USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume II > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
On January 1, 1915, the total length of all main and latteral sewers in both taxing districts was one hundred and seventeen miles; and the total cost was one million three hundred and eighty-seven thousand eight hun- dred dollars. City bonds had been issued from time to time to meet the expenditures, but at the above date the amount outstanding was only three hundred and fourteen thousand one hundred dollars, showing that the city has paid in special assessments and through the general tax budget more than a million dollars for its sewer systems.
111
ANIT
IERT BOYD
GENESEE AVENUE DURING SAENGERFEST IN 1872
248
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
Street Improvements
The one big item in our elaborate scheme for civic improvement is street paving, and it constitutes the largest expenditure the city is called upon to meet. City pavements are expensive necessities, and their cost adds appreciably to the tax burdens of the average citizen. In the beginning of street improvements cedar blocks, laid on one-inch boards upon a smooth bed of sand, was the material exclusively used, and it made a smooth and satisfactory pavement. But it was not a durable pavement, and although its cost per square yard, compared with brick or sheet asphalt, was small, it was soon discarded for more enduring materials. Of the several hundred thousand yards of cedar block pavements in the streets of both cities prior to consolidation, only fifteen thousand three hundred yards now remain, and the streets so laid are now almost impassable. Some cobble stone pave- ment was laid in the eighties, and some cedar with brick or cobble stone gutters, but it also proved unsatisfactory in a few years of use. The first brick pavement was laid in North Franklin Street in 1891, and though it bore heavy traffic for twenty-three years it was still in condition in 1914 so that resurfacing with sheet asphalt was all that was needed to make it a good pavement with the appearance of an entirely new one. The brick pavement in Washington Avenue, between Johnson and Janes Streets, was put down in 1893, and is still in fair condition.
The first smooth enduring pavement of sheet asphalt was laid in Genesee Avenue, from Water to Jefferson Streets, and from Janes to Hoyt Streets, in 1896. It proved so satisfactory that in the following year a pavement of the same materials was laid by the Barber Asphalt Paving Company. in Jefferson between Genesee and Holland Avenues; and in 1898, in Jefferson between Genesee and Potter, and in Hoyt Street between Jefferson and Genesee Avenues. On the West Side, the first asphalt pavement was laid in 1897. in Harrison Street between Court and Gratiot: and in 1898. in North Hamilton Street between Court and Bristol Streets. Court Street, from the river to Bay Street, a distance of nearly a mile, was put down in 1899; and Hamilton Street between Court and Mackinaw Streets was like- wise improved the same year. After a few years' satisfactory test of asphalt. this material with brick gutters became the standard for practically all of the city paving.
While the total cost of the city pavements, which have a total length of seventy-two miles, has been enormous, the liquidation of the city bonds, which were issued yearly to pay for the improvements, has gone on steadily the maturing bonds being easily met by special annual assessments on the property directly benefited by the improvement. By this means the city merely uses its high credit to finance street betterments, for and to the aid of individual citizens. The total amount of all street improvement bonds outstanding January 1, 1915, was six hundred and sixty-nine thousand three hundred dollars, divided between the two taxing districts, the Eastern, four hundred and eighty-eight thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars, and the Western, one hundred and eighty thousand five hundred and fifty dollars.
Building Cement Sidewalks
In the early days of street improvements, if there were any sidewalks at all in a street, they were invariably of white pine planks, usually from twelve to sixteen inches wide and two inches thick, laid on stringers of the same material and spiked down. Along Genesee Street, in front of store build- ings, the planks were laid crossways of the street, and after they had become warped and worn the walking was not good and easy, nor altogether safe.
249
THE CONSOLIDATED SAGINAWS
In the residence streets the planks were laid lengthways of the road, from five to eight planks wide, and when new afforded very comfortable walk- ing. But the average life of such walks was less than ten years, and some property owners became careless about keeping them in repair. Falls. broken bones and sprained ankles were of almost daily occurrence, and damage suits brought against the city for such injuries at length became very numerous.
Late in the nineties the situation had become so serious that the mayor ordered all dangerous and defective walks torn up, and a thorough inspection was started in all sections of the city. So vigorous was the crusade of de- struction that in about two weeks miles upon miles of bad sidewalks had been entirely removed, leaving in many instances hollows of soft muddy earth, into which persons stumbled or fell in the dark. There was a very general complaint of the conditions throughout the city; but the decree had gone forth that no more board walks should be laid anywhere.
