I - -;,i 9, 14 w I1 I I", . I, r 7935 Bentley Historical Library The University of Michigan * Ann Arbor Earl W. and Florence C. De La Vergne Collection I. Old Grand Rapids Pen Pictured by ARTHUR SCOTT WHITE Published by WHITE PRINTING CO. PRICE $1.50 Grand Rapids, Mich. 1925 COPYRIGHTED 1925 By ARTHUR SCOTT WHITE Foreword The contents of this book were selected from contributions to local newspapers, written by myself and published from time to time during the past twenty-five years. ARTHUR SCOTT WHITE 4 OLD GRAND RAPIDS Index Academ y, Prof. Everett's...................................................................................... 67 Admiral Dewey, Reception. ---.............. ---.........................................73 A Hustler, Stiven.....-.........-......8...-.............................87 Almy, John, Services of.-.............. -..... --.- 8.......3 Amusements, 1865....... —.....-........................ — 23 Anderson, M ary......................................................................................29 A 'andsomer Man.......................................72 Ball, John.............-....-.........-..................................................14 Banker, Newsboy Becomes............................................... 80 Bank's Money Counted. -.....-................ — -— 59 Battle, Sham.............................................................83 Board of Trade, First Officers...................................79 Bonds, Burned School.....-..........................82 Bought Land -... —..............9.................................................... 9 Butterworth, Bet Won........................................25 Campau, Edward.................................................... 6 Capers, Boyhood..........7........................ 71 Carriages, Horseless...................-................16 Cemetery, Fulton Street.................... -...........74 Club, Disturbance..................................................................-40 Club, Hesperus.............-.........................41 Committee, "The".............................................76 Commodities Exchanged.................................85 Concert, Schubert Club......-..........................36 Congress, Delegate in.5.................................................51 County Governed by Commissioners.................................................66 Court House, Kent...-...........61..................61 Dead, The Buried........................................................................................11 Deceased, Tribute to Memories of.................. —...............62 Deliberations of "The Committee".-.-...........................76 Dinners, Hesperus Club Weekly.-..... —...........................52 Diocese, Roman Catholic...-....-.... —... —...-..... —... 67 Disturbed Van........................................................... 47 Dock Lines Surveyed by Ames....................................87 Doctors' Privations...................................51 Dogs, Killed.............................................. 28 Dutch, In.................5..............................53 Early Days, Reminiscences of.................................... 28 E ditorial, Fatal................................................................................69 Editors, Old Time............................................................... 77 Engine, Inventor of Gasoline............................................85 Entertainments, Benefit -............................................ 39 OLD GRAND RAPIDS 4A Fiends, Exchange ----------—...... ---. 26 Files, Newspapers 1875..................................................................................................... 19 Fitch, Recollections of.. --- —----------------------------------------------------------— 31 Flood, An Incident of.-.-. --- —----------------—.-....-.-..-..-.-.-.....-.. 13 Germans, The.. --- —-----------------------------------------------------------------------— 12 Gerrymander, Walker Opposed.. --- —------------------------ 42 Government, Local, in Grand Rapids -- -.. - 7 Grand Rapids in 1865.. --- —-------------------------------------------- Gunnison, Capt. Honored.. --- —--------------------------------------— 86 Hall, City..... 59 Hero, Admiral Worden..............................................................84.............. 84 Higher Wages, Employees Struck for............................................. 82 History, Local.. --- —-------------------------------------------------------------------— 49 Honest George W.. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------— 55 Hotel, Sweet's, Damaged by Fire. ------------------------------------------------------—.. 81 Hotels, Old.. --- —-------------------------------------------------------------------------------— 56 Hungry Fed.. --- —----------------------------------------------------------------------— J~ In 1846, Grand Rapids.. --- —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 68 Indians, Payments to.. --- —------------------ ---------------------------- 65 Industries Established -----------------------—. -......... -.-.-.- -- 47 Interesting Musical Events Recalled.. --- —-------------------------------—... --- ——......-. --- — 35 Inventions, Valuable.. --- —----------------------------------------------------------— 32 John Almy, Services of.. --- —---------------------------------------------------------------— 83 Jokes and Jokers.................................................................................9.......... 2 9 Journalists, Old Time.. --- —---------........ 21 Judges. --- ——........... --- —-----------—............. --- —.. 66 Kent County, Geology of.. --- —-------------------------------------- - --------------- 75 Kingsbury, Debt to.................................-. ----.-.-. --- ——. --- —--------—. ----. —. —.-. ----.-.-. —39 Lamps, Miller, Lighter of............................. -------—............ --- —----—.... ---....-52 Land, Gypsum Used to Fertilize... 84 Lantern and the Lady............................... 61 League, Drama... 46 Lectures, Dry... 44 Markets, Public........................................1.......................... 11 Martin, Judge.....84 Mayors, Fifty.................................................................................. 30 Moore, The Brothers........................................................................................5.......: 75 Musicians, Old Time..................... 15 "Newt" and Joe.67 4B OLD GRAND RAPIDS Old Grand Rapids Views..-..............................-................ 8 Old Newspaper File Items............................. --- —--—... ---10 Old Timer's Ananias Club..-.............................................................60 Phrenology, Professors of.-................................................30 Politics, Local..........-....................................... — 7 Postoffice, Smith Won An Appropriation............6....................................................63 Practitioners, M edical.....................................................................................24 Predicament, Miss Dunn's............. -................ ---— 67 Prizes, Lottery.......-.................4....................5........................45 Punished Fire Bugs................-........4............... 48 Quartette Balled Up.....-.......-.... -............60 Railway, Opposed Construction.................-..................- 78 Railway Tracks Torn Up.................................................64 Residents, Organized Old.-.-......-.. -..........-.. —........ - --- 50 Retort, A Boy's............ -..-........................ -— 64 Reunion, Twenty-First Infantry..-..-......-......-............-..68 Road House Suppressed.......6..................... --- ——.. —........ --- —-..- 62 Salute, Mayor Honored by........-................... ---.78 School, Vocational......-..........7.......-........79 Scrap Books, W H. Anderson's --.........................83 Served the City, Luce..-.................-..............-...86 Settlements, Early.........-........................................54 Seymour, Entertained Charles.............-.............. —.....43 Sixty Years Ago, Grand Rapids.................. ---—.. —.........34 Skating, Roller.-.........8.............................80 Smith, General....-..............................................58 Square, Campau....-.......-............-...............................33 Start, Greater Grand Rapids.........-..............................17 Stratagem, A Doctor's...................8..................................85 Streets Cleaned by Tenants.-................................................86 Swamp, Saddle Bag............-..............................................- 58 Thompson, Charlotte ---------------—......................................- 81 Traded With Indians, Campau -.......-.........-... ---......32 Train Wreck, Prevented........8................................. --- —--------- 82 Trains Operated by Hannaford.............................. 63 Trap, Fire...........-...............-......................- 27 Tree Planters' Association —........................... -.... -...... --- 72 Turner and Gilbert -—..-...... ---..... ------—.. --- 70 Utley's, Father and Sons...-.....-.......7.............................................74 Varieties, Smith's............................ --- —.... —38 Wagons, Harrison..............-...........................16 W ell Sunk... —....................................... —........... ---71 Wheeler and Clock -.........-..-. --- —... -................0 OLD GRAND RAPIDS 5 GRAND RAPIDS IN 1865 I came to Grand Rapids August 19, 1865, intending to spend a few days visiting friends. Leaving the D. & M. station at Plainfield avenue I rode down town on one of the two street cars that made half-hourly trips between the depot and the southern terminus at the corner of Fulton street and Jefferson avenue. The fare paid for the service was 10 cents. The land north of Bridge street was vacant and swampy. A beautifully rounded horseshoe dam over which the waters of the Grand flowed in deep volume glistened in the sunlight and the hills above Ionia street were heavily wooded. The street cars ran through Plainfield avenue, Coldbrook, Ottawa, Newberry, Canal and Monroe streets to Jefferson avenue. The park on Fulton street was surrounded by a high picket fence and contained a heavy crop of oats. A cordial welcome at the Rathbun house, located where the Widdicomb building now stands, the substantial and thrifty appearance of the stores, the banks and other places of business-there were no factories of any considerable magnitude in the city at that time-an advantageous offer of employment, and the good impression created by the people upon my mind caused me to mail my resignation to the firm with which I had been connected in Chicago and my 60 years' residence in Grand Rapids began. I had been informed that by the census taken in the preceding year (1864) the population of the city numbered a few hundred more than 8,000. Grand river was spanned by toll bridges, located at Leonard, Bridge and Pearl streets. A few houses fringed the river bank on the west side, north of Bridge street. Back of that section the ground was covered with water most of the year. South of Bridge street, on Front, the only building was the brick structure near the west end of Pearl street bridge. A few houses had been erected on Shawmut avenue, but south of that thoroughfare the native forests had not been disturbed. Two of the most important churches were located on Monroe avenue-the Catholic, under charge of Father Wermers, stood upon the ground occupied by the Metropolitan Store, and the Congregational on the ground now covered by the Porter block. The Bridge Street house, the Eagle, a small frame structure, the Bronson, the Rathbun and the National, were the important hotels of that period. Benjamin's store occupies the site of the Bronson on Monroe Ave., the Morton house that of the National, and the Eagle the location of the original house of that name. Only one newspaper was issued daily-the Eagle. It was the neatest sheet, typographically, ever produced by a printing house in the state of Michigan. The leading merchants were Spring & Avery, James Lyman, R. C. Luce, John F. Godfroy, C. B. Allyn, Waterman & Co., John Caulfield, Cole Brothers, Whitley, Rindge & Co., Aaron Dikeman, Lewis Porter, Julius Houseman, Joseph Houseman, W. D. Foster, W. S. Gunn, 'Hinsdill Bros. & Co., Sinclair Bros., John Kendall, W. D. Meeker, Fralick & Remington, L. H. Randall, Carlos Burchard, William Sears, A. Roberts & Son, William McConnell, Nevius & Son, Charles N. Shepard, James Gallup, Horton & McNaughton, P. J. G. Hodenpyl, H. B. Jarvis, Albert Preusser, Jacob Barth, H. Leonard & Sons, A. Heyman and George W. Thayer. Most of these men have passed away. The prominent lawyers of 1865 were Thomas B. Church, E. S. Eggleston, James Miller, James A. Rogers, Eben Smith, B. A. Harlan, E. G. D. Holden, A. T. Patterson, "Lew" Morrison, James B. Wilson, S. H. Ballard, C. C. Rood, J. 6 OLD GRAND RAPIDS T. Holmes, Col. George Gray, A. D. Griswold, Isaac H. Parrish and J. W. Champlin. None of these gentlemen are among the living. The leading physicians were G. K. Johnson, Charles Shepard, C. L. Henderson, John Brady and A. Botsford. Stages arrived from Kalamazoo and Newaygo daily, the condition of the roads permitting, and one train east and west each day served to carry all who desired to enter or leave the city. One wagon was all that was needed to transact the business of the American Express company and a one-horse "rig" in the charge of S. A. Holt, handled all the baggage of the travelers. The rafting of lumber over the rapids was an important industry. During the week many rafts arrived from the Rogue, the Flat and the upper Grand river were anchored above the dam. On Sunday mornings the water was shut out of the canal, when the rafts were run over the rapids and the dam in quick succession. Hundreds gathered upon the river banks and bridges to witness the exciting incidents of the passage. EDWARD CAMPAU Much has been written and published concerning the lives and activities of Louis and Antoine Campau, early settlers of Kent county, and the later generations of Campaus, but of Edward Campau, an important member of the famous French family, little has been told. His parents dead, he came to Grand Rapids in 1838 when 5 years of age to live with an uncle, Louis Moran, and attended the only public school in the village. Later he joined Antoine Campau, a cousin, and began his business career by trading with Indians in the Grand river valley. Still later he served Canton Smith, owner of the old National hotel, as a hostler and chore man. For driving the horses of a stage between Grand Rapids and Battle Creek he was paid by William H. Withey from $10 to $12 per month. His first vehicle was an ordinary two-horse wagon; later he was enabled to obtain a more comfortable one with spring seats. When the first section of the plank road out of Kalamazoo was opened for travel he drove the first stage to make the journey to Battle Creek and return. Noyes L. Avery, who died many years ago, was one of the first of his passengers. The route traveled was through Ada, Whitneyville, Yankee Springs and Richland to Battle Creek. Stage started at 4 a. m., and arrived at Battle Creek (if the conditions of the roads permitted) at 9 p. m. His wife died a few months ago at Caledonia. Campau lake was so named to preserve the memory of Edward Campau. NUBBINS The ground combined in Crescent park was given to the city by Rev. F. H. Cuming and Dr. George K. Johnson. Mr. Cuming was the rector of St. Mark's church 70 years ago and Dr. Johnson a practicing physician before and many years after the close of the Civil war. Rev. Cuming owned a valuable tract of land lying between Bostwick and Ransom avenues, south of Michigan street, on which the Butterworth hospital now is situated. Grand Rapids was incorporated as a village April 5, 1838. Four substantial and worthy citizens, Henry C. Smith, George Cogshall, John Almy and William Peasley, served as its president. George Cogshall served two terms. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 7 LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN GRAND RAPIDS The Greenback party elected Henry S. Smith to fill the office of mayor of Grand Rapids in the month of April, 1879. For the election of 1880 the Democrats and Republicans jointly nominated Francis Letellier (Republican) for mayor who defeated Mr. Smith for re-election. In the year 1881 the Democrats and Republicans again combined their forces with Mitchell J. Smiley (Democrat) as their candidate for mayor. He was badly beaten by Mr. Smith. Mr. Letellier rendered excellent service to the city and had he been renominated his re-election to the mayoralty would probably have followed. The first telegraph office opened in Grand Rapids was located in a one-story frame building about 15 x 15 feet in size on the ground now covered by the main entrance of the Hotel Pantlind, on Monroe avenue. Ed. D. Benedict was the manager, operator, janitor and messenger. The wires of the Detroit & Milwaukee railway (now Grand Trunk) were used. A paper tape instrument received the messages. To operate the same it was necssary to wind the instrument, from time to time, like a clock. The messages were printed mechanically upon long tapes made of paper to be read and reduced to writing by the operator. At intervals during the day Mr. Benedict locked his office and delivered the messages he had received. The demands upon the office required more modern apparatus in 1870 and a number of operators were employed, among whom were Fred D. Lyon, John White, Warren Baker, Charley Thompson and Sam E. Watson. The City of Grand Rapids was governed practically by the common council. The ablest business men of the municipality deemed it a privilege to serve the people in the office of aldermen, receiving for their services one dollar each per year. John Clancy, merchant and capitalist; Julius Houseman, merchant and real estate owner; Davil P. Clay and Edward Mohl, manufacturers; Ransom C. Luce, merchant; Simeon L. Baldwin, manufacturer; Isaac Turner, real estate; J. H. Tompkins, a photographer; Charles W. Warrell, a printer, and Charles G. Brinsmade, an insurance agent, composed the common council. Mr. Houseman audited the accounts performing the work now handled by the Comptroller, without assistance. Mr. Luce was practically the board of public works, with the assistance of Capt. W. L. Coffinberry, an engineer. Mr. Luce spent most of his time upon the streets while the same were undergoing improvements. Before a graded street could be accepted he would go over, with a pick and shovel, its entire length to satisfy himself that the quantity of gravel required under the contract had been spread upon the roadway. The chairman of the committee on fire department virtually managed that branch of the public service, and a marshal, elected by the people, composed the police force with such assistance as the ward constables, W. P. H. Ferris, Isaiah Peak. John Quinn, W. W. Barclay and others of their class in officialdom were pleased to render. The mayor, the city treasurer and the chairman of the committee on ways and means managed the city finances, and Mr. Houseman audited the books at the close of the municipal year. In 1871 the first police force was organized with James L. Moran as chief. Service in the federal navy had taught the chief the value of discipline and he did not need the aid of a commission to establish efficiency in the department. When a patrolman failed to perform his duty or indulged in improper conduct the punishment was imposed by the chief without the knowledge of the public. Offenders were locked up in cells when so ordered by the chief, and if occasionally an officer were 8 OLD GRAND RAPIDS found asleep at his post, he received a sound beating on the bottoms of his feet with a club wielded by his ever watchful superior. Chief Moran was fair in his judgments and considerate of the welfare of his men, but he would not permit an officer to neglect the duty he had been chosen to perform. For a number of years, before the regular police had been established, Monroe and Canal streets were patrolled at night by watch men employed by merchants whose places of business were located upon these thoroughfares. A. N. Bacon who had lost one arm and could not put up much of an offense when making an arrest served the Monroe street and William White the Canal street district. White owned a large dog, which scoured the alleys under his direction. Late night workers upon entering Sweet's Hotel to take "one last round" with Billy Clifford or George Newberry, not infrequently found White and Bacon soundly asleep on either side of the big stove that filled the center of the office. VIEWS OF OLD GRAND RAPIDS F. K. Tinkham is the owner of a collection of views of the city, taken by Photographer O. W. Horton in 1876. The collection includes the first Union depot, built by the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad; the Widdicomb home on Cherry street; a birdseye view from the tower of the old Central High School; the steamer Daniel Ball at dock; Grand river north of Bridge street showing the stream filled with saw logs; the old Central High School grounds and building, surrounded by a high picket fence; Oakes street west from Division avenue; the river from Lookout park, showing the old Sweet & Barnett grist mills and covered bridges at Bridge and Pearl streets; the old Fountain street Baptist church before the roof and steeple had been placed; Campau Square with the Centennial arch and buildings decorated for celebration of July 4; Monroe avenue with a single railway track, Luce's block, "Grab Corners," the Doornink & Steketee buildings; Ellsworth avenue, the Barnard House, the skating rink and the "Summit Street House;" Pearl street and Crane's Museum, occupying the Rood block; the homes of Wilder D. Foster and Judge Withey on College avenue, enclosed with fences; Grand river from Pearl street bridge; the Division Street Methodist church (designed by D. S. Hopkins); Miller's old landing, Reed's Lake; Rev. Dr. Graves and family enjoying an outing on Grand river, above the city; a log house erected in Fulton Street park as a feature of the Centennial celebration. On the back of the card the following information is printed: "Through the kindness of Mr. Richard Godfroy we learned that the first log cabin was built on the west side of the river and was occupied by a Frenchman named La Fromboise, as a trading post. Mr. Godfroy said: 'I made inquiry in 1834 of the two oldest chiefs in the village, "Black Skin" and "Noon Day," who told me, after counting on their fingers, that six years before the great war (the war of 1812) they invited La Fromboise to settle with them, and that they afterward assisted him in putting up the cabin.' To Messrs' Godfroy, W. N. Cook and others the people are indebted for the erection of a fac simile of the primitive cabin, in the Fulton Street Park, July 4, 1876." A NUBBIN Since the superior court was created by an act of the legislature in 1875 it has had nine judges, three of whom-Judges Newnham, Dunham and Verdier -are living. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 9 LAND BOUGHT FOR $22 SELLS FOR $16,000. The sale of the property known as the south half of lot 12 and the whole of lot 13, of block 12, Bostwick & Co.'s addition (the location adjoins the Hotel Browning in Sheldon avenue) served to recall interesting facts in regard to real estate transactions of the past. The property was acquired by Julius Houseman, who served the people of Grand Rapids as an alderman, mayor, representative and member of congress during his life, in the year 1872. He erected a handsome residence thereon and in 1878 deeded it to his daughter, Mrs. D. M. Amberg. Hattie Houseman and Mr. Amberg were married in the year 1876, and a son was born to them in the year 1877. Mr. Houseman offered to transfer the property to Mr. Amberg and wife jointly, but Mr. Amberg objected to such a proceeding and his wife became the sole owner of the property. The record of title, as not infrequently happens with older titles, was found defective, and G. A. Wolf was employed to institute proceedings for the purpose of correcting the same. It seems that the property had been sold and transferred by Mary McCullock and the record failed to show under what authority she had made the sale. Mr. Wolf learned that Bostwick & Co.'s addition previous to platting, was owned by Samuel Dexter, who acquired the land from the government in the year 1832. In the year 1835 Dexter deeded the property to Lyman J. Daniels and Thomas C. Sheldon, and that the latter, in the year 1836, deeded a onequarter interest to Thomas Hileston. In 1843, complying with a petition for a division of the property, the court appointed Louis Campau, George Coggshall and James Mortimer Smith commissioners to partition the tract. Their report states that the property had before "been allotted and surveyed out into streets, lots and blocks, as an addition to the Village of Grand Rapids, and designated as Bostwick & Co.'s addition to Grand Rapids." The Houseman property, 75 feet front, had been acquired by one Alexander McCullock in 1844 for $31.50; and he also acquired that year 75 feet adjoining for $22.50. The defect referred to as stated above, was that in 1864, one Mary McCullock deeded away the property with no apparent link in the chain of title between her and Alexander McCullock. An examination of the records showed that she was the widow of Alexander McCullock; and after some search an old will made by Alexander McCullock was discovered in the files of the probate court of this city. The file is marked No. 110 of Calendar No. 1, and consists simply of the will and the petition for probate, affidavit of publication in the Grand Rapids Enquirer and the order admitting the will to probate. This order is dated Oct. 7, 1850, and is signed by Solomon L. Withey, judge of probate, afterward judge of the United States court for the western district of Michigan. (The present calendar in use by the probate court is No. 50 and the file or case numbers reach nearly 32,000.) The old file was carefully bound with a strip of pink paper pinned together, and probably had never seen the light of day during the past 70 years. The will is dated Nov. 20, 1845, and is witnessed by W. G. Henry, George Luther and Jeremiah 0. Flynn. The will reads: "First, I resign my soul into the hands of Almighty GodMy body to the earth from whence it sprang in full faith of a blessed immor 10 OLD GRAND RAPIDS tality beyond the grave;" and then gives and devises the homestead on which he then resided on Bostwick's addition to his wife, Mary. The date of the platting of Bostwick & Co.'s addition does not appear on the records, but it must have been at a very early date. In 1835 Samuel Dexter deeded other portions of his property to Louis Campau and another portion to Epaphro Ransom and another to John P. Calder. The Bostwick's addition contains about 55 acres and extends in length from Wealthy street to midway between Fulton and Library streets and in width, from Division avenue to Jefferson avenue. The north line was described as a due east and west line passing a tree marked to locate the seat of justice of Kent county. The deed executed by Mrs. Amberg bears revenue stamps of an amount to indicate that the consideration of her sale was $16,000. ITEMS FROM AN. OLD NEWSPAPER FILE In the Enquirer of Feb. 13, 1846, is a notice of a meeting held to secure a daily mail from this city to Battle Creek, then the terminus of our route to the Central railroad. In the issue of Feb. 20, 1846, is a notice of a meeting for the purpose of forming a company to construct a plank road from this city to Battle Creek. This project was afterward partially carried out, several miles of the road being actually built; but, in the end, it gave way to the Kalamazoo & Grand Rapids Railroad company. In the issue of March 20, 1846, is a notice of the launch of a propeller, named Odd Fellow, built by Daniel Ball, and designed to run between Grand Haven and Milwaukee. In the issue of May 8, 1846, is an account of the first trip of the Empire, for a long time the best boat on the river. In the issue of June 4, 1846, is a notice of the stone building of the Rathbun house, Backus block, Faneuil hall-all commenced and finished that year. In the issue of June 26, 1846, is a notice of the commencement of the Catholic church building, and also of the accident by which John Post lost his life, in removing the iron cross from the spire of the Congregational (formerly Catholic) church. In the issue of July 17, 1846, is a notice of the laying of the keel of another propeller, by Daniel Ball, to run between Grand Haven and Buffalo. In the issue of July 31, 1846, is a notice of the arrival and trial of our first fire engine. In the issue of Aug. 28, 1846, is a notice of the establishment of our first daily mail from the east via Battle Creek. A NUBBIN J. S. Peck, the proprietor of Oyster Bay, a restaurant in the basement of Sweet's hotel, leased the building at the corner of Ionia and Monroe avenues, furnished it and opened the first European hotel in 1873. Later the adjoining Tracy building was leased and added to the hotel. The dining rooms, fronting Ionia avenues, are now used by the Home State bank and by storekeepers. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 11 PUBLIC MARKETS; PAST AND PRESENT The first public market was located on Monroe avenue, near Hastings street. Fifty years ago farmers brought loads of hay, straw, cord wood and dressed hogs in season to the city, and occupied the street until purchasers were found. Not uncommonly the vehicles of the farmers, drawn by oxen or horses, were parked so that the animals could be fed from the pine board sidewalks. The roadways were narrow when both sides of the street were used by the farmers. E. F. Huntly, A. B. Wykes, McGowan Brothers, Pegler Brothers, Widoe & Mohrhard were among the leaders of many dealers in meats and provisions located on Monroe avenue, and during the annual hog killing period, the sidewalks were loaded with dressed carcasses brought in by farmers. The fat was rendered in the basements of the markets, and the odors that permeated the atmosphere were unpleasant to sensitive nostrils. The wood and hay market on Monroe avenue was created by the common council, after a lease had been acquired of the land needed. Fulton street and Commerce avenue was designated as the market place for country produce. Hundreds of wagons loaded with fruit and vegetables, resting against the sidewalks, from early morning until noon, occupied the streets lying between Division and Market avenues. Kent county won fame and fortune for many on account of the immense crop of peaches the orchards produced during the decade following 1887. The prevalence of uncommonly cold weather one winter killed many of the trees. Yellows followed and the orchards in many sections were destroyed. The growers have not as yet restored the industry. Island No. 3, lying between the Fulton and Wealthy street bridges, was acquired by purchase. It was covered with large trees and the ground formation was attractive. During the spring freshets the island was submerged. By raising the level of its banks it would have formed a beautiful public park. The trees were cut down, the ground was made flood proof and the wholesale market created by action of the common council. M. B. Church purchased the island of the Godfrey Brothers and Judge John T. Holmes for a nominal sum, and later sold it to the municipality for $25,000. It is now worth several hundred thousand dollars. One-eighth of an acre, set aside by the city as a park, is valued at $2,000. Within recent years the municipality has opened retail produce markets on West Leonard street, on Division avenue and in the eastern section of the city. BURIED THE DEAD Allen Durfee, Ed. H. Doran and William Koch were undertakers years ago, when the profession was not far advanced above the primitive practices of the ancients. Long black drapes were hung at the entrances of stricken homes, wide black bands encircled the hats of men; women wore heavy black veils; hearses and coffins were painted black and doctors who had attended the deceased rode at the head of the procession to the cemetery with ministers who had conducted post mortem services. Doctors did not enjoy such experiences and finally declined to observe that age long custom. Mr. Durfee compounded an embalming fluid which is still largely used by undertakers. 