Mecosta County News You Can Use Send me your additions!
3 May 1887
The old Fifth ward school building which John Fenning purchased and moved
to a lot at the corner of East Maple St. and Second Ave., is being enlarged
and made suitable for a store-building.
15 May 1887 - James B. Lee is the name of the man who succeeds Clark & Locy in management of the Brackett House. Mr. Lee is from Muskegon, where he was engaged in real estate business for some time. The press of that city speaks of him in most complimentary terms.
6 January 1888 - J.H. Ryan, who was operating the Russell House at the time of the fire several weeks ago, would like to have his friends know that he is again in shape to provide for all who may desire hotel accomodations. The Russell house has not only been thoroughly reconstructed, but has been generally overhauled, refitted, etc. The house was reopened on Christmas Eve.
12 January 1888 - J.B. Lee, who came to Big Rapids from Muskegon about eight months ago and took possession of the Brackett House, retires from the management of this hotel tonight. George Brackett, the owner and former proprietor of the house, resumes business at the old stand. Mr. Lee has rented the Toan dwelling on Locust Street, but his business for the most part, will now be outside the city. The hotel has been operated in good shape.
14 January 1888 - Col. Allen, late of the Allen House, has about made up his mind to engage in the hotel business at Lowell, Michigan
1 February 1888 - This date will be remembered as the day on which three runaways occurred on North Michigan Ave. One team running from Darrah's Mill fell over themselves to a stop in front of the Telfer shoe store; the next did the most lively work in front of the Russell House, spilling out a lady, who was then nearly run over by another vehicle; and the last runaway resulting quite seriously to Abe Hampster and Harry Clark who were thrown from the cutter near Grand-Girard's drug store.
30 Dec 1890
WE may not have any sleighing this winter but the prospects are favorable
for a good ice crop. Ice is now being harvcested by shaw and Webster, the
local ice men, who say the article is 12 inches thick.
4 Feb 1894
H. Goldstein, clothier, hatter and furnisher, 310 Michigan Ave., advertises
men's suits reduced from $4.50 to $2.50; overcoats from $5.00 to $3.00 and
other goods at 25 per cent reduction.
17 Dec - A Pioneer carrier boy, Cloyd Cooper, fell while he was playing on
a railroad bridge which spanned Mitchell Creek near State Street and
according to the report "disab;ed one of his legs to that extent that he
will probably not attend school for a week or two", and, we suppose,
deliver his papers.
A similar fate struck the seven year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Milo Van
Tassel. After breaking one arm two weeks previously, the lad busted his
other arm the weekend before the paper appeared.
And a false fire alarm was also sounded in Big Rapids that weekend, by
"some unknown cause" according to the Pioneer. There was no fire "although
the firemen and a good many other people tried very hard to find one.
Apparently to no avail.
23 November 1894 - Peter Ensch advertises that he has opened an intelligence bureau on East Maple Street in the old Eagle Hotel, and holds himself in readiness to procure situations for those who desire employment.
1898 - The steamer Olivette is said to have arrived at Ft. Monroe yesterday afternoon from Santiago with 200 sick soldiers. Among the names of those who came over on the boat appears the name of Thomas J. Ward of Co. A., 34th Michigan, the only Big Rapids boy mentioned.
1903
The Daughters of the American Revolution in this city have presented the
Phelps Free Library with a neatly framed copy of the original Declaration
of Independence. It is of special value as no more copies of the original
will ever be taken. The library has also received Hazlitts Life of
Napoleon from Crawford, Russell and Donald Morill.
1904
Mr. Shafer, the father of the late Mrs. Montonye, passed away Saturday
afternoon at his home in Conklin. He was over 80 years of age.
7 March 1904 - "Hotel Life in Big Rapids" is the title of a book, which a well-known resident of this city is said to be compiling and it is said the book will contain full page pictures of the leading hotel men of this city -- Decker Jenkins and Joe Beef. The author is said to be none other than David Burns, old Grand Army man and janitor at the court house.
4 June 1904 - Joseph Shier left for Muskegon this afternoon expecting to
visit Chicago before returniong home.
Mrs. Haywood, a mother of C.F. Haywood, passed away this morning at her
home on North Third Avenue.
Miss Jessie Geedey is the new "Hello" girl at the Citizen's central, in
place of Miss Belle York, who resigned.
Mrs. M.E. Markham leaves for the "Soo" Monday to spend a week with her son,
Percy and his family.
O.D. Marks of Markham and Marks went to Mecosta today on business.
Martin Holland of Woodville the new proprietor of the Pressburg block, was
in the city today.
11 Feb 1904 - Mrs. Fred Wright and son returned to Grand Rapids this forenoon, after a visit with relatives in this city.
1908 - Frank E. Markham went to Grand Rapids this forenoon as congressman to the
New Era congress, now in session.
Miss Cora Stout, once an employee of this office, left this morning for
Cadillacto enter Mercy hospital as a nurse. 13 March.
1910 - Mrs. C.D. Harwood went south this morning on the early train.
