The ABCs of Lowell History is back for another round. This popular series explores a wide variety of topics in Lowell area history in weekly online articles and is written by volunteers and staff from the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
D is for Drier
The history of Lowell contains many people and their stories. Some of these people left behind many pages, but for some, the chapters were very short. Though they may have been here for a short period of time, their stories deserve to be told.
William Sebastian Drier was born on May 17, 1897, in Ottawa County Michigan. He married Lucy Rittersdorf in April of 1918 at Smyrna. Lucy was the daughter of John and Clara (Zahm) Rittersdorf, Keene township residents.
On September 6, 1918, the newlyweds said good-bye as William mustered into World War I. Not much is known about this time, but by 8 Sept 1919, their only child Clara had been born. Clara married Cleo Everett, then James Ficke, outliving them both.
The Drier family did not live in Lowell, as Belding was their home. The Drier’s niece remembers that Lucy was a great cook and baker. The train ran right next to their house on Broas Street. When the train came through, Lucy would stop what she was doing and go wave to the train.
Lowell was the home of William Drier’s tavern at 211 E. Main, the current home to “Sneakers.” He commuted to work each day.
Little is known of the tavern and its beginnings. The building had been previously occupied by Pete’s Place; a tavern run by Pete Kerr. In October of 1945 Drier added Frank Burns as a partner in the tavern. Few city directories exist from the 1940’s, but the Wm Drier Tavern is listed in the 1949 directory.
Tragedy struck the Drier family in 1949, on Christmas Eve. The Lowell Ledger informed the community that “William Drier, 52, local restaurant and tavern owner on Main Street sent his customers home with a cheery Merry Christmas greeting, closed his place of business and started for his home in Belding with fond hopes of spending Christmas Eve with his family. At 8:15 death had taken his holiday.”
Drier was killed at Fox’s Corner on his way home. He was driving north on Lincoln Lake Ave and was hit by a car headed eastbound on Vergennes Street when the 17-year-old driver failed to stop at the stop sign. Drier was killed instantly according to the coroner.
The Drier Tavern chapter had closed and eventually Pete Kerr reopened his tavern at 211 East Main. The business wasn’t here long and has faded from most memories. Drier chose to be a part of the Lowell Business community, commuting a distance to be here. He cheerfully cared for his customers and his sudden loss was mourned by the community.
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