12 OLD GRAND RAPIDS THE GERMANS WE LIKE From the deep recesses of an old safe, F. C. Steglich brought forth a ponderous document, bearing the signatures of certain officials of the kingdom of Saxony, under the terms and conditions of which C. F. Steglich, the father of the local merchant, was granted permission to leave the kingdom and remain beyond its boundaries for the period of one year. During the year 1848, as the result of a movement among the people that had been long under way, the German parliament granted to the nation and its confederacies, permission to draft a constitution for the government of the country. The king refused to sanction the proceeding, and a revolution speedily followed. Using the army for that purpose, autocracy soon supressed the outbreak, and many of the participants in the demonstration were obliged to flee the country. Among the prominent men of that country who came to America to avoid punishment for the part they took in the revolution were Carl Schurz, Frederick Hessing and General Sigel, all of whom rendered important service to the federal union during the civil war. Hundreds of young men, to escape from the long years of service in the army and navy that was imposed upon its youths by an autocratic government, obtained leaves of absence and came to the United States to spend the remainder of their lives. Among such men were the Herkners, the Warners, the Blumrichs and the Steglichs. All of those named came from a little town, on the border line that divides the kingdoms of Saxony and Bohemia. The party sailed from Bremen in 1849, and after six weeks spent on the ocean, arrived at New York. A boat carried the party up the Hudson river to Albany, from which city the journey was made through the Erie canal on a slow moving boat to Buffalo. Charles Herkner decided to leave the party at that point and locate. Buffalo was a town of 8,000 inhabitants, and it seemed to be a good place for Mr. Herkner to start in business as a watchmaker and jeweler. A small store, located on Main street, was leased, and the rear section was fitted up and furnished for the use of the family. The work shop adjoined the entrance in the front of the building. Mr. Herkner's family consisted of a wife and one young daughter, who attended the shop during the absences of the husband. One day while Mr. Herkner was eating dinner in the back room used for that purpose, two rough looking men entered the shop and commenced stripping the rack over the work bench of the watches that hung therefrom. Mrs. Herkner called to her husband, who speedily responded and followed the thieves a considerable distance, when they turned upon him, and while one assaulted him with a knife, the other fired several shots into his body, causing instant death. Several weeks later Dr. Blumrich went to Buffalo and brought Mrs. Herkner and daughter to Grand Rapids, where she renewed an acquaintance with Charles Steglich, whom she met on shipboard, and a year or two later married him. The family moved to the township of Orleans, in Ionia county, where in 1852 F. C. Steglich was born. While traveling through the state of New York on the canal the party was deeply impressed with the beauty of the country, and Mrs. Steglich often spoke during her life in Grand Rapids of the big red apples she bought at Schenectady and at other points enroute. From Buffalo travel to Detroit was by the lake route, and from the latter city to Ann Arbor, the terminus of the Michigan Central railroad. The territory between Ann Arbor and Grand OLD GRAND RAPIDS 13 Rapids was traversed with teams. Had the party been so disposed it could have traveled from Detroit to Grand Rapids by sail, on the lakes and up Grand river, making the journey by water. Col. J. C. Herkner, a brother of Charles Herkner, after his arrival in Grand Rapids joined one of the several local military companies that flourished in this city before the outbreak of the civil war, and his training, so gained, prepared him for rendering important service to the federal government during the war of 1861. After his retirement from the federal service, with the rank of captain, he engaged actively in the work of organizing and maintaining the national guard, with which he remained until a few years before he died. Richard Warner and his son, Ferdinand Warner, the musician, of Grand Rapids, R. E. Blumrich and F. C. Steglich are among the descendants of the little party of Saxonians and Bohemians who came to Grand Rapids in 1859. Mr. Blumrich was a private in the federal army during the civil war, and won an enviable record as a soldier. AN INCIDENT OF THE FLOOD At the dinner given by the Men's club of the Fountain Street Baptist church in 1920, Mr. Kelsey, the speaker of the occasion, before beginning his formal address on the subject of "Americanized Cuba," recalled the flood in Grand river a few years ago, when the territory known as the west side was deeply submerged. Mr. Kelsey procured a boat and rowed through the flood districts. Among the homes visited was that of a Mr. Day, whose grounds were covered with three or four feet of water, but it had not entered his house which stood upon foundations a few inches above the water. Mr. Day asked for the use of the boat in order that he might go to the barn and feed his chickens, perched above the water. When this service had been performed, Mr. Kelsey returned to the house and stated that he was chilled and about ready to retire from his self-imposed service for a time. A warm pair of heavy woolen socks and a peculiar liquid, served in a drinking glass, produced the desired effect, and a small quantity of the same liquid contained in a bottle and presented to him impelled Mr. Kelsey to proceed with his work. During his visit to Mr. Day the latter spoke of his horse a number of times, and finally Mr. Kelsey asked, "Where do you keep him?" Mr. Day opened a door leading out of the room in which he and his guest were seated, when the horse pushed his head forward, surprising the visitor. It seemed that Mr. Day, in anticipation of the coming flood, had constructed a platform several feet higher than the floor of the room given over to the horse and led the animal into the temporary stable prepared for him when the flood approached. A NUBBIN A small building on the northeast corner of Michigan street and College avenue was erected by the Episcopalians more than 50 years ago and was known as "The Chapel of the Good Shepherd." It was not well supported by the neighborhood and eventually it was sold and has since been used for commercial purposes. 14 OLD GRAND RAPIDS JOHN BALL The Portland Oregonian of July 26, 1925, contained an interesting review of the services rendered to the public in the capacity of a school teacher and as a farmer by our John Ball, during the two years he spent as a youth in Oregon, Ball was not only the first school teacher in all the region west of the Rocky mountains and north of the California-Nevada line, but the first American to grow grain in that territory. Ball crossed the great plains and mountains of the northwest in 1832. He was the only one of a party of explorers who cared to complete an adventure by setting out soon after his arrival at Vancouver to see the Pacific ocean. Of his work as a school teacher the Oregonian said: "It is inconceivable that Ball, being the man that he was, and being moved as he was by wonder over the meaning of the imponderables should not have succeeded in imparting some of his fire to his young pupils. We have undoubtedly warrant for inferring that had he elected teaching as a permanent vocation he would have been a conspicuous success. Out of the crude material of a few half breed children of the attaches of the Hudson bay post, and two or three Japanese sailors who had been cast away by the wreck of a junk on the northwest coast he made a not-unpropitious beginning. And on Nov. 16, 1832, he wrote in his journal the following illuminating comment on the state of society in Oregon: "Not liking to live gratis, I asked the doctor at Fort Vancouver for some employment. He repeatedly answered me that I was a guest and not expected to work. But after much urging he said if I was willing he would like me to teach his own son and other boys at the fort, of whom there were a dozen. Of course I gladly accepted the offer. So the boys were sent to my room to be instructed. All were half-breeds, as there was not a white woman in Oregon. I found the boys docile and attentive and they made good progress. The doctor came often and was well satisfied and pleased. One day he said: 'Ball, anyway you will have the reputation of teaching the first school in Oregon.' So I passed the winter of 1832 and 1833.'" "Early in 1833 he established himself as the first American farmer in the Williamette valley. His location was, as he described it, near that of J. B. Desportes, who had two wives and seven children and plenty of cats and dogs. This was on French prairie, not far from Champoeg, already settled by half a dozen retired engages of the Hudson Bay company. This was almost a full decade before the coming of the first American immigrants, with their oxen and implements. Except for a little seed wheat supplied by Dr. McLoughlin and a few simple implements, Ball had practically nothing to work with but his bare hands. 'I caught from the prairie a span of wild horses with a lossoo, made a harness and set them to work.' So runs Ball's own account of a succession of expedients that might overtax the ingenuity of most twentieth century farmers. 'For harness I stuffed some deerskins, sewed in proper form for collars, fitted to them for the harness crooked oak limbs, tied top and bottom with oilskin strings. Then to these strips of hide were fastened for tugs, which I tied to the drag made from the crotch of a tree. On this I drew out logs for my cabin, which, when I had laid up and put up rafters to make the roof, I covered with bark peeled from the cedar trees. This bark covering was secured by poles crossed and tied at the ends with wood strings to the timbers below. Then out of some split plank I made a bedstead and a table and so I dwelt in a house of fir and cedar.'" OLD GRAND RAPIDS 15 OLD TIME MUSICIANS William A. Shinkman, Peter C. Schickell, Edward P. Mills (the latter two deceased), and Joseph Wurzburg composed the Mozart (string) quartet in 1880. Mr. Shinkman (violin), was the leader, Mr. Schickell played the second violin, Mr. Mills the viola and Mr. Wurzburg the 'cello. The quartet played classical programs for practice, and the occasional entertainment of friends, and those who were privileged to listen to their playing were delightfully entertained. The Mozarts never played in public. For a number of years later Mr. Shinkman led the orchestra at Powers' opera house. Frank M. Lawson was prominent in the musical circles of Grand Rapids in 1876. He was an accomplished player of the violin and the 'cello. Death cut him off from a very promising career in his art. A very good orchestra, under the direction of Rudolph Wellenstein, gave Sunday evening concerts at Powers' opera house in 1878. Among the soloists who appeared from time to time were Louis Hahn, Edward Schultze, Charles R. Wood, Mrs. Ella Campau, Etta Neahr and Mabel Warner, vocalists; Frank Wurzburg, a Mr. Horton and Joseph Guthan, Sr., instrumentalists. C. N. Colwell commenced his work as an instructor of the organ and piano in this city in 1875. George D. Herrick, during many years, was an instructor in music in the public schools of Grand Rapids and Muskegon, and director of a large chorus and quartet in the Fountain Street Baptist church. He studied music at the State Normal school at Ypsilanti "befor' de Civil wah," and commenced singing in the Park Congregational church immediately following its close. Frank C. Steinman, possessor of an excellent tenor voice, was a member of the quartet at St. Mark's church years ago. Henry Schuil and Jacob Steketee supplied the tenor and bass voices, respectively, and Mrs. Davis and Miss Warner, soprano and contralto, for the Fountain Street Baptist church in 1900. Gaius S. Deane, a grandfather of Fred, Frank and E. M. Deane, was the leader of a large chorus and quartet in the First Methodist church in 1865, and for a number of years that followed. Owen I. Turtle was prominent in the musical circles of Grand Rapids in 1879. He was a competent trainer of the voice, and was frequently employed in concert work and oratorio. Among his pupils was a beautiful and accomplished little woman, Laura Wells, whom he eventually married. Later Mr. Turtle moved to New York. Ora A. Pearson was also a teacher of voice in Grand Rapids during the same period. He was popular, and his services were fully employed during his stay of five years. He moved to Indianapolis and died in that city a few years later. His wife possesesd a beautiful voice. With her husband, she sang in several churches from time to time, as members of choirs. In 1866 a concert company, at the head of which was a talented and pretty little woman-Alice Morrisini-visited Grand Rapids and gave a series of concerts at Luce's hall. The accompanist was J. Dempster Towne. After concluding his engagement with the concert company, Mr. Towne returned to Grand Rapids and remained here until his death. He married one of his youthful pupils, a daughter of Alderman Dennis W. Bryan, a capitalist, politician 16 OLD GRAND RAPIDS and local celebrity. Their brief married life was unhappily spent, the wife deserting her somewhat aged husband after two or three years of wedlock. Theirs was a case of December united to May. HORSELESS CARRIAGES IN OLD GRAND RAPIDS Fred C. Temple of Grand Rapids, claims that Haynes, the auto builder, was not the inventor of the power-driven vehicle. Haynes exhibited a horseless carriage (a carriage of the usual form driven by a Sintz gas engine) at the world's fair, held in Chicago in 1893. Temple remembers an odd looking vehicle, driven by a steam engine, that was a feature of the parade given by John Robinson, whose circus came to Grand Rapids about 1867. The parade passed through Monroe and Canal streets and scattered live coals all over the stone pavements during its progress. Temple, a barefooted boy, stepped upon live coals in his eagerness to keep up with the procession and he still bears scars of the burns he sustained. A few years later H. G. Stone (the father of Frank E. Stone of Bridge street), built a steam propelled vehicle. An upright boiler, flanked by two engines, furnished the power and a large barrel contained the water needed to produce steam. Stone was unable to make his machine run and Temple's father was engaged for that purpose. It was operated one Fourth of July in carrying passengers from the junction of Division avenue and Pearl street to the junction of Monroe and Michigan. As the route was over a down grade, no difficulty was experienced in making the trip. Probably the vehicle could have traversed the route taken without an engine. It was unable to carry a load on its return trips. Many took advantage of the opportunity to ride on the steam propelled wagon and willingly paid the modest sum asked for the privilege. The machine was drawn to an obscure point on West Fourth street, and dismantled. HARRISON CONSTRUCTED WAGON.S William Harrison erected a shop and manufactured wagons on Front ave., opposite Third street, many years ago. His business developed rapidly and finally he determined to purchase land and erect larger buildings outside the city limits in the section now known as Harrison park. He continued to prosper many years and established a splendid home on the hills of Bridge street. Finally the American Harvester company engaged in building wagons and the competition that company established compelled Harrison, Capt. Belknap and many others to retire and enter other fields of production. Harrison built a few automobiles but before he could establish himself in that industry death took him and the business passed to his heirs who were not successful in its management. Harrison was a member and a substantial supporter of the Second Street Methodist church. A daughter was to be married and Harrison warned the organist to play only sacred music during the bridal wedding ceremony. With the approach of the bridal party the organist opened the musical program with a Hymn, but quickly changed to the "Bridal Chorus" from "Lohengrin," and Harrison did not know it. The bride rewarded the organist with a grateful smile, while passing out of the church with her husband. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 1 17 RECALLS START OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS "I have lived to witness in Grand Rapids the development of the farms which formerly comprised the outskirts of the city, away hack in the early nineties, into the finest residence districts of any city in Michigan." This was the ohservation of A. S. White, president of the White Printing Company and former representative in the state legislature. The remark was made upon the organization of the new boosters' association at Wealthy Heights a few days ago, when a representative hand of business men and citizens generally formed a new association for the purpose of civic advancement. The pride in the development of Grand Rapids as expressed by Mr. White is justified because it was he who introduced the bill in the legislature of 1891 which provided for the extension of the city limits. And it is within the past few years that the wisdom of this act has been more noticeably demonstrated. On the east and south, particularly, is the development most pronounced, as during the past two years hundreds of residence have been erected-residences of the higher class, owned by representative business men and men who enjoy substantial salaries. In commenting upon the growth of the city, Mr. White lays special stress upon the influences of the various improvement associations which have sprung up in numnerous localities. This influence has been more apparent within the past year, and more recently their usefulness has been given a stimulus by the formation of the allied organizations through the Association of Commerce. Mr. White believes in organization and commends in strong terms the movement in which the men of the whole city, men who do things, are engaged. It was in the fall of 1890 that A. S. White was nominated on the Democratic ticket as a candidate for the legislature, and he, with J. W. Hayward, is now the only living member of that session from Kent County, which was the first Democratic legislature from the time of the organization of the Republican party "Under the Oaks" at Jackson. The legislature of 1889 passed a cumulative voting act. Under its provisions the Republicans of the Grand Rapids legislative district in 1890 nominated but one candidate for the house of representatives, Fred A. Maynard, who afterward became attorney general of the state. Each Republication voter, under that law, cast two votes for Maynard. White received a majority over Maynard, but the latter defeated John W. Hayward. Before the legislature of 1891 convened, however, the supreme court declared the cumulative law unconstitutional and Hayward rceived the certificate of election. A. S. White served two terms in the state legislature. He was first elected for the session of 1891 and re-elected in 1893. His colleagues were Edward M. Barnard and Norton Fitch. Both of these have passed away. Peter Doran, Democratic candidate for the state senate of 1891, was elected, and he too is numbered among those who are dead. The most important local bill in which Rep. White was interested, was that extending the boundary limits of the city of Grand Rapids. He was the author of this measure, which finally passed both houses, although it was at first bitterly fought by the farmers in the outskirts of the city, owners of the property it was designed to include in the corporate limits. The farmers chief contention was that it would increase their taxes. They were won over, however, and the bill was finally passed. 18 OLD GRAND RAPIDS At that time nine road houses existed in the territory east of Grand Rapids. These were strenuously opposed by the residents in that section, and it was on the ground that city police surveillance would eventually eliminate these resorts, that public sentiment against extension of the city limits was removed. The result bore out the arguments of Representative White and other advocates of the measure. Mr. White expressed pride in the improvements which have made a greater Grand Rapids and which he believes have been the direct result of the extension of the city limits. Previous to the enactment of this law street car service extended only to East street, now Eastern avenue, on the east and to Hall street on the south. Immediately after the passage of the law plans for extension of the street railway system were inaugurated. Previous to that time Reed's lake was reached by a dummy line from East street, and as a resort the lake and its surroundings offered little except natural attractions. It was a favorite fishing resort and gradually various forms of amusement were introduced; but it was only when the street car system was extended to the lake that the resort began to develop. In discussing the remarkable growth of the territory in the eastern and southern sections of the city, Mr. White glories in the public spirit that has brought about the advancement, and also in the fact that he is privileged to witness the improvement which he predicted would result in the extension of the city limits according to the provisions of the legislative act, which he helped make into law. The law establishing the dock line within the city limits along the banks of Grand river was introduced by Representative John W. Hayward. That measure was primarily designed to subserve private riparian rights. The bill was drafted by the late Willard Kingsley. Like all measures of the kind, it was finally compromised and, as passed, received the approval of the common council and of Edwin F. Uhl, who was then mayor of the city. Representative White opposed the bill in its original form, in the interests of the city, while Hayward pushed the measure for the riparian owners. The bill was opposed because it was believed to concede too much to the riparian owners. The compromise, however, while benefiting the riparian owners, also guarded the interests of the city. The line then established still exists. Representative Hayward was particularly interested, in behalf of the farmers of the district, in the measure which prohibited the use of oleomargarine by the state institutions. This measure became a law. It was Representative Hayward who introduced the bill providing for the five-year payment plan for special city improvements. This bill became a law and it had a material influence in the development of the city and improvement of the sections brought into the city limits under the law introduced by Representative White. Mr. Hayward also was a member of the city council several years and active in public affairs. There are now civic improvement associations in various sections of the city. These exert a powerful influence in the civic advancement of the sections of the city where they operate and it is this usefulness and the high class of dwellings erected as well as the industrial development, which causes former Representative White to rejoice that the act of which he was the author was the initial movement which led to a Greater Grand Rapids.-G. R. Herald, 1910. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 19 WHITE AND CONANT PUBLISHED A NEWSPAPER In the month of November, 1874, two young newspaper men determined to engage in the printing of a daily newspaper in Grand Rapids. The afternoon field was occupied by the Eagle and the morning by the Democrat. The combined capital of the pair, White and Conant, amounted to $800. An outfit was purchased, printers engaged. White took the editorial chair and Conant the business management. The publication was named Daily Evening News. Three months later Conant withdrew, without consulting his partner, and the latter, after an unsuccessful struggle of several weeks, was compelled to suspend his business and resume his former employment as a reporter. The printing outfit was sold in lots to printers located in near-by towns, and while the distribution of the material was progressing, the files of the paper were lost. The owner had endeavored to obtain copies of the paper from friends, but none was found. Finally F. K. Tinkham presented a copy of the paper to the writer. It contained among other items an obituary of John F. Tinkham, the father of F. K. Tinkham, a prominent citizen. The News was a folio, of five columns, in small, clear type, neatly printed on substantial rag paper, that cost 10 cents per pound. The business was started with a subscription list of 1,500 and a substantial advertising patronage. Among the items of local interest contained in the issue of Jan. 30, 1875, was an account of a trap shooting contest at the fair grounds. It read: "The weather was comfortably warm, but the birds were not lively." A rule required that participants missing twice should retire. Five contestants, George S. Baars, H. Decker, M. Boorhem, L. H. Hascall and W. B. Freligh, tied on 10 birds, and in shooting off the tie, five birds each, Baars killed four, Decker four, Boorhem five, Hascall and Freligh four each. Boorhem took the first prize of $65. Hascall and Decker divided the second prize of $65 and Freligh took the third, $20. The squads were divided as follows: First, H. Rathbun, James Stewart, George S. Baars, and H. Decker; second, M. Boorhem, Dick Thayer, L. H. Hascall and W. B. Freligh; third, George A. Whitlesey, A. H. Thompson, George A. Gould, A. C. Horton and T. Stewart White. The temperature on the date of the publication, recorded 12 below zero. John F. Tinkham, whose obituary is mentioned above, entered the employ of the Detroit & Milwaukee (now Grand Trunk) railroad in 1853, and came to Grand Rapids and engaged as a civil engineer with General Innes and Dr. George K. Johnson in locating the route of the railroad, construction having been commenced at Pontiac. In later years he surveyed and located the line of the Grand Rapids, Newaygo & Lake Shore railroad, now a part of the Pere Marquette system. Soon after the outbreak of the civil war he entered the service of the government and was engaged in the operation, rebuilding and construction of railroads needed in the prosecution of the war. A religious revival started by the Rev. C. E. Olney, Jan. 8, in the Second Congregational church, on Plainfield avenue, was in progress, "with increasing interest." Pastors of several churches of other denominations assisted in the services. A column of short items contained the following: Not a light matter-frozen gas pipes. 20 OLD GRAND RAPIDS The thermometer is once more getting up in the world. A bill introduced in the legislature proposes to repeal the dog law. Pullman sleepers have been placed on the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad. Since the commencement of the Beecher trial there has been no demand for novels, booksellers report. Nature abhors a vacuum. That is why when some people take colds, it settles in their heads. If a fellow was walking with his mother-in-law or some other despicable person last night, it was easy to "let her slide." A social event of much importance was the ball of the Hebrew Benevolent association, at Sweet's hotel. Flora Belle, a trotter, formerly owned in Grand Rapids, was sold in Pittsburgh for $22,800. To step on a loose plank of a muddy sidewalk, causing the water to spurt up your leg and come out under your collar, and preserve the mental attitude of a Christian, requires a larger expenditure of will power than is needed to face a bill collector who carries a shotgun. An open letter addressed to the publishers of the Michigan Staats Zeitung reads as follows: "We are pleased to observe that your columns are filled largely with items taken from the Evening News. We have not undertaken the task of providing material for your columns. If it is your purpose to continue filching our local and general news matter, please give our paper credit for the same. You have our permission to translate and publish this communication in your columns. White & Conant." The prices prevailing for foods were considerably lower than at present. Wholesale quotations were as follows: Flour, $5.25 to $6 per barrel; butter, 26 to 30 cents per pound; eggs, 22 to 25 cents per dozen; cheese, 13 to 16 cents per pound; cider, $4 to $4.50 per barrel; poultry, 11 to 12 cents per pound; apples, $2 to $2.50 per barrel; potatoes, 60 to 70 cents per bushel; onions, $1 to $1.10 per bushel; beans, $1.60 for common, $1.80 for navy, per bushel; dressed hogs, $7.50 to $8 per hundred; dressed ducks, 10 to 11 cents per pound. Among the short items the following are copied: A Kalamazooite has invented a shirt with buttons on the side. Inside or outside? An attempt is to be made to introduce the Christian religion in Chicago. From Cheyenne comes the report that Red Cloud is quiet. Where did he get his whisky? "A Philadelphia woman says the girls of that city wear bracelets on their ankles. A man could not know anything about it." Now they know all about it. A Californian, with a lot of gold dust in his belt, could not be persuaded to spend a night in Lansing, after learning that the legislature was in session. Lamenting the imposition of an increased tax on whisky, a Vermont editor wrote: "My goodness, what is this poor country coming to?" OLD GRAND RAPIDS 21 OLD TIME JOURNALISTS AND ACTORS Fifty years ago A. O. Miller and wife, whose home was in Morenci, Lenawee county, Michigan, were prominent in the drama. They played in stock companies in many cities, impersonating characters that ranged from low comedy to tragedy. In the years 1864-5 Mr. Miller was the leading man and his wife the leading lady at the Athenaeum, a theater managed by Garry A. Hough in Detroit. Later, between seasons, the Millers traveled through the small towns of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, presenting "The Hidden Hand" and like sensational dramas, in halls, or when a hall was not obtainable, under a tent. Several engagements were played by the company in Grand Rapids. Mr. Millers' tent was usually pitched on island No. 1. The exact location is on Campau avenue, one hundred feet south of Pearl street. The company was composed mainly of amateurs, selected from the graduating classes of the high schools, whom Mr. Miller and wife trained for the work at hand. Among the students of the dramatic art whom Mr. Miller lassooed in Morenci, was Lloyd Brazee, who later became prominent as a newspaper man. Brazee not only played the part of "Black Donald," a fierce ruffian, in the "Hidden Hand," but was the advance agent of the show. In the latter capacity he made the acquaintance of many newspaper men and developed a taste for journalism. When the tent was used in the presentation of the "Hidden Hand" it was necessary to dig a deep hole in the center of the enclosure into which "Black Donald" stumbled while engaged in an assault upon "Capitola Black"-Mrs. Miller. Brazee usually dug the hole in consideration of the permission granted by the manager to him to play "Black Donald." Mr. Miller played "Wool," a Negro character, and provoked a great deal of amusement. He had played Iago, Richard III and Macbeth successfully before metropolitan audiences, and yet did not deem it undignified to play the almost insignificant character, "Wool" at the head of a barn storming company in tank and cross roads towns. Harry Vernon (in private life Guy Willis) later an employe of Nathan Church, in the office of the Grand Rapids Times, and William H. Thompson, the husband of Isabel Irving, and an actor of more than average ability, received their training in the drama from Mr. Miller. Brazee commenced his newspaper career in Detroit. From a cub reporter he rose rapidly to the desk of the city editor. His work was original in conception and execution. He went over the routes others had traveled for years without finding anything, and gathered material for stories of uncommon interest. Later he, with the substantial backing of friends, decided to establish a morning newspaper in Detroit. Frank H. Hosford, the city editor of the Free Press, Louis Gale, formerly a captain in the regular army, who wielded a facile pen (the typewhiter had not yet been invented), Dave Carey and ten others from among the most capable newspaper writers of Detroit joined Brazee in making the Times the most readable paper in the state. Hosford conceived the idea of a Thanksgiving edition to be written in rhyme, and Brazee adopted it without a second's deliberation. Editorials, telegraph and local news, advertisements, market reports, real estate sales, social and club news, court reports, funerals, weddings, stock and land sales, every item in fact of human interest, was written in rhyme. To understand the nature of the task let us suppose that Editor Vandenberg should give an order to the men employed in the editorial department of The Herald to write the news received by cable and wire tonight in rhyme. The staff would probably decide that such a service could 22 OLD GRAND RAPIDS not be performed. But the men of the Times put over such an order, "and some more." The rhymes were not doggerel but "good stuff," to use an expression that originated in the editorial room, and has since been adopted and put into service in every line of trade. The Times survived the times but a short time, and some of the creditors failed to receive their just financial deserts. The rhymed edition was printed in many fancy colors. Brazee's next journalistic venture was a dramatic, literary and social weekly, which he called the Herald. His assistants were Will A. Innes, a young man possessed of remarkable ability as a newsgatherer and producer of copy, and Charles A. Emerson. Brazee's lurid, sensational stories were written in Chaucer's style. While the Herald filled in a measure a field that had not been tilled, Brazee was not satisfied with a business that limited his opportunities, and placed a check on his energy. The lady he had married in Detroit a few years previously, a daughter of J. H. Weiss, a dealer in musical instruments, had divorced him and Brazee sought the hand of Etta Berger of the Berger family of musicians. He was an ardent, magnetic lover and Miss Berger finally yielded to his entreaties and accepted him. He next persuaded his wife's brother, Fred G. Berger, to join him in the purchase of the Morning Telegram, a newspaper started a few years earlier by Harford & McDowell, which he consolidated with the weekly Herald and published daily editions as the Telegram-Herald. The paper attracted considerable attention on account of the novelties Brazee introduced in the preparation of copy and the style of the composition. The paper did not pay and Berger soon tired of paying the losses. Prof. Swensberg and a number of aspiring politicians purchased the property and Brazee moved to Chicago to continue his work as a writer for newspapers. While living in Grand Rapids he became addicted to the use of absinthe, a drug that weakened his constitution and was probably the cause of his death. Franklin Homer Hosford lived in Lowell. Among his boyhood playmates were Frank W. Hine, Frank Eddy, George L. Stone and Ben West. He was a good student and it was said that he had read everything worth reading in English literature before his fifteenth birthday. As a boy he would lie on his back on the floor with a lamp above his head and read until his admiring daddy took the lamp away and compelled him to retire. Soon after his seventeenth birthday passed he picked up a copy of the Grand Rapids Times and read: "Boy wanted to work in newspaper office-Nathan Church, publisher of Times." Throwing aside the paper young Hosford started on foot at once for Grand Rapids. No train would pass through Lowell until a late hour in the afternoon and the boy could not wait for it. He feared another might obtain the place. Covered with dust, footsore and hungry he arrived at the Times office shortly after the dinner hour and met the owner of the paper. Impressed by his earnestness and intelligence, Mr. Church engaged Hosford for service in the business office and agreed to pay him $3.00 per week. He then went to the home of a brother, took a bath, ate a hastily prepared lunch and went to bed. Hosford developed in newspaper work very rapidly. Leaving the Times he went to the Leader as news editor, and later to the Eagle. A place was offered him in the editorial room of the Detroit Free Press, which he accepted and earned the city editor's desk. Later he returned to Grand Rapids after failing to make good in a business sense with a daily newspaper a number of politicians had backed him to start in Kalamazoo. His employment in Grand Rapids was in the capacity of city editor of the Democrat, published by I. M. