BOATHOUSE BREWPUB

In early 1900, this was an empty lot. Soon after, the building you see today was constructed by Matthew Gleason who ran a hardware store and mortuary on the first floor. It was customary during this period for hardware stores to provide end-of-life services as well as standard hardware products and furniture. The building continued with its mission until the late 1970s when it was purchased by Emery Bulinski and remodeled as a bar and restaurant. For thirty years, it was Cranberry’s. Then in 2008 (about) it changed ownership and became the Boathouse Brewpub and Restaurant. Read further to learn more about the early hardware days in Ely.

Matthew Gleason, the original owner, grew up in Michigan where his father was a miner. Matthew came to Ely in the early 1900s when he was 33 and with his wife Josephine raised their family, living on Harvey Street. He ran the business on Sheridan for about ten years although he kept and rented out the building for an additional 14 years after that.  In 1910 or shortly thereafter, the family (including seven children under the age of 13) moved to San Diego, where he once again operated a hardware store. In 1924, he sold this building to the Independent Order of Oddfellows. By 1930, wanderlust drove him to Oregon, where he continued in the hardware business and eventually retired with Josephine and his two youngest children. 

James I Laing continued the hardware business at 47 East Sheridan after Matthew Gleason. Laing Hardware and Mortuary was in operation for 40 years from 1910 (about) to 1949.  Mr. Laing and his wife Beatrice were Canadian immigrants of Scottish descent. They came to this country in 1908 when they were just 24 years old. Like the Gleasons, they lived on Harvey Street with their children. In 1949 the Laings retired, sold the business and moved to Montana to live near their son, Frank and his family. The building itself continued to be owned by the Odd Fellows.

The story often told about Mr. Laing (and generally believed to be true) involved his mortuary business. One night, after he had locked the store and was on his way across the avenue to Kapsch’s Bar, two loggers walked up, carrying the body of a deceased co-worker between them. They were bringing their friend to Laing’s for his final disposition. Mr. Laing, however, was already on his way to Kapsch’s and so suggested the loggers accompany him. They, being loggers, agreed.  All four, including the deceased logger, leaned up against the bar at Kapsch’s. After several rounds, Mr. Laing left to go home. After a few more rounds, the mobile loggers left, leaving only the deceased logger, slouched in his seat, leaning over the bar. The bartender came to collect his money but after repeated demands for cash with no response, he hit the dead logger over the head with a liquor bottle. The logger fell to the floor. The bartender rushed over to assist and found the man to be dead. Being a law-abiding citizen, the bartender immediately called the police. He admitted to hitting the logger over the head with the liquor bottle, but he explained that there were extenuating circumstances – the logger, he said, had pulled a knife on him and it was self-defense.

Lynn Paulson and Frank Kerntz followed Mr. Laing providing hardware services at 47 E Sheridan and end-of-life services at 46 First Avenue.  In 1961, Frank Kerntz died. Mr. Paulson continued to operate the hardware business until 1969 and the mortuary business until 1974. Upon Mr. Paulson’s retirement, the mortuary business was purchased by James and Terry Kerntz, sons of Paulson’s former partner. The business continues, under new ownership, now located on the corner of Second Avenue and Sheridan Street. 

In 1970 Gibson’s Hardware and Furniture used this building until the late 1970s when Emery Bulinski bought the building from the Odd Fellows and transformed it into the Cranberry’s Bar and Restaurant. Most recently, the Boathouse Brewpub and Restaurant has operated at this location. If you have time, stop by for a glass of blueberry beer.      

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

1900 –empty lot

1906 – Gleason Hardware, on the first floor; The Ely Club on the second floor 

1910 (or earlier) – Laing Hardware

1949 – Lynn Paulson and Frank Kerntz Hardware and Mortuary

1961 – Lynn Hardware, Furniture and Funeral Home

1970 – Gibson’s Hardware and Furniture

1978 – Cranberry’s Bar and Restaurant

2008 (or earlier) – The Boathouse Bar and Restaurant

The Sanborn Insurance Maps 1900-1924.

The Ely City Directories – 1900 and 1907

Ancestry.com. Accessed April 8th, 2022.

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

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

Information from Stefan Kapsch (nephew of Mattie Kapsch, tavern owner).