In our last post, we talked about the history of our main office, from D & P’s beginning as an alliance of Deerfield-area farmers in 1898 to the state-of-the-art data center that serves as our headquarters today. But did you know that each of our Lenawee County offices has a story to tell too?
Our Tecumseh location, at 417 South Maumee Street, has a history steeped in a tradition of local enterprise. It began as a union hall for employees of Tecumseh Products, which at the time was at the center of Tecumseh’s community life — at its peak, the Products employed about 5,000 people. Later on, it was the office of the Tecumseh Products Employees Credit Union. That name might not sound familiar, but you’ve probably heard of it — the credit union grew quickly, and today it’s known as TLC Community Credit Union. With over 46,000 members and $400 million in assets, it’s in the top 10% of credit unions nationwide.
Our Blissfield office is located in the heart of a picturesque downtown. It, too, has deep roots in its community. In the 1890s, three brothers named Abe, George and Moses Kerbawy emigrated from Lebanon. Moses ran a newsstand and Abe ran a shoe repair shop, both on Adrian Street, while George Kerbawy sold dry goods out of a store on South Lane Street. He did business there for over 60 years, and that’s the building that houses D&P’s Blissfield office today.
Here’s an interesting note for sports fans — Moses Kerbawy’s son, Nick, managed the Detroit Lions in the 1950s!
Our Adrian office is also right in the middle of a historic downtown — and until recently, it was the site of Adrian City Hall. Late in 2009, city offices began moving into their current home in the municipal complex on East Maumee Street. The former city hall, which was built in 1971 and needed extensive repairs, was torn down in 2010. It ended up being a win-win situation for both D&P and the city. By building our new office on the site, we were able to locate right in the heart of the largest city we serve, put the property back on the tax rolls, and be a part of downtown Adrian’s revitalization.
Plus, there’s a bonus — we’re right next door to the Lenawee County Historical Museum, and the statue of Adrian’s famous “Aunt Laura” Haviland, which used to be on the lawn of City Hall, sits just a few hundred feet from our door!
Next time you’re near one of our local offices, we invite you to stop by and say hello. We’re here to serve!