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 23 Weston. Finally the Free Press offered him its news bureau in Washington which he accepted and moved to that city. During the years of Don Dickinson and Dan Campau as the heads of the Democrat party in Michigan Hosford participated actively in politics in the capacity of secretary of the Democratic state central committee. PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS IN 1865 AND LATER The original Powers' opera house (twice destroyed by fire), was opened in 1874 with Blanche DeBar in stellar roles, an engagement that lasted one week. Her father, Ben DeBar, was the owner of the Pine street theatre in St. Louis and a comedian of much ability. Edwin Booth played Hamlet in Luce's hall, where now the Herpholseimer store stands, in the winter of 1872. Edwin Adams earned distinction in the role of Enoch Arden, played at Powers' theater in 1875. Edwin Forrest played Jack Cade, Virginius and Othello at Squires' opera house in 1875. The engagement was for one week, and the house was crowded at every performance. Robert Johnson, Nellie Grover (his wife), C. P. DeGroat, Alice Oates, Jimmie Wells, Mrs. DeGroat and others of a stock company played at Squires' opera house two months in the spring of 1865. "The Man in the Iron Mask,' "The Huntress of the Mississippi," "Black-Eyed Susan" and "Pocahontas" were among the plays they presented. One of the most successful amateur performances ever seen in the city was the comedy, "Everybody's Friend," at Powers' opera house in the middle seventies. M. H. Ford, later a member of congress, and Florence Messmore were the stars of the play. Henry C. Lytton, the wealthy clothier of Chicago, participated in a comic opera presented by local talent at Luce's hall. He possessed a splendid tenor voice. Sidney A. Hart (deceased), convulsed the house with a comedy role. Edith Gage and Maggie Benedict were teachers of dancing at the armory on Ionia avenue, near Monroe. Frank A. and Fred Wurzburg were members of the famous Knights Templar band. The leader, Charles A. Jones, is now a resident of California. The first organ of the Fountain Street Baptist church was dedicated with a concert played by Clarence A. Eddy in 1875. Mr. Eddy is an organist in Chicago, where he has resided many years. John A. Whitworth, the father of George G. Whitworth, was director of a very good quartet and chorus at the Second methodist church. In 1866 a vaudeville show occupied the top floor of the Collins building, northwest corner of Monroe avenue and Erie street. Nunn Brothers, musicians, and their mother, who owned the show, furnished most of the entertainments. Among the distinguished men and women who delivered lectures at Luce's hall were Horace Greeley, Fred Douglas, Mary A. Livermore, Anna Dickinson, Theodore Tilton, DeWitt Talmadge, John B. Gough, Charles Sumner and Henry Ward Beecher. 24 OLD GRAND RAPIDS PROMINENT PRACTITIONERS OF MEDICINE OF PAST Dr. Charles Shepard opened an office in Grand Rapids, when it was a small village. Malaria infected the region and Dr. Shepard found full employment for his skill and strength. He was of the old school, and at times gave vigorous and pointed advice to his patients, as well as medicine. He detested, above all habits, the use of tobacco. On one occasion Charles N. Shepard, a nephew, called and asked medical assistance saying: "I am sickl" "Sick? Sick?" thundered the doctor. "Of course you are sick, and you will continue to be sick so long as you make an infernal smoke house of yourself." The doctor wrote a prescription and handed it to the young man with the remark, "Don't bother me again as long as you are making a fool of yourself, by smoking." Dr. Shepard was elected mayor of the city in the year 1855, and served in that capacity one term. During his life he accumulated large real estate holdings, and lived many years on Prospect hill. The location is now occupied by the Young & Chaffee store, Ottawa avenue. George K. Johnson was a civil engineer as well as a physician. His wife was the daughter of one of the financiers of the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad, and before he located in Grand Rapids the doctor assisted in establishing the route of the railroad and in constructing the roadway. He served the federal government as a surgeon, in the army during the Civil war, and later as a pension examiner. He was elected mayor of the city in 1859. Dr. Johnson was very successful in the practice of his profession for half a century, and was popular with the ladies on account of his broad sympathy and the personal interest he felt in those he served. A lady who had employed Dr. Johnson remarked: "It is a great pleasure to be sick, when one can have the care of Dr. Johnson. He is very sympathetic and speaks mildly and encouragingly to his patients." Dr. Eugene Boise was assciated with Dr. Johnson many years. Dr. DeForest Hunt was the son of a doctor. A grandfather and a brother or two were also practitioners of medicine. Dr. Hunt was graduated by Columbia University, and practiced "old school" medicine a decade before he settled in Grand Rapids. Not satisfied with the results of his treatments, he closed his office and spent several years at a homeopathic college before he resumed practice. Cancer of the stomach finally finished a long and useful career. He employed auto-suggestion profitably upon many patients. Dr. S. S. Stephenson opened an office in Grand Rapids in the year 1873, occupying rooms in the Lyon building, the site of which is now covered by the Idlehour theater. He was a handsome man, and won friends rapidly. After a year or two his popularity and the social demands upon his time caused him to neglect his practice, and finally he resolved to move to Detroit and "commence over again." Several of his former friends in Grand Rapids, among whom were W. F. Conant and Charley Hathaway, employed in the local departments of the newspapers published in Detroit, determined to "boom" the doctor as only well trained newspaper workers are capable of doing. Through their aid the doctor quickly established a large practice, married an excellent lady and became one of the "s and s" men-sensible and solid-of Detroit. Residents of Grand Rapids during the year 1870 remember one N. J. Aikin, a specialist, who advertised very widely in the newspapers and established a heavy, although a questionable, practice. Several years later the death of a patient under unusual circumstances caused his arrest upon the charge of mal OLD GRAND RAPIDS 25 practice. The preliminary examination and resulting trials dragged for a long period and in the end Aikin escaped conviction. Having lost his practice he moved to San Francisco and prospered materially for several years. A patient died as the result of an operation performed by Aikin. His arrest upon a criminal warrant, examination, trial and conviction followed and Aikin was sentenced to confinement for a long term in the prison at San Quentin. As he was about to enter the prison walls, he drew a revolver, which he had concealed on his person, and killed himself. A patient of Dr. Isadora Powers is responsible for the statement that the lady is not only skilled in the use of the instruments required in the practice of her profession, but in handling firearms, as well. From her husband, a detective, she learned to "shoot to kill." A thief raided the offices of dentists, doctors and other occupants of the Widdicomb building during the noon hour, when no one was present in any of the rooms. The thief entered Mrs. Powers' office while she was alone, and gazed longingly at a drawer in a desk wherein he presumed the doctor kept her cash. Without the least embarrassment the purpose of the thief was divined and when the doctor presented a revolver, with the assurance "I can shoot all the buttons off your vest," the thief decided that it would not be well to permit the doctor to demonstrate the truth of her statement, and quickly obeyed the command, "Put 100 feet between my door and yourself instantly." BUTTERWORTH WON A $1,000 BET While traveling eastward on the Wolverine recently, two men of prominence in the business and social life in Grand Rapids discussed general and local affairs freely. The new Butterworth hospital, which both have aided substantially, the results of the late election and several pending financial propositions were among subjects of their thought. Finally one of the two recalled an incident, following the election for member of congress and state and county officials in 1888, when Captain Belknap defeated Melbourne H. Ford for the office of representative in congress. The late William S. Gunn and Rodney Sessions had signed an agreement binding the loser to drive the winner down Monroe avenue in a wheelbarrow. Mr. Gunn was the loser, but the friends could not agree as to the name of the winner. Finally a stake of $1,000 was posted, the winner to present the purse to the building fund of Butterworth hospital. One of the duo maintained that the late Rodney C. Sessions had the pleasure of riding in Mr. Gunn's Irish Pullman; another was named by the party of the second part. Local historians were asked to decide the wager, but wheelbarrow rides for successful bettors were so common in the political history of the past that they naturally refused to act. Finally a suggestion that the files of the newspapers for November, 1888, contained in the public library, be examined, and the wager decided on the result of the information obtained, was accepted and clerks are now at work on the files. Butterworth was impartial as to the outcome. It won an addition of $1,000 to its building fund. 26 OLD GRAND RAPIDS OLD TIME "EXCHANGE FIENDS" Fifty years ago the editorial rooms of the daily newspapers published in Grand Rapids were visited frequently by a group of "exchange fiends," who were more or less welcome. The hour of their arrival determined the measure of the welcome accorded them. When the forms had been closed and the rush work completed the arrival of these gentlemen was not an unpleasant experience. Rev. J. Morgan Smith usually called at midnight. He read the exchanges, borrowed the pipe and a load of tobacco of the night editor and usually helped out in the proof reading or with an item of news. He spent one winter on the Island of Cuba in company with the late Joseph H. Martin, and wrote a very interesting series of letters describing his observations and experiences while on the island, for the Grand Rapids Times. Thomas B. Church, lawyer, ex-editor and a pioneer of Kent county, usually called at the editorial rooms of the afternoon newspapers at 3:30. Not infrequently he met Prof. Franklin Everett and George H. (Chancellor) White, who had arrived earlier in the day and picked out the choicest of the exchanges. The wise state news editor of that period concealed the newspapers that belonged to his department before the arrival of the "fiends." These gentlemen frequently brought important news items to the editors and while, in a way, their presence disturbed the work of the day, not one of the employes dared suggest that they be "thrown out." When the announcement was made public that the church of Rome had created the Catholic diocese of Grand Rapids, Mr. Church, outside of the clergy, was one of the very few who realized the importance of the decree. "Grand Rapids will be the see of the diocese," he remarked. "A number of Catholic institutions, hospitals, asylums, seminaries and schools for furnishing instruction in the higher branches to pupils of the Catholic faith will be established and the business and spiritual work of the diocese will be carried on here." The newspaper reporter to whom the diocesan assignment had been made obtained most of the information he desired from Mr. Church. J. Mason Reynolds, lawyer, orator, poet, was an interesting character. He lived at Belmont and was known as the "farmer poet." The greater part of his time was spent in the city, however. His visits to the editorial rooms were made for the purpose of "looking over the papers." Quite frequently he contributed a poem or a romance of real merit. Finally, in company with William A. Innes, he engaged in the publication of a sensational weekly journal. It did not fill "a long-felt want," and its life was short. Reynolds died before reaching the prime of life. He was able, popular and successful at the bar. Haley F. Barstow, a Bostonian, a blue blood fresh from Harvard, located in Grand Rapids about 1850. Not finding full employment for his time in the practice of the law, he took an editorial position in the office of the Grand Rapids Enquirer and remained with that publication a number of years. After he had resumed the practice of his profession the "exchange habit" remained with him and he occasionally called at the newspaper offices "to look over the papers." Mr. Barstow dressed himself in the latest styles and in appearance was a veritable "Beau Brummel." His hands were neatly gloved; he carried a cane and in selecting a hat to be worn he considered the day and the occasion before he adorned his well-shaped head. In his conduct, in his conversation and OLD GRAND RAPIDS 27 in his appearance he was the most distinguished gentleman of Grand Rapids. A granddaughter, Helen Barstow, resides in this city. Prof. Franklin Everett, a distinguished educator, assisted by his talented wife, conducted an academy in Grand Rapids many years. It was located on Prospect avenue north, near Lyon street. He was a personal friend of Albert Baxter, the managing editor of the Eagle, and in his visits to the sanctum of Mr. Baxter he not only enjoyed the newspaper exchanges but the excellent brand of tobacco that gentleman kept in a well-filled box conveniently at hand. Prof. Everett wrote a brief yet valuable history of Grand Rapids in 1865. Ryan and French published it in the city directory of that year. Albert Baxter was an able editor, very industrious and trustworthy. He managed the editorial department of the Eagle discreetly. He scrutinized every line of copy, and while under his direction the Eagle was as clean as the Christian Science Monitor-the acme of journalistic cleanliness. Mr. Baxter possessed a fund of humor that satisfied himself, even when it failed to amuse his readers or hearers. The writers under his direction understood that in order to hold their jobs they should laugh when Albert Baxter wrote or uttered a joke. Occasionally a new man, who had not learned of the practice of the room in regard to Baxter's wit, failed to laugh and thereby incurred the displeasure of the chief. John D. McIntyre was given a desk in the editorial room of the Eagle. A friend who had failed to laugh at the right moment and lost his desk, advised John to laugh when Mr. Baxter opened his can of humor. He followed the advice and became the moist boisterous member of the staff. Mr. Baxter may have questioned the genuineness of Mac's laugh, but Mac held the job as long as he cared to. Ezra D. Burr, a pioneer editor, publisher and later a physician, was an occasional visitor to the editorial rooms. He was quiet and did not disturb the workers while looking over the exchanges. He was especially interested in state affairs. Samuel S. Chipman, a liberal contributor to the columns of local newspapers, spent hours with the exchanges from time to time. Charles H. Taylor, in partnership with Jacob Barnes, published the Enquirer many years. Finally they sold the Enquirer, purchased the Detroit Free Press and managed its business successfully a score of years. Taylor called at the editorial rooms occasionally and sought discussion with the editors on questions pending in congress or the state legislature. When the editors were too busy to converse the vistor read the exchanges. A FIRE TRAP Luce's hall was a fire trap. Its seating capacity was about 600. A single narrow stairway permitted entry or exist. On its small stage, almost devoid of scenery, Edwin Booth played Hamlet, Lawrence Barrett presented Francesca di Riminia and Campbell and Castle's Opera company sang the "Rose of Castile." Among the noted lecturers who occupied the stage from time to time were Horace Greeley, Anna Dickinson, Susan B. Anthony, Fred Douglas, John B. Gough, Mary A. Livermore, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Gen. Judson Kilpatrick. The ladies advocated the granting of suffrage to women. Greely shocked the guests and attaches at the Rathbun house by mixing vegetables, pastry, meat, fish and whatever else he fancied, upon a single plate before eating it. He was not a fluent speaker but large audiences listened to him on several occasions. 28 OLD GRAND RAPIDS REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS Sixty years ago, during the trial of suits at law or of persons charged with crime, the judges of the courts and attorneys employed in such trials laboriously recorded the testimony taken with pencils or pens and ink in longhand. The stenographer had not made his appearance and demanded an opportunity to demonstrate his usefulness. The trials proceeded very slowly, and frequently the disputes between attorneys in regard to the testimony of witnesses consumed much time. The records never agreed. In the year 1863 Charles Flowers of Detroit, a stenographer, declared himself to be capable of taking the testimony of witnesses examined in the courts, the rulings of judges upon questions of law and their charges to juries accurately. Previously, by legislative enactment, the employment of stenographers by counties had been authorized and Mr. Flowers was appointed the first official court stenographer in the state of Michigan. Mr. Flowers followed his profession a decade or more, devoting his leisure hours in the meantime to the study of law. He has served several terms as a member of the house of representatives, and will be in his old seat at Lansing next month when the legislature of 1917 convenes. The first official stenographer of Kent county was Henry F. Walch. He has held his office upwards of fifty years,. Among those with whom he was associated were Melbourne H. Ford, who retired from the profession soon after his election as a member of congress; Charles H. Bender, now a vice president of the National City bank; "Dar" Luther and Harvey Sherman. For many years a very valuable assistant to Mr. Walsh and his associates was Miss Kate Johnson, who possessed the rare ability necessary to transcribe the "pothooks" of most any writer of shorthand. Her services in preparing copies of testimony for lawyers was highly prized in the legal profession. Stenographers formerly attended public lectures and church services for the purpose of gaining the practice such occasions afforded. Quite often they were made to speed up their work to the speaking capacity of the orators they attempted to follow. General Judson H. Kilpatrick, a hero of the Civil war and a favorite of the rostrum, spoke so rapidly as to baffle the efforts of the speediest shorthanders who attempted to report him. SNYDER KILLED DOGS Ancient citizens sometimes, when in a reflective mood, recall Leonard Snyder, a marshal of the city in the days when it was young. An epidemic of rabies frightened the citizens and Snyder was ordered by the council to kill unmuzzled dogs when found running at large. Armed with a heavy gun, which he loaded through the muzzle, Snyder patroled the streets and killed many canines. The frequent explosions of his gun was comparable to an early morning on the Fourth of July. Snyder was not only an expert marksman, but an efficient official. He enforced compliances with the ordinances of the city fearlessly and impartially and strengthened the demand for ammunition. A NUBBIN The first section of the municipal water system was planned and its construction directed by Peter Hogan, a hydraulic engineer of Utica, N. Y. Carrier Creek was the source of supply. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 29 MARY ANDERSON'S AUDIENCE OF TWO L. B. Eaton and Sid Stevens of Grand Rapids, read in the newspapers an account of the debut of Mary Anderson, later a famous tragedienne, at Louisville, and resolved to conduct a tour of the country with Miss Anderson in stellar roles. Miss Anderson, aged sixteen, had appeared successfully in amateur performances of Shakespeare's dramas in Louisville and sought employment as a professional. Barney Macaulay, the owner of the leading theater, was approached, but refused to consider the matter of an engagement. He was a wise old manager and past experiences with ambitious amateurs had taught him to beware of the budding geniuses of his later days. Miss Anderson's step-father had faith in the ability of the young woman, and finally agreed to guarantee the expense of an appearance of Miss Anderson as Juliet, with a trained company of actors and actresses in support. The play was presented in due time and Miss Anderson scored a triumph of hearts that were already hers, in her old home town. Eaton and Stevens, who were among those who witnessed the play, sought for and obtained an interview with the step-father, which resulted in the signing of a contract under the terms of which the beautiful Mary would go on tour. Her first appearance under the Eaton-Stevens management was in Chicago, where she played in emotional dramas, "Evadne" and "Ingomar." The critics were considerate in writing of her acting and the public, considerate of itself, remained at home. The next performance was given at Powers, in Grand Rapids. Four persons bought seats for the first night and one-half that number for the second. Eaton and Stevens lost about $2,000 in as many days and decided to quit in time to escape a court of bankruptcy. Mary returned to Louisville and the supporting company scattered. Eaton and Stevens had made engagements to play at a number of theaters in the east and the owners threatened to bring suits against the managers to collect various sums on account of damages sustained owing to the non-appearance of Miss Anderson. Eliza Weathersby, the first wife of the late Nat C. Goodwin, with a burlesque company, was engaged to fill the dates that were cancelled by Eaton and Stevens for Miss Anderson. For more than a decade following Miss Anderson remained on the dramatic stage and won a place in the estimation of theatergoers that would satisfy the most ambitious of her profession. Finally she married a young Italian, Antonio Navarro, moved to England, brought up a family and is passing her declining years in peace and comfort. JOKES AND JOKERS The oft repeated expression "cut a watermelon," originated in the brain of Charley Goodrich, a resident of Grand Rapids, 60 years ago. Goodrich was a son of P. M. Goodrich, formerly a dealer in hardware. The Canary Bird Minstrels, a local organization, gave two entertainments at Luce's hall. Goodrich was one of the comedians of the company. In the olio he delivered a stump speech after the old style of minstrel oratory and in concluding his remarks he invited all present to meet him in the middle of Lake Michigan when he would "cut a watermelon." Goodrich also used another expression that was repeated by local people many times: "To show my appreciation," etc., he would "open a keg of nails." 30 OLD GRAND RAPIDS Edwin Adams and John E. Owens were famous on the dramatic stage 60 years ago. Adams was a tragedian and Owens a comedian. Both were billed to play engagements in Grand Rapids on a certain date-Adams at Luce's hall and Owens at Squires' opera house. Both sipped wine when it was red with much pleasure; sometimes with disastrous effects. Owens and Adams met at the bar in Sweet's Hotel and kept Billy Clifton busily employed for a season in "setting them up." Adams sang his well known Bachanalian song: "There was a man of great renown "There was a man of great renown "There was a man of great renown "He kissed a girl in our town"He kissed a girl in our town." Owens began to totter after many assaults had been made on John Barleycorn and finally asked a porter to lead him to his room. He did not recover in time to play his part that night and the opera house was dark. Adams appeared at Luce's as Enoch Arden to a full house. Owens on meeting Adams on the following day, said, "Ed, you did it purposely." PROFESSORS OF PHRENOLOGY "Professor" Wheeler, he of the uncut white hair and shabby raiment, is a frequent sojourner in Grand Rapids. The "professor" is a bumpologist-he tells his patients their deficiencies as well as the good qualities nature provided for them, after an examination of the bumps on their heads. He is an intelligent and interesting individual, and at times finds employment at social gatherings. Not everyone, however, cares to have his deficiencies exposed. "Professor" Wheeler is a very modest man. In the computation of the value of his services he is an utter failure. He thankfully accepts a quarter for an examination of one's bumps, when a dollar would be paid if asked for. The presence of Wheeler recalls to mind "Professor" Clock of Grand Rapids, who practiced phrenology 35 years ago. "Professor" Clock was described as an oleaginous person, in figure and dress not unlike Dick Swiveler, of Dickens' Old Curiosity Shop, who could extract money from the unwilling patients in comfortable amounts. He attended the sessions of the state legislature, where he met not only the law makers but state officials and many men of prominence in business and the professions, whose occupations called them to Lansing from time to time. "Professor" Clock was the sergeant-at-arms of the third house during the years when that self-constituted body of lobbyists held swing in the history room of the capitol. He was well paid for his services. CITY HAD FIFTY MAYORS Since Grand Rapids became an incorporated city 50 men have filled the office of mayor. Thirty-five of that number have died. The oldest living former mayor is George R. Perry. George E. Ellis filled the position 10 years. Ellis participated in an exciting, hotly contested campaign when his opponent was the late Dr. M. C. Sinclair. Ellis' friends placed $5,000 where it would do him much good, and wagered $5,000 on the success of their candidate. Ellis won and the contest did not cost his supporters anything. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 31 RECOLLECTIONS OF GEORGE E. FITCH George E. Fitch, who has spent his life in Grand Rapids, is well informed in regard to the early history of the city. From his grandfather, Prof. Franklin Everett and his father, George C. Fitch, he learned much concerning the life of the pioneers of the Grand River valley. "O. W. Horton," he remarked, "established a daguerreotype gallery in Grand Rapids in 1856. The process of making pictures on metal was the invention of a Frenchman, Dr. Daguerre. In that year Horton sold his business to James P. Keeney. Members of the Keeney family are still residents of Grand Rapids township. Keeney was the first artist to use a process for printing photographs on paper." Among the prints Mr. Fitch found in the possession of a relative of Keeney's were portraits of many early residents of the city and vicinity. These will be presented to the Ryerson library for preservation. Deacon Horton repurchased the gallery from Keeney in 1858 and continued the practice of his art until 1912. He died several years ago. The ground now occupied by the postoffice was a swamp. It was fed by the springs that flow from the hillsides east of Division avenue. A creek carried the water across Lyon street, thence to the river. When the sewer in Lyon street was built the course of the creek was diverted into the sewer. The surplus earth excavated when Lyon street was graded was used to fill the swamp. Judge Lovell Moore's premises are now covered by the Livingston hotel. The upright section of the Moore house was moved nearly one mile south on Division avenue, and is still standing. It is near the American laundry. Judge Moore's house was built to conform to the sloping formation of the ground upon which it stood. It was built in sections. Commencing at Fulton street each section was constructed several feet lower than the preceding one. The natives irreverently called the place "the house of the apostolic succession." Upon the outbreak of the civil war Judge Moore erected a flagstaff upon his grounds. Shortly afterward a victory for the federal army was announced and Judge Moore put out his flag at half mast. The populace became very much excited and a vigilance committee was quietly organized for the purpose of punishing the judge for this evident lack of patriotism. Two of the committee called upon the judge and demanded an explanation. "Your flag is at half mast," they said. "What does that mean? Are you not pleased with the victory won by the union army?" "Half mast!" exclaimed the judge. "I did not know it was at half mast. I am 85 years old and cannot see distinctly. I pulled on the halyards until I was sure the flag had reached the top of the pole. I did the best I could. If it is at half mast, pull it up as far as it will go." Judge Moore's loyalty was not questioned thereafter. Julia, a daughter of Judge Moore is now a resident of Ripon, Wis. One of the lots now covered by the city hall was traded for a bushel of oats during the panicky days of 1837. Joel Guild, who erected the first public-house in Grand Rapids, paid Louis Campau $45 for two lots on Monroe avenue. The lots are now covered by thb Grand Rapids National Bank. 32 OLD GRAND RAPIDS The Michigan Railway company's passenger station covers the site of Louis Campau's trading post. A tablet on the walls of the Old National bank states that Campau's store was "near this spot." The railway station mentioned is two blocks distant from the bank. CAMPAU TRADED WITH INDIANS AT SAGINAW More than one hundred years ago Louis Campau, the first white settler in Grand Rapids, carried on trade with the Indians at Saginaw, exchanging everything men needed for furs. The government negotiated a treaty with the tribe for the purchase of a vast tract of land in consideration of the payment of three thousand silver dollars. General Lewis Cass and James Romeyn, representing the government, met the Indians at Saginaw. Campau had supplied the red men with merchandise to the amount of $1,500 and his agents urged Cass to pay his claim and deliver the remainder to the tribes. Another trader, one Jake Smith, opposed the plan. He would not gain as many of the silver dollars as he desired if the request of Campau should be granted. Campau's men had a supply of whisky on hand and when they learned that the silver would be delivered to the Indians tapped a barrel and told the Indians to help themselves. All drank freely and became uproarious and finally threatened to exterminate the white men. A company of regular soldiers, under the command of Captain Charles Cass, a brother of the general, was ordered to empty the whisky on the ground. A day or two later, when the headaches of the day before had been cured, the treaty was signed and the cartwheels given to the Indians. VALUABLE INVENTIONS M. B. Church of Grand Rapids is noted as an inventor of useful chemical processes and articles of utility. Among his earliest productions were wall finishes, first known as the "Anti-Kalsomine" and later as "Alabastine." In 1881 he brought out the "Bedette," a collapsible bed, for campers, and later a folding cot with hollow siderails, which contained the canvass top and legs when not in use. In the year 1892, while sojourning in Chicago, he went to Jackson park to witness the progress making in the erection of buildings for the world's fair. He saw hundreds of men engaged in spreading paint with brushes and concluded that the job could not be finished before the date fixed for the opening. He proposed to the engineer in charge to construct tanks supplied with pumps to be used in spreading paint rapidly, through a garden hose, on the buildings. Recognizing the feasibility of the suggestion the engineer engaged Mr. Church to construct the pumps needed and when, a few weeks later, the apparatus was put into operation it served the purpose desired so well that others were provided and the job was finished weeks in advance of the opening day. Manufacturers of furniture now use machines, constructed on the Church principle, in spraying furniture with finishing material. Mr. Church spent a great deal of time and much money in litigation in courts of the United States and foreign countries to recover damages for infringements of his patents. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 33 HOW CAMPAU SQUARE CAME INTO EXISTENCE Forty acres of land, the most valuable tract in Grand Rapids, was the prize for which Louis Campau and Lucius Lyon raced from Grand Rapids to the federal land office at Kalamazoo. It is now known as Campau's plat, Mr. Campau having won the race. The plat embraces that section of the city which lies north of Fulton street and west of Division avenue. George E. Fitch, a son of George C. Fitch, a pioneer who built vehicles of various kinds at his shop on Division avenue opposite the Majestic theater, is the possesser of many facts of interest in the life of early Grand Rapids and the most complete collection of photographic views and sketches of the community of any that exists. Mr. Fitch says that a great deal of jealousy and enmity developed between Campau and Lyon, and in drawing his plat Campau sought to prevent Lyon and his neighbors from entering into or departing from the "village of Grand Rapids," the name given by Campau to his town, except through the section line now known as Division avenue. Lyon had purchased from the general government 40 acres immediately north of Campau's plat, platted and named it Kent plat, and the region was known as Kent Village. Campau had platted the north section of his 40 into a solid body of lots, fronting on Pearl street, and extending from Division avenue to the river. Lyon platted the southern end of his 40 in the same way, and the tract lying between Pearl and Lyon streets became the battle ground of the respective owners. Lyon desired to extend Canal street, now north Monroe avenue, to a point opposite the north end of Monroe avenue at Pearl street, but Campau would not sell the land necessary to be acquired to effect a junction. Lyon also sought to extend Bond avenue south to the junction of Monroe avenue and Market street but was unable to do so. Finally Campau was induced to sell to a stranger a lot that had a frontage on Pearl street directly opposite the entrance to the Old National bank under a pledge not to transfer the property to Lyon or his associates. The pledge was broken, however, and Campau was obliged to witness with mortification the invasion of the Village of Grand Rapids through Canal and Pearl street of Lyon and all who resided or carried on business enterprises north of Pearl street. In the course of time the municipal authorities opened and extended Ottawa and Ionia avenues south to Pearl street. Although an order was passed by the common council many years ago to effect that purpose, the attempt to open and extend Bond avenue to Monroe avenue was blocked through the intervention of private interests. Had the efforts of Lyon to connect Canal street (now north Monroe avenue) with Monroe avenue at Pearl street failed, the plaza known as Campau Square would not have been created. NUBBINS Crane's museum was located on the third floor of the Rood building, Pearl street. Crane exhibited interesting specimens of taxidermy, rare jewels, hundreds of curiosities and freaks of nature. It was a collection many times worth the price of admission-10 cents. The banks of Grand River between Fourth and Leonard streets were covered with mammoth trees years ago, the resort of seekers for pleasure. Many picnics and political meetings were held under their spacious branches. 34 OLD GRAND RAPIDS GRAND RAPIDS SIXTY YEARS AGO Sixty years ago the City National Bank occupied a little store in the Ledyard building, on the corner of Ottawa and Monroe avenue. President W. B. Ledyard, Cashier J. Frederic Baars and a clerk handled the business. William B. Ledyard and Moses V. Aldrich were engaged in the manufacture of milk safes and fanning mills (grain separators) in a little factory located on Division avenue at the rear of St. Andrews' cathedral. Aldrich traveled through the rural districts, carrying his safes and mills on a long wagon and sold the same to farmers. Later the builders of threshing machines added grain separators to their apparatus, putting the fanning mill industry out of business. School District No. 1 of Grand Rapids (that part of the city lying south of Michigan street and east of Grand river) maintained four primary schools. The buildings were of wood, one story high and were located as follows: Ionia and Bridge streets, South Division and Maple streets, Wealthy street and Terrace avenue, and Fountain street near Prospect avenue. Two other school districts were composed of the fourth and fifth wards (now the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth wards) and the territotry lying north of Michigan avenue respectively. Joseph M. Cook, chief of the fire department, operated a line of stages between Grand Rapids and Newaygo; A. R. Antisdel and T. F. Phelps supplied transportation by wagon between Grand Rapids and Greenville and Patterson and Company operated a line of Concord coaches between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The original route located for the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad through the city provided for a bridge at the north end of Godfrey avenue over which the trains would cross and run north to Bridge street. The project was abandoned on account of the greediness of certain owners of land the railroad desired to purchase as sites for the depot, a round house and car shops. A long wooden covered bridge across Grand river at Pearl street was the center of interest on the Fourth day of July, 1864. The bridge was first whitewashed, then decorated and dinner served to soldiers returned from the Civil war. The tables extended the length of the bridge. Travel by teams was suspended during the day. Soon after his graduation from the Michigan College, at Lansing, Hon. C. W. Garfield engaged in the sale of nursery stock. To assure himself that the trees and bushes he had sold would grow, Mr. Garfield dug the holes and set them for customers. John M. Longyear, a penniless youth, was employed with the aid of Mr. Garfield, to write letters from the mining regions of the Upper Peninsula, for a local newspaper at $3.00 per letter. Longyear became a millionaire and Mr. Garfield the most distinguished and greatly admired citizen of Grand Rapids. His many activities, both public and private, have redounded to the benefit of the city and state. Old residents remember Alpheus Bissell, a kindly old man, who established a store for the sale of pottery wares on Monroe avenue, adjoining the present Commercial Savings bank, about 1870. M. R. Bissell, sr., and Harvey Bissell, sons, were associated with the father. The small stock of inexpensive wares carried did not overcrowd the store. A few years later M. R. Bissell, Sr., perfected a carpet sweeper and laid the foundation for the great business of the Bissell Company. The first lot of sweepers brought out were manufactured in rooms above the store. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 35 "People ask my age," Alpheus Bissell remarked. "One fine autumn day, I commenced chewing fine cut tobacco when I was about seven years old. My doctor said I might have lived to a ripe old age if I had commenced chewing the weed earlier. I am only 94." With a chuckle the old man replenished his chew of fine cut and moved away. INTERESTING MUSICAL EVENTS RECALLED Mrs. Edwin F. Uhl served the St. Cecilia society as its president a number of years. Having resided four years in the city of Berlin, as the wife of the ambassador of the United States, and several years in Washington, during which period Mr. Uhl filled the office of assistant secretary of state, Mrs. Uhl took advantage of the opportunities presented for adding to her well-informed mind greater knowledge of music and musicians. During her incumbency of the presidency of the St. Cecilia society, she induced many talented musicians to come to Grand Rapids to entertain the members and guests of the society and its financial supporters. Among those who spent several months in the city was Agramonte, who played the piano skilfully, and at times with so much force that he wrecked the keyboard. He quickly won local recognition and favor and a large number of students availed themselves of the benefit of his training. Mrs. Uhl invited J. Francis Campbell, baritone, and William Lavan, a tenor, of Detroit, to give a concert in Grand Rapids in the fall of 1889, the occasion of their first appearance in the city. Agramonte played the accompaniments. A few years later Mr. Campbell returned to Grand Rapids and directed the rehearsals and concerts of the Schubert club and sang in the quartet at Park Congregational church. Mr. Campbell was substantially interested in the J. W. York company, manufacturers of brass musical instruments, and an officer of that corporation. The Peak family, Swiss bell ringers, vocalists and players of brass and orchestral instruments lived, when not traveling on the road, in Niles, Mich. It was a talented family which included the wife, sons and daughters of William H. Peak. The star of the troupe was Miss Fanny, who played the violin and the cornet. William H. Peak was a master of the harp and tuba. The family gave concerts in Grand Rapids many times and was widely known fifty years ago. In the year 1868 or thereabouts Manager Peak discovered the Berger family of talented musicians and induced them to join him and travel as the Peak and Berger families. The Bergers, Fred S., Henry, Louise, Anna and Etta, Josephine Maddox and Will Warmington of Jackson, Mich., associated with the Bergers, strengthened the Peak organization very much and the entertainments given deserved and received liberal patronage. Fred Berger led the band and played the violin. Anna Berger attained distinction as the most accomplished lady cornet player in the United States. Louise played the 'cello and a brass horn. Henry played the euphonium and bells and Etta was accomplished in the playing of several instruments. After several years spent with the Peaks, the Bergers withdrew and entered the musical field on their own account. Sol Smith Russell joined the Bergers and added character representations in costume and monologues to the program. After a short acquaintance he and Louise Berger were married. A year or two later Anna Berger married Leigh Lynch, a theatrical manager, and Etta married Lloyd Brazee, an actor and newspaper man of Detroit. All three died a few years after entering tihe matrimonial state. Josephine Maddox, a charming and talented little woman, 36 OLD GRAND RAPIDS married George I. Quimby of Grand Rapids, and became the mother of George Irving Quimby, now a successful young business man of this city. The death of his sisters and Mrs. Quimby compelled Manager Fred G. Berger to close the career of his concert troupe. Pixley and Grannis were widely known entertainers fifty years ago. J. H. Pixley and his partner, Mr. Grannis, unaided, entertained the public successfully a score of years, going over the same routes and presenting the same programs. After the close of their public careers, J. H. Pixley located in Grand Rapids and entered the employ of Spring & Avery. His son "Sid" W. Pixley, has been an employe of the Spring store many years. SCHUBERT CLUB IN CONCERT At the second (matinee) concert given by the Schubert club during the May festival of 1904 the following program was presented: Saturday, May 21, 1904 Soloists-Guiseppe Campanari, baritone; Bruno Steindel, violincello. "Huldgugsmarch".W..............................................................Wagner "Vorspiel," from "Lohengrin" (Thomas orchestra).................................Wagner Aria (Guiseppe Campanari)........................................................................... Symphony, No. 8, B Minor (unfinished) (Thomas orchestra)..............Schubert Theme and Variations (Bruno Steindel)............................................................Servais Intermission Overture, "Lenore," No. 3 (Thomas orchestra)........................................Beethoven Song (Guiseppe Cam panari)................................................................................................ Funeral March (Thomas orchestra).................................. Chopin-Thomas A ria (Guiseppe Cam panari).............................................................................................. Overture, "Tannhauser" (Thomas orchestra).......................................... Wagner The third or night program follows: Soloists-Mme. Schumann-Heink, contralto; Mrs. Willard S. Bracken, contralto; Miss Jenny Osborn, soprano; Glenn Hall, tenor; Gwilym Miles, baritone. May festival chorus, Thomas orchestra, Francis Campbell, conductor. O verture, "Jubilee"....................................................................................................W eber Recitative and Aria, "Penelope," ("Odyssius")....................................Max Bruch Mme.Schumann-Heink "Invitation to the Dance" (Orchestra)................................................Weber-Berlioz Aria (Mr. Miles)....................................................................................................... Air from Third Orchestral Suite (Orchestra)....................................................Bach Recitative and Aria from "The Prophet," prison scene, Act IV........Meyerbeer Mme. Schumann-Heink Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2( Orchestra)............................................................Liszt Intermission "The Swan and Skylark"....................................................................Gorling-Thomas Miss Osborn, Mrs. Bracken, Mr. Hall, Mr. Miles, May Festival Chorus and Orchestra A chorus of women assisted the club. Names of the chorus follows: Sopranos-Mrs. George E. Abbott, Addie Alger, Bessie Ames, Mrs. George M. Ames, Orilla Andrews, Ethel M. Bailey, Mrs. Orville M. Barton, Mrs. E. H. OLD GRAND RAPIDS S7 Boer, Daisy Boone, Lena Bell Bridgeman, Bertha E. Carson, Mrs. H. B. Clark, Helen M. Disbrow, Ada M. Dorsey, Ethelyn J. Doyle, Iris Dunham, Anna Eardley, Mrs. Charles E. Fink, Ida L. Foote, Maude Forster, Mrs. James Fyfe, Mary Folston, Mrs. H. J. Gray, Estelle B. Greenway, Bernice Griffith, Cora B Harvey, Oriel Hegle, Anna E. Hensen, Mary Eloise Hickey, Zoe Hinkson, Mrs. H. W. Howard, Katherine Keating, H. Olivia Kelly, Audie S. Kelley, Anna Kinney, Mrs. Charles Skinner, Mrs. Oscar Tandler, Jennie Thomas, Mrs. A. Thomas, Harriet Thomasma, Grace Thomasma, Mrs. S. B. Tibbets, Jessie E. Tracy, Frances Van Buren, Catherine Vander Veen, Lucy E. Welmers, Mrs. F. C. West, Lena Wygant, Sadie Bell Kinsey, Marie Kirk, Marjory J. Kirk, Ivey E. Kortlander, D. Krause, Mrs. Maude Kurtz, Mrs. L. E. Dunn Lawson, June Wallace Lathrope, Helene LaValliere, Evelyn Liddie, Genevieve Loomis, Mary Machemer, Margaret Maybury, Florence Marsh, Mrs. R. Maurits, Winifred Meech, Mrs. B. D. Meeker, Josephine Middleton, Evangeline Morrisey, Loretta Morrisey, Grace Norcutt, Winnie Norcutt, Mrs. E. W. E. Paterson, Hettie Rayner, Anna F. Reilly, Laura Rowson, Clara Schaaf, Eda Schaefer, Bertha Schaefer, Edna E. Scheufler, Avis L. Shattuck, Edith Smith, Florence Standish, Mrs. Dan Steketee. Altos-Mrs. M. C. Beard, Mrs. W. A. Benjamin, Anna M. Bertleson, Edith C. Brewer, Mrs. Dick Brink, Sabina Buys, Katherine Colleton, Bessie M. Crippen, Verna Dale, Flora Donaldson, Gertrude Diamond, Mrs. D. A. Drummond, Mrs. D. J. Doornink, Jr., Evelyn S. Goodsell, Mrs. H. J. Gray, Etta Hanink, Mrs. Charles Heth, Florence Huntington, Lillian Jennings, S. A. Kimberlee, Elizabeth Klys, Katherine Kirkwood, Minnie Kotvis, Henrietta Krause, Mrs. J. D. Kromer, Francesca Lopez, Beatrice Mahony, Florence Mahony. Elizabeth Melis, Martha Mills, Katherine Morrisey, Ada Mosher, Blanche Ormond, Helen E. Parker, Nellie Louise Roller, Nan Ryan, Henrietta Schneider, Anna Schrouder, Lillian Swartz, Mrs. P. A. Ten Haaf, Frankie Trauger, Agnes Van Buren, Vena Van Campen, Helena Van Duren, Marie Vander Werp, Gertrude Veldman, Bertha Wagner, Allie Crumback White, Kate Wolcott. Hartman's hall was a death-trap. Eventually flames destroyed it. To guard against the exigencies of a fire occurring during the concerts attendants were stationed at each entrance to throw open the doors if it should be necessary and to direct the movements of the people. Sketches of the lives of the stars and accounts of their achievements were printed in the booklet. MISS DUNN'S PREDICAMENT Local music lovers of 55 years ago remember a beautiful young woman who possessed a remarkable contralto voice-Julia Dunn. Miss Dunn was a pupil of J. D. Zielinkski, a Pole and a teacher of singing and the piano. Mr. Zielinski produced several operas with the aid of local talent during his stay in Grand Rapids. In one of these operas Miss Dunn was cast for the part of a cavalier in tights and tunic for which her handsome figure was well adapted. Her first appearance was made through a window at the rear of the stage. When she sprang from the ledge the sword she wore tripped her and she fell flat. Undaunted by her misfortune, she sang the music of her part beautifully. Upon the conclusion of her act she backed into the wings, bowing her thanks for the generous applause accorded her. It was reported that a needle and thread were sought for, found and used before Miss Dunn again appeared. 38 OLD GRAND RAPIDS SMITH'S VARIETIES A long, low brick building covered the site of the Temple theater, 60 years ago. It was owned by S. S. Ball, who used it as a livery stable and omnibus house. A few years later Ball, who was one of the original conductors employed by the New York Central railroad before he located in Grand Rapids, moved to another location and the barn was provided with seats, a stage, boxes and the usual equipment of a theater and opened as a place of entertainment to patrons of vaudeville. Management changed hands from time to time, but only one of their number realized a profit from the business done. "Free and easy" characterized the place. Drinks and cigars were sold to the occupants of the seats and women were permitted to sit in the boxes behind closely drawn curtains. The acts presented were amusing, verging at times on vulgarity. Reporters for the newspapers found many interesting items in the place. Public officers off duty, passenger transfer agents, railroad employes and business men of certain classes, all good sources of news, were interviewed nightly by men of the press, who paid but little attention to the shows. Stationed at the entrance they gathered news of men going and coming. It was a resort for crooks. Of the many performers who played long engagements at the place (short time bookings were unknown in vaudeville) George Wilson, Hank Goodman, Gus Brundo, Gorge S. Knight, later a dramatic star; Lulu Frances and Millie Lafont are remembered. Bruno, an Italian, warbled and sang dialect songs effectively. Knight's dances and songs in German dialect were good. Wilson played a banjo in one key and sang in another. The words of his song were not those of the author but of his own selection, often unrhythmical and inappropriate. Goodman impersonated the colored gentleman in comedy and in the minstrel scenes presented from time to time rattled the bones while Wilson beat the tambo. A chicken story pulled off by the pair amused the audience for a while but became intolerable to the regular patrons of the house in the course of time. Wilson would relate an incident in the life of a chicken that crept into an office safe at a moment when an alarm of fire had been sounded. The door of the safe was closed but the office building burned to the ground. When the red hot safe had cooled the door was opened and the chicken flew out unharmed. It was then Goodman's turn. He owned a chicken that flew into a red hot cupola of an iron foundry. When the cupola had cooled, several days later, the chicken was found frozen stiff. Finally the audience would not permit the retelling of the story. Wilson and Goodman were hooted whenever they tried to repeat it. A little singer and dancer, Mary Jackson, was engaged. Her lover imagined that Mary favored other men with smiles and jests. A quarrel followed and Mary, with a deep knife cut in her side, was hurried to a hospital. The lover was arrested, examined in police court and held for trial. Mary identified him as the one who stabbed her. On trial in the circuit court later she was unable to identify the lover. "I never met this man before," she testi OLD GRAND RAPIDS 39 fied. The man was acquitted. Mary was arrested, charged with perjury, tried, convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for one year. "The ways of women," remarked Judge Hoyt, after passing sentence upon the prisoner, "are devious and incomprehensible to men." BENEFIT ENTERTAINMENTS Managers of local amusement houses in 1869 were not infrequently unable to meet the demands of actors and actorines for the payment of wages due them. In the slang of the stage, the "ghost failed to walk." Such unpleasant situations were met by the wiley managers by the presentation of entertainments for the benefit of one or more of the unpaid employes. On January 18, 1869, Manager W. J. Thompson put on a benefit for D. E. Townsend, preceded by the following rollicking announcement: Tuesday Evening, Jan. 19, 1869, benefit of Mr. D. E. Townsend on which occasion, in order to accommodate the multitude expected to be present, it was first intended to RAISE THE DOME. But a difficulty in raising the Wind having occurred, it was dropped-not the dome-but the idea. GREAT PAINS WILL BE TAKEN TO KEEP THE HOUSE WARM, And all the LITTLE PANES which are now broken will remain so in order to afford a free ventilation; the arrangements will not be under the direction of a committee of Gentlemen, selected for the purpose PRICES WILL REMAIN AS THEY HAVE BEEN. Regulations: Carriages will please set down heads east; taking up heads west-tails behind. On arriving at the door of the theater, the audience will purchase their tickets if not previously provided with them, and proceed at once in a grand cavalcade to the interior, where they will seat themselves as comfortably as possible, and laugh and applaud when they find occasion. It is particularly requested that those who cannot get front seats, sit on the back ones, and not on the back of the seats, and those who cannot get any, will stand at ease and pay attention. At the conclusion of the performance, the audience will retire. Immediately after the audience have gone out the lights will go out also, after having shed a brilliant illumination during the evening. A DEBT TO KINGSBURY The city is indebted to Solomon 0. Kingsbury, a pioneer of Grand Rapids, for its title to the little triangular park upon which the soldiers' monument is located at the intersection of Division and Monroe avenues. Mr. Kingsbury resided on the ground adjoining the Livingston hotel on the east, a score of years. Sewer and road taxes levied on the triangle were unpaid for the year 1865, and the property was offered for sale by local authorities. Mr. Kingsbury purchased the tax title and immediately transferred it to the city. During his life Mr. Kingsbury carried on an important insurance business and served one term as postmaster. He was the grandfather of Frederick K. Tinkham. 40 OLD GRAND RAPIDS DICKINSON ENTERTAINED DISTURBANCE CLUB On February 7, 1904, Albert G. Dickinson invited the wreckers of the old Disturbance club to assemble at his happy home and announced that the mangled remains of his furniture would be sold to the "lowest" bidder, after the fracas was over. George A. Murphy compiled the program; John Duffy expurgated George's able effort and "Dick" executed it. The eatables and drinkables disposed of the club proceeded to enjoy, more or less, the program of 25 numbers. Members were instructed that the large napkins-borrowed of Ed. Richards, the barber-should be used at table, not, however, to prevent the soiling of the collars of such as should wear them. In addition they were not to be used to surreptitiously conceal food, to be carried home to mere or "pater." Pumpkin pie might be eaten, if discreetly handled, without soiling one's ears. "Beware of the sharp knives. Don't cut your mouth," the instructor continued; "don't select silver for souvenirs. It is borrowed and its return is guaranteed." Herr Rudolph Wellenstein spread his juvenile hands over the keyboard which emitted a "Santa Claus March," "Merry Bobolink." "We uns" was the subject of short and "tripe" remarks uttered by Hon. Andy Fyfe, of the A. P. A. J. Francis Campbell sang "I'm Not Living at Home," and nobody seemed to be interested in the statement. An Allegretti via Doloroso violin effort, "Robins Lullaby," was the best Fred Wurzburg could find in his fiddle. Ben S. Hanchett, the homey-handed son of toil, instructed his hearers in the arts of raising peacocks, sea serpents and Brussels sprouts. Mr. Nourse, assisted by the Temple Quartette, sang "It Was the Itch," in Deutsche. Little George Murphy described the pleasures of a hair cut, as performed by Ed. Richards. W. M. Wurzburg sang "Hi Lee." H. P. Robinson recalled scenes and incidents in the lives of himself and his boy chum, William Shakespeare. C. S. Burch presented diplomas to the most noted falsifers. Mr. Knott opused 711 in "Silence and Fun." Hans Duffy sang a song without notes. George W. Stanton fell "Asleep at the Switch." Mr. Millard Palmer described his policy toward the Japanese. B. P. Merrick revealed the cause, in confidence, that impelled him to come west. Charles F. Perkins gossiped about his neighbors. The "Weaknesses of the Supreme Court of the United States," were exposed by Walter Drew. J. M. Crosby gave practical demonstrations in thawing out pipes. Clarence J. Van Etten was called on to state why he was a Democrat. "I am in sympathy with the party, because of its many defeats," he explained, and added, "but I never fail to vote the Republican ticket." Phil K. Miller was asked if, in his judgment, members of the club should eat less or drink more. "Yes, by all means," Phin replied. S. S. Corl attempted to sell stock in a gold mine. Members of the club were invited by the host to call again, if requested to do so. A NUBBIN The Collins building, a four-story brick structure, occupied the northwest corner of Monroe avenue and Erie street. On the fourth floor a vaudeville show was carried on several years by one Mrs. Nunn and her family. The Nunns were talented musicians. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 41 ORGANIZED HESPERUS CLUB First local dinner club of importance was organized by Col. M. A. Aldrich, an editor employed by the Grand Rapids Democrat about 1890. Dinners were served to the members of the club at the hotels at irregular intervals, followed by a program of music and addresses by members or invited guests. A feature of each entertainment was the reading of the minutes as recorded by the secretary, Maj. James W. Long, adjutant of the Soldiers' Home. Maj. Long had won distinction through service in the army and had been an editor of a newspaper published at Mt. Pleasant, Mich. Finally he obtained a position in the federal pension bureau in Washington which he held prior to his death, about 1898. Maj. Long was a wit and in writing the records of the club he gathered material from all parts of the world. Only a very small part of the record pertained to the transactions of the club. He quoted Shakespeare and credite-1 the authorship of such quotations to the king of Tim-buc-too. He coined puns and credited their authorship to kings, queens and presidents. The minutes in fact, were a riot of fun. Gen. B. M. Cutcheon wrote a song, "Hesperus," for the club, which was sung by members to the air of "Michigan, My Michigan": Oh, fairest star, of thee we sing, Hesperus, bright Hesperus; To thee our tribute glad we bring Hesperus, fair Hesperus; For when the toil of day is done And evening comes with shadows on, Then shall thy glad rays cheer each one, Hesperus, our Hesperus. Thy name, the bond that binds us here, Hesperus, our Hesperus; With fellowship and right good cheer, Hesperus, our Hesperus; Here sparkling wit and social song, Shall speed the joyous hours along, While high resolve shall right the wrong, Hesperus, our Hesperus. Then join the song of praise tonight, To Hesperus, bright Hesperus, Long may she spread her kindly light, Hesperus, fair Hesperus. The years may come, the years may go, These bonds shall ever stronger grow, And constant still thy light shall glow, Hesperus, fair Hesperous. Not satisfied with the above the general adjusted a fresh steel pen and tuned out the following to the air of "Vive L'Amour." 42 OLD GRAND RAPIDS Hesperus, star of the evening light, Queen of the western sky; Splendidly luminous, tenderly bright, Serene thou shinest on high. ChorusHesperus, Hesperus, Hesperus bright, Hesperus, queen of the evening light; Brightest and best, gem of the west, Sing we thy praise tonight. Thou guidest the wanderer on his way, Showing his homeward road; Thou cheerest the toiler at closing day, Lightening his weary load. ChorusStar of all lovers, the symbol of love, Joyous we sing of thee: Treading thy luminous circuit above, Over the western sea. ChorusHesperus, emblem of love and light, Hesperus, gem of the west; Sing we thy praise with jubilant might, Goddess of pleasure and rest. Officers of the club were M. Almy Aldrich, president; W. R. Shelby and Edward Taggart, vice presidents, James W. Long, secretary and E. G. Studley, treasurer. Messrs. Shelby and Studley survive. Other members of the club were Charles H. Bender, Thomas J. O'Brien, Dr. C. S. Hazeltine, Col. C. W. Calkins, George DeHaven, M. B. Draper, Dr. J. O. Edie, P. L. Witzlebern, Charles Fox, A. D. Rathbone, E. F. Sweet, E. WV. Jones, James M. Crosby, J. H. P. Hughart, Dr. J. Ward House, Huntley Russell, H. B. Stitt, N. J. Whalen, Fred H. Ball, Dr. J. B. Griswold, Charles L. Fitch, Leslie W. Sprague, E. A. Burlingame, Mark Norris, W. Hubert Wood, R. W. Butterfield, Revs. Campbell Fair and J. Herman Randall. WALKER OPPOSED A GERRYMANDER Jacob W. Walker of Vergennes served many terms as a supervisor of that township. He was a member of a committee that supervised the erection of the courthouse of Kent county and a strong and faithful supporter of Charles Woodward, superintendent of construction, combatting and defeating the schemes of grafters. Mr. Walker was an independent Democrat. In 1892 an attempt was made by the board of supervisors to change the boundaries of the second and third representative districts of Kent county by detaching the township of Lowell from the second and adding it to the third district and by detaching Alpine from the third and adding it to the second district. Mr. Walker opposed the plan and with the aid of others defeated it. "I will not support such a gerrymander," he explained. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 43 C. K. SEYMOUR WAS ENTERTAINED BY THE DISTURBANCE CLUB The Disturbance club, organized by members of the Schubert band of singers, flourished in Grand Rapids in 1901. On the seventh night of January of that year a complimentary dinner was provided for Alderman Charles K. Seymour, who had decided to leave the happy home of a lifetime to cast his lot with the fiery untamed Texans of the Beaumont sector. W. B. Collins' home was the scene of the feast and the host announced to his guests that another chance to see Charlie eat would not be afforded; that the disposal of the food would require but a little time, as he had been very economical in his expenditures on that account. George A. Murphy occupied McGregor's seat at the head of the table. John Duffy uncorked the flow of oratory without a text. Henry Van Dugteren followed with "A Good Effort." Paul P. Davis was permitted to prove that "If you Prick it, it will never Heal." W. N. Nourse discussed the nonimportant "Impressions of a Benedict." A. G. Dickinson presented an estimate of costs for printing a program, while members of the club snored in unison. "The effects of High Balls on the Scotch" was described and impersonated by Andy Fyfe. Andy recommended "A hair from the dog," as an antidote. C. S. Burch laborously explained that if the intestine of a feline mouser were to bust he would know it was on his fiddle. "How much does Charlie owe around town?" was reported in a dollar and centsible way by Alfred Baxter. J. Francis Campbell employed the Garcia system to prove "The Absence of Art in Song." R. A. Wellenstein proved beyond question that "nothing could be taken from a German," when he was awake. "Dialect as a Source of Joy" was reduced to a disappearing moonbeam by E. M. Metheany. W. Millard Palmer was permitted to express "A Relative Opinion" about nothing of consequence and Fred Wurzburg was given five floors and a basement in which to explain how he did "fancy work." Present but not permitted to speak, sing, smoke or slumber, were H. J. Bennett, John E. Brower, W. B. Collins, W. E. Cox, F. D. Fuller, George E. Hardy, R. R. Metheany, J. R. McCarger, Phin K. Miller, James D. Muir and W. M. Wurzburg. The committee on arrangements provided moving vans to run after 1:30 a. m., and advised members to have their home addresses securely sewed on their overcoats. An account of the festival published in The Press contained the following statements: "Mr. Seymour, not knowing what to expect, was induced to call at the residence of Mr. Collins, and when he entered he was led to a darkened room. As the lights flashed he found himself surrounded by 25 disturbers, who sang the first verse of the Soldier's Farewell. At the close of the festivities lights were extinguished, the finale of the Soldier's Farewell was sung with appropriate variations and silly suggestions, after which a handsome cigar case with silver mountings was presented to Mr. Seymour." The Disturbance club, with no officers or organization, continued on its delightful but informal way for five or six years. A NUBBIN Switch engines were not used in the operation of railroads in the early days. Horses served that purpose. Tracks laid inside of freight depots provided for the loading or unloading of cars under cover. 