About Our Firm

Building History

1891
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For over 70 years, the law firm has maintained its offices in Downtown Alpena at 109 E. Chisholm Street, in a building which was completed in 1890.

In 1881, Matthew Davison, an Irish immigrant and owner of a prominent tailor-clothier business in Flint, Michigan, built his Davison Block on the south side of North Second Avenue at Chisholm Street and sold it in 1883 to his brothers, Samuel Davison and William Davison. William opened a haberdashery on the first floor, and Samuel, a local lumberman, used the second floor as office space. This building, with obvious external renovations, is currently home to the Olivet book store and various antique shops; longtime Alpena residents will remember it as the location of the Martinson clothing store.

In 1890, Samuel Davison built an addition which fronted on Chisholm Street and was located to the rear of the Second Avenue building. The new addition, in vivid Romanesque Revival style, hosted street-level shops and second-floor offices. A photo dated 1891 identifies a first-floor bank which also advertised its liquor, wine, and cigar sales!

In 1926 the Davison Block addition was sold to a Mr. Herman Joachemstahl, and was acquired in 1934 by Attorney Donald K. Gillard. Gillard immediately moved his law practice (formerly located on Second Avenue) to the front of the Davison building second floor, and continued to rent out other spaces in the building. Through the years, various businesses came and went, including a general store, a real estate office, a hairdresser, and a title examiner. More recently, the street level space was occupied by InsuranCenter of Alpena.

Growth of Gillard’s firm in the 1970s necessitated use of the entire second floor of the building, and further growth in the 1980s required renovation of most of the first floor for law firm use as well. Currently, a portion of the first floor is used as a local office by Bart Stupak, United States Representative for Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.

2008
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The interior of the building has often been renovated to meet the uses of the various tenants, but the exterior remains substantially intact from its earliest days and still carries the Davison name. The building’s equivalent three-story height and its distinctive black spires and arched window masonry make it Chisholm Street’s centerpiece between First and Second Avenues, and one of the most visually impressive buildings in Downtown Alpena. Remnants of a vintage potato chip advertisement also distinguish the building on its parking lot side.

In 2007 the law firm installed new awnings on the first floor, the spires and frieze were repainted, and the exterior masonry was pressure cleaned, tuckpointed, and sealed, thus ensuring the lasting attractiveness of the façade.

The law firm is proud of its heritage of over 70 years on Chisholm Street, and is proud to occupy one of the city’s historic buildings as a continuing business presence in Downtown Alpena.