George C. Sterling, born here in 1859, bought the Poulsen Department Store with his brother Fred in 1906, doing business as Sterling Brothers Department Store. While Fred managed the store, George Sterling was traveling salesman for the Buster Brown Shoe Co. In 1911, George, who was slightly deaf, was struck and killed by the Wolverine Flyer on the Michigan Central tracks near the Van Buren Street crossing. He was 52.