USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 32
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DESCRIPTION AND VALUATION OF PLANT, APRIL 1, 1911.
Assets.
Are lamps-street
Arc lamps-commercial Vol. 1-17
$ 1,323.00
118.80
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
City treasurer-bank $ 2,942.66 Customers ledger 1,494.19
Dam and waterways 26,138.29
16,143.93
Line consisting of all overhead wire, approxi- mately 46 miles of feeders and 18 miles of are lighting circuits, poles and pole fixtures. . Machinery and electrical apparatus, consisting of line shaft, gear wheels, pulleys; 1 General Electric direct connected revolving field, 250 K. W. generator; 1 Fort Wayne belted gener- ator of 187 K. V. A. capacity, both gener- ators 2,300 volt 60 cycles; 3-phase arranged for synchronizing at switchboard; also two General Electric 9 K. W. exciters and one Fort Wayne 7 K. W. exciter, switchboards and instruments
Meters
5,379.10
Power house. building
4,251.48
Real estate flowage rights
17,000.00
Supplies-office, including all fixtures
1,209.36
Supplies-including all material to be used in operation of plant and fixtures to be sold. Sundries ledger
558.23
Transformers
2,973.69
Tools at power house and offiee
Wheel house and race, including water wheel equipment, consisting of two Leffel Special 50-foot wheels, 1 Sampson 45-foot wheel, 1 Sampson 50-foot wheel with curved draft tube, all developing 664 horse power
10.702.52
Liabilities.
Capital stock-plant
$87.983.73
Bonds
14.200.00
Interest
774.67
$102,758.40 $102,758.40
Light and Sundries Cash Statement.
Cash on hand April 1, 1911. $ 2,942.66
Cash received during year from all sonrees 23,276.07
Cash disbursements
$20,950.18
Cash on hand April 1, 1912.
5,268.55
$26,218.73 26,218.73
Cost of Operating and Maintaining Street Lamps.
19,625 K. W. Del. post lighting cost per K. W. . 01465 $ 287.50 177,360 K. W. Del. street lights eost per.K. W. . 01465 2.598.32
9,383.86
2,923.73
215.56
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Carbons $ 85.82
Globes 23.43
Repair to loops and wires 101.81
Repair to line are circuit
Trimming 66.08
110.54
Depreciation on are lamps, $1,323.00-10 per cent.
132.30
Depreciation on station transformers and switchboard-10 per cent
72.00
Depreciation on line, poles, cross arms, and fixtures-10 per cent 530.23
$4,008.03
Summary of Percentages.
Per cent loss-total generation. .1754
Average price received per K. W. total generation. .0233
Average price received per K. W. commercial delivery .0407
Cost per K. W. on total generation
Net cash cost per K. W. Del. .01602
.0144
Net depreciation cost per K. W.
.0048
Total net cost per K. W.
.0193
Average price received per K. W. pumping station. .01
Average price received per K. W. producing and delivering .01465
Rates for Lighting.
Residence per K. W. H. $0.05.
Business and factory per K. W. H .. .04
Minimum rate per month. ,50
10 per cent discount if paid before the 16th of month following reading of meters.
Price received per year for each are light. .35.00
Price received per year for each street Tungsten light. 10.00
SEWERAGE SYSTEM
Until 1899 Marshall was without a system of sewerage. On March 13th of that year a resolution was introduced into the common couneil providing for the construction of an adequate system not to exceed in cost the sum $25,000.00, and on April 3d the question of bonding the city for that amount was submitted to the people, and was carried.
The system was constructed by contract and cost about $25,000.00; of this 7/s was paid out of the general sewer fund, and 1/s was raised by assessments spread upon property benefitted.
Great benefit has been derived by the city from the same; it has been found adequate in all respects and is being extended as rapidly as needed. The construction work of the extensions is carried on by the city under direction of the city marshal, and the property benefitted is assessed for benefits.
ELECTRIC RAILROAD
In 1899 the common council granted a franchise for the construe tion of an electric street railroad over and upon the streets of the city,
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
the road to extend from Battle Creek on the west to Jackson on the east, a distance of about forty-seven miles, and upon the completion of the same Marshall was placed in closer communication with the neigh- boring eities, and enjoys the privilege of excellent transportation fa- cilities.
