Joe Fine
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" Fine was a well known businessman and politician
in Marquette, Michigan
. Born in Lithuania
, Fine became a citizen of the United States
and lived most of his life in Marquette. In the 1960s he was active in city politics
. Offices he held included mayor
, city commissioner
, and member of the Board of Light and Power. His legacy includes Marquette's Board of Light and Power, which operates a municipal power station
for the city. Over a period of more than 40 years he ran a series of businesses in Marquette. The most notable was a popular but unusual tavern
. One of the unusual aspects was that women were not welcome, which helped minimize disputes among patrons. At the time of his death, a local newspaper
referred to him as "one of the city's best known merchants." He was also active in or supported a number of fraternal, religious, and other civic organizations.
, Massachusetts
, and worked in a factory
. In 1916, he moved to Marquette, Michigan where his brother Samuel "Sam" Fine and uncle Abraham "Abe" Fine lived. Joe Fine joined the United States Army
during World War I
and served from 1918 to 1919. The war ended before he was deployed to Europe
. His service helped him earn his United States citizenship
.
One of Fine's first jobs after moving to Marquette was working with Sam in a slaughterhouse owned by Abe. Starting in the mid-1920s, Fine and Sam operated a grocery store
.
In 1934 Fine left the grocery business, purchased a tavern in downtown Marquette, and renamed it "Joe's Tavern." A newspaper advertisement from that year included the following:
Around the time of World War II
, Fine discontinued meals and made other significant changes to the way he operated the Tavern. By the 1950s, Joe's Tavern was unusual enough to attract the attention of a major newspaper in Detroit, Michigan
, more than 400 miles away. One of the most unusual features of the Tavern was that women were not welcome. This helped prevent conflicts in the Tavern. Fine was quoted, "This way we get along pretty good." Another unusual aspect of the Tavern was that it was only open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Opening early allowed workers from the night shift to get some drinks before heading home. Commenting on the early closing time Fine said, "If a fellow decides to stay out late, his wife knows he's not here. And this way the bartenders and I get a chance to get home for dinner, too." Fine also provided only a few chairs in the bar, intended for those who were old or infirm. With most patrons standing, the bartenders could more easily identify the unsteady people who had imbibed too much. Yet, these unusual characteristics did not detract from business. With low prices, a strong sense of camaraderie, and dedicated bar staff, Joe's Tavern was a popular place. Typically its 57-foot bar was busy with both blue- and white-collar customers.
In 1962, Fine sold the Tavern. But he could not remain inactive for long. During the remainder of his life he operated a series of businesses in Marquette, including a newsstand, cigar
stand, hobby shop, and another bar.
Board of Supervisors.
Fine was instrumental in the formation of the Marquette Board of Light and Power, which operates the city's municipal power plant. He was also elected a charter member of the Board and upon re-election served as the Board's chairman.
Regarding Fine's public service, a local paper stated the following:
post. He also participated in the Free and Accepted Masons, the Elks Lodge
, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
, and the Kiwanis Club.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
. Born in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Fine became a citizen of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and lived most of his life in Marquette. In the 1960s he was active in city politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. Offices he held included mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, city commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
, and member of the Board of Light and Power. His legacy includes Marquette's Board of Light and Power, which operates a municipal power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
for the city. Over a period of more than 40 years he ran a series of businesses in Marquette. The most notable was a popular but unusual tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
. One of the unusual aspects was that women were not welcome, which helped minimize disputes among patrons. At the time of his death, a local newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
referred to him as "one of the city's best known merchants." He was also active in or supported a number of fraternal, religious, and other civic organizations.
Early life
Fine was born June 13, 1895 in Lithuania. In 1913, he immigrated to the United States, settled in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and worked in a factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
. In 1916, he moved to Marquette, Michigan where his brother Samuel "Sam" Fine and uncle Abraham "Abe" Fine lived. Joe Fine joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and served from 1918 to 1919. The war ended before he was deployed to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. His service helped him earn his United States citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
.
Family
In 1933 Fine married Ruth Wolfe. The couple's first child, Bernard, was born in 1935. Their second child, Lithia, was born in 1938.Business Activities
At the time of his death, a local newspaper characterized Fine as "one of the city's best known merchants." He operated businesses in Marquette for more than 40 years.One of Fine's first jobs after moving to Marquette was working with Sam in a slaughterhouse owned by Abe. Starting in the mid-1920s, Fine and Sam operated a grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
.
In 1934 Fine left the grocery business, purchased a tavern in downtown Marquette, and renamed it "Joe's Tavern." A newspaper advertisement from that year included the following:
Around the time of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Fine discontinued meals and made other significant changes to the way he operated the Tavern. By the 1950s, Joe's Tavern was unusual enough to attract the attention of a major newspaper in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, more than 400 miles away. One of the most unusual features of the Tavern was that women were not welcome. This helped prevent conflicts in the Tavern. Fine was quoted, "This way we get along pretty good." Another unusual aspect of the Tavern was that it was only open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Opening early allowed workers from the night shift to get some drinks before heading home. Commenting on the early closing time Fine said, "If a fellow decides to stay out late, his wife knows he's not here. And this way the bartenders and I get a chance to get home for dinner, too." Fine also provided only a few chairs in the bar, intended for those who were old or infirm. With most patrons standing, the bartenders could more easily identify the unsteady people who had imbibed too much. Yet, these unusual characteristics did not detract from business. With low prices, a strong sense of camaraderie, and dedicated bar staff, Joe's Tavern was a popular place. Typically its 57-foot bar was busy with both blue- and white-collar customers.
In 1962, Fine sold the Tavern. But he could not remain inactive for long. During the remainder of his life he operated a series of businesses in Marquette, including a newsstand, cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
stand, hobby shop, and another bar.
Public Offices
In 1961 Fine entered city politics, running for Marquette city commissioner. He was re-elected to another two-year term in 1963. In 1964, the commissioners voted Fine the mayor. Fine simultaneously served on the Marquette CountyMarquette County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Hiawatha National Forest * Huron National Wildlife Refuge* Ottawa National Forest -University:Northern Michigan University is a four-year university, established in 1899, located in Marquette, Michigan, on Michigan's Upper Peninsula...
Board of Supervisors.
Fine was instrumental in the formation of the Marquette Board of Light and Power, which operates the city's municipal power plant. He was also elected a charter member of the Board and upon re-election served as the Board's chairman.
Regarding Fine's public service, a local paper stated the following:
Other Civic Activities
Fine was also active in or supported a number of religious, fraternal, and other civic organizations. During 1952-1953 he participated in the formation of the first Jewish temple in the area. Despite being Jewish, he also supported local churches. When asked about that he said, "I figure as long as I am able to give something to help build a church—any kind of church—it must be a good cause and this must be a good country." In 1962 he was elected commander of the Marquette American LegionAmerican Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
post. He also participated in the Free and Accepted Masons, the Elks Lodge
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows , also known as the Three Link Fraternity, is an altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization derived from the similar British Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 18th century, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were...
, and the Kiwanis Club.