Pioneer Commercial Interests

Amos Fox and Hirem Obed Rose were pioneer entrepreneurs who had made money both during the California Gold Rush and at Northport selling lumber and goods to passing ships. Originally based at Northport, Rose and Fox ^[1] (or Fox & Rose) ^[2] expanded their business interests to Charlevoix and Petoskey in the 1850s. Rose made additional money by being a part of a business partnership that extended the railroad from Walton Junction to Traverse City. ^[3] H.O. Rose, along with Archibald Buttars, ^[4] established a general merchandise business in Petoskey. ^[5] After the partnership split, Mr. Rose relocated to Petoskey and in 1873 started Petoskey's first dock. ^[6] When the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad was about to be extended into the Bay View area, Mr Rose purchased much land in that area as well as trolley cars to enable transport from Petoskey to Bay View. ^[7] Rose contributed to many firsts of Petoskey, including the first dock, the first general store, extensive lime quarries ( Michigan Limestone Company, or Petoskey Lime Company ^[8] ), ^[9] erection of the Arlington Hotel, lumbering enterprises, first president of the village, harbor improvements in 1893, ^{[10] [11]} and officiating at early commemorative public events. ^{[12] [13] [14]} Rose's influence on the city are also commemorated by the naming of the H. O. Rose room at the Perry Hotel. ^[15]

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