44 OLD GRAND RAPIDS DRY LECTURERS OF OLD DAYS TOTED THE DEMON WITH THEM During the winter of 1848 a young preacher came to Grand Rapids seeking a pulpit or such other employment as would enable him to keep the wolf at a distance. His name was John H. Standish. Rev. Charles A. Jenison, pastor of the Baptist church, entertained the stranger and invited him to preach a sermon on a Sunday morning. Nothing restrains the utterances of a Baptist minister. Rev. Mr. Standish in his discourse presented arguments that did not meet with the approval of the pastor. When the visitor concluded, Rev. Mr. Jenison remarked: "This congregation is entitled to another sermon this morning, and I will preach it." Unhesitatingly, he assailed the arguments of his guest and forcibly pointed out the erroneous conclusions the sojourning preacher had, in the opinion of the pastor, uttered. The congregation enjoyed the incident; it was discussed by the residents of the village for weeks afterward. Rev. Mr. Jenison, graduated from Oberlin college before he was permitted to vote, remained with his charge two years. His salary was so small and its payment so uncertain that his wife felt obliged to undertake the training of daughters of well-to-do parents (if there were such in the community), in consideration of the payment of modest sums, in the higher branches of education in order tc provide the necessities of the family. Rev. Mr. Standish moved to Newaygo county, studied law, was admitted in time to the bar and traveled from hamlet to hamlet to deliver temperance lectures. He was elected the first prosecuting attorney of Newaygo county. When the Civil war broke out he entered the army and remained in the service until peace was won. He retired with the rank of colonel. A few years later he received the appointment of United States attorney for the western district of Michigan and moved from Newaygo to Grand Rapids. His son, Albert H. Standish, was chosen as his assistant. The son died in Chicago a few months ago. Col. Standish drove to Sparta one cold, wintry day to fill an appointment to lecture on temperance. When he arrived at the hamlet he learned that another orator, Dr. Penney, had arrived and would speak on the evils of the liquor habit. Col. Standard suggested that a joint meeting be held, that both speak and that the gate money be divided. The plan pleased the villagers and two rousing speeches were delivered. On the following morning the speakers prepared to leave. The weather was almost unbearably cold. When well outside the village Dr. Penney, the speaker from Grand Rapids, hailed the colonel, who quickly brought his horse to a halt. "Er-ahl Aheml It's very cold," suggested the doctor. "Er-ahl Er-ahl Aheml It is very cold." "Er-ahl Ahem! Ahem! Would you like a little drink?" inquired the doctor. "Er-ahl Er-ahl Er-ahl Aheml Aheml Ahem! I am much obliged to you," replied the colonel. "I have a bottle in my pocket. Gid-dapl" A NUBBIN First Reformed Church engaged T. DeWitt Talmage, a noted preacher of Brooklyn, to deliver a lecture in Mills and Clancy's Hall, over the West store, opposite the Pantlind. A heavy storm of snow followed by rain so affected the attendance that the church lost heavily on its contract. The deacons sought a modification of the contract price to be paid Talmage, but the latter demanded his full price and obtained it. OLD GRAND RAPIDS PRINCIPAL PRIZES DID NOT CHANGE HANDS Thomas H. Redmond was a dealer in wines and liquors in Jackson, Mich. There seemed to be too much competition for the trade in his line of merchandise in the prison city and in 1878 Redmond decided to move his barrels and bottles to Grand Rapids. He leased a store on Monroe avenue, near Bridge and soon gained a substantial bar and wholesale trade. Redmond was an attractive young man. Saloonkeepers and bartenders in past years dressed themselves more richly and conspicuously than men of other lines of business. Pictured vests, flowing neckwear, elaborately ornamented diamond studded horseshoe breastpins and tall silk hats were considered indispensable by those more or less worthy individuals of forty years ago. Redmond accumulated a pleasing stack of dollars in the course of a few years with which he decided to seek fame as a promoter of amusements. He purchased grounds opposite the Orpheum theatre and erected an "opera house," with a seating capacity of about 1,000. He undertook the management of the house but as he lacked knowledge of the intricacies involved in the amusement business, a heavy loss resulted. The Stair Brothers finally leased the house and managed it successfully. One season their profits amounted to $18,000. Redmond had incurred a large debt and chafed under the burden as it consumed the profits of his liquor business. Finally he decided to dispose of the property by operating a lottery. The plan was advertised extensively and many thousands of tickets were sold. Drawings for the prize were delayed from time to time and many investors became impatient. Redmond had not sold a sufficient numbers of tickets to enable him to pay off the mortgage that encumbered the property and empower him to give a warranty deed to the winner. Lotteries had been prohibited by acts of congress and the state legislature and acting under legal advice Redmond decided to set the wheel of fortune in motion on one of the ferries that ply the river between Detroit and Windsor. The wheel would be put in motion while the boat moved into Canadian waters. American laws would not operate against the Redmond plan. None of the several drawings held from time to time were conclusive. Redmond could not transfer the prize to a winner and the delays occasioned permitted him, when only five numbers remained in the wheel, to find the owners and purchase the tickets. It is not known how much these tickets cost Redmond, but he retained the opera house. Hart G. Coburn owned a hotel, a livery stable and a farm at or near Howard City. Neither of his investments yielded a profit and Mr. Coburn decided to dispose of the properties by lottery. An extensive advertising campaign was organized and a lively demand for tickets followed. One of the contracts entered into by Coburn and the publisher of a newspaper in Grand Rapids called for 1,000 lines of pure reading matter to be published within thirty days. The lines were to be written by the editors and reporters employed by the publisher and a limitation was placed upon the number of lines that might be printed each day. Writers were granted absolute freedom in treating the subject assigned to them and many of the articles contained only a bare reference to the lottery. Coburn disposed of the livery stable and farm with the aid of the wheel, 46 OLD GRAND RAPIDS but the hotel remained in his possession. He purchased the winning number for 50 cents. AN HOUR WITH THE DRAMA LEAGUE After a week of persuasion, friend husband yielded, and friend wife dragged him out to the Kent Country club to attend the annual dinner of the Drama League. Seated comfortably upon the broad verandah the million dollar field of the golf players was surveyed and the notion entered the mind of friend husband that if these noble acres were devoted to agriculture, cultivated by members of the club, they would serve a better purpose-Oh, shucks, what's the use? Ladies, 200 of them, came. Mrs. MacPherson and Katherine Hartman provided the comers with tickets and escorted them to the tables later-a sensible proceeding. Mrs. McKnight arrived with the lion of the day-a French count with an unpronounceable name. Mrs. McKnight is a lion hunter. No small intellectual animal will satisfy her requirements. When she crooks an index finger toward the artist, the orator, the statesman or the he or she of royal blood, perched upon the mountain top, like the coon for which Davy Crockett hunted, he or she immediately descends to receive the orders of the lady. The count, when presented to friend husband, exclaimed: "The Lord be praised, I am not the only man here." Led through the tap room to the men's quarters he inquired, "A bar? A dry bar? A novelty indeed." Members of the club and guests assembled at tables and Mrs. McKnight introduced the lion. Dressed in the army blue of France, wearing a well trimmed reddish beard, tall and dignified the count won the optical approval of his auditors instantly. An excellent dinner, well served was eaten and then Mrs. McKnight took the floor to formally present the speaker. Mrs. McKnight in the preparation of an address proceeds in the order she follows when she makes a cake. She takes three portions of history, one of bluff, two of sentiment, two of mirth, one of badinage, two of sympathy, two of emphasis, two of presentiment, two of assurance and blends them so effectively that the power of oratory is strongly manifested. The count is an effective speaker. His English is good. The condition of France, her aspirations and purposes were forcibly presented, and a vote of thanks rewarded him for the effort. Friend husband was impressed by the exhibition of hats worn by the ladies. Two hundred pattern hats no two of which were alike in form or decoration testified to the skill of the milliners and the taste of the wearers. Every hat seemed to be an appropriate adornment for the lady who wore it. Mrs. Lueve Parcell played "The Marseillaise" and the "Star Spangled Banner" and the audience sang the words of the songs ineffectively. Rare indeed is the occasion when those songs are sung with enthusiasm. The count received the ladies upon the conclusion of the program of the day and gallantly kissed their hands. The count is "some kisser" and the lady who permits him to apply the bear hug has nothing to regret.-G. R. News. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 47 DISTURBERS DISTURBED VAN The Disturbance club invaded the happy home of Henry Van Dugteren on the night of March 13, 1901. Led by Drum Major George A. Murphy, with all of its 25 members beating bass drums without mercy, the commotion created in the street was at least sensational. Murphy said the band played the "Dead March to Solomon." Arrived at the house of Van the musicians proceeded to the slaughter of "Die Gotterdamerung," composed by "Vogner." Phin Miller proposed the name of a well known musician for admission to the club. Members stretched and yawned. R. R. Metheaney desired to learn what the governor of North Carolina said to the governor of South Carolina. For reply the club sang "How Dry I Am," Miller withdrew the name of his candidate. Andy Fyfe presented an application of a friend for membership. "Oh, I don't know," said Collins. "Oh, I don't know," echoed Hardy. "Oh, I don't know," said Fuller and Alfred Baxter said "Herause mit 'im." Joe McCarger took one-half hour to explain what he "knew about the game," but failed to enlighten his hearers. Phin Miller uttered an eloquent apology for declining to tell "what he saw in the Windy City." Will Wurzburg gave his "Impressions of Limberger," the composer of the "Last Cord." W. B. Collins told how he lost his jewels. (Baxter noted the name of the pawnbroker). George E. Hardy related "unpleasant incidents in the life of Charley Seymour," and Henry J. Bennett introduced W. E. Cox and Jim Muir, kings of blackface. Picture, if you can, Will and Jim pedaling the floor and singing: "We feel just as happy as a big sunflower That bows and bends in the breezes, And our hearts are as light as the winds that blow, The leaves from off the tree-ses." C. S. Burch arose to present a reply to "Paul's letter to the Episcopalians," while club members sneaked away, leaving the house cat and the canary to listen to Mr. Burch's able effort. C. C. COMSTOCK AND W. T. POWERS ESTABLISHED INDUSTRIES "Two powerful business men lived in Grand Rapids fifty years ago," remarked W. S. Emery. "One was William T. Powers, the other was Charles C. Comstock. Both were above the common in business ability. Had they been associated their united efforts would have resulted in important accomplishments for the city. Powers built and operated factories, the west side canal, and erected the theater that bears his name. His efforts were devoted mainly to the development of the territory west of the river. Comstock built and operated saw mills and factories, sold merchandise, cultivated farms, built a railroad from Sweet street to the Soldier's home, and gave parks to the city. Both served the city as its mayor, and Comstock was elected a member of congress. In politics they acted in harmony. Both were democrats, and later greenbackers. As such, they financed the Leader, an organ of the greenback party. If the worth of those men as citizens were known and appreciated, they would doubtless be honored with memorials placed in the public parks." 48 OLD GRAND RAPIDS DR. DE CAMP LOVED RACE HORSES William H. DcCamp practiced medicine and managed a drug store, which he owned, in 1857. Flames destroyed the store and his business was not reestablished. When the Civil war broke out he entered the Union army as a surgeon and served the nation in that capacity until peace was restored. Returning to Grand Rapids he resumed the practice of his profession. Dr. DeCamp spent his leisure hours in collecting minerals, shells, birds, small animals and such specimens of the work of nature as may be found in scientific museums. He was a skilled taxidermist and his offices in the McReynolds block contained cases filled with mounted birds and squirrels, shells and other evidences of his activities as a collector. DeCamp was a busy doctor. Two roadsters, used alternately, were needed to make visits to patients. After a long drive in the snow or rain the doctor would seek refreshment at the "Baratorium" of William Leppig. Rev. Dr. Reynolds brought the red ribbon temperance movement to the city and every one became interested in it. More than one-half the population donned the red ribbon. Dr. DeCamp was one of the most effective speakers in the cause of temperance. The strangle hold that intoxicating liquor exerted over liberal imbibers and the strength of will needed to break it was fully explained. The victim of over-indulgence, he declared, could break the habit by drinking a glass of water, eating a little bread or taking two grains of quinine when craving for strong drink seemingly became overpowering. Dr. DeCamp was an enthusiastic follower of the race track. Outside of his profession nothing interested him so much as speed trials between horses. He owned a mare, Brown Nellie, who could trot fast enough to lose heats by a nose. Many times the mare was entered for races she never won. She was driven by the owner, who presented an amusing picture on the track. The long, heavy black whiskers that protected the sigmoid section when at peace parted into as many divisions as the outlet of the Mississippi river and the cunning little black jockey cap placed jauntily over one ear adding variety to the ensemble. With the passing of time Brown Nellie died and an attack of pneumonia carried the owner away a few years later. Dr. DeCamp's life was usefully spent and his death was mourned by the entire community. FIRE-BUGS WERE PUNISHED Two fire bugs were arrested in Grand Rapids, tried, convicted and sentenced to terms of confinement in state prisons in 1873. A little German tailor whose shop was located on Bond avenue near Crescent, was caught in the act of setting fire to a stable in Kent alley. After his conviction by a jury in the circuit court, he confessed to setting fire to a wooden building on the east side of the canal. The flames had consumed several buildings on both sides of Monroe avenue and eastward to Ottawa avenue. After the expiration of his sentence and his return to Grand Rapids, Police Chief Morton uttered a few violent remarks which caused him to leave the city never to return. Esther Coffen had a misunderstanding with neighbors on Front avenue, north of Leonard, and determined to appease her wrath by setting a fire to a chicken house owned by one of her persecutors. She did not anticipate the destruction of five or six dwellings that followed the application of the torch. Mrs. Coffen served a long sentence in the House of Correction at Detroit. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 49 LOCAL HISTORY RECALLED St. Mark's Church society was organized in 1836. The first rector was Rev. Mr. Hoyt. George Nelson received the first baptism in that church. George K. Nelson, his father, and his wife were among the charter members, and the first to receive the communion. The society erected a small wooden building on the northwest corner of Division avenue and Crescent street and occupied it until the main section of the present church building was erected. The old building was sold to the Baptists, who moved it to the northeast corner of Division avenue and Library street. Later it was used by a blacksmith. It was torn down in 1910 and the site is now covered by the Murray building. A. Lamont Chubb was the first president of the board of education and James H. McKee, secretary. Mr. Chubb lived in a large square house on the lot now occupied by the city hall. The building was sold by the city to Ald. Brenner "the father of the city hall," who moved it to North Ottawa avenue, a short distance above Hastings street, where it still stands. Brenner occupied it until his death. For a number of years after his retirement from the common council Brenner served the city as custodian of the city hall. Louis Campau, the first white settler of Grand Rapids, lived more than a decade on the southwest corner of Cherry and Calder street, since vacated and occupied by the railroad corporations. He was permitted to open the winter season of sleigh-riding, by common consent. When a sufficient quantity of snow had fallen to make the running good Louis, accompanied by his wife, would drive his grey horse attached to a stylish cutter through Canal and Monroe streets and then the season would be declared open. Lincoln park was purchased of Theodore F. Richards by the city for the sum of $11,000. The wooden building on the corner of Coldbrook and Taylor street was used as a hotel fifty years ago. Its name was the "Mansion House." Monroe avenue formerly ran diagonally across Sheldon, La Grave and Jefferson avenues and connected with State street, which street, many years ago, was the western section of Kalamazoo avenue. It ran diagonally across Morris, Paris and Charles avenue and connected with Kalamazoo avenue at Franklin street, near Eastern avenue. On Henry avenue south of Sherman street, an old house may be seen, fronting toward the street that was vacated. Grandville avenue formerly crossed the territory now covered by railroad tracks and connected with Ottawa avenue at Ferry street, since vacated. The first fairs held in Kent county were located on the southeast corner of Division avenue and Wealthy street. The southwest corner of Cherry street and Madison avenue was "the burying ground" in the village days of Grand Rapids. Several of the street railway lines of Grand Rapids were built with money secured through public subscription. Residents on the line of the Grand Rapids and Reed's Lake road gave notes to the amount of $17,000 in aid of the enterprise, which were paid. The subscriptions in aid of the South Division and Hall street line amounted to $12,000. The cost of building the track was $10,000. Property owners on Scribner avenue aided substantially in building that line. 50 OLD GRAND RAPIDS ORGANIZED IN 1858 First old residents' society of Kent county was organized on Feb. 22, 1858, in response to a call issued by George Coggshall, George Martin, John Almy, John W. Peirce, W. G. Henry, James Lyman, John F. Godfroy, R. C. Luce, Robert Hilton, A. B. Turner, D. W. Evans, John Ball, Antoine Campau, M. Rinquette, D. S. Leavitt, John Rinquette, S. F. Perkins, Rix Robinson, Charles Shepard, C. H. Taylor, Nelson Robinson and S. L. Withey, none of whom are living. J. F. Chubb was elected president; E. W. Davis, vice president; John Ball, treasurer, and John W. Peirce, secretary. Sixty-two joined the association. Among the oldest were Philander Tracey, born in 1820; William H. Godfroy, born in the territory before its admission as a state of the Union, 1835; Rix Robinson, born in 1815; J. F. Chubb, born in 1827, and Jefferson Morrison, born in 1832. William Tracey and Mrs. L. D. Steward were children of Philander Tracey. A daughter of Judge Morrison is a resident of California. During the existence of the association members assembled at intervals to celebrate the birthday of one of their number or to participate in the rejoicings of a golden wedding day. A group photograph of 40 members of the association has been lost or destroyed. The association was reorganized on Dec. 27, 1871, with E. W. Davis as president and L. R. Atwater, secretary. At that meeting Byron D. Ball offered to write the history of steamboat navigation on Grand river. Prof. Franklin Everett was elected historian and Jacob W. Winsor related adventures of pioneers. At the meeting on Feb. 22, 1873, a paper descriptive of the early settlement of Grand Rapids was read by E. W. Davis; William Montague Ferry presented interesting statistical information; I. Ransom Sanford recited a poem, composed by himself, entitled "Reunions of the Old Settlers," and James Miller read a letter written by John Ball, then a resident of Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Ball, far advanced in years, was happy on the account of the birth of a son. A festival was held on June 21, 1873. An address by Thomas B. Church, a poem "One Hundred years ago" recited by Prof. Everett, and a medical document prepared many years earlier, read by Dr. Platt, composed the program. FED THE HUNGRY A. R. Antisdel, of the Eagle, Aaron Courtright of the Bronson and Frank Boxheimer of the Bridge street house, called the hungry to meals with loud sounding hand bells, but Lyon of the Rathbun and Smith of the National were too dignified to furnish such musical entertainments. Boarders at the Eagle, the Bronson and Bridge street, formed long lines at the entrance to the dining rooms and when the bells were sounded rushed in to grab the preferred seats. Antisdel and Boxheimer were favored by the farmers while Courtright fed the river men, the factory hands and the laborers. Meals that would cost $2 up in this year of high prices were served for 25 cents per person. The business was not unprofitable. Clerks, chamber maids, scrub women and porters assisted in serving guests. Stables were provided for the care of horses but hostlers were not permitted to work in the dining rooms. Their strongly perfumed wearing apparel restricted their employment to the barns. Patrons of the hotels were liberal spenders at the bars and cigar counters. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 51 PRIVATIONS OF PIONEER DOCTORS Drs. Shepard and Platt, pioneer physicians of Kent county, endured many hardships while attending the sick or injured. The following incidents were contained in a paper read by Dr. Platt to the local medical society at a meeting held in Grand Rapids in 1856. "The winter was extremely severe. Snow fell to the depth of four feet in November of 1843 and remained until the middle of April, 1844. "The practice of medicine in those days was no sinecure. The inhabitants were few and scattered and the only guides to the settlements were the blazed trees marked by the settler or the surveyor. No bridges spanned the rivers; the charges were low; the principal currency was shingles and orders on Amos Roberts and Jefferson Morrison. On presentation the usual reply was: 'We pay only in calico and like shelf goods.' The practice of medicine then had its pleasures as well as its toils and its adventures. One of our number returning from Ada at midnight and while passing Saddlebag swamp-a dismal and gloomy place in those days-meditating on the comforts of his home and a bed, the horse became frightened, shied at a huge panther which crossed the trail and cast the man of medicine from the saddle. "Another, having occasion to visit a patient on the western borders of the township of Walker, being detained until the middle of the night and anxious to return home, was furnished with a torch made of hickory bark. Its light enabled him to follow a bridle path through the forest, but before reaching the river the torch burned out, leaving him in such darkness that he was unable to distinguish the ears of his horse. It having rained throughout the previous day and thus far into the night he found the river rising rapidly, the ferryman, Barney Burt, absent and no place to shelter himself or his horse. There being a footbridge of a single plank, the eastern landing of which was near the site of Butterworth's workshop, the doctor dismounted and taking the rumline, which he attached to the end of the bridle-rein, he took the other end and led his horse upon the plank, rendered discernible only by the bright ripples of water on each side, and made the crossing in safety. "At another time, on a cold November night, having traveled 10 or 12 miles to the southern part of Byron, cold and weary, on arriving at the house, no light was observed. Knocking at the door the answer from within was, 'Who is there?' The reply was, 'The doctor,' to which was returned. 'Your services are not now needed. I suppose you will not charge anything?'" LYON WAS FIRST DELEGATE IN CONGRESS Lucius Lyon, a pioneer of Grand Rapids, who owned and platted the territory lying between Pearl and Michigan streets, the river and Division avenue, was an active business man and a Democrat. He served the territory of Michigan as its first delegate in congress during the session of 1833-35 and as a member of the constitutional convention of 1835 he assisted in framing the first constitution of the state of Michigan. Kent county had not been organized in that year, and although Mr. Lyon lived in Grand Rapids, he was accredited a delegate from Kalamazoo county, of which the present county of Kent and the interlying territory was a part. From 1837 to 1843 he was a regent of the state university and represented the state of Michigan during the session of 1843-44 in the lower house of congress. He defeated Joseph R. Williams in the election for the office. Lyon received 7,171 and Williams 5,205 votes. 52) OLD GRAND RAPIDS THE HESPERUS CLUB The weekly dinners served under the auspices of the Men's union of the Fountain Street Baptist church recall to memory the Hesperus club of 25 years ago. This club was organized by General B. M. Cutcheon, the Rev. Dr. Campbell Fair, Isaac M. Weston, Judge John W. Champlin, Dr. J. Orton Edie, Judge E. A. Burlingame, Harvey J. Hollister, George DeHaven, Edward Taggart, Col. M. A. Aldrich and Maj. James W. Long, all of whom, with one exception, have passed on. The president of the organization during its existence of five or six years was Colonel Aldrich. Others who joined the club at later periods were W. Millard Palmer, Mark Norris, William B. Weston, Edwin F. Uhl, C. L. Harvey, J. Boyd Pantlind, L. G. Stuart, Col. Thomas W. Fletcher, Capt. McD. Townsend, Bishop McCormick and about one hundred more whose names have passed from the memory of the writer. The members met once each month to enjoy a dinner and a program of music and addresses. Occasionally the wives and daughters of members were present. The club song, "Hesperus," composed by Gen. B. M. Cutcheon, was sung and the minutes of the proceedings of former meetings were read by the secretary, Maj. James W. Long. Ordinarily the minutes could have been recorded in five or six lines, but Major Long regularly filled several pages of a large record book with matters foreign to the business of the club, the reading of which were greatly enjoyed by the members. Major Long possessed a rare fund of wit, a vivid imagination and much felicity in expressing the thoughts that came into his mind. Instructions regarding the curing of aching teeth, the considerate and humane treatment of gum boils, the breaking of balky horses and kindred topics were duly entered as a part of the proceedings of the club. In the course of time Major Long obtained an appointment in the federal war office and moved to Washington, taking the record book with his other personal effects with him. It would be worth an effort on the part of Congressman Mapes or ex-Senator Smith, to obtain the record from the family of Major Long and present it to the Ryerson library.-G. R. Press. MILLER LIGHTED THE LAMPS William Miller was the pioneer street lamp lighter of the city. The local gaslight company at the time failed to keep pace with the general growth of the city by extending its mains, and the common council installed many kerosene burning lamps to supply the additional light needed. In prosecuting his work he was assisted in lighting and extinguishing the lamps by his sons, Charles E., David A. and W. J. Miller. About 35 years ago electricity supplanted gas and oil lamps. Forty towers were erected and used to illuminate the heavens. The lamps did not shed much light on heavily shaded streets. Low lamps were finally provided for lighting the city and the towers were taken down, one by one. William Miller loved outdoor sports. He seldom missed a game of baseball and approved, as all Scotsmen do, of golf. He organized a curling club and managed the rink the club erected several years preceding his death. He established a substantial business in the manufacture and installation of furnaces, which is now owned by his sons. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 53 "IN DUTCH" Captain Herman sailed from the ports of The Netherlands, crossing and recrossing the oceans many times. He had an interesting family of youngsters, to whom he was enabled to give only incidental attention. One day on returning from a long voyage, he decided to give up his ship, bring his family to America and train the children to become good and useful citizens, under the folds of the Stars and Stripes. Soon after he arrived in Grand Rapids, purchased land on Logan street, erected buildings, purchased a herd of cows and set to work delivering milk. A slow start was made, but eventually a substantial demand for his product was created and prosperity followed. In an ill-advised moment the captain entered into a partnership with one of his former countrymen, but the pair did not work harmoniously together. The partner seemed to expect that the captain would assume most of the hard labor involved in the business. He would load his pipe, burn the tobacco and permit the captain to watch the smoke curl upward as it left his lips. Captain Hernam refused to give potency to the plan of his partner and a dissolution of the firm naturally followed. He suggested that much expense could be saved and annoyances avoided if the property could be divided equally. He would take one-half of the cattle, one-half of the big barn and one-half of the horses and wagons used in serving the firm's customers. The plan suited the partner and when the cows, horses and wagons had been divided equally the two mounted to the roof and worked in opposite directions with saws until the big barn had been cut into two sections. Captain Hernam moved to Muskegon later where he remained until death closed his career. George G. Steketee, deceased, served several terms as an alderman of the old Third ward. As chairman of the committee on accounts he closely guarded the city treasury. Once he discovered an error in a bill rendered by one of the public utilities and saved a large sum to the city. An official who, under the law, was empowered to handle in trust a considerable amount of municipal funds, appropriated certain sums to his own use and attempted to conceal the embezzlement by changing the entries on his books of account. Acid was applied to obliterate the original entries. Mr. Steketee detected the changes that had been made. The knowledge gained in the course of his business as a druggist enabled him to erase the fraudulent entries, restore the originals and prove the charge of embezzlement that had been placed against the official. Bondsmen of the official paid the shortage. A few years later Steketee was elected mayor. He attempted to enforce the blue laws of the state in the city but did not succeed. Mr. Steketee's wife died and a large family of children were left motherless. He had noticed a lady once in Holland city while she was the guest of friends for a short time. The lady's home was in one ot the New England states. Steketee needed a wife to assist in the management of his family. Without indulging in the usual preliminaries he wrote a letter to the lady and asked for her hand in marriage. Naturally the lady was surprised and perplexed. Finally she concluded to communicate with friends in Holland and gain such information as might be available in regard to the reputation and character 54 OLD GRAND RAPIDS of the man who would make her his wife. After several weeks had passed Mr. Steketee was invited to the home of the lady. Six weeks later they were married. The lady proved to be a model wife and mother and Mr. Steketee considered himself fortunate in winning her to take charge of his home and children. EARLY SETTLEMENTS Under an act of the state legislature of 1831 Kent county was organized with 16 townships. Eight townships were added in 1840. The unorganized counties of Ottawa, Ionia and Clinton were added to Kent for judicial purposes. Settlement of Kent county was stimulated by the granting by congress of lands to be used in the development of public improvements. Lands were sold by private parties after obtaining title to same for 40 and 60 cents per acre. Previous to 1842 the present township of Grand Rapids bore the name of Kent, honoring Chancellor Kent, a famous barrister of New York. Wabacis was the original name of Courtland township. In 1837 the Port Sheldon and Grand Rapids railroad company was organized. Its purpose was the building of a railroad from Pigeon River to Grand Rapids. Thomas C. Sheldon, Theodore Romeyn and others were granted authority to sell stock of the corporation to the amount of $250,000. The public would not buy and the enterprise was abandoned. In 1844 Daniel Ball, John Almy, James Ballard, Francis H. Cummings, Johnathan F. Chubb, Charles Shepard, Samuel F. Butler, Amos Rathbun and Truman H. Lyon organized a corporation under the title, "The Trustees of the Grand Rapids Academy." George Kendall, in platting his addition, set aside lands for the use of the corporation and named the thoroughfare that bisects his addition College avenue. He hoped that a college would be erected on the avenue and the name ot the corporation changed to conform therewith. The lack of funds caused an abandonment of the enterprise. In 1857 the name of the village of Danville was changed to Lowell and 5,000 acres of land were appropriated for the improvement of Flat river at that point. In 1848 the legislature granted to the county of Kent 3,000 acres of land, the proceeds from the sale of which were to be used in the construction of bridges over Grand and Thornapple rivers. Plainfield, Cascade and Ada received 1,000 acres each. Robert Hilton erected the bridges. Twenty-five thousand acres of land were appropriated by the state legislature in 1847 to promote the building of a canal beside the rapids of Grand river. Charters authorizing the building of railroads between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo and between Battle Creek and Grand Rapids were granted by the state legislature in 1847. Wolf slayers were paid $10 as a bounty for each wolk killed in Kent County in 1846. An act of the legislature of 1847 authorized the supervisors of Kent county to borrow money for the purpose of erecting a court house on Court House Square, now known as Fulton Street park. The building so authorized to be built was destroyed by fire in 1852. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 55 AN HONEST GEORGE W. The office of collector of internal revenue for the western district of Michigan was created by an act of congress during the year 1863. The first collector, appointed by President Lincoln, was Aaron B. Turner, who established and, for many years, published the Grand Rapids Eagle. The federal court was provided for about the same time. The offices of the collector, the marshal, the district attorney and rooms for the court were located in a small three-story brick building, the site of which is now covered by the Old National bank. Mr. Turner's assistant was A. Hosford Smith. To prosecute the civil war, the federal government found it necessary to draft men from time to time. Quotas were levied upon the state and by the state upon the counties. A provision of the draft law granted an option to communities to furnish the men needed or sufficient money to induce enlistments by the payment of bounties at the rate of $300 per man. A draft was about to be made in the summer of 1864 and the people of the revenue district decided to furnish the money needed rather than men for service in the war. With the approach of the final day for the payment of bounty money Mr. Turner and his assistant were overcrowded with work, and on the final day they were utterly swamped. Bundles of money poured in and its reception and care was not an easy task. About 5 o'clock in the afternoon a notable decrease in the number of men with money arriving at the office was observed, and Mr. Smith, wearied with the day's toil, went to his home, leaving Mr. Turner to close the office. Soon after the departure of Mr. Smith, the arrivals of men with bounty money increased in number and Mr. Turner presently learned that the duties of the day had but barely begun. He remained at his post of duty, however, and the clock struck 9 while he was locking the door of his office for the night. The banks were closed and there was not in the office safe room to store the money he had taken in. Finally, after he had wrapped the greenbacks in newspapers (coin was not in circulation in 1864) and deposited the bundles on the top of the safe, he prepared to spend the night in the office. Later in the evening he decided to take the account books and partitions out of the safe and after depositing the money therein go to his home for the night. On going to his office the following morning he opened the safe and learned that the packages of money were missing. His feelings at that moment may be imagined but not described. His entire fortune and those of his bondsmen would be wiped out if the missing money could not be found. Old George Washington (colored), the janitor employed to clean and dust the federal offices, entered at that distressful moment and Mr. Turner inquired: "George, did you find any money here this morning?" "Yes, I did, Mr. Turner," Washington replied. "What did you do with it?" "Nothing, Mr. Turner. It is on the safe where you left it." The packages were hastily opened and the money found as the collector had left it. George was rewarded by a present of $50 and his wife was given a silk dress. George lived many years at the northeast corner of LaGrave avenue and Oakes street and died at an advanced age, respected by all who knew him. 56 OLD GRAND RAPIDS OLD HOTELS, HOTEL KEEPERS AND THEIR CLERKS A chorus in the Gilbert & Sullivan opera, the "Pirates of Penzance" sings, in all seriousness, the lamentable fact that "A Policeman's Lot is Not a Happy One." True, the policeman lives a humdrum sort of existence, but, when compared with that of the hotel clerk, his is a season of everlasting joy. Upon the gentlemanly bearer of the diamond stud the traveling public leans heavily. Especially heavy are the burdens the traveling salesmen confide to the prince of the office. Patiently he listens to a recital of the disappointments and the triumphs of the man just "off the road" and to the stories and jokes he has heard related a thousand times. To the traveler in hard luck and to his companion, seriously afflicted with R. E. Morse, the diamond stud utters words of consolation, and not infrequently he advances ten on an I. O. U. that will never be paid. A clerk will lie like Satan, if necessary, to guard his employer from schemers and imposters he would not meet. He sends the souse to the Turkish bath house, and aids the female thespian, left behind and penniless by her manager. He is everybodys friend, and small is the reward he receives for his friendship. Years ago, it matters not how many, Thomas W. Fletcher, the retired newspaper man, was employed as chief clerk at the Eagle hotel. With commendable patience he bore all the trials the hotel office is subjected to, but in the course of time he deemed it necessary to devise a system for checking the loquacity of the story tellers. John Brennan, Harvey 0. Carr, William M. Hathaway, Alfred B. Tozer and James Smith, of the Brush factory, were star boarders at the Eagle. From this coterie Mr. Fletcher selected Hathaway, Tozer and Carr to assist in working a system he had devised for suppressing the chronic story tellers. A salesman just off the road, after registering his name would say "I've got a new story. Listen." At this moment Fletcher would expose the diamond stud's sign of distress when Hathaway or Carr or Tozer would go to the desk and listen to the story. Finally the point where the laugh comes in would be presented, but no laughs were laughed. Very gravely Hathaway would remark, "I did not catch the point of your story. Please repeat it." The traveler would repeat the story and emphasize especially the point where the laugh was due to come in. Hathaway and Fletcher or perhaps Tozer and Carr would then enter into a serious discussion of the story, neither apparently recognizing the point the traveler had used to provoke laughter. This sad and serious quartette worked the system successfully for several weeks following its introduction, before the conviction could be established in the minds of the traveling salesmen that Fletcher was a very stupid fellow and his associates Hathaway, Tozer and Carr, blockheads. Henry Covell wore the diamond pin at the Eagle hotel many years ago. Later H. J. Dibble was placed on the job. Elliott F. Covell (the father of Col. Louis Covell), Frank B. Littlefield, Charley Baxter, "Ed." Antisdel, "Brad" Hannaford and John M. Wolcott played star parts in the old Rathbun House, while it was under the management of Arthur R. Antisdel. Covell leased the building on the northwest corner of Lyon street and Bond avenue and used it several years for hotel purposes. Among his star boarders were David Forbes and Mr. Gill, a chum. Charley Armstrong was the competent diamond stud at the Bridge street house, under the management of John Mohrhard. Jim McCreery, Tom Daily, Charlie Bondy, Archie Grant, Charley Ingolds OLD GRAND RAPIDS 57 bee, "Jimmy" Hayes, "Billy" Joyce, Frank G. Dibble, George W. Gage, "Jim" Creed and many others were the predecessors of Will Duffy, at the Morton. Frank H. Irish, Frank Kane and Ernest McLean lent grace and dignity to the office of the Livingston hotel in the not far distant past. John Winters and J. Mort Rathbone were behind the desk at Sweet's hotel in 1870. "Tom" Keating and Mike Powers ruled the house after midnight. A small hotel on Monroe avenue opposite the Orpheum theater, was known as the Farmers' Exchange, and the Parnell House, opposite the old Grand Trunk depot on Plainfield avenue, was owned and managed by Patrick Finn. The Union hotel, managed by J. B. Haney, was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1866. The occupants escaped in their night robes. Its location was the northwest corner of Bond avenue and Lyon street. The Michigan House, owned and managed many years by Jacob Nagele, was located on the northwest corner of Ottawa avenue and Louis street. Mr. Nagele summoned his guests to meals by beating a triangle. "Mort" Rathbone was born on the spot now covered by the Morton House. His life was not spent in Grand Rapids, however. Years ago he bossed a hotel in Leadville on his own account and later the Richelieu in Chicago. During his summer vacations he managed the Ottawa, at Ottawa Beach. Mort spent his life in a hotel and his service probably covered more years than all others of his class in the city. The flatiron building at the junction of Monroe and Ottawa avenues, above the first floor, was used for hotel purposes 60 years ago. It was known as the Fay house. John J. Fay was the proprietor. Fay sold his interest in the property in 1867 and moved to Indianapolis. The new proprietor changed the name, calling it the Gilsey House. Francis B. Gilbert purchased the ground now covered by the Gilbert block in 1866 and erected a substantial brick building. C. H. Southwick leased the upper floors and furnished the same to accommodate the public. It was named the Hotel St. Denis. "Jim" Creed, whose highly decorated proboscis illuminated the office of the Morton "when the lights went out", was a popular clerk and a great favorite of the newspaper writers. A reliable source of news he furnished many good stories for publication in the dailies. When in a cheerful mood, he would humorously discuss his private affairs. Here is a sample "L. H. Withey called at my private office this morning and invited me to join him in the purchase of 50,000,000 acres of heavily timbered land. He said he could not swing the trade alone and wanted my financial assistance. I will consider the proposition." Another: "I spent the forenoon with my private secretaries, clipping the coupons of government bonds. My ready money is a little shy and I decided to cash in a thousand coupons to fatten my bank account." "'Jim' Hill wired me last night asking a loan of $7,000,000 to assist in putting the Great Northern railroad through to the coast. I shall probably loan Jim the money." "Sid" Steele was a very useful man in a hotel. In several respects he had no equal. Quiet, suave, tactful, friendly and resourceful, he could handle a crowd of traveling salesmen more easily than many men of his calling. A writer heard a guest of the old Pantlind remark one day: "Why, if Sid Steele should ask me to occupy a room containing two beds, with five other men, I would thank him for the privilege." Could a greater compliment be paid to a hotel manager?-G. R. Herald. 58 58 OLD GRAND RAPIDS SADDLE BAG SWAMP Because its shape is like the saddle bags used by horsemen of the past while journeying astride their steeds, the lake that lies three miles east of the city is called Saddle Bag Swamp. It covers between 650 and 700J acres, and a part of this area is swampy. Its overflow escapes through a little creek that runs southward through Paris township to Plaster creek, thence into Grand river. County Surveyor T. C. Williams says the fall of the creek is only one inch to one hundred feet, and the water is sluggish. Saddle Bag Swamp is 20 feet higher than Barnhart lake, one-half mile distant. On the Waters farm, in the near vicinity of the Barnhart farm, there is a lake of considerable size. Its outlet is Coldbrook creek. It lies on an elevation 20 feet higher than Reed's lake. Mr. Williams says that if Saddle Bag Swamp could be connected with the lagoons of Hodenpyl park, the flow would create a current in the stagnant water that fills them and render the same more sanitary. The cost would not be great, and Mr. Williams believes that the plan will be put into execution some day, perhaps not far away. In 1858, the Detroit & Milwaukee (now Grand Trunk) Railway company undertook to lay a track across the swamp. As fast as the filling material could be procured it sank out of sight. Finally the company abandoned the project and constructed its track in the form of a half circle along the bank of the swamp, and ran its trains over the same during the 20 years that followed. The curves were quite sharp, and the operation of trains over the half circle was costly. Another attempt to lay tracks across the swamp was made, which proved successful. A public highway now occupies a part of the swamp. Mr. Williams says there is a large deposit of peat in the swamp, and he believes that, with the steadily advancing price of coal, it will be demanded for fuel. A year or two ago an effort was made by owners of the property to develop the peat on the premises, but nothing of consequence resulted. Nearly 50 years ago, when the city authorities were looking for a source for supplying water to the municipality, Saddle Bag Swamp was considered, and an investigation of the probable supply the swamp would furnish and the quality of the water (determined through chemical analysis) was made. The reports of the engineer and the chemist who were employed to investigate the subject were unfavorable, and the project was abandoned. GENERAL SMITH WAS A MILITANT PROHIBITIONIST First encampment of the Michigan National Guard was held at Reed's Lake about forty-six years ago under the command of General I. C. Smith. A saloon near the camp, patronized liberally by the volunteers, was the source of much disorder. One night General Smith ordered Captain Calkins to call a squad of soldiers and close the place. Arrived at the barroom, the owner and several bullies who infested the place, defied the captain to enforce the general's order, and one of the gang attempted to disarm the officer. Company B, composed largely of veterans of the Civil war, knew what to do in such an emergency and the butt of a rifle vigorously applied to the bully proved as effective as one of Jack Dempsey's uppercuts. General Smith issued and enforced the first prohibition order in the state of Michigan. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 59 THE CITY HALL Although the city hall, which was erected during the years 1885 to 1888, is a much larger building than the Ryerson Public library, the amount paid for the erection of the latter was considerably larger than was paid for the former. Mr. Ryerson paid the contractor who built the library $300,000. The amount paid by the city to W. D. Richardson, who erected the city hall, was $233,906.68. The hall was designed by E. E. Meyers of Detroit. He was the architect of the state capital at Lansing. Derricks were used in lifting the stones, many of which are not much larger than a brick, to the walls, where they were set by an expert workman. One man handled all the stones that compose the walls of the structure. The hall was built under the direction of the board of public works, composed of George W. Thayer, David E. Emery, Col. George G. Briggs, W. D. Plumb, James N. Davis and Wilder D. Stevens. The latter is the only survivor of the board. John L. Curtis was the mayor of the city when the contract was awarded to Richardson, and continued during the administrations of Mayors Edward B. Dikeman and Isaac M. Weston. Richardson lost a considerable amount of money in carrying out the contract, and to add to his misfortune, a civil suit was brought against him by a former employe, who had married a gambler. She gained nothing out of the transaction. The remains of Melbourne H. Ford, who represented the fifth congressional district in the lower house of congress several times, who died in the month of May, 1891, lay in state in the main corridor of the hall, preceding his funeral. Ford was a very popular young man, and the state legislature adjourned in his honor and attended the services in a body. The hall has not been used for such a purpose since. COUNTED THE BANK'S MONEY Henry Fralick, Julius Houseman and Ransom C. Luce, directors of the old City National Bank, were employed to count the money of that institution. Mike Smith, the janitor of the Central high school, entered with a pay check to be cashed. Through an open door of the directors' room, he noticed the committee at work, and attracted the attention of Mr. Houseman. "Mike," Mr. Houseman called, "there is a lot of money on this table. How much do you suppose it amounts to?" "I can't imagine, Mr. Houseman. I never saw so much money before." "It amounts to more than $100,000. Now, Mike, if this money belonged to you, what would you do with it?" "I would buy a suit of clothes." "How much would the suit cost?" "About $25.00." "What would you do with the remainder?" "I would give $20 to my wife for a hat and dress. I would buy a little home, worth $2,500, and a horse and buggy, worth $300." "What would you do with the balance?" "I would put it in the bank." "Mike's ideas about investing money," Mr. Houseman remarked later, "was on a par with those of most people of limited resources, or who suddenly acquire wealth through inheritance or otherwise." 60 OLD GRAND RAPIDS PASTOR "BALLED UP" THE QUARTETTE Mrs. Dana B. Shedd, whose rare soprano voice was heard in the churches and concert halls of Grand Rapids during a period that extended over 40 years, had a rich fund of amusing experiences to relate to friends. During her engagement as a member of the quartet of the Park Congregational church, the Rev. J. Morgan Smith was a practical joker and many times the quartet was made the victim of his ingenuity. One Sunday morning he called the organist to his study and requested him to play in short meter a certain hymn that had been selected for the service. In the books of the singers the hymn was written in long meter. The organist obeyed his instructions and when the quartet arose to sing the hymn Mrs. Shedd advised Mr. Eddy, the tenor; Mrs. E. R. Wilson, alto; and J. B. Wilson, the basso, to omit words if necessary, but to try to sing in time with the organ. The effort failed and the audience was convulsed with laughter. Mr. Wilson was loyal to the composer of the hymn. His long meter rendition of the bass was delivered conscientiously. When the service of the morning had been concluded with the usual benediction, Eddy grabbed the pastor by the neck and said: "I ought to choke you to death." At a later service the organist, Mr. Towne, acting upon the suggestion of the pastor, played a hymn in a certain tune while the choir sang it in another. Mr. Towne expressed the indignation he felt by shouting to the choir: "You d-d foolsl" ANANIAS CLUB AND SOME OLD TIMERS The Ananias club lunches at Beach's restaurant. President Jacob Steketee is unable to explain why the club bears the name of a noted liar of the bible, as no member of the club has ever uttered a falsehood, Mr. Steketee says. Members are fond of argument. If one makes a statement, it is immediately challenged by another, and the fun begins. Will Landman indiscretly asserted that England is the best friend of the United States. "Was England friendly when she permitted rebel privateers to be fitted up and sailed out of her harbors to rob and sink ships belonging to the men of the north?" queried Leonard Verdier. "Was she friendly when she attempted to violate the Monroe doctrine by an invasion of Venezuela?" the president asked. "Did not Grover Cleveland feel obliged to put his number 16 boot on the tail of the lion on that occasion?" Doc Jarvis submitted. "Did she not attempt to prevent the conveyance of Alaska to the United States by Russia?" Frank C. Steinmann insinuated. "When Admiral Dewey was holding Manila bay with an inferior fleet, and the German Admiral Von Diederichs threatened to drive him out to sea or sink his shops, who came to the assistance of Dewey? Was it not the British admiral with his battleships?" calmly asked Landman. The members of the club suddenly evinced an unusual interest in the contents of the soup bowls. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 61 KENT COURT HOUSE During several years preceding 1889, Kent County acquired the ground needed to erect the courthouse, Crescent avenue corner of Ottawa and Bond avenues. The site measures 220 x150 feet. Preparations were undertaken for the erection of the building when Sidney J. Osgood was engaged to prepare plans. A committee of the board of supervisors, composed of R. B. Loomis, W. D. Frost and Jacob W. Walker, was appointed to represent the county and conduct the enterprise. Other supervisors-Nathanial Rice, S. D. Colson, John Headley, Scott Griswold, John T. Gould, and James Hill-were members of the committee from time to time. With the completion of the plans a contract was entered into with the Western Construction Company of Detroit for the erection of the building and excavations were commenced on Nov. 7, 1888. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1889, and the building was opened to the public on July 4, 1892. The construction company contracted to erect the structure for the sum of $150,000, but as it had but little capital available for the purpose work was abandoned before much progress had been made. Charles Woodward, a capable and honest superintendent employed by the committee, took charge and the building was finally completed under his direction at a cost of $190,395.01. Mr. Woodward was subjected to many trials and temptations while in the discharge of his duties to which he did not yield. Osgood was paid $9,000 for his plans and Woodward $6,070. The furniture cost $11,310, the site $32,500, the vault, fixtures and elevators $6,499.97. The total amount expended for erecting and equipping the building was $275,997.87. Officials of the city and county attended the dedication services. The Norman style of architecture is represented in the structure. A replica in form but not in detail of the tower of the Phillip Brooks church in Boston is a feature of the building. THE LADY WITH A LANTERN E. G. Studley of Grand Rapids who remembers the lady who carried a tubular lantern, emitting heat and malodorous fumes whenever she appeared in public, asked information concerning her. Frank W. Hine, who knew the lady, said her name was Olcott, that she formerly resided in Lowell and owned valuable property in that village. She was educated, refined, modest and dressed in good taste. She was the mother of two sons and a daughter. The family moved to Grand Rapids about 1880 and occupied desirable property which the mother owned opposite Highland Park. Mrs. Olcott was a devout Christian, perfectly sane and sensible, although many suspected, on account of her almost daily public appearances with a lighted lantern, that her reason was impaired. Mrs. Olcott used the lantern to attract public attention. Her mission, entirely peaceful, was the teaching of her religious beliefs to others. Many who learned the purpose of her demonstrations were pleased with the message she brought to them. Mrs. Olcott died at her home in this city about 25 years ago and her family moved to other states. 62 OLD GRAND RAPIDS LEGISLATURE SUPPRESSED A ROAD HOUSE Saunders & Whitney erected and opened a road house adjoining the Soldiers home in 1879. It was a disorderly place. Occupants of the home were among its patrons. The legislature passed a bill to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors within one mile of the home. Saunders & Whitney were obliged to close up. The brick building the firm owned was rendered worthless and an offer of the property to the state for $4,000 was not considered. Finally the firm employed a member of the board of governors of the home to spend a week or two in Lansing as a lobbyist in their interest. Before the session closed a bill was passed authorizing the board of managers to purchase the property and add it to the possessions of the institution. During the year 1890 reports of mismanagement and of corrupt practices participated in by officials of the home were current and the legislature of 1891 ordered an investigation, which was conducted by committees of the house and senate. The member of the board of managers who had been employed by Saunders & Whitney, when sharply questioned, admitted he had received $500 in payment for his services as a lobbyist and as a member of the board had voted in favor of buying the property. The closing of the road house did not lessen the drunkenness and disorderly conduct of such of the inmates of the home as were addicted to the use of liquor in excess. By crossing the river they obtained as much liquor and as much disorderly amusement at Mill Creek as they seemed to desire. Besides the saloons of the city and the road houses on North Monroe avenue were ever ready to receive their patronage. T. B. CHURCH PAID TRIBUTE TO DECEASED At the annual meeting of the Old Residents association, held on January 9, 1881, Thomas B. Church, chairman of the committee on necrology, reported that prominent among the losses the association had sustained by death during the year were Cyrus Jones, Rev. James Ballard, Truman H. Lyon and William D. Roberts. The report said Cyrus Jones was "a plain, unpretending, honest and good man, who conscientiously fulfilled his obligations as the head of a family, a citizen and a magistrate." "'Rev. James Ballard had been a central figure in moral, educational and religious work, the first minister of the Congregational church, first principal of the high school, a zealous advocate of temperance and freedom." "Truman Hawley Lyon engaged in the hotel and stage transportation business in 1850, and continued his activities 31 years. He had been a vigilant and energetic co-operator in the development of the Grand River Valley." As a landlord, of the Rathbun and Sweet hotels, he was widely and favorably known. "William D. Roberts engaged in the sale of merchandise with his father, in the old stone block, on Grab Corners, early in life, and pursued his occupation until well advanced in years. He closed his earthly career amid the gloom of a diseased body and darkened mind, to the sorrow of relatives and friends of better days." Mr. Roberts was the father of Mrs. Harry Perkins of Jefferson avenue. The family formerly owned and occupied a large frame house on the ground now owned by the Peninsular club. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 63 HANNAFORD OPERATED FREIGHT TRAINS B. H. Hannaford, the cafeterian, began earning his bread and butter with the power of his arms, as well as "the sweat of his brow," as a brakeman of a passenger train running between Grand Rapids and a little village a few miles northward. Power brakes were unknown and the work of slowing the speed or stopping a train required the application of much strength and agility. Maj. John W. Fairbrass was the conductor of the train. Others who served the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad (now Pennsylvania) in the same capacity were A. D. and L. D. Steward. Within two or three years following the commencement of the operation of trains, the rails were extended to Paris, Mecosta county, on the north, and south to Fort Wayne. Finally Mr. Hannaford was made a conductor of freight trains. At, or near, Monteith there was a heavy grade, and Hannaford's train ran towards it one day at a speed of 25 miles an hour. Charles D. Gorham, the general manager of the line, sat before a window in his private car and saw the freight pass. Hannaford received an order to report to Mr. Gorham at Fort Wayne, presumably due for a reprimand or dismissal from service. Obeying the order, he learned that Mr. Gorham was attending a conference in Chicago, and Hannaford heard no more about the incident. The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad company carried the materials used in the construction of the railroad running from Monteith to Allegan. The steel required was taken on at Fort Wayne. One morning the yardmaster at Fort Wayne turned over to Hannaford a train composed of several cars of merchandise and others loaded with steel rails. "Cut out the box cars at Kalamazoo and run through with the iron," the yardmaster said. Without examining the way bills, Hannaford observed the order of the yardmaster. The box cars were placed on a siding at Kalamazoo and the rails, which were to be delivered at Monteith, were brought to Grand Rapids. Hannaford was ordered to report to Henry D. Wallen, superintendent of the northern division of the railroad, and met that official several times. Wallen postponed from day to day the infliction of a penalty, a reprimand or whatever action he had decided to impose, and Hannaford, in disgust, quit the service and entered the employ of A. R. Antisdel as an assistant clerk at the Rathbun house. Undoubtedly the railroads lost the services of a man who was destined to rise to eminence in the transportation business of the country, but hungry mankind gained an excellent caterer. SEN. SMITH WON AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE POSTOFFICE Grand Rapids is indebted to Former Senator William Alden Smith for its commodious and handsome post office. Mr. Smith's predecessors in congress had obtained from session to session appropriations to be expended in deepening the channel of Grand River. A friend suggested to the senator that Grand Rapids needed a larger and a better postoffice more than a deeper channel in Grand river. "I will get an appropriation for a new postoffice," the senator remarked. A few months later congress appropriated $300,000 for the erection of a building that could not be replaced for $1,000,000. 64 OLD GRAND RAPIDS A BOY'S RETORT The late A. V. Pantlind, who, for many years, was associated with his nephew, J. Boyd Pantlind, in the management of the Morton house, was a generous, kindly disposed man. At times, however, he assumed a terrifying attitude toward the bell hops in his employ. When he snapped his fingers, he required the boys to rise from their seats and pay attention to his orders. On one occasion an Irish boy, who had commenced work in the hotel a day or two previously, remained seated. "Why didn't you rise when I called you?" the landlord demanded. "I was not in the next seat," he answered. "Well, when I call again, if you fail to rise I will kick you out into the street." "You will, eh? Well, Mr. Pantlind, don't let me catch you while you are doing it." The answer pleased the landlord so much that he outfitted the boy with clothes and books and sent him to school. AROSE SLOWLY E. J. Clark, witty contributor to the Grand Rapids Democrat, was one of the four who made a balloon ascension from Grand Rapids in 1876 with Prof. Donaldson. One week later Donaldson, the aeronaut, made an ascension from Chicago and was never seen or heard of afterward. It is presumed he perished during the heavy storm that prevailed on Lake Michigan. Clark recorded his experiences as "a trip higher than Gilderoy's kite." "We went up slowly, surely, majestically up, as high or higher than Elijah did in his chariot of fire, bidding a fond adieu to our tearful creditors," Clark wrote. "Barnum's big tent looked like a lifeless buckwheat cake on a griddle. Choking sensations overpowered us. Donaldson, who held the rudder of our craft, laughed at our distress and bade us to break pieces from the big cake of ice that lay at our feet and chew them. "At times we thought the airship was at a standstill, but bits of paper thrown overboard proved that we were moving much faster than a walk. 0, yes, we landed all right-Frank Jeffries in the top of an oak tree, Bob Wilson in a maple, while Sid Stevens slid down the drag rope." REMOVED TRACKS OF STREET RAILWAY About 45 years ago the Street Railway Company decided to extend the tracks of its dummy line, running from Eastern avenue to Reed's Lake, northward from Sherman street in Eastern to Buckeye, there to connect with its cars operated in Cherry street. A license to build the extension was granted by the Grand Rapids township board and the extension was made one Saturday night and completed on Sunday. Residents of the street, on the following night, removed the rails. Litigation in the courts followed and in the end the railway abandoned Eastern avenue and Sherman street. Policemen were summoned to suppress the so-called "rioters," but as the action lay in Grand Rapids township they were powerless to prevent destruction of property and were laughed at by the residents. The locomotives were fed anthracite coal, and the atmosphere was filled with gas, causing headaches and nausea. