Noted former Niles businessman passes away at 92
Published 2:50 am Saturday, August 12, 2006
By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Paul Jedele was not just a Niles businessman.
He was an Army major and veteran of World War II. He was involved in his church, the Niles Community Schools systems and the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.
"He was extremely active in the entire community," said Dick Knott.
Jedele died Thursday, Aug. 3 at his home in Tucson, Ariz. He was 92.
Knott used to work for Jedele at one of his clothing stores, Paul's Toggery. Jedele was also the owner of Mayfair Shoppe on the corner of Third and Main streets.
Knott said when he took the job with Jedele in about 1966, downtown Niles was a commercial hub and Jedele was the main figure.
"Paul was an icon for downtown Niles. I mean, there is nothing he wouldn't do for the downtown," Jedele said. "Businessmen met in morning and had breakfast together before opening shop. There was a circle of businessmen people and Paul was the leader."
Jedele graduated from the University of Michigan in 1934, and in 1938, he married Helen S. Springer. The pair came to Niles from Ann Arbor in 1950.
Jedele opened Paul's Toggery first and in 1965 purchased Mayfair Shoppe. In 1968, he bought Troost Furniture Store at 214 N. Main St. in downtown Niles and combined his two clothing stores.
By 1977, Jedele was the largest independent merchant in downtown Niles. That same year he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the Downtown Niles Association and the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce. An article written in the South Bend Tribune about the ceremony described the acknowledgement as the highest chamber award.
"I got my start for my clothing store, my interest from him. He peaked my interest and got me excited about it," said Knott, who would later open his own clothing stores, Young Squire and the Pied Piper, which sat in the current location of the Golden Nugget Saloon. "He was absolutely an idol for me to look up to."
On Oct. 30, 1984, Jedele and superintendent of the Niles Community Schools Richard Warren were named honorary members of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce.
A short time later in 1982, Jedele retired after 32 years of business in Niles.
But, Jedele's work reached beyond Main Street. He was an Elder, a trustee and a member of the Foundation Board at First Presbyterian Church. Jedele was also an honorary member of the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club.
He served as trustee and president on the Niles Community Schools board of education, was a former member and vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and was on the YMCA board.
"He was one super guy and just a great icon in downtown Niles … and really supported the town," Knott said.