Legacy Toys

In 1888, the first Ely Merchant, James Cormack, opened the Cormack Mercantile business on this site.  It was in a large log building that was moved, log by log, from Spalding. The retail establishment was on the first floor in the front. The Chandler House Hotel was in the back and on the second floor.   In 1924 Jacob Pete, built the brick structure you see today. The main floor served as a car dealership and car repair shop for decades. Business offices filled the top floors. The lower level was used to stage product for Jacob Pete’s other businesses. The story of the Pete family and further information on the building follow. 

: Jacob Leonard Pete was born in Minnesota in January of 1896 to Herman and Elizabeth (Untinen) Pete. Herman and Elizabeth were Finnish immigrants who initially came to Ely on foot, walking the trail from Two Harbors. Herman was a day laborer in 1900 but was in the logging business by the 1920s. At that time his sons, Jacob and John, were also in logging.  

In the 1920s Jacob, the son, built this building and ran a Chrysler Dealership here. 

 In 1935, Jacob founded Pete’s Cabin Boats. The cabin boat business developed from an idea that was used in his lumbering work, that of a wanigan. A wanigan describes a floating barge with a tent or structure on top, used as a mobile kitchen and sometimes sleeping facility at the cutting locations.  He began using a wanigan for his personal use and later started the cabin boat business on Basswood Lake. 

He was quite busy as he ran the auto dealership, continued the logging business in the winter and ran the cabin boat business in the summer. Besides his businesses, he served as a St Louis County Commissioner during the 1930s, for 16 years.   

In the 1940s, Jacob rented the automobile sales portion of the building to Al Wiinikainen who sold Dodges, Plymouths, and a full line of GE appliances at this location for over 20 years.  When Al retired, his primary mechanic, Matt Hill continued a repair service in the building for a time. Mike’s Motors used some of the space to prep automobiles. Additionally in the 1970’s, Mike’s Motors housed a body shop in the back section which operated here for over 40 years until 2016.  

The second story of this building served as offices for Jacob’s Cabin Boat business as well as for insurance, law, chiropractic, and U.S. Forest Service offices over the years. It was also the home of Ely’s first radio station. Jacob used the basement to store and pack supplies for his cabin boat business.

Jacob and later his son James ran the cabin boat business until the 1970s, when the BWCA was established, and they were required to give up their business.   Jacob died in 1988. 

In 2002, James Pete sold the building. Soon after, Brad and Mystaya Ruoho bought the building. In 2003 the building was home to Voltz Technologies, which subsequently moved to Sheridan Street and operates under new management. In 2012 the Ruohos opened the Legacy Toy Store in the southeast side of the building. The store provides an impressive selection of educational, inspiring and just plain fun toys for children of all ages. 

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1888 – Chandler House and Cormack Mercantile – James Cormack proprietor

1924 – The Pete Building is constructed; Jacob Pete establishes a car dealership and offices

1940s – Dodge and Plymouth Dealership and Appliance store - Al Wiinikainen proprietor

2002 – James Pete sells the building.

2003 (about)– Brad and Mystia Ruoho buy the building and opens Voltz Electronics

2012 – The Ruoho’s open Legacy Toys

2014 – Jim Robbins purchases Voltz Technologies and subsequently moves to Sheridan Street

The Sanborn Insurance Maps 1900-1924.

1900 and 1907 Ely City Directories.

Ancestry.com. Accessed April 8th, 2022.

Ely, Since 1888 (The Blue Book). Ely, Minnesota. The Ely Echo, 1988.

Pioneer Life in Ely. Ely, Mn. Lee Brownell and the Iron Range Historical Society, 1981.

Ely Phone Directories from 1949 to 2020 (available at the Ely-Winton Historical Society).

Information from Lenny Pete (grandson of Jacob Pete)

Information from Gail Pete Carlson (granddaughter of Jacob Pete)

Information from Brad Ruoho (owner)