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 65 PAYMENTS TO INDIANS Prof. Franklin Everett witnessed many payments of annuities to Indians for lands acquired by the general government many years ago. As a recorder of local history he wrote the following in 1876: About 1,200 Indians, of "all sorts and sizes" from the toddling papoose to the swarthy niche-nah-va were assembled together in the morning upon the beautiful lawn which gently sloped toward the river front of the council house, near the rapids. It would be almost impossible to give the reader an idea of the hubbub and confusion of tongues that prevailed upon the occasion. Aside from the Indians were a variety of other characters, including the chattering Frenchman, the blarneying Irishman and the blubbering Dutchman, all mingling their discordant jargon with that of the vociferous Yankee. Groups of Indian boys, some exercising with the bow and arrow, others jumping, running, wrestling, and making the welkin ring with their noisy merriment, were collected in the vicinity of their respective tents. The river, too, was covered with canoes, and here the "dusky maid" in a more quiet and becoming manner was enjoying the occasion; and it was really surprising to see the dexterity and fearlessness with which she managed the "light canoe." A list of all the names of the heads of Indian families, and chiefs, was taken by the Indian superintendent, each Indian being entitled to a certain amount. The money to be paid was placed upon a table in the council room, in piles of $10 and $20 each, in American half-dollar pieces. Around the table sat the Indian superintendent, interpreter, and clerks. Commencing at the top of the list a crier called off the names, the parties presented themselves, were paid off, and immediately made room for others. It was amusing to observe the great number of "friends" that would gather around the Indian after he had received his money from the paymaster. Here a trader suddenly recollects some debt of long standing against Mr. Indian; there a seedy individual with sad eyes and nasal promontory coleur de rosa, most seductively offering him a drink of water slightly tinctured with poor whisky, while one or two dear friends are advising him to look out for sharpers, at the same time intimating that the superintendent has been paying off in bogus coin. In the evening, while the drinking Indians were rioting and carousing in the town, the evangelized natives were encamped upon the opposite side of the river, and the surrounding forest fairly resounded with their loud singing, preaching and praying. Instrumental music, from the fiddle to the Indian tum-tum might also have been heard arising above the "horrid din." The scene that presents itself at the Indian payment now-a-days at the reservations whereon such payments are made is altogether different. Measures to prevent the sale of intoxicating drinks to the poor Indian on such occasions came with the enactment of the Volstead law. A NUBBIN The Rev. Mr. Sargent of Grace church met the jolly bishop of Alabama at the recent national conclave of the Protestant Episcopal church at Portland, Ore. On a certain occasion the bishop remarked: "My wife always does for me the things I tell her to do." Asked to explain the system he employs to enforce obedience to his wishes, the bishop continued: "I first ascertain what she desires to do. Then I tell her to do it." 66 OLD GRAND RAPIDS TWO JUDGES, A MERCHAN.T AND A SHOW MANAGER Charles W. Potter, chief justice of the supreme court of Wyoming, born in Grand Rapids, was educated in the primary and high schools and received his first diploma in 1870. Among his classmates at Central High were Henry Allen, Mrs. Charles H. Leonard, Addie Jewett and Lincoln B. Livingston. Later he was graduated from the law school of the University of Michigan, practiced law at Muskegon and finally moved to Cheyenne, where he has resided since. Judge Potter was a member of the convention that framed the constitution for the state of Wyoming and vigorously supported a proposal to confer equal suffrage on women. He was elected to occupy a seat on the supreme bench. Norman D. Carpenter, formerly of Carpenter, Judd & Co., dealers in hardware on the spot now occupied as the main entrance of the Pantlind hotel, sold his interest in the firm, moved to Detroit and entered the service of the Carnegie company. When the steel trust absorbed the Carnegie business Mr. Carpenter was retained by the new corporation in its service. In the course of time he was transferred to Los Angeles. Taking advantage of the opportunities for acquiring wealth in the city of the Angels Mr. Carpenter accumulated a fortune. William J. Stuart, during his life in Grand Rapids, filled at different periods the offices of prosecuting attorney for Kent county, mayor and judge of the superior court. His term as mayor covered the years 1892-3. He was a communicant of St. Mark's Episcopal church and in his capacity as mayor he made an effort to create greater respect for Sunday. Theaters were kept open in front and saloons in the rear in those days, and much disorder prevailed. Poker and faro rooms were raided by the police and attempts were made to close the theaters. C. Sumner Burrows, manager of the Grand who resisted arrest was handcuffed, much to his pleasure, as the proceeding afforded him an opportunity to rush on the stage, shake the shackles and deliver an address to a large audience in which he denounced the police for infringing upon the rights of American citizens to assemble and enjoy strictly moral and uplifting entertainments such as the management of the Grand provided. Burrows, at the police station, furnished bail for his appearance. The manager of Smith's Opera house was also arrested and taken to court to answer a charge of violating Sunday laws. The juries in both cases failed to agree and prosecution several months later was discontinued. COMMISSIONERS GOVERNED COUNTY Previous to 1841 the business of Kent county was transacted by a board ot commissioners. The people became dissatisfied with their transactions and petitioned the legislature to abolish the board and authorize the people to elect a board of supervisors. The petition was granted and at the election in 1842 the following were elected supervisors: John Almy, representing Grand Rapids; W. R. Godwin, Wyoming; H. H. Allen, Paris; James Davis, Walker; H. J. Ackley, Ada; Thompson I. Daniels, Vergennes; Isaac Tower, Courtland; J. G. Beach, Caledonia, and G. H. Gordon, Plainfield. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 67 ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE When the Catholic diocese of Michigan was divided Thomas B. Church was the first to discuss the importance of the creation of the See of Grand Rapids. "You will witness the establishment of hospitals, orphanages, schools, asylums, colleges and like institutions in the city within a few years. It is the custom of Catholic people to locate their educational and charitable institutions at the See, the home of the Bishop." How well the prediction of Mr. Church in regard to the importance of the division of the diocese to Grand Rapids has proven true a moment's investigation will suffice: The Home for the Aged, St. John's Orphan Asylum, St. Mary's Hospital and the Catholic High School are of the number of worthy institutions that testify to the piety and zeal of those who profess the Catholic faith. PROF. EVERETT'S ACADEMY Franklin Everett for many years, with the assistance of his wife, conducted a private school located on Prospect avenue, north of Lyon. Tall, raw-boned careless in his attire and never separated from his corn cob pipe. His school was well attended and the Professor exercised a great deal of influence in the educational work of the community. An interesting historical sketch of Grand Rapids from his pen was published in the City Directory in August, 1865. "NEWT" AND JOE Newton Cook, or "Newt" honored this community by his sturdy manhood, his generous nature and his interest in public affairs during a residence of fifty years. His brother, Joe Cook, operated the stage line running between Grand Rapids and Newaygo sixty years ago and was noted for his energy and vitriolic language. His fund of expletives was gathered during the years that he filled the office of fire marshal. Given a pair of old fashioned hand pumping engines and a crew of such hardy men as lived in Grand Rapids in the middle of the past century, Jo was capable of handling an ordinary fire and saving lives and property as well as the best of his class. UP IN A BALLOON "Prof." Donaldson was a well known aeronaut engaged by Barnum to go along and make ascensions in the cities where his circus showed. They called aeronauts professors in those respectful days as we do dancing masters and corn doctors now. The circus came to Grand Rapids for July 4; the year was about 1878. The newspapers were invited to send representatives for the ascension and Sidney S. Stevens responded for the Saturday Evenig Post, Robert Wilson for the Eagle, Frank Jeffers for the Times and Ed Clark for the Democrat. The ascension was a success with a safe landing near Ada and a pleasant time was had by all. The four newspaper men had great stories to tell of their experience and what they had seen. The motion was so gentle it was necessary to throw bits of paper overboard to realize that they were going up. Robert Wilson felt so entirely comfortable that he drew a cigar from his pocket and was about to light it. Donaldson was in the ropes and drawing a knife gave warning, "You do that and I'll cut the rope; you'll go down, I'll go up." Wilson postponed his smoke until he was back on earth again.-G. R. News. 68 OLD GRAND RAPIDS GRAND RAPIDS IN 1846 Franklin Everett wrote a historical sketch of Grand Rapids as it was in 1846, the year of his arrival. "Forty acres was about the extent of the village. Division street, it might be said, bounded civilization on the east, Monroe on the south, Bridge street on the north and the river on the west. There were scattered buildings of little value outside of these limits. A wing dam ran half way across the river, and furnished power for three saw-mills, two grist mills and some minor works. Sinclair's store (now the location of the Herpholsheimer Co.) was too far out of town to do business. Canal street (now north Monroe) was the muddiest hole in all creation." A two-foot sidewalk supported by posts kept pedestrians out of the mud. It must be borne in mind that this thoroughfare has been filled from five to ten feet. Stumps were in the streets and houses were one story high. Fine musical frog ponds adjoined Division street. Communication with the outside world was by stage through Battle Creek. People came to church with ox teams. They came to worship God, not, as now, to show dry goods. Men and women dressed plainly and almost all suffered with chills and fevers. Every cow had a bell and the community did not lack music. "Wood was a drug on the market at $1 per cord, wheat sold for 50 cents per bushel, corn 25 cents, venison one-half of 1 cent per pound; pork and beef 3 cents. Young ladies were scarce and in active demand. The Catholics had a dwelling house for a chapel. The Episcopal church was at the junction of Division and Crescent street. Poor people attended divine services and were considered decent. Women spoke more of the sermons than of the dresses seen at church. Three district schools and an academy provided instruction for children. It was an out-of-the-way, primitive place with warm hearts and energetic heads." REUNION OF THE TWENTY-FIRST MICHIGAN INFANTRY IN 1874 Dr. John Avery (afterward a member of congress) presided and the proceedings were recorded by James Vander Sluis. Later in the day Col. W. B. McCreery was elected president; Capt. C. E. Belknap, vic-president; James Vander Slius, secretary and Eber Rice, treasurer. Among the veterans were W. B. McCreery, colonel; A. A. Stevens, colonel; L. K. Bishop, lieutenant colonel; John W. Dye, quartermaster; L. W. Earl, chaplain; John Avery, surgeon; A. B. Morse, adjutant; M. W. Jeffries, fife major; F. H. Spencer, hospital steward, and one hundred and thirty-six privates. On Sept. 4, 1862, the day when the regiment was mustered into the service, the enlisted men numbered 1,008. The number lost by death during the following two years and nine months was 368. Among the speakers at the banquet was Capt. Charles E. Belknap, who related some of the deeds accomplished by "Sherman's Bummers." "Not all of the good men in the army were assigned to bummer duty, but it was claimed that the men of the Twenty-first Infantry could catch, kill, skin, cook and eat a hog on the march and not lose the step. The bummer was wrongly accused of many things," the captain continued. "Not one was ever charged with carrying off a Georgia cotton loom, a South Carolina plantation or a North Carolina tar kiln, but when the bummers had explored a district, there was nothing left for the frogs, flies and fleas to feed on. The first bummer who entered Columbia, S. C., tried to carry off the state house." OLD GRAND RAPIDS 69 A FATAL EDITORIAL "Zach Chandler is Dead, Thank God." The line quoted above was the introductory sentence of an editorial published in the Grand Rapids Times in 1879, following the death of Senator Chandler. The Times was owned by Nathan Church and Gouverneur B. Rathbun, a farmer who lived on the Robinson road, near Fisk lake. Mr. Church despised Chandler, and the columns of the Times were used to express his sentiments. The editorial writer for the Times in that year was Theodore M. Carpenter, for many years a journalist of Grand Rapids. The news editor was Frank H. Hosford, and the city department was managed by the writer of this story. Mr. Church wrote the criticisms of current amusements. On the day that Chandler died, Church entered the editortial room and remarked to Carpenter: "You know my opinion of Zach Chandler. I hae not changed it, now that he is dead." Carpenter wrote a scathing review of Chandler's political life and accompanied the same with denunciation and abuse that would have caused a duel or a riot in the old days. Chandler had many friends in the state and on the morning that followed the publication of the editorial the office telephone operator was kept busy in taking the orders transmitted by indignant subscribers to "stop my paper." The mails were also burdened with stop orders and in 24 hours the circulation of the Daily Times was cut down from 1,200 to 600. Church became alarmed and called upon the editorial force to help stem the tide that would ruin the paper. Carpenter wrote a communication explaining the purpose of the editorial and justifying its severity, and signed it "Veritas." Hosford signed his communication "Pro Bono Publico." Church and the city editor wrote communications defending the course of the paper and several personal friends of Church helped out with "views" for the same purpose. The Times failed to recover the ground lost, however, and after a hopeless struggle for a year or two, it was sold out for a song and Church departed for San Francisco, where he lived until some time after the earthquake. THREE TIMES A DAY Not many years ago college boys sang to the tune of "Happy Land," "There is a boarding house not far away; Where hash and beans are served three times a day, Oh, how the boarders run when the dinner bell is rung, Oh, how they wag their tongues three times a day." Old time landlords considered the dinner bell an indispensable article in the equipment of hotels. The bell was rung mornings to awaken guests and later to call them to breakfast. Jacob Nagele, who owned and managed the Michigan house, northwest corner of Ottawa avenue and Louis street, used a large triangle to call the hungry to partake of the excellent meals he served. Nagele's soul was musical and the solos he played on the triangle were pleasant to hear. Transients were attracted to the Nagele house as well as regular boarders.-G. R. News. 70 OLD GRAND RAPIDS TURNER AND GILBERT The people of Grand Rapids are very much indebted to Isaac M. Turner for the beauty of the public parks. As chairman of the committee on parks of the common council, he spent much time in planning and putting into execution his ideas of park development. In John Ball park he caused to be constructed the driveways, lanes, fountains, waterfalls, rustic bridges, swings and grottos, and also the cages for birds and animals. The council of 35 years ago was niggardly in the appropriation of money for the improvement of the parks, and Mr. Turner accomplished a great deal in the development, especially of John Ball and Highland parks, with the means that were provided for that purpose. Wild animals and birds were obtained by Mr. Turner to please the children who visited the place. The black bear cub, Jack, grew in the course of a few years to mammoth proportions. When standing erect, Jack measured fully six feet from his toes to his nose. Jack did not enjoy confinement and one fall day the keeper, going to Jack's cage, found him not. The beast had climbed over the iron bars that imprisoned him and disappeared. A few days later he was shot and killed by a farmer a few miles west of the city. Credit for the naming of the park in honor of John Ball is due to Charles Holden. Mr. Turner caused to be built the rustic bridges, the pavilion, the miniature waterfalls and other attractive features of Highland park and directed the making of important improvements in Fulton Street park. He was an able lawyer and during his lifetime he served the people of Kent county one term as its prosecuting attorney and the city as an alderman several terms. In 1891 his friends urged him to become a candidate for congress, but he refused to do so on account of failing health. He died in Washington a year or two later. The law firm of which he was the head still retains his name in the copartnership. During the funeral services held over his remains at All Sotis church, his wife, standing at the head of the casket, delivered an eloquent and pathetic eulogy of the departed. Thomas D. Gilbert, whose bust in bronze is located near the south entrance to Fulton Street park, contributed of his time and means liberally in the development of that beautiful spot in the heart of the city. Fifty years ago the park was surrounded by a high picket fence. The ground was used in growing crops by Mr. Gilbert. Potatoes, planted in one year, would be followed by corn or oats, planted or sown in the years following. The crops harvested from year to year were sold by Mr. Gilbert and the money so realized was expended in the purchase and planting of trees within and without the enclosure. During his life Mr. Gilbert served the people of Ottawa county and the state in the office of sheriff. As a member of the legislature during the civil war, he rendered important service to the state and nation as chairman of the house committee on ways and means. His additional public service was as an officer of the school board and an alderman. Among the valuable properties that he controlled until a few years before his death was the Grand Rapids Gas Light company. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 71 BOY CAPERS Fred Temple recalled an incident of his boyhood that amused a group of pioneers assembled in the Hotel Pantlind a few night ago. During several years subsequent to 1870 an auctioneer named McMillen conducted an auction sale in a building in Monroe avenue, opposite the Isis theater. The sales greatly interested a group of youngsters of the Tom Sawyer class. One evening the boys provided themselves with eggs in various stages of decomposition, and entered the auction room, when it was crowded with men. Quietly and surreptitiously they slipped the eggs into the pockets of those present and at a given signal caused the same to be broken. The result may be more easily imagined than described. Naturally the boys rans for safety, followed by the victims of their trick. The race lay through Crescent street and Bond avenue to Bridge street, where the boys raised the trap that opened into a large trunk sewer constructed of timber, entered the same and emerged on the bank of the east side canal, two blocks distant. The boys returned to the auction sale and listened to the discussion of the incident by their victims. On another occasion the lads obtained a quantity of an ill-smelling chemical from Charley Escott, whose father owned a drug store located near the auction salesroom. When a crowd had assembled they sprinkled the chemical on the floor, creating thereby a stench that was unbearable. The sale was discontinued and McMillen offered a reward for the names of the perpetrators, which he was not called on to pay. A prominent physician of the group was reminded of his experience with a pair of handsome and intelligent dogs, owned by a neighbor. The doctor and his wife love flowers and devoted much time to the cultivation of bulbs in the springtime. The ground adjoining his house had been carefully prepared and set with bulbs, when the dogs proceeded to enjoy themselves by digging trenches and rolling in the same, destroying the bulbs. The doctor procured a quantity of cow-itch and sprinkled it in the trenches the dogs had dug. On the following morning the animals appeared and proceeded to roll as usual. The cow-itch took instant effect and the dogs, scratching and squealing, needed the attention of the owner. A bath relieved them of their sufferings, but from that day to the end of their lives, they did not disturb the doctor's flower beds. SUNK SALT WELLS Boring for the first salt well in Grand Rapids was commenced by John Ball in 1839. On July 9, 1842, he had reached a depth of 650 feet. Saline fluid was struck but the anticipated brine fountain was not found. James Scribner and Tanner Taylor sunk a well on Plainfield avenue, near the old railroad station in 1859 and found indications of salt at a depth of 139 feet. A current of brine was struck. W. T. Powers and John Martin sunk a well on the west side near Fuller station and R. E. Butterworth bored for salt and struck brine of not much strength. Indian Mill Creek Co. also bored for salt at Fuller station in 1860. John Ball, D. P. Clay, Luther Colby and J. W. McKee were interested in that venture. A supply of brine measuring 10 gallons per minute was tapped. None of the above enterprises proved to be remunerative. 72 OLD GRAND RAPIDS TREE PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. A score of years ago the news columns of the daily papers contained from time to time accounts of the meetings of the Hill Tree Planters association, of which George W. Thompson was the alleged president and spokesman. Several reporters, including L. G. Stuart and Burridge Butler, informally discussed the need of trees to beautify the city and agreed to use the columns of the newspapers they represented in a campaign to promote the planting of shade trees. Mr. Thompson was chosen as the spokesman for the reporters, and in the reports of the meeting of the mythical association his name alone was used. Hundreds of citizens became interested in the movement, and not only adorned their premises with trees and beautiful lawns, but urged their neighbors to do so. The public schools also became interested, and on tree planting day thousands of young trees were planted by the pupils. Mr. Thompson did not put $1 into the campaign. Only in a single instance was it found necessary to appeal to the public for aid. Mrs. Edward Taggart, an official of the women's board of the Union Benevolent association, called upon Mr. Thompson and pointed out the need of trees to beautify the grounds of the association at College avenue and Lyon street. Seventeen was the number of trees the association wanted to acquire. "Now, Mr. Thompson,' Mrs. Taggart argued, "you are the man of all men to obtain those trees for us. We shall depend upon you to supply them." What could George do? There was but one course open for him, and he took it. From residents living in the neighborhood of the association's hospital he collected $25, and bought the trees. "Grand Rapids is the most beautiful city of 150,000 inhabitants in North America," Mr. Thompson declared. "This is due to its topography and its many thousands of shade trees, and well kept lawns. Credit for this result is due the newspaper reporters of a score of years ago." MIGHT 'AV 'AD A 'ANDSOMER MAN A widower named Wallace, the father of three daughters, who carried on a fashionable and profitable dressmaking business, lived in Grand Rapids in 1870. Government opened large tracts of lands in the Dakotas for settlement by homesteaders and Wallace decided to go west and take up a quarter section for himself and adjoining quarters for each of his daughters. Loading a freight car with lumber, farming implements, a horse and other needed things he traveled westward and located as planned. The homestead act of congress required the settler to construct "a house 12 feet square with one glass window and a well." Wallace built a house 24 feet square, located at the intersection of four quarters of land, with a window overlooking each section. Land was plowed, seeded and cultivated and a crop of wheat was growing nicely when a widower with six children appeared on the scene and the daughter, who had accompanied the old emigrant to keep his house, married him. Deserted by the daughter the old man returned to Grand Rapids, disgusted with his ill fortune. In Cockney English he exclaimed: "What in the world did she want to marry him for? She might 'ave 'ad a younger and a 'andsomer man." OLD GRAND RAPIDS 73 RECEPTION TO ADMIRAL DEWEY After Admiral Dewey had been relieved of his command at Manilla in 1900 he sailed for Europe via the Suez canal, stopping en route at Sidney, Singapore and important seaports of the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. He also visited Paris and London and was accorded great honor by crowned and uncrowned heads. Finally he arrived in New York and was grandly received. Later he toured the country to receive the honors due to the most distinguished commander of the American-Spanish war. The admiral was invited on behalf of the Association of Commerce to come to Grand Rapids, by Senator Smith, and he promised to include our city in his tour. A year or more passed before the admiral had fulfilled his engagements and then it was learned that Grand Rapids had been forgotten. The admiral's marriage to the widowed sister of John R. McLean, the transfer of the home in Washington, purchased by and presented to him, by the public and by him to his bride, the announcement of himself as a candidate of the Democratic party to oppose the popular Roosevelt for the office of president of the United States lost him many friends and admirers. Senator Smith finally called the admiral's attention to his failure to visit Grand Rapids and again expressed the desire of our citizens to meet and entertain him at his convenience. Profusely apologizing for his forgetfulness the admiral informed Senator Smith that he and his wife would visit Grand Rapids whenever the community would be prepared to receive him. Committees were appointed to arrange entertainment for the admiral but their plans were not warmly received. Finally a parade and receptions for afternoon and evening were announced and the admiral and wife arrived on an appointed date. From a reviewing stand erected at Sheldon avenue and Fulton street the admiral, as dignified as a Roman conqueror, surrounded by a few men who had served the government in the navy, witnessed the march of a rather motley procession. Only fragments of civic organizations turned out. The afternoon reception at St. Cecilia hall was colorless and the evening function was no better. Mrs. Dewey conveniently developed a headache and did not appear. Col. M. A. Aldrich, the marshal, who in elaborate uniform led the procession, had served as an officer on the military staff of Gov. Peck of Wisconsin. Admiral Dewey was stumped when his eyes rested on the colonel's attire. After viewing it critically he inquired: "Colonel, what branch of the service do you represent, the Army or the Navy?" A NUBBIN One hundred and-sixty-one lawyers practiced their profession in the courts of Kent County in 1880. It is stated that only thirteen of such practitioners are now living. Their names are Thomas F. Carroll, Henry J. Carr, J. Edward Earle, C. H. Gleason, C. V. E. Ganson, Robert D. Graham, E. A. Mahar, T. J. O'Brien, Charles Potter, Edwin F. Sweet, Fred A. Maynard, W. W. Taylor and Fred C. Temple. Among the deceased are Judges Adzit, Burch, Montgomery, Burlingame, Holmes, Hoyt, Parrish, Stuart, Westfall, McBride, Wanty and S. L. Withey. /74 OLD GRAND RAPIDS UTLEY AND FATHER "I remember a call of a deaf man on Charley Eaton of Eaton, Lyon & Co Johnny McIntyre, a practical joker, met the man at the entrance and told him Charley Eaton was very deaf, and that he would be obliged to speak very loud in conversation with Eaton. McIntyre had informed Eaton that his caller was very deaf, and it was very amusing to listen to them during the progress of a sale that Eaton made to the man. "In boyhood Henry WV. Foote, a son of Col. Thaddeus Foote, was my dearest friend. I spent much of my time at his home on Front street when not employed in delivering newspapers. He had a set of Rollo books, which so impressed my youthful mind that later I bought a set and had them in my library more than 50 years. I read them to my little but now big son. "My father, D. R. Utley, to his pecuniary loss, was a singer. Everybody who heard him admired his voice. My mother felt the loss of father's time given to singing so much that she would not allow him to teach my brothers. Jay D. and Charley, to sing. She did not object, however, to his teaching my sister (Mary Aldworth) music. In the beginning she had only a small voice, but cultivation developed it wonderfully. Jay and Charley had excellent natural voices, and music lost two artists by the failure of my father to train them. He was a member of the choir of the Park Congregational church many years. Among his associates in the choir were the late George D. Herrick, Mrs. Dana B. Shedd and Mrs. E. R. Wilson, deceased. An Irishman who never entered the church frequently stood on the walk outside of the building, to hear the choir sing, and seemingly never tired of the music. "Colonel Foote had ample means when he came to Grand Rapids in 1856, but he did not succeed in the practice of law. He engaged in selling life insurance in 1865, after his retirement from the army."-W. R. UTLEY. FULTON STREET CEMETERY Soon after the Fulton street Cemetery association was organized, more than sixty years ago, John Suttle, a landscape gardener, from England, was employed as its sexton. Mr. Suttle platted the tract, beautified it with trees, plants and flowers and served the association faithfully many years. He loved flowers and built the first greenhouse in the city. He attended the monthly meetings of the Grand River Horticultural society and never failed to decorate the desk of the president with choice specimens of the floral kingdom, either grown under glass or in the open. Mr. Suttle passed on about fifty years ago and a man named Ward was chosen as his successor. Ward was prudent and industrious. He preferred to dig the graves needed. His wife assisted in the work. It is said she could shovel as much earth as her sturdy husband within a given time. The Wards served the cemetery association only a few years. Both were buried in Fulton street cemetery. John Ringold, the present sexton has been in the employ of the association 44 years and lives on the premises formerly owned by John Suttle. He has buried many who were prominent in the affairs of the city during their lives. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 75 THE MOORE BROTHERS Major Mac Moore, one of three brothers, was well known in Grand Rapids Capt. H. N. Moore, after service in the Civil war, was in trade several years and served a term as postmaster. Another brother, Edmund B., an attorney, won distinction as a commissioner of the national patent office. Mac Moore's wife, a dramatic reader, was a daughter of Rev. James Ballard, an early-day pastor of Park Congregational church. Mac Moore was an easy-going, happy-go-lucky individual. Neither circumstance nor condition that would cause worry to most individuals concerned him. Cards and dominoes were his favorite amusements. Leppig's restaurant was the meeting place of the players of those games. Moore was a justice of the peace. His office was near Leppig's place. Moore frequently locked his door to participate in the games. A certain local attorney, upon finding Moore's office, which he visited frequently, closed, usually wrote his name in large letters upon a sheet of paper and pushed it under the door. Finally Moore decided to teach the attorney a lesson. Above the signature of the visitor he wrote a promissory note for $500, payable with principal and interest to himself on demand and presented it to the attorney. "I disclaim it, I never give notes in payment of debts. I have not signed a note in 40 years. I am not obliged to borrow money for any purpose," the lawyer, boiling with indignation, exclaimed. "That's your signature, isn't it?" Moore asked. "Yes, that's my signature but I did not write that note." "It is a legal note; its form is proper! It is collectable and I want the money," Moore continued. Finally Moore gave the note to the lawyer, after unnecessarily warning him to refrain from the practice of placing his written signature under the door of the court. GEOLOGY OF KENT COUNTY Concerning the geology of Kent county a noted geologist wrote in 1881 as follows: "In tracing the geological history of the country it will be only necessary to revert to the era when the accumulated sediments of the ocean were being formed into masses of rock. Geology teaches that the continents of the world were once beneath the ocean. Some of the mountains in the sea are steeper and more abrupt than many on land. At the close of the coinferous epoch a great upheaval of sea bottom formed a line of land across the southern counties of Michigan, which extended to an older and wider formation in the south part of Ohio. The land now within the boundaries of Kent was still submerged, but by degrees the southern belt rose higher, spread northward and approached the state of dry land at the beginning of the coal deposit era. At its close Kent and the counties bordering formed the highlands of the lower peninsula. It is stated that Lakes Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario were not in existence then, their places being represented by a swift running river with expansions." 76 OLD GRAND RAPIDS DELIBERATIONS OF "THE COMMITTEE" A group of young business men meets frequently in the lobby of the Hotel Pantlind, after lunch, and spends an hour or two in conversation. "Dick" Prendergast, A. B. Merritt, Will Granger, W. C. Hopson, and George W. Crater are usually noticed among those who participate in the talks of the hour. The group is known as "The Committee." A. B. Merritt, born in Keeler, Van Buren county, spent his boyhood in Decatur, Mich. Before he had passed out of his teens, he assisted the pastor of the Methodist church of that village in managing the affairs of the society. When asked to state the capacity in which he was employed, he replied: 'I was the janitor." "Methodists," he explained, "require much heat during their stay in this world, especially during the winter months. Many will not ask for much heat in the nebulous hereafter. When a member of the society died, the bell of the church was tolled by the janitor; the number of strikes made by the bell indicated the age of the deceased." One winter day Merritt was ordered to toll the bell for the funeral of a patriarch of the church, who died at the age of 93. After fifty-three strokes had been tolled the bell refused to respond to the pull of the bell rope and Merritt climbed into the belfry to complete his task with an axe. During the interval Merritt forgot the number of strokes he had made with the rope and started a new count. A short time later one of the deacons climbed into the belfry and in a much perturbed voice exclaimed, "What the deuce are you doing? The dead man was 93 years old and you have tolled the bell 120 times already." A young son of one of the group overheard his family at the lunch table discuss the shocking practice indulged in by ladies of bathing in one-piece suits. The little fellow did not think the women were so immodest as men he had seen in bathing. The women wore two suits-the one nature gave them, and one they bought at the department stores. The men wore but a onepiece suit, that did not cost a cent. The piously inclined member of the group is considering a proposal to organize a church club of 100. The members will attend church services when they feel so inclined and pay liberally for the seats they occupy. The club, however, will insist that no restrictions be placed upon its members in regard to attending ball games, playing golf or going after fish on Sundays. A NUBBIN Aruna Bradford occupied a store on the site of the Grand Rapids National bank in the year 1865. He sold food of all sorts and employed a traveling salesman, E. H. Hughes, now of Chicago, to sell preserved fish, oysters and kindred goods to merchants located in the small towns of western Michigan. Oysters were packed in flat tin containers and small barrels of wood in those days. There were no railroads north of Grand Rapids and Mr. Hughes traveled by stage or with a private conveyance. Bradford owned the triangular piece of ground bounded by Cherry street, Eastern avenue, and Lake drive, known as Bradford's addition. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 77 OLD TIME EDITORS SEE PICTURES OF FORMER CRONIES ON SCREEN AND TELL STORIES OF THEM AT MEETING An annual function that has been maintained for 30 years took place Thursday afternoon, and evening, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Stowe, 504 College avenue, S. E., when the older newspaper men of Grand Rapids gathered to swap reminiscences and indulge in the good cheer provided by the host. The feature of the reunion was a series of portraits of absent comrades thrown on a screen by D. W. Tower, those attending being asked to recount such anecdotes as came to mind concerning the individuals portrayed. About 40 such portraits were shown. A number of letters were read from absent friends. One in particular from Charles S. Brown, now with the Duplex Printing Press Company, recalls the time when Brown and E. A. Stowe, publisher of the Michigan Tradesman, were boys setting type together in the same alley. Mr. Brown recalls that Mr. Stowe was rather jealous of the fact that there was a dollar a week difference in the wages paid the two-Brown receiving $6, and Stowe $5 weekly. The writer intimated that Stowe had finally managed to reverse the condition. Another letter was received from William B. Joyce, now president of the National Surety company and several times a millionaire, formerly a cub on one of the local papers and later clerk at the old Morton House. Another from George B. Catlin, now librarian and special writer on the Detroit News, who was for years connected with Grand Rapids newspapers, follows in part: "Col. I. E. Messore. a typical democrat, of the old school, was publishing the "Democrat' when I came to Grand Rapids in 1880. He had a bunch of old cronies of his own particular stripe and at the close of a perfect day he, Col. Bob Sinclair, and Colonel Ramsay-or was it Ramsdell?-would saunter rather majestically up Monroe street pausing at such oases as Mart Boorhem, Chape Pease, Jerome Trowbridge, and old Ben Smith provided. "Gen. A. A. Stevens had a print shop on Lyon street in company with Bill Dennis or Cornell and Dean. The old saloon on the north side of the Lyon street entrance to Powers arcade preserved some of the characteristics of a still earlier Grand Rapids. Al Tozer was one of the most familiar figures on the street. 'Farmer' J. Mason Reynolds mixed poetry, literature, politics, religion, and law rather injudiciously with any old brand of alcohol. 'Chancellor' White and C. C. Howell made personal use of the exchange papers in all the newspaper offices. William Alden Smith had an emporium for the 'Light Running Domestic' sewing machine in the Luce block. "Your mention of Fred Spaeth's restaurant reminds me of the loss of the steamer Alpena in the fall of 1880 with a delegation of Grand Rapids brewers and their patrons on board and the subsequent finding of Spaeth's body floating with two life-preservers donned when a grindstone would have insured a quicker finish. I used to know all your old understudies including Will Innes and his passion for circus sawdust. His last adventure as a showman was the Grand Rapids Minstrels-60, count them, 60-who went away with band music and soon walked back to town. "In my own experience as hated city editor I had some brilliant fellows who subsequently made unusually good. Frank I. Cobb, editor of the New York World and Wellington W. Harris, for a time editor of the New York Sun, were both of the old Herald staff. Jimmie Young of the Boston Globe I chaperoned in Detroit, and we have occasional palavers over the good old days." 78 OLD GRAND RAPIDS Among the older newspaper men of Grand Rapids who attended the meeting at the Stowe home were former Senator William Alden Smith, Thomas W. Fletcher, Charles W. Garfield, Harvey 0. Carr, William M. Hathaway, W. B. Weston, A. S. White, B. H. Howig, George W. Locke of Kalamazoo, Robert Beard of Ionia, Col. D. N. Foster, Capt. C. E. Belknap, D. W. Tower and L. Winternitz.-G. R. Herald, Oct. 1920. MAYOR WAS HONORED WITH A SALUTE During his incumbency of the office of mayor of Grand Rapids, Edmund B. Dikeman was honored with a salute fired by a battery stationed for a day, at the Soldiers' home. The occasion was the laying of the corner stone for the main building. The governor and the state officers, the mayor and common counciil and other public functionaries were invited to be present and Mayor Dikeman determined to honor the event properly. Carriages were engaged for the use of the aldermen and a brass band played merry tunes as the cortege approached the grounds. Suddenly the cannon roared out a welcome and the mayor, a veteran soldier, stood erect in his barouche and acknowledged the honor so noisly pronounced by the gunmen. When the salute had been completed, the officer in charge of the gun squad approached Mayor Dikeman and inquired: "Are you the governor?" "No, I am the mayor of Grand Rapids." "Well, I am in a nice fix. The salute was intended for the governor and I haven't an ounce of powder left." An order was hurriedly dispatched to the city and a new supply of the explosive was received just as the governor entered the grounds an hour or more after the mayor had been welcomed. OPPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROAD The suggestion of a resident that street railway tracks be transferred from Jefferson avenue and State street to Cherry street and Division avenue recalls to memory an attempt made by property owners to prevent the construction of the Cherry street-Lake drive line as it now exists. In the year 1891 the railway company presented a petition to the common council asking the enactment of an ordinance that would permit the construction of tracks and the operation of cars thereon in the thoroughfares mentioned above. Property owners almost unanimously opposed the granting of the petition and a merry contest was initiated and carried on in the columns of the newspapers and before the common council. Active in their opposition to the granting of the petition were Senator John W. Patton, Col. Joseph Herkner, T. Stewart White, William A. Berkey, Charles H. Perkins, Dr. Thomas D. Bradfield, S. S. Gay and H. S. Smith. Finally the ordinance passed and several of those who opposed it announced that they never would ride in the cars operated on the street. Those pledges never were broken. T. Stewart White erected a large house on Fulton street and moved from the desirable corner he had occupied a score of years to the new home. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 79 VOCATIONAL SCHOOL WAS GOAL OF MARK NORRIS A great deal of satisfaction is derived from the realization of an ideal. When Mark Norris put away his school books many years ago and sought for employment, he realized his unpreparedness to perform the duties of life. "I was anxious to go to work," he said, "but there was nothing that I could do." He resumed his studies and in the course of time was admitted to practice law. He then realized that there were many young men in the city who were not prepared to enter upon the task of earning a living and a competency as he had been, and then and there he resolved that if ever he should have an opportunity to introduce in the public schools manual or vocational training that would enable young men or women to support themselves after graduation he would do so. Mr. Norris, some 15 or more years ago, was elected to the office of trustee of the board of education, and soon after taking his seat in that body he set to work vigorously to carry out his purpose. A long, tiresome, and, at times, a discouraging contest over the plans he had formulated in co-operation with D. W. Tower, and urged upon his fellow members followed, and in time very small appropriations of money were obtained for use in comparatively unimportant experiments. The pupils in the schools accepted the training in the mechanic and domestic arts with enthusiasm, and before Mr. Norris finally retired from the service of the city the system he had conceived and promoted had grown so strong and so secure in the estimation of parents and pupils, that he had no doubt as to its permanency. When Mr. Norris leaves his home on North Prospect avenue and walks down the hills to his office he sees, near by on Bostwick avenue, a great building that is devoted to vocational training, and naturally he experiences the pleasure that the realization of an ideal affords. FIRST OFFICERS OF BOARD OF TRADE A group picture hanging on a wall in the office of the Grand Rapids Association of Commerce represents the officers and directors of the Grand Rapids board of trade (the predecessor of the present organization) which was organized in November, 1887. The board of directors was composed of Thomas D. Gilbert, Julius Houseman, Moreau S. Crosby, W. R. Shelby, John Widdicomb, Joseph Heald, E. B. Fisher, James Blair, T. W. Strahan, Henry Spring, Benjamin Putnam, A. B. Watson, John W. Blodgett, George G. Briggs, John A. Covode, William H. Powers, Charles H. Leonard, M. R. Bissell, Charles R. Sligh, A. B. Knowlson, D. H. Waters, G. C. A. Voigt, I. C. Levi, Elias Matter, William Dunham, A. S. Musselman, Sidney F. Stevens, O. A. Ball, L. J. Rindge and Charles W. Watkins. Mr. Briggs was the first president; L. J. Rindge, first vice president; John A. Covode, second vice president; G. W. Watkins, third vice president; H. D. C. Van Asmus, secretary, and E. Crofton Fox, treasurer. Of the above only the following are living: W. R. Shelby, T. W. Strahan, J. W. Blodgett, Charles H. Leonard, Charles R. Sligh, A. B. Knowlson, H. D. C. Van Asmus and Sidney F. Stevens. 80 OLD GRAND RAPIDS ROLLER SKATING A PASTIME Roller skating, a pleasant exercise largely indulged in by the kiddies on the pavements, was introduced in Grand Rapids during the winter of 1875-76 by J. H. Fenton of Indianapolis. Fenton, who had invented and obtained letters patent for roller skates, sought a location for a rink. He finally entered into a contract for the use of Luce's hall for thirty days. Mr. Luce engaged to provide for all operating expenses and to accept in payment for the use of the hall 200 pairs of Fenton's skates. Mr. Luce removed the old pine floor and the elevated seats at the rear of the hall and laid new hard maple flooring. Each strip was two inches wide. The rink was opened on March 1, 1876, with exhibitions by Mr. Fenton, who modestly announced himself as "the champion roller skater of the world." Prof. Hearne, a noted skater and teacher, represented Fenton later. Crowds filled the spacious room nightly. In the efforts made to acquire the skill needed to remain upright many fell and then fell again while trying to arise. Prizes were offered to induce competition. Fred Schriver won the first prize in the class for men and Grace Remington, later the wife of Thomas F. Carroll, for women. Other skaters who acquired grace and skill were Charles Kusterer and his sister (later the wife of W. F. Kelso). Charles and Fred Luce succeeded Fenton as lessees of the hall and managed it three seasons, from 1877 to 1879. Saengerfest hall on Lyon street was used for roller skating in 1880. In that year Charles E. Miller entered the arena and won practically all the medals offered for superiority in skating. Jennie Roberts (later Mrs. Harry Perkins) won most of the prizes in the class for ladies. James Bayne, who owned a dancing academy located on Division avenue, near Fountain street, purchased a quantity of roller skates and many adults and children used them. NEWSBOY BECOMES A BANKER A bald-headed local financier who commenced his business career in his juvenile days by selling newspapers, finally found employment in the office of an important corporation. As a newsboy he learned the value of thrift and as a clerk he guarded his resources carefully. Many of his associates were not so wise. Not infrequently their pockets were empty long before the paymaster relieved their financial distress at the close of each 30-day period. The newsboy became a banker. When, for instance, an applicant for a loan of $5, was considered worthy of credit, he would accommodate the man in consideration of the payment of $1 as interest every 30 days. In the course of time the former newsboy accumulated much, and a kindly interest in the welfare of the unfortunate filled his mind. From one of his former associates in the big corporation office he learned that as a rule the men to whom he had loaned money had not prospered and that several were in need. A little memorandum book in which he had recorded his transactions as a "Shylock," was produced and a clerk wrote and mailed checks in full for all he had received from such clients as interest. The former newsboy has not forgotten his youthful friends of the street and the schools and never refuses a helping hand when their need is made known to him. His benefactions are carefully concealed. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 81 SWEET'S HOTEL WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE With a population of approximately 9,000, Grand Rapids was not well provided with fire quenching apparatus and the necessary supply of water to protect property from the ravages of flames in the year 1864, when the first steam fire engine-the David Caswell-was purchased. A small reservoir supplied by springs was constructed by Grand Rapids Hydraulic Co., located on Prospect avenue, near Logan street. It furnished water to a limited number of patrons of the business district and filled the public cisterns in Pearl street, opposite the arcade and in Ottawa avenue at Monroe. Platforms erected on the canal bank permitted the fire steamer and the hand engines to take water needed from the stream when fires occurred north of Lyon street. Soon after 10 p. m., on the night of Feb. 21, 1872, flames broke out in a wooden conduit of the south wing of Sweet's hotel. The weather was intensely cold but calm. The fire burned slowly but did not yield readily to the puny efforts of the firemen to quench it. The Caswell's rotary pump emptied the cistern in an hour and was then moved to the old river bed, now covered by the Fourth National bank, where an abundance of water was had. Hand engines took water from the same source. Grand Haven sent its Jones piston steam engine to aid the local firemen. It was placed at the cistern in Pearl street. In less than five minutes after the pumper was installed a stone, sucked through its intake pipe, rendered the machine unfit for service. Citizens were summoned to assist in manning the brakes of the hand pumpers. To refuse to serve when ordered to do so by an officer of the fire department subjected the citizen to arrest and punishment. At 3 a. m. the flames were under control and citizens dispersed. The hotel was closed while rebuilding was in progress about six months. CHARLOTTE THOMPSON Before he "settled down" in the hardware business Sidney F. Stevens of Foster, Stevens & Co., spent several years in the capacity of agent or, as a manager of, a number of amusement enterprises. Baseball, minstrelsy, the drama and other forms of public entertainment were offered under his direction. Among the notables who at different periods played or sang under the management of Mr. Stevens, was Charlotte Thompson, a remarkably beautiful and talented actress. Miss Thompson played in "Jane Eyre," the "Lady of Lyons" and kindred emotional dramas. During her career she appeared quite frequently at Powers' Opera House, and was greatly admired by the people of Grand Rapids. She was the equal of Clara Morris as an interpreter of the emotional drama. In speaking of Miss Thompson, recently, Mr. Stevens said she was a woman of high character. Modest, sympathetic, affectionate and cheerful she won the hearts of all who admired virtue and a kindly spirit. Death claimed her all too soon and "when she went home" the tears that were shed did not lave the cheeks of friends in the dramatic profession alone, but thousands engaged in other occupations. 82 OLD GRAND RAPIDS PREVENTED A TRAIN WRECK A "hunch" prevented the wrecking of a northern resort passenger train and the loss probably of many lives on the Pennsylvania railroad. Trainmaster Eddy, en route north on a rainy, windy night, left his train at Cadillac and took a room in the McKinnon house. The wind increased in violence and the rain fell in torrents. Trainmaster Eddy apprehended danger as imminent to travelers over the northern division and a heavy loss in property. Fear of what might happen filled his mind. Finally he arose, dressed and went to the railroad station where he wrote a message directed to station masters on the line to hold up all trains for the night. On the following morning it was learned that a deep and wide culvert, two miles south of Walton junction, had been destroyed by the rains. Tracks had fallen into the chasm, into which the big south bound resort train, held up at the junction, would have plunged with most disastrous results, but for the "hunch" in the mind of the trainmaster. EMPLOYES OF STREET RAILWAY STRUCK FOR HIGHER WAGES The trials and tribulations of the taxi men serve to recall the strike of the street railway employes about 1890. The strikers operated carryalls, hired for the purpose, and attempted to furnish the service to the public the railway company was for a time unable to afford. Regular trips were made over Division, Wealthy, Monroe, Scribner and other thoroughfares. The railway company slowly recruited a crew of strike-breakers and eventually established regular service over its lines. Organized labor sympathized with the strikers and listed the names of business and professional men who traveled on the street cars upon a blacklist. C. C. Comstock owned and operated a railroad lying between Sweet street and North Park. Locomotives were used in moving the trains and a turn table was maintained at Sweet street. Some unknown person exploded a charge of giant powder under the table and considerable damage resulted. A striker charged with the offense was arrested, tried and acquitted. BURNED SCHOOL BONDS Relating some of his experiences as secretary of the local board of education, E. H. Stein said: "In overhauling a vast quantity of unidentified records of the board soon after entering upon my duties as secretary, I found a number of bonds and coupons that had been paid but not canceled, representing at least $100,000. A dishonest custodian, by placing the bonds on the market, might have gained a fortune. I called the attention of Joseph Houseman, the chairman of the finance committee of the board, to my discovery. Withut a moment's hesitation he said. 'We will burn these bonds and coupons at once.' There was a fireplace in my office and when the bonds had been packed into it a match was applied and the bonds destroyed. "Mr. Houseman spent much time in discharging the duties of his position. He was a veritable watchdog of the treasury, keen, intelligent and loyal to his trust. The city never had a more conscientious public servant. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 83 JOHN ALMY John Almy had much to do in the development of Grand Rapids and Kent county. He was a member of the first state legislature, and, to his credit, the record shows he was one of four who voted against the enactment of a wildcat banking bill. Charters for banks were granted by the state legislature in those days. The bill which Almy unsuccessfully opposed authorized any 12 freeholders of any county who desired to engage in banking to apply to the treasurer and clerk of the county for a license. Books were to be offered for subscriptions to the capital stock of from $50,000 to $250,000. Ten per cent of each share was to be paid in in specie at the time when subscriptions were made and 30 per cent of the entire capital stock in like funds before the association should commence operation. Presidents and directors were required to furnish securities for the payment of all debts and the redemption of notes issued by the association. The law was indifferently administered and many losses were incurred during the years following its enactment. W. H. ANDERSON'S SCRAP BOOKS Forty years ago William H. Anderson, local banker, purchased a scrap book. Upon its generous pages he pasted many articles clipped from newspapers, pamphlets, circulars and other forms of printing. Portraits of individuals, prominent more or less, views of rural scenes, noted buildings and related subjects were added, the whole forming a collection of the thoughts and expressions of many worthwhile individuals, upon worthwhile topics. Three volumes have been added to the original, the whole group representing many hours of discriminating labor. No one except possibly a trained librarian could estimate accurately the value of the volumes. Some time in the future the librarian of the Ryerson library may have that pleasant duty to perform. WITNESSED SHAM BATTLE Clark L. Lane, local agent of the Pennsylvania railroad, says the veterans' organization of that corporation-formerly the Grand Rapids & Indiana-is composed of 150 men, all of whom had served the railroad at least 40 years, or a total of 6,000 years. Mr. Lane, who was born at Hopkins, Allegan county, has spent many years in the transportation business. When he was but 5 years of age he learned that a sham battle would be fought by companies of the state militia on the Hall street fairgrounds here. He greatly desired to witness the fight and finally persuaded his father to bring him to Grand Rapids. Young Lane mounted a tall fence near the scene of the engagement and watched the maneuvers. Finally a cannon, which the boy had not noticed, placed near the spot chosen by the lad as a point of observation, was discharged. Lane fell to the ground in a faint, the only casualty of the day. 84 OLD GRAND RAPIDS WORDEN, THE HERO Admiral John L. Worden was a resident of Grand Rapids before and following the Civil war. His home was on Division avenue at Library street. The spot now is occupied by the Majestic theater. Worden, as a captain of the federal navy, commanded the Monitor in its battle with the Merrimac at Hampton Roads, Va. While watching the movements of the Merrimac and directing the maneuvers of his ship, humorously described as "a cheese box on a raft," a shell exploded directly in front of a narrow opening in the conning tower, through which the commander gazed, nearly blinding him. His eyes were so badly injured that he was never again fit for service. Admiral Worden was a fluent and attractive speaker and on many occasions he was invited to describe the battle to classes of students in the public schools. F. K. Tinkham, one of the many who listened to the admiral on several occasions, says the pupils preferred his lecture to their books. A brother, Col. Worden, who lived a short distance north of the city, was in command of a regiment during the war. GYPSUM WAS USED TO FERTILIZE LAND In an early day land plaster was considered as of value for fertilizing land. Hundreds of farmers drove teams to Grand Rapids during the winter months to obtain plaster for their farms, or rock to be crushed at mills near their homes. Many loaded their sleighs soon after arrival and stayed over night at one of the suburban hotels, prepared to start early on the return trip on the following morning. The Antrim house, a hotel at Kelloggsville, Peter Van Lieuw's at Corinth and the Lake house on Fisk's lake shared the patronage of the farmers. Many teams were employed in hauling the products of the plaster mills and mines on the west side of the river to the only freight depot in the city, that of the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad on East Leonard street. The owners of the plaster mines were forced to pay considerable sums as toll for the privilege of crossing bridges over the Grand river. Finally J. W. Converse caused a bridge to be erected at Pearl street, which the teamsters of Grand Rapids Plaster Co., owned by Converse, used thereafter. The present bridge is the third erected at Pearl street. JUDGE MARTIN George Martin of Grand Rapids served the state of Michigan as a member of the supreme court in the year 1835. All judges of the court were appointed by the governor under the provisions of the constitution. The first term of the court was held in Detroit, the second in Ann Arbor and the third in Kalamazoo. The term of the office of judge of the court was seven years. In 1836 an act of the legislature provided for a court to be composed of a chief justice and two associate justices. The state was divided into three circuits, and the court was required to hold an annual term in each circuit. The revised statutes of 1838 made the supreme court consist of one chief and three associate justices. Mr. Martin entered upon the duties of his office in 1851. His home in Grand Rapids, a one-story structure of the bungalow type, was located on the northwest corner of Lyon street and Ottawa avenue. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 85 INVENTOR OF GASOLINE ENGINE In a letter written by H. D. C. Van Asmus, formerly secretary of the old Grand Rapids Board of Trade, who is now a prosperous publisher at Waukegan, Ill., reference is made to the late Clark Sintz, the inventor of the gasoline engine and a builder of pleasure yachts, in Grand Rapids years ago. "After Sintz had completed one or two of the gas engine boats," Mr. Van Asmus writes, "he took members of a fishing club down Grand River, into Lake Michigan, headed for Petoskey. We spent a week on the bays and streams enroute and after a few days on White lake headed for the north. Several hours later the steering gear became disabled and the craft was unmanageable. A heavy sea and a strong wind drove the boat shoreward, and we were in constant danger of sinking, on account of the waves that beat over the sides. Luckily, a steamer, bound for Ludington, recognized the white sheet attached to a flagstaff, that told of our distress, and took our craft in tow. We thanked the good Lord for our rescue, after.a good supper at Ludington." It seems from the above that the party reversed the usual order followed, by eating before saying grace. THE DOCTOR CHUCKLED Dr. J. C. Batdorf, of Grand Rapids, is a genuine blown in the bottle baseball and football fan. He rarely misses a game of baseball and attends the fights over the pigskin when the weather is not too cold for an aged spectator. The grandstand was overcrowded during one of the games of baseball immediately preceding the close of the Central league season. The doctor's sturdy form nearly covered the end of one of the benches. A big, brawny youth from a nearby village noticed three or four inches of unfilled space at the end of the bench and occupied it. Soon he commenced crowding the doctor in an effort to obtain a larger share of the bench. The doctor talked with the fellow pleasantly, commenting on the features of the game as it was played, but finally, unable to bear the increasing pressure of the crowder he remarked: "I fear I must go home. I have a headache and a fever. A few days ago I was exposed to smallpox. Oh, dear, I feel very sick." The suburbanite rose quickly and ran with all speed out of the stand, while the doctor quietly chuckled and remained to the finish. COOKS AND SALOON KEEPER EXCHANGED COMMODITIES In the days before the dry up keepers of saloons served lunches free to customers daily. Cold ham, salted fish, potato salad, rye bread, sour beef and like foods, highly seasoned, were placed upon the bar or tables and patrons were free to help themselves. Mustard, horseradish and other condiments served to create thirsts that were not easily appeased. The keeper of a basement saloon exchanged commodities with the cooks of Sweet's hotel. The cooks furnished eatables for the saloon and the latter drinkables for the cooks. The rear entrance of the saloon was easily accessible for conducting the exchange. The proprietor of the hotel was a frequent patron of the saloon, and often mentioned the quality of the lunch served. Finally he witnessed the delivery of a basket of food from his kitchen to the saloon keeper and the receipt of several bottles of liquor by his cooks. The exchange of products was discontinued and the saloon keeper's business slumped. 86 OLD GRAND RAPIDS CLEANED THE STREETS Owners or lessees were obligated by ordinance to clean the streets in front of their stores when ordered to do so by the city marshal. Principals and employes appeared on the streets at intervals with rakes, hoes and shovels to assemble in heaps the straw, dirt, tin cans and like rubbish, to be carried away to dumps provided by the city authorities to receive the stuff. Such worthies as Ransom C. Luce, W. D. Meeker, Carlos Burchard, E. J. Horton, Henry Spring, O. A. Ball, L. D. Putman, C. B. Allyn, James Lyman, leading merchants, were among those who in shirt sleeves and overalls set the pace with the shovel and the hoe. L. E. Hawkins had on several occasions assisted in cleaning up Monroe avenue in front of Kendall's store, where he worked, after coming to town in 1870. But one bright day when ordered to join the cleaning squad he refused to do so. Such work was beneath the dignity of an accountant. Kendall's junior partner threatened to discharge Hawkins. Emitting a horse laugh, Hawkins buried his locks in a sailor hat and left the store for all time. Employment offered by L. H. Randall, to be paid at the rate of $50 a month was accepted. At the close of one year Randall added $300 to Hawkins wage. Later he became a member of the firm of Randall & Hawkins and their successors. RIVER NAMED IN HONOR OF CAPT. GUNNISON Gunnison river in Colorado was named in honor of Capt. Gunnison. An addition to the city of Grand Rapids, located on the west side of the river, bears his name. Prof. Everett wrote the following to the memory of Capt. Gunnison in 1865: "It may not be known to everyone here that the man whose tragic death, at the instigation of the Mormons, so thrilled the heart of the nation, was one of our citizens. We saw comparatively little of him, as his duties as an engineer of the United States army kept him almost constantly away. His refined and gentlemanly bearing, his cultivated mind and amiable modesty endeared him to the people. His form was the beau ideal of manly beauty and his mind corresponded with his figure. His name will live forever. I may safely say that the history of the United States does not show an instance where the death of a public servant of rank no higher than captain went so deeply to the heart of the nation. He is one of the few immortals of Grand Rapids." LUCE SERVED THE CITY R. C. Luce, who served the city of Grand Rapids ten years as an alderman, for which he was paid $10.00, or one dollar per year, was also a cemetery commissioner. He purchased the ground now known as the southern section of Oakhill Cemetery for the city and spent twenty years in the management of the property. After the purchase had been effected, Ransom E. Wood, a local capitalist, remarked: "Mr. Luce's location is so far from the city that it will never be available for use. Why did he not purchase ground nearer the city-say in Kalamazoo, for instance?" Time has served to justify Mr. Luce's judgment as a purchaser of the property. Mr. Luce's salary as a commissioner of the cemetery was fixed at $100 per year. He did not receive a cent from the city until the expiration of twenty years, when he drew $2,000 and retired from the service. OLD GRAND RAPIDS 87 SURVEYED FOR DOCK LINES George M. Ames devoted several years, following his graduation from college as a civil engineer, to railroad work. He did not like his employment and wrote several letters to municipal engineers seeking a position. Among others to whom letters were addressed was Homer Collar, city engineer of Grand Rapids. The common council had ordered a survey of Grand river in 1895 preliminary to establishing boundaries for dock lines and Mr. Ames was engaged to make the surveys. He spent four months on the river and was paid $3 per day for his services. He was most favorably impressed with the people he met and decided to locate here. Later he was employed as an assistant to Mr. Collar and still later succeeded that official as city engineer. PERSONAL AND IMPERSONAL A little Dutch boy, with four companions, halted before a weighing machine-one of those drop-a-nickel-in-the-slot contrivances. The boy desired to learn his weight, as did his companions. One of the party possessed a nickel. "Give it to me, I will weigh all of us," said he. Stepping upon the platform and dropping the nickel in the slot, he carefully noted the weight accorded. "One of you step on the platform before I step off," he directed. One by one the weight of the quintet was thus recorded, with the aid of the solitary jitney, and then the Dutch boy remarked, "Each one of you owes me a nickel." That boy, if he lives to manhood, will be a Wall street millionaire. His system is perfect. STIVEN WAS A HUSTLER Former Mayor Letellier spent most of his life in Grand Rapids. Having acquired a competency, he passed his closing years in peace and comfort. While observing the new Fountain Street Baptish church, he recalled an incident in the life of a former well known resident, David L. Stiven, deceased. Mr. Stiven was engaged in the management of a small pottery, located on the southwest corner of Front avenue and West Fulton street, 60 years ago. The clay he needed was obtained of the owner of a small brick yard, near the eastern end of Lyon street. Mr. Stiven desired to purchase the yard and endeavored to obtain a loan of $10,000 from the late James W. Converse, a shrewd Yankee and a "terrible" Baptist. The Baptist Church society had purchased a lot at Fountain street and Bostwick avenue-the site of the present church building-and had determined to erect a small church thereon. Mr. Converse finally agreed to loan $10,000 to Mr. Stiven, provided Stiven would furnish 10,000 bricks to the church society free of cost. The proposition was accepted and Stiven acquired the brick yard. "He could get more work out of a gang of men," Mr. Letellier added, "than any man I ever knew. He would go into a pit and lead his men in excavating clay or seize the propelling end of a wheelbarrow and excite the admiration of workmen by his strength and his agility." I$,!.s I 'I I I I I I I 1. - '.I: I i7=ft EM