine Cellars Tasting is carrying on the “fire and water” tradition in Omena.
Thanks to Ed Hallett, Omena, Place In Time, and Omena Historical Society