Potvin’s Tavern History

Timeline

Before Prohibition:        A. LeClaire owned and operated it

Prohibition 1918 – 1933      Closed

Sometime during Prohibition someone operated it and evidently used it for a moonshine business. It was locked up by the feds.

When prohibition was repealed Joseph Potvin approached Art Saindon who owned the property, in 1933. It had been locked by the feds due to prohibition violation and now was opened up. Joseph Potvin applied for a Beer and Wine License and received it, one of the first in the Delta County. He named it the SCHAFFER TAVERN AND HOTEL. 

At first, he rented the building, then purchased it from Art. A couple years later he was able to obtain a liquor license. The first few years, patrons were not allowed to sit at the bar, only stand up. There were no beer bottles yet, so take out was by what they called “lard pails”. Refrigeration was by ice. There was no Plumbing. Outdoor toilets, wood shed, & ice house 1933 – 1947.

In 1938, an article in The Daily Press detailed the story of Joseph Potvin being robbed at 1:30am while walking home from work.

In 1948 a new place 50 x 50 with full basement was opened. The first floor was divided in two parts, a bar room and private dining room named the “Fireside Room”. It was named POTVIN’S TAVERN. 

Later renamed POTVIN’S BAR, something to do with insurance. Joseph Potvin’s wife, Lillian, was a registered nurse, she gave up nursing after 9 years and joined him in the business. His bar and restaurant philosophy was to keep a very tidy, clean and respectable place, serve good food, and be around the place as much as possible, he believed customers like to see the owner. They ran the business together for 33 years. He for 37. Joseph Potvin sold it in 1970 at the age of 66.

The tavern served the community in many ways. Meals after a Sacred Heart Parish Funeral, Wedding Receptions, Baby Showers, Wedding Showers, & Private Parties. There was no charge for the use of the kitchen and dining room for these events. Some of the wedding receptions were so large that the basement bar room was opened, to handle the overflow.

1970   Donald Isaacson and Robert Farrell and their wives bought the place. A few years into it, Donald bought out Robert. Don had added the eastern edition to it during that time. Operated as POTVIN’S BAR

1975 ish Dennis and Larry Pepin bought it from Donald. They renamed it POTVIN’S ROADHOUSE. Turned it into a country night club. Does not go over.

1977ish fella by the last name of Fleury, ran it as a bar. Named it POTVIN’S WAYSIDE INN

1980ish Donald Isaacson gets it back on default of land contract. Don obtains bank loan and remodels place extensively and changes name to FISHERMAN’S CATCH.  He really gets the business going again. He also added a 2^nd story to the original building.  His wife Judy always had a heart problem but it never seemed to hold her back. Sometime in late 1980s her heart gives out and she suddenly dies. It was very disheartening to Don. The following year Don’s brother who lived in Alaska joins him for Deer Hunting. It was a big deal because they had not been deer hunting together for some time. On opening day, rained and froze that night, dangerous walking on it, they were going out to hunt anyway, not too far into their hike, his brother slips on the ice, falling when he hits the ground the rifle goes off and hits Don right in the middle of his back. WHAT A TRADGEDY!   This is around 1990. Don’s son takes over and eventually a few years later it is closed for taxes due.

Closed for almost ten years.

2004 Tracy Morin, granddaughter of John Kuta, a 33-year-old bartender and waitress from Perronville buys it and renames it CATARAH TAVERN    She operated as a bar and restaurant.    Had a busy place.

2009 Defaults on Mortgage

2012 Theresa and Scott Shepherd from Door County Wisconsin purchase the place from bank and rename it HOMEBASE. They operate it as a Bar and emphasized it as a Specialty Restaurant. Theresa and Scott completed extensive restorations during their ownership and the restaurant and bar became a popular place again.  

2017  Ms. Rachelle Stone from Escanaba, who owns Stone’s Deli there, purchased place and renamed it THE WRANGLER GRUB & PUB. Unfortunately, in Winter of 2018 Ms. Stone opened up the Fireside Room and the privacy of a party was lost. Ms Stone closed it January 12, 2019. It was a land contract and it reverted back to previous owners Scott & Theresa.

2019   Kevin and Sherry Tourangeau Purchase place from Scott & Theresa. They operate under the former name HOMEBASE. They operate the business as a family-oriented restaurant and bar.