Alfred Shutts was born in March 1869, the second son of Edgar Shutts and Annetta Haseltine. As did most of the other Shutts men, Alfred made his living as a farmer. He ran a local dairy route, serving the mining community of Lyon Mountain, as well as the homes and camps on nearby Chateaugay Lake. Alfred and his wife, Lillian Nokes, also made their living by running a small grocery store from the kitchen of their own home. It served as a general store for the residents of the Shutts and Blanch Roads.
Alfred was also a prominent builder in the area, having constructed boathouses and homes for others. A boathouse he and his sons made for the Saxe family, on the Narrows of Chateaugay Lake, is still in use by local boaters. The house he built for his own family is also still standing, owned by one of his great-grandsons.
By the early 1900’s, Alfred and Lillian had become one of the more affluent families in the area. They were the first in Merrill to purchase a radio. Their home was also a common gathering place for the other local families. Alfred and Lillian were quite adept at entertaining their guests, and collectively played the piano, guitar, and fiddle.