At this time the business sections of the city were quite generally pro- vided with sidewalks of brick or artificial stone. as being more durable and economical, and many citizens laid hard walks in front of their residences. Concrete was an expensive material to use, and other citizens, through in- difference or unwillingness to incur the expense of laying new walks, did nothing. A year or two after the decree went forth the situation was not greatly improved, and not until the council decided to pursue the same plan in building sidewalks, as had been followed for years in laying pavements. that relief was afforded. By this plan of bonding for special improvements, the property owner was ordered to lay a walk in front of his lot or lots, of specified materials. If he chose to disregard the order the city built the walk according to specifications, and assessed the cost to the owner of the property, the payments of the same with interest being divided into ten yearly payments, to fall due at the time of the city tax collections.
This plan worked out very well and soon became the popular procedure, thousands of sidewalks in all sections of the city being built of concrete, strictly according to specifications and carefully inspected during the work. As a result the streets everywhere are lined with smooth, durable sidewalks. with cross walks of asphalt on streets paved with that material, and of stone elsewhere. The bonds are retired on the same plan as those issued for street paving, the amounts outstanding January 1, 1915, being, for the Eastern Dis- trict, ninety thousand six hundred dollars, and the Western District. seventy- nine thousand two hundred dollars, a total of one hundred and sixty-nine thousand eight hundred dollars.
The City Deep Wells Are Popular
Before passing to a more important subject mention will be made of the City wells, which supply a large proportion of the population with good water for drinking and cooking purposes. No one uses, or should use, the water pumped through the city mains for such purposes, and it is scarcely fit for any domestic use, especially on the West Side. But many families. for want of a better supply, are forced to use it for washing and bathing. though for no other purpose. For culinary uses they resort to the water pumped from deep wells, either private or public. Years ago the city author- ities and the people generally recognized the fact that river water was an exceedingly dangerous fluid to take into the human system, and measures were taken to supply clear, sparkling water from deep down in the earth. Many citizens of means put down private wells on their premises, and often supply their neighbors' needs, as well. But at best these could furnish only a small percentage of the water required by the whole city.
HERBERT H. HOYT 1874
JOHN G. OWEN 1870
JOHN WELCH 1879- 81
A. F. R. BRALEY 1867-69
LYMAN W. BLISS 1879-80
FRANK LAWRENCE 1883
JOHN S. ESTABROOK 1884-85
HENRY M. YOUMANS 1886
SOME OLD-TIME MAYORS OF THE SAGINAWS
251
THIE CONSOLIDATED SAGINAWS
Long before the consolidation of the two cities, several deep wells were drilled at Saginaw City at the expense of the city for public use. They were located at Court Street and Michigan Avenue, Genesee and Michigan Ave mues, Niagara and Hancock Streets, Bond and Clinton Streets, Bristol and Ilamilton, and Hamilton and Perry Streets. These wells filled such a public need that, in the nineties, several others were put down in convenient places. In 1900-01-02 nineteen more were drilled, and for ten years thereafter, an average of four was added each year. At the beginning of 1915 there were sixty-six deep wells on the West Side owned by the city
On the East Side municipal deep wells were first drilled in 1892, when wells at the City llall, in Hoyt Park, at Washington Avenue and Mackinac Street. and at Genesee Avenue and Lapeer Street offered cool, refreshing water to the thirsty. Other wells were soon added, and from 1900 to 1910 they multiplied until at present there are eighty-five deep wells scattered over the city, maintained and kept in repair by the municipality. They may not furnish the best water that is easily available for culinary use, but they are certainly a valuable source of supply under the present conditions of our water works. There are now one hundred and fifty-one of these wells in use, and their depth varies greatly, the shallowest being eighty-five feet and the deepest two hundred and twenty-five feet in depth. The best water is not always found at the greatest depth, as is proved by the superior quality of some waters taken from shallower wells.
The Idea of Civic Beauty
In strolling through our parks and playgrounds and noting their beauty and charm, it is not easy to realize that they are a work of comparatively recent years. Cut out of the native forest they seem to have always existed, and it is a long stretch of the imagination to conjure up the wigwam of the red man on the spot where we linger in meditation of past scenes.
The first concern of our pioneers was to make homes, to provide a living for their families, and the wilderness offered little choice of occupations. In the primitive settlements the struggle for existence was hard and long. and the village fathers were chiefly concerned in the business of grading streets and laying out new ones. Long after the cities were formed the problems of sanitation and public safety were urgent of solution : and after- ward, the desire for street improvements led to the transformation of muid and sawdust towns into pleasant places in which to live. This awakened in many citizens a personal pride in the appearance of their homes and grounds, and a new tone of prosperity was everywhere apparent. Later, when public buildings and better facilities for communication between the two sides had been provided, the people settled back to enjoy a rest. But the rest was of short duration, for the idea of Civic Beauty -an aesthetic creation - asserted itself.