The system now extends from Kalamazoo to Detroit and through serviee is maintained at frequent intervals which ineludes passenger, express and freight, while local service connects the eity with the adjacent farming region. At Detroit connections are made with various electric roads and also connections may be had at various other points, greatly facilitating travel and ease of communication.
PAVING AND ROADS
Following the advice of its first mayor, Marshall is alive to the importance of proper streets, and roads leading to the city. Until 1902 no paving had been done and State street, the main business street of the city, was in a bad condition. On June 23, 1902, a resolution was in- troduced into the common council providing for the paving of State street through the business portion, and for submitting to the people a proposition to bond the eity for the sum of $25,000.00 for that purpose. The question was voted upon at a special election held July 29, 1902, and was carried.
The work was done by contraet costing about $35,000.00, of which $16,103.40 was raised by special assessment.
The contractors performed their duty in a ereditable manner, and Marshall now enjoys the benefit of a well paved business street that adds much to the appearance of the city.
There has just been completed, under contract with the city, a slag macadam road leading from the south end of Marshall avenue east to the city limits, where it connects with a macadam road just completed in the township of Marengo through the generosity and public spirited- ness of Mr. Frank A. Stuart ; this road in turn connects with a maeadam road extending into the township of Eckford, making in all over five miles of state reward road extending in a southeasterly direction from the eity.
During the present year of 1912 steps are to be taken to provide the city with a surface sewerage system, which when completed will render the paving of the balance of the streets a task of comparative ease, and it is believed that the near future will see the work of paving extended to all parts of the eity.
The expense of sidewalk construction is divided eually between the municipality and the individual, and in eonseqneuee Marshall is well provided with walks and more are being added yearly. Curbing has been installed along a large per cent of the property, and the streets present, in the main, a trim and well kept appearance, which is enhanced by the excellent condition of the lawns.
The census of 1910 gave Marshall a population of 4,282 a. slight de- erease from the eensus of 1900, however in no other respect has the eity lost ground, and as a place of residence it is unsurpassed. Rents are
261
HISTORY OF CALIIOUN COUNTY
moderate and the cost of living low. As a factory city it possesses many advantages that are being brought to the attention of the publie through the Marshall Board of Commerce. Broad streets abundantly shaded by elm, maple and oak, together with the care and pride taken by the citizens in their homes, add materially to the attractiveness of a city favored as it is as to location, and a number of small parks under the charge of the park commission enhance its beauty.
Much is being done by the women of the city towards the cultiva- tion of civic pride, and they are entitled to much credit for what they have accomplished, their efforts are being met with a hearty response. The Monday Club, an organization composed of representative women. has recently appointed a civic improvement committee and is co-operating with the city park commission in laying out and improving the waste places of the municipality.
HOSPITAL AND LIBRARY
Through the generosity of the late Charles P. Brown the city is to be the fortunate possessor of an hospital, to be called the Brown Me- morial Hospital, and steps are now being taken towards the forming of an organization to carry out the conditions of the bequest.
A publie library is in the course of erection at a cost of about $13,000.00, the greater part of which was raised by subscription; it will be supported by a tax as provided by the statutes of the state, and is in charge of a library board appointed by the Mayor. The present board consists of Frank A. Stuart, president; C. II. Billings, secretary ; Mrs. William J. Dibble, Mrs. V. A. Lepper. Hon. Herbert E. Winsor, E. C. Way, Samuel Warren, Dr. Roberts and Craig C. Miller.
Marshall's bonded indebtedness is at present $88.000.00, and this is divided as follows, viz: Water works bonds. $49,000.00; electric light bonds, $14.000.00; sewer bonds, $24.000.00; paving bonds, $1,000.00; and the valuation of its property for taxing purposes is $2,463.875.00.
From the foregoing it will be seen that Marshall as a municipality possesses marked advantages not afforded by cities of far greater area and population, and has solved many of the problems that are cansing great annoyance to its larger sisters.
THE MARSHALL POSTOFFICE
By William H. Arthur
The first postoffice in Calhoun county was established in Marshall in 1832, George Ketchum being appointed post master. Mr. Ketchum kept the postal matter for the settlement in a cigar box. The mail was brought in on horse-back and came semi-occasionally until the post- route was established in 1836, from Jackson via Marshall to Centre- ville, when the mail was brought once a week for some time, then semi- weekly and finally daily.
Rev. John D. Pierce sneceeded Mr. Ketchum, and kept the office in his donble log house on the site of the residence now occupied by
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Manlious M. Perrett on Mansion street. Mr. Pierce utilized his elock case for a receptacle for the postal matter without detriment to the time piece, the pendulum having full swing without interference from the mail.
Charles D. Smith next succeeded to the appointment, being named by President Jackson and reappointed by President Van Buren, hold- ing the office for about six years. Emerson T. Wakefield succeeded Mr. Smith for a short lease of power, holding the office only six months. and James M. Parsons came in under the first President Harrison for a term of three and a half years. During Mr. Parson's incumbency there was an attempt made to remove him from office, and three hun- dred of his fellow citizens, irrespective of party, remonstrated against his removal and paid him a high compliment for efficiency and non- partisanship in his conduct of the office.
Zenas Tillotson served as postmaster four years under Polk, and was succeeded by George S. Wright for a like period nnder Tyler and Fill- more. Dr. J. II. Montgomery carried off the prize for eight years under Pierce and Buchanan, then stepped aside for Seth Lewis, who was ap- pointed by Lincoln and held the office for five and half years. James Monroe was appointed by President Johnson, but had hardly warmed his seat, when at the end of six months, S. S. Lacy came in for two years. Herbert A. Read was then the incumbent under Grant for five years, being succeeded by Samuel J. Burpee, who held the office for ten years. W. R. Lewis was then appointed, holding the office for one year, and being succeeded by S. S. Lacy, who after five years of service gave way to Stephen F. Snyder, who served four years. Next came Charles T. Fletcher for a term of four years. Wm. H. Arthur was next appointed and he held the office longer than any predecessor, twelve years and four months. The present incumbent, J. P. Hughes, took over the office October 1, 1910.
The following statistics are given through the courtesy of the present assistant postmaster, L. B. Albaugh, who has been connected with the post office since 1885. At that time the office was in the second class with a postal revenue of about $8,000 per annum, the office force con- sisting of postmaster S. S. Lacy, assistant postmaster J. M. Moses and two clerks. In 1889 the receipts decreased to below $8,000 and the office fell back to the third class. It jumped up to the second class again the following year and in 1900 it advanced to the first class. In 1898 the receipts of the office had increased sufficiently to warrant the then postmaster Arthur in securing free delivery which was inaugurated with three carriers. Within the next few years the volume of business assumed such proportions that five more clerks and two city carriers were added to the force.
The revenue for the past year, ending March 31, 1912, was $49,402.44; number of money order transactions, 10,588. For the first quarter of 1912 there is shown a marked increase over the preceding year.
The present office force consists of the postmaster, assistant post- master, superintendent of mails, seven clerks, five city carriers, eight rural carriers, sub carriers, sub clerks and special delivery messenger.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
The office is large and roomy and well equipped, for handling the large volume of business.
MARSHALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
By Gertrude B. Smith
When, in the early part of the nineteenth century, the new west called upon the east for valiant men and true to come and take posses- sion of her forests and beautiful plains, her lakes and rivers, there was ready and happy response. From his home in central New York in 1830. Sidney Ketchum heard the call and slowly wended his way westward to the oak openings of central Michigan, and Marshall's history was begun. Following closely, came a goodly company of men and women, whose ambition, energy and culture were ideal forces in forming an ideal commonwealth; among them were Rev. John D. Pierce and Gen- eral Isaac E. Crary-men whom not only Marshall but all Michigan is proud to honor, the founders and supporters of that ideal system of education which has given Michigan the proud distinction of being the "Educating State."
Scarcely had the home been established in the little log cabins of the new settlers than the thoughts of these pioneers from the east land turned to the establishment of a school, for they well knew that the youth of today is the citizen of tomorrow, and that upon the intelligence, integrity and patriotism of its citizens depends the life of the state. The first school, of less than a dozen pupils, was held in a little loft for want of a better place and was presided over by Miss Ann Brown whom Mr. Sidney Ketchum sent to Ann Arbor to procure -- and the . school ma'am became a factor of the village life. In 1832 the pioneer school house was built, the first in the county, a little frame building on Mansion street near the Presbyterian church, and school was called to order by Miss Eliza Ketchum. This building served not alone for a temple of wisdom, it was then the only church, the town hall, the court house, in short the general rallying place of all publie assemblies, where equal attention was given to law, politics, religion and letters.