Mrs. Norris Cochran of Chicago arrived in the city last evening for a few
days' visit with her mother, Mrs. J.W. Doud, and aunt, Mrs. E.B. Westcott.
1910 - In honor of their 21st wedding anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Martin Holland
entertained several friends Saturday.
1911 - Miss Marvel Blair has gone to Borland Corners to spend a few days with
relatives.
1912 - 2 Jan 1912 - Engineer Arthur Hines of Muskegon, a former resident of this
city, was injured Monday in a freight wreck near Muskegon, and his
condition is regarded as critical.
April 18, 1912 - The Old Red Mill
In 1856 Chauncey P. Ives came here from Troy, N.Y., and erected the first frame building. This was a saw mill and was known later as the "old red mill." It was erected at the foot of what is now Michigan Avenue, on Mitchell Creek. All of the lumber for this mill was hauled from Newaygo. As soon as the mill was running the first lumber cut was used for the erection of a mill office and large boarding house, while Ives and his family occupied the first log house built by French, which together with 40 acres, were purchased by Ives and his partner, George B. Warren. The mill was torn down about 1873.
By this time Dr. F.B. Leonard, after whom the township and the village were named, got possession of the land on which the present business section of the city is built. He sold out to Mr. Warren, who with Ives platted the village of Big Rapids in 1859. It comprised 100 acres of land on the west side of the Muskegon. The next year French's Glen Elm was added.
April 18, 1912 - Jesse Shaw First Postmaster
After Mr. Ives completed his mill there was enough people here to demand a post office, and one was established in November 1857, with Jesse C. Shaw, as the first postmaster. He received his appointment from President Buchanan. The mail was received and dispatched once a week, by way of Greenville. It was carried on horseback. Mr. Shaw was postmaster only for a short time, resigning in favor of Charles Shafer, father of Mrs. E.G. Hopkins.
Mr. Shafer came to the village in September 1857. His family followed him the next year. As he tells it the village then had from 15 to 20 inhabitants: Chauncey P. Ives, Jessie C. Shaw, Samuel Bailey and brother and the French brothers, among them. Mr. Ives had bhilt a rude dam across Mitchell Creek and was operating a saw mill. Its equipment consisted of one upright saw, which cut its first lumber on the Fourth of July, 1857. Michigan Avenue ws a narrow roadway formed by the cutting down of the trees. It was fenced with brush on the east so that the cows might be safely corraled between the avenue and the river. The price of lots was $50, corner lots selling for $100. Mr. Shafer bought two lots, on which now stands the Bertrau block. The third lot was given to him because he was a mechanic. He first built himself a residence on the north lot, and afterwards a store building on the corner. This is known as the third store in the village, Edson Fuller having the honor of opening the first store. This was located across the street, on the corner where Van Auken's grocery now stands. The second store was opened by G.F. Stearns.
April 18, 1912 - The First Hotel
During the summer of 1858 Augustine N. Williams opened a small hotel, known by his name. This was located to the south of where the Fairman block now stands. The second hotel was built three or four years later, also by Mr. Mason, his first having burned down, on the site of the Fairman block. This later was added to and became the well known Mason house.
The Stearns house was the third hotel built, on the corner across the street, on which now syands the Nisbett block. This was erected by D.F. Stearns and Dr. Woolley.
Money was exceedingly scarse in those early days as the following story told by Charles Shafer himself, will illustrate: It was the fall of 1858. Shafer was running short of flour for family use. Nelson Ganong was going to Grand Rapids with his team, and offered to bring the flour. The price at Grand Rapids was $5 per barrel. But Shafer only had two dollars. Ganong offered to wait until Mr. Shafer could raise the money. They both walked over to the Williams house and Shafer told the proprietor his plight. Williams said it would not do to get caught without a supply of flour for the winter and offered to help with all the money he had. This was $1.50. His man of all work contribued 25 cents. They were still $1.25 short whereupon Williams said that if the trip to Grand Rapids was delayed for a few days he would get the balance from some lumbermen, whom he expected in a day or two from Chicago, which was done.
15 March 1913 - Mrs. D.C. Fuller has sold the old Millbrook House to Harvey Clark, reports the correspondent, the buyer to reopen the place as a hotel at once. It is a good location.
1914 - Class of 1914 - Josephine Whelan Holland, Detroit, MI.
13 December 1914 - The building on N. Michigan Avenue known as the National hotel which was purchased some months ago by William L. White has been transformed into a very attractive suite of office rooms on the ground floor, while the second floor has been fitted up for living rooms.
March 15, 1926 - School census taker for this year is Miss Ella Ramsdell. The work, you
will note, which had previously been done in May, will be done this month,
as there has been a new law. This year, there are many more questions on
the list making a much more complicated record.
1928 - 15 May - Miss Roberta Cluchy returned from Muskegon and has taken a
position in the test room of the Big Rapids Dairy Company.
1929 - Mr. & Mrs. Ira Mitchell and Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Turk attended the Old Settler
gathering at Croton, Sunday.
April 18, 1912 - The Old Red Mill