Sunday, October 9, 2005

Shop still growing after century

White Lake Greenhouses has had three owners in 100 years but its Whitehall location remains the same.

Associated Press

Michael Sperling / Associated Press White Lake Greenhouses former owners Eleanor and Wallace Weesies bought the store in 1953 from the original owner and sold it to its latest owners in 1991. Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

WHITEHALL -- It is plenty good for business to say you've served the community for a century.

And that's what they are saying at White Lake Greenhouses Floral & Gifts, which is beginning a second 100 years at the same location in Whitehall.

James and Onolee Franks bought the greenhouses in 1991 from Wallace and Eleanor Weesies, who own White Lake Nursery a few blocks to the east.

The Weesies sold the greenhouse because it was too much work to operate both businesses.

The Weesies bought the greenhouse in 1953 from the founder, Ithamar Masure.

Masure grew his plants in a field directly across the street and boarded his horse in a portion of the building used for storage, flower work, bookkeeping and retail sales.

"He owned many, many lots," Weesies said. "It's all blacktop now."

Weesies put the large window in the front where Masure had a wall of shelves and added a new brick front.

Eleanor Weesies taught flower arranging to Onolee Franks.

But James Franks already knew about growing things. As a boy, he helped at Franks' Florist in Grand Haven, founded by his granddad in 1878 and run by the family until 1970.

Franks, who lives in Grand Haven in the house his family built 106 years ago, earned his bachelor's degree in horticulture from Michigan State University, where he worked in the research division of the agriculture department.

He worked for Michigan State's cooperative extension service until 1970, when he became extension director for Purdue University.

In 1981, he joined his father, James E. Franks Sr., then president of International Aid, as that agency's vice president. His main job was procuring and warehousing agricultural commodities -- corn, beans and rice -- and other supplies for nearly 2,000 mission families, hospitals and medical workers overseas.

When his father retired from International Aid at age 72, the younger Franks left too, taking over the Weesies greenhouse business.

A sixth-generation florist, the Franks' daughter, Christine Franks Merten, is now a partner in the business. The holder of a business degree, she has expanded the greenhouse offerings to antique furnishings and gifts.

But despite the large room of holiday and home displays, the bulk of the business remains funeral arrangements and fresh-flower and plant sales.

Day-to-day sales, weddings and items for spring plantings, along with the Franks' service of filling urns in cemeteries, comprise the rest.