The Beginning of Our Park System
In the true narration of human events, Jesse Hoyt may properly be termed the "father" of our system of public parks. More than thirty years ago, perceiving that Saginaw was destined to become a large and prosperous city, its citizens appreciating the finer things of life which please and delight the eye, he bequeathed to East Saginaw a considerable tract of land in the James Riley Reserve, for park purposes. Then but little more than wild land, heavily wooded on the upland, and a waste of marsh in the low land, it was a very unsightly spot upon which to make a city park. Along the Washington Street front was a common board tence, of what use it is hard to conjecture, unless it was to keep the cattle, which roamed the streets at
252
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
will, from doing damage to the forest trees. The idea of Civic Beauty had not yet taken root in the public mind, and for several years nothing was done to improve the land, except to trim and thin out the forest trees.
It was well along in the nineties that the first definite plan of im- provement was formulated. The ground of the upland was graded and seeded, gravelled roadways were laid out, and the slopes cleared of brush and weeds. Afterward, flower beds were set out and a band stand erected, and the upland assumed the appearance of a real city park. As yet the low waste of marsh remained untouched, and was still the abode of bull frogs, muskrats and water snakes. By 1894 the cost of improvements in Hoyt Park amounted to twenty-five thousand dollars. Meanwhile the triangular spaces at Second, Park and Tuscola Streets, and at Weadock and Hoyt Street, were laid out, trees and shrubs planted, and made attractive at a cost of five hundred and one thousand dollars, respectively.
With this modest beginning in beautification, Civic Pride was thor- oughly aroused, and the city entered upon an era of expansion and develop- ment of its park property. The rapid progress made in this direction is worthy of note, the results accomplished being a work of the last twelve or fifteen years. In the early years of this century the wild and unsightly bot- tom land in foyt Park was still in its native state, but about 1904 the ground was drained, plowed and leveled, and seeded to lawn. A roadway was built along the east side and connected at either end with roads leading to the upland. At the north end a sump, or well, was constructed and a pump honse with necessary equipment was erected, to drain off and pump out flood waters in the Spring. This was a work of two or three seasons, but when completed the results were very satisfactory.
In place of wild marshy grass covering pools of slimy, stagnant water, fit breeding places of mosquitoes, a beautiful lawn greets the eye. Incluid- ing the slope from the upland, this lawn comprises more than twenty acres of the twenty-seven in the whole park. With the gently-rising slope form- ing a natural amphitheater for thousands of spectators, this sward is an admirable parade ground and arena for games and sports. It has often been used for Masonic drills and maneuvers of the militia ; and during the Semi- Centennial celebration of 1907, it was a popular place for holding such events, and has been the scene of many brilliant gatherings. For the exhibition of fire works it could not be surpassed, as many as fifteen thousand people having witnessed displays on the evening of a Fourth of July.
In these days of public playgrounds Hoyt Park has been given over very largely to such purposes. During the Summer it is popularly used for base ball games, and in the Fall for foot ball, while in Winter the bottom land is flooded to form a huge ice skating rink. Coasting on the hill is also a popular pastime, and it has been suggested that a portable toboggan slide be erected to enhance the enjoyment of this sport.
Bliss Park - The Ideal Playground
The transformation of the old Campau property, embracing the "Butchers Woods," in the Fourteenth Ward on the West Side, into a park . of rare attractiveness, abounding with native forest trees and such a profu- sion of flowers as to charm the vistior, was equally noteworthy. It was made possible by the munificence of ex-Governor Aaron T. Bliss, who, in just pride of his home city, purchased the site for a park to bear his name. and not only gave a liberal sum for its improvement, but endowed the park for its future maintenance. The work of creating a beautiful park was per- formed during 1905 and 1906, a part of the cost, to the extent of ten thou-
VIEWS OF HOYT PARK
SCENES IN BLISS PARK
255
THE CONSOLIDATED SAGINAWS
sand dollars, being borne by the city under the terms of the grant. It was a happy circumstance that the donor thus realized the fruition of his plans in the beautification of a public resting place, which has become the most popular of our parks.
Bliss Park is an ideal place for picnics and family parties, and almost every day from the beginning of warm weather until after the first of Sep- tember, it is the scene of happy gatherings. The wooded section and play- ground is safely removed from the traffic of the streets, and mothers can rest in the shade of the trees or enjoy the flowers, while the babies and chil- dren disport themselves in the sand pile, or in the swings, teeters, slides and other play apