Mosher’s Jewelers to go out of business

The following press release was received concerning the closing of a longtime downtown Port Huron business.
(Port Huron, MI) The 20th century was just underway when C.W. Mosher moved his jewelry business to the corner counter in Sylvester’s Drug Store. After more than 125 years of serving the Port Huron community, the Mosher family will close the doors to Mosher’s Jewelers at 336 Huron Avenue forever at the conclusion of a brief multi-million dollar Going Out of Business Sale beginning Thursday, November 14.
“Mosher’s has always played a major role in our lives,” says William (Bill) Mosher, C.W.’s great-grandson. “So, as you can imagine, making the decision to close our doors was literally the most difficult decision that Emily and I have ever had to make.”  Mosher and his sister Emily Wallace, the fourth generation of the Mosher family to oversee the family firm, plan to retire at the conclusion of the sale.
“We intend to make our last holiday season in Port Huron our most memorable, and our closing sale, the most spectacular event in our long history,” says Wallace. “We have had the great honor of helping generations of Port Huron families celebrate the important milestones in their lives with special gifts. We planned the sale at the start of the holidays to give our friends and customers one last opportunity to purchase gifts from Mosher’s for their friends, their loved ones and themselves.”
“As our clients and friends know,” says Mosher, “we seldomly put our jewelry on sale. But the time has come for us to close our doors forever, and we must sell out everything to the bare walls before we do. So, for the first and last time, we will offer our entire multi-million dollar collection of fine diamonds and jewelry for sale at prices that would otherwise not be possible.”
Mosher’s entire inventory of fine gold, platinum, diamond and colored gemstone jewelry, engagement rings, wedding bands, watches, estate jewelry, baby gifts and giftware will be offered at steeply discounted prices. Everything must be sold down to the last piece.
A Brief History of Mosher’s Jewelers
Over 125 years ago, C.W. Mosher, a watchmaker and jeweler moved his burgeoning jewelry business from Holly, Michigan, to Port Huron to serve as the Railroad Watch Inspector with the Grand Trunk and Pere Marquette railroads.
On Wednesday, October 17, 1906, an article in the Port Huron Daily Herald announced the opening of Mosher’s Jewelers: “The establishment of another jewelry store in this city by C.W. Mosher adds another to the business firms of Port Huron. Mr. Mosher came here from Holly, Mich. and is a jeweler of many years experience. He will occupy a portion of Wilber Sylvester’s drug store and carry a complete line of watches, jewelry and sterling silver. He will no doubt enjoy the confidence of a larger trade.”
Six years later, C.W. Mosher moved his growing business to 209 Huron Avenue, a space he initially shared with optometrist B.W. Hardy. The Mosher’s street clock was installed in front of the shop shortly afterwards.
C.W.’s son Seeley, a bench jeweler and a watchmaker, who trained at the Waltham Watchmaking School, joined his father in the business in 1919. Seeley’s son George followed in his footsteps in 1947. A member of the American Gem Society (AGS), Seeley was a charter member of the Michigan-Ohio Guild of the AGS. In 1964, Mosher’s moved to new quarters at 336 Huron Avenue, and after receiving special dispensation, the Mosher’s street clock was moved to the sidewalk out front.
Bill, an AGS Certified Gemologist and Certified Gemologist Appraiser, became the fourth generation of the Mosher family to join the business in 1971. His sister and business partner Emily Wallace, an AGS Certified Gemologist, and Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Society of America (GIA), joined the firm in 1988. The Moshers made headlines in 1993 when they restored the facade of their store to its 1890s appearance; uncovering leaded glass windows and ornate brickwork previously hidden under a mid-century metal facade.
For over 125 years, the Moshers have played an active role in the Port Huron community as members of Rotary and Kiwanis. Mosher’s Jewelers is one of two remaining founding members of the Blue Water Chamber of Commerce; and was a founding member of Downtown Port Huron, Inc., now the Downtown Business Collective.