Page 48 - 2018 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine

LLaakkee SStt. Claiirr’’ss
FFlolowweerr KKiinngg

In 1908 at the age of 14, Nick Koe-

nig moved from Germany to Cincin-

nati where he worked in a foundry.

In 1913 at the age of 19 he married

Katherine Henz and a short time lat-

er they moved to Michigan to be “out

in the country” off 8 Mile Road (public

transportation ended at 6 Mile Road

during those days).

At 31, Koenig quit his Detroit iron

working job and moved to New Balti-

more and established a milk route. A

few years later he started a nursery

with 10 acres on 23 Mile Road and

began raising his favorite flower, the

Dahlia along with Gladiolas. As his

business grew he leased property on

New Baltimore’s Green Street, Wash-

ington Street, and on Gratiot north of

23 Mile Road.

In 1933, Koenig’s Lakeside Gar-

New Baltimore’s Lake St. Clair den’s had grown to become a tour-

Waterfront Park Entrance ist attraction, and in 1938, Nick was

named the Dahlia King of America,

and New Baltimore, the World Capital of Dahlias.
A “1941” Detroit Free Press article could read

just about the same today …

“On beautiful Anchor Bay, is its fine Munici-
pal Park which has bathing, trailer, picnic and
boat docking facilities. There are good plac-
es to eat and many Detroiters have summer
homes nearby. The city’s population of 1,400
mushrooms to 3,500 in summer time. In late
summer the thousands of dahlia and gladioli
blooms in Nick Koenig’s Lakeside Gardens
give New Baltimore a different attraction.
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