Anna L. was born in 1867, according to census records.
1870s and 90s
The 1870 census lists Anna, sister Caroline, brother Herman and mother Anna living in Hamtramck.
An 1890 Clark's Detroit City Directory lists "Schweim Anna L, clrk Ernst Kern, bds 203 Mullett." She would be 23 years old.
Similarly, an 1898 Clark's Detroit City Directory lists "Schweim Anna L, clrk Ernst Kern, bds 203 Mullett." Ernst Kern is the rapidly growing department store at Woodward and Gratiot, competing with JL Hudson's on the next block.
1900-1919
In 1900, the census states that Anna L. lived at 203 Mullett Street in Detroit with sister Julia and mother Anna. Her occupation is listed as "Clerk Dry Goods."
The 1901 Polk's Detroit Business Directory lists "Schwiem A L, 116 Gratiot av," in the Notions, Retail section. This is the first instance found of the A L Schweim Co that becomes Schweim's Bazaar.
The 1903 Polk's Detroit City Directory lists "Schweim Anna L, ladies furngs, 116 Gratiot av, bds 203 Mullett." The 116 Gratiot address would be near Farmer Street in the 1900s. A 1906 directory lists Anna L Schweim in the Ladies Furnishings section.
Anna, along with sister Julia and brother Herman, operate The A L Schweim Co and Schweim's Bazaar at 116 and later at 89 Gratiot Avenue until about 1916. Herman's son Egmont is listed as bookkeeper; Herman's daughter Mildred is cashier and clerk.
The 1905 Polk's Business Directory lists "Schweim Anna L, 116 Gratiot av." under the Ladies' Furnishing Goods category.
The 1910 census shows Anna L. living at 420 Pennsylvania Avenue in Detroit with sister Julia and mother Anna. Her brother Herman, along with his wife and three children, live just down the block at 306 Pennsylvania.
Above: This photo of Anna (and the only photo with her specifically identified) is from the collection of Patrick Ryan. The notes were made by his father, John Joseph Ryan. Anna would have been John J's great aunt. The Detroit Electric Car Company produced these small vehicles from 1907 to 1939. See the Wikipedia article on the Detroit Electric Car Company. The ride must have been quite bumpy - the tires appear to be solid rubber.
Anna and her brother Herman are also in the property development business, with various transactions of the land that is now Poplar Beach beginning in 1912 and continuing until the late 1940s.
Anna's mother Anna died in 1916. Schweim's Bazaar was closed and its contents sold to Blackwell's department store in 1916. Her sister Julia died in 1917.
1920s
A 1920 census record shows an Anna Schweim, age 53, living at 888 Garland Avenue with the Krimenet (possibly Krimmet) family (Edgar, wife Emma, daughter Ruth) and a boarder named Alice Henry. Anna is listed as being an Aunt. No other information has been found on Anna's relation to the Krimenet family.
In 1927, Anna may have returned from a voyage to England. A passenger list from the Empress of Scotland shows an Anna L. Schweim, born 22 August 1865 in Detroit, age 62, departing Southampton on 17 September 1927, arriving at Quebec on 24 September 1927. Her home address is listed as R.F.D.4. Mt. Clemens, Mich. This is the second instance of a Mt. Clemens address for Anna. A deed dated 7 October 1925 lists "Anna L Schweim of Mt. Clemens." No specific address in R.F.D.4. Mt. Clemens has been found for Anna.
1930s
The 1930 census lists Anna L. Schweim, age 64, living at 22837 (lot 8) Poplar Beach. Lot 9 to the east was undeveloped and later split so that it is now the site of the garage and expansion of 22837, plus the garage and expansion of 22847.
Below: 22837 Poplar Beach's west and street side, with 22847 and 22869 in background. (22859 and 22863 are either hidden by the pram or are not yet built.) All of the homes seen in this view appear on a 1933 Sanborn map pictured here.
Below: a later view of 22837 with the porch enclosed. The trim has been painted a lighter color. Note that the trellis shows in the above, earlier photo.
A 1936 Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds record shows Herman Schweim selling lot 17 (now 22848) and part of lot 16 on Poplar Beach to Anna L. Schweim for $1. (Document #19460015713 Liber 0646 Page 0916 and 01936.) The county tax record search tool incorrectly reports the year as 1946 but the document is clearly dated 1936. Herman died in 1945, so he could not sign in 1946.
1940s
In 1943, Anna L. Schweim sells two lots to the west of 22837 (lots 6 and 7) to Thorwald and Agnes Falke for $1. Anna is listed as living at 718 East Grand Boulevard in the Macomb County record of the sale. The Falke family's address is 22837 Poplar Beach in the 1950 census. The document is signed in the presence of John P. and Mildred Ryan.
Below: This lovely garden is in lots 6 and 7. Lot 8 (to the right in this view) would be the Falke home at 22837. The photograph's slide mount has a processing date of 1944. The image was taken from the street side looking north.
Above: Another 1944 view of the garden in lot 6 and 7 and the Falke home in lot 8 at 22837. Note that an addition has been made to the rear of the house (compare to photo with child in stroller above). Later a doorway was added in the wall to the left of the triple first floor windows that opened to a stairway for an upstairs suite that the Falkes leased to tenants. (Image from the collection of Patrick Ryan.) We are looking eastward toward the lake at the west facade of the home.
A Macomb County deed dated 15 July 1946, lists Anna L. Schweim as selling lot 17 (22848 Poplar Beach) to Lucille and Russell Higgie (Document #19460018258, Liber 0650 Page 0418 and 0419). This is the last real estate transaction in the Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds with Anna L Schweim's signature. Anna would be 79 in 1946.
No further records for Anna L. have been found - even what name the "L" stood for. She always signed with the L and routinely used it in her name.