About this period American students began to return from Germany bringing with them new educational ideas. Cousin's report of the Prussian school system was published and found its way to this little Michigan hamlet and to the log cabin home of Rev. John D. Pierce where General Isaac E. Crary, a graduate of Trinity College and a warm friend of education, was an honored inmate. Thus two of Mar- shall's earliest nobility, men of distinguished talents and great force of character, were brought into close relationship and given a rare op- portunity to discuss the fundamental principles deemed important in laying the foundations of the state. "Of especial interest to them," wrote Rev. Pierce in 1875, "and most carefully considered was the im- portant question of education which should embrace a complete school system from the lowest grade to the highest-from the primary school to the university-which, if possible, should be made a distinct branch of the government with a special officer who should have the whole mat-
264
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
ter in charge, and thus keep its importance before the public mind," and that measures to establish and preserve an ample school fund should be carefully taken.
So we honor that historie day in the summer of 1834 when these two, Rev Pierce and Gen. Crary, met under the branches of the now classic oak in the lawn of the Gorham home and with true wisdom, rare inspiration and judgment, planned the ideal school system which has placed Michigan in the foremost rank of the educational life of our country. But they were not content with mere dreams and plans. lu the first convention that met "to clothe our beautiful peninsula with powers of independent sovereignty," Mr. Crary, as chairman of the committee on education, aided and advised by his friend Rev. Pierce, introduced a resolution which became a law of the commonwealth-"a
OLD AND NEW HIGH SCHOOL, MARSHALL
law the most wholesome," it is said, "that at that time had been incor- porated into the constitution of any state of the Union"-and the public school of Marshall of 1912 is the outgrowth of their noble work.
On the second day of October, 1837, in the little pioneer schoolhouse, was held the first annual school meeting under the new law, a record of which we find preserved in an old volume, yellow and musty with age. David L. Johns had the honor of presiding. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted in the choice of H. P. Wisner, moderator; Stephen Kimball, assessor and collector, and Ira Wood, director. "After which it was resolved to raise certain sums of money for certain pur- poses :- to wit, the sum of ninety dollars for support of a district school, two hundred dollars for the repair of the school house, for fire wood, etc., etc., ten dollars for the purchase of books for the district library."
In quaint, old-fashioned script bearing the date of October 1st, 1841, we find a record of the books used by the fifty students who attended school during the school year of three months,-Daboll's Arithmetic,
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Smith and Kirkham's Grammar, Olney and Parley's Geography, Par- ley's First History, Eclectic Reader, Elementary Spelling Book. A firm foundation upon which is builded the course of study that now admits our students upon diploma, not only to the University of Michigan, but to nearly every college of the land. We turn the pages of the old jour- nal and find in the records of subsequent meetings name after name of the pioneers of our city, worthy men and true, who dared to face the problem of school taxes, rate bills, debts, buildings, etc.,-problems that never would stay settled even to the present day. All honor to those worthy sires who even in their earnestness "builded better than they knew." General Isaac E. Crary, John D. White, D. N. Salter, Joseph Lord, N. H. Humphrey, Randall Hobert, F. W. Sherman, Geo. Wood- ruff, O. C. Comstock, Asa B. Cook, James A. Way, Chas. P. Dibble,- names recorded now in marble in our beautiful Oakridge, but more enduring in the educational life of our town. In 1850 and later we find the names of Honorables C. T. Gorham, Hovey K. Clark, J. T. Vernor, A. O. Hyde, S. S. Lacey, J. H. Montgomery, Geo. Ingersoll, H. A. Noyes, J. C. Frink and others-all prior to 1863 when our venerable record closes.
In the early days of its history Marshall consisted of two hamlets, called the upper and lower villages, one at the east clustered around what was the old Marshall House, and the other at the west whose center was the present west end park. On September 28, 1847, the school dis- triets Nos. 1 and 2, being in the upper and lower villages, were united, which union made necessary the erection of another school house to suc- eeed the seeond built in 1833-44, a small briek structure known as the "Long school house" still standing one block east of the Central building. Now the records show meetings thick and fast, special, general, private, public, resolutions made, passed, rescinded as the debate waxed warm upon the site of the new school house, for the rivalry between the various factions and the two villages still was great. At last notices were posted in the most public places, of a school meeting to be held in the "Long school house" on the 15th of March, 1848. to consider three questions :
First. To establish a site for a school house.
Second. To vote a tax for a building, and improving the grounds.
Third. To determine whether a classical department shall be added to the school.
Think of attacking those three questions in one meeting. On the appointed evening the taxable inhabitants assembled, Isaac E. Crary in the chair.
First. The question of a site was put, and after a long discussion, arguments pro and con, by a vote of forty-three to twelve, it was decided that the square we now occupy be chosen as a suitable place for the new school temple, and that the district board be authorized to purchase the same if the same could be had for the sum of five hundred and twenty-five dollars.
Second. It was resolved that a tax of one thousand dollars be raised to build the school house and improve the grounds.
Third. That a classical department be added to the school at the earliest possible moment.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
The meeting then adjourned.
Thus it was that in the center of the town, in the midst of a square of primeval bog unoccupied save by its native amphibians and adorned only by the rushes and flags bordering its deep ditches, was built the new school house over sixty years ago, E. T. Gregg architect, O. P. Austin, Benj. Drake, contractors; contract price, five thousand three hundred fifty-seven dollars and ninety-one cents. Two stories, rect- angular in form, two front doors on the ground, long windows and projecting cornices, with a little belfry from which rang out the sum- mons to long hard tasks, but without the fountain, trees or flower beds of the old time township picture. The inside walls of white-washed brick, softly tinted by smoke, were adorned only by well punched maps and pencil cartoons, wooden blackboards extended across the front of the rooms with sheep-skin erasers and lump chalk, long benches around the sides, double desks with fatiguing stool seats "deep carved with many initials," and a melodeon to discourse sweet sounds at morning chapel. This is the picture on memory's walls.
Here, on September 28, 1849, the school was first organized as a graded or union school under the law of the preceding March. The trustees, Honorables I. E. Crary, O. P. Austin, C. P. Dibble, Ira Woods, Asa B. Cook, moderator, James A. Way, director, W. R. McCall, assessor. Thus within twenty years from the time the first pioneers of Marshall had set up their household gods in the log cabins they rolled up had their patriotism, ambition and love of knowledge established in their chosen home that grand institution whose influence should have power over all the life of the community. Under date of October 13, 1857, we find the first mention of school classification into primary, secondary, grammar and high, with report of thirty-three students in the high school. This classification continuing under various names until recent years when the division became primary, grammar and high, each con- sisting of a course of four years. So the early visions of Rev. Pierce and General Crary were being realized.
Among the teachers whose noble work was so well done and whose names were household words over a half century or more ago, we find those of Mr. Safford, as principal in the old "Long school house" in the early forty's; Mr. Joseph N. Wescott, a noted instructor from the east who was chosen principal in 1850 and was the first to occupy that position under the new organization; Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Pierce, whose drills in language, science and mathematics were indeed master- pieces; Mr. Tenny and his gifted wife; Mr. Reade; ponderous Mr. Graves, and in 1861 Mr. W. S. Perry, later a superintendent in Ann Arbor, and many others equally efficient.
High school life was now tending towards its modern form. It was a sort of transition period. The thirty-three pupils increased in number, though still counted with those in the grammar department. The three R's were still in evidence in the class program, but side by side with Greek, German and geometry, for a classical department had been instituted in 1848. Rhetoricals were held every Friday afternoon, where orations on Caesar and compositions on Hope delighted the ears of admiring friends, with an occasional dialogue for variety. Exami-
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
nations were oral and public, everybody came, a special committee appointed for every class. Think of that, high school students, and in mid-summer too. After the examinations came the annual exhibition, a program of which, dated August 7, 1857, is still extant. That the youth of those days were well endowed with literary ability is shown conclusively by the fifty-eight numbers there recorded.
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