Howard Joynes, pictured here at Joynes Department Store’s 64th anniversary, enjoyed welcoming customers and friends to the store for over 70 years.
The community gathered for memorial services for Howard Joynes on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, and of course, stories were shared about the community leader who oversaw operations at Joynes Department Store and Ben Franklin for over 70 years. The stories however do not end there—everyone, Cook County resident or visitor to Grand Marais—seems to have a memory of the helpful store owner who became a North Shore icon.
The staff at the Cook County News- Herald—past and present—had the honor of interviewing Howard Joynes on numerous occasions, beginning back in the early days of the store.
There is News-Herald coverage of course of how Howard and his bride Rosemary started out by leasing a brick building owned by P.E. Alm and opening Joynes Department Store, a member of Federated Stores. That news made the front page on December 18, 1941, the first of many features about Howard at the store and at the numerous community functions he was involved with.
In a newspaper interview about the store’s 60th anniversary in February 2002, Howard’s granddaughter, Julie Joynes Carlson, who now operates the store with her husband, Rodney Carlson, said, “I can only imagine the feelings my grandparents must have had. They were newly married when the opportunity came for them to lease the P.E. Alm store. They worked long and hard to turn that store into one that would withstand many decades and prove to be an icon.”
In the 1950s, Howard and Rosemary realized they were outgrowing the tiny red brick building (which stood on what is now the Joynes Department Store parking lot) and they built a new building on Wisconsin Street. That new store still stands, with its light-toned brick and large glass display windows.
Howard recalled construction in a 2002 News-Herald interview. The bricks came from Tennessee. “It took three truckloads of bricks,” he said. “I unloaded them myself.”
Howard said the decision to build with brick and install those thermopane windows was one of the wisest choices he ever made. He told the News- Herald that the store has stood strong as well because of those who have worked at his side. “My success is not due just to myself,” he said. “My wife, my son, all the employees over the years have been wonderful,” he told the News-Herald in 2002.
Howard was touched when those employees returned to visit. “I’ve had people work for me 35 to 40 years,” he told the News-Herald. “This is a nice place to work.”
Although he was slowing down in recent years—he resided at the North Shore Care Center for several years before his peaceful passing on July 13, 2012—he remained as active as possible in the store. He was delighted to be on hand for the store’s 70th anniversary celebration last year where he received special commendation from Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton for his lifelong work for the business community in Cook County and beyond. Howard was a strong advocate for the business community, serving on the Boundary Waters Conservation Alliance and for many years on the Grand Marais Chamber of Commerce. As a skiing buff, he helped develop the Sawtooth Mountain Ski Area on the hillside overlooking Grand Marais.
Howard will be missed by many community organizations he was involved with as well. He was a community leader in many ways throughout his life. He was an active Boy Scout leader, having himself earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He belonged to Masonic Lodge 322 and he was a very active member of the Grand Marais Lions Club. He and Rosemary were faithful members of First Congregational Church, UCC.
Howard also volunteered with the Cook County Historical Society and was a trusted source of information for the Cook County News- Herald’s Historical Reflections feature. More than one old Fisherman’s Picnic event, skiing photo or Fish Derby photo has been shared with readers from Howard’s collection. It was always a treat for News-Herald staff to have Howard stop by with an envelope, declaring, “I have something that you probably don’t remember!”
Howard will be missed—as a North Shore icon—and a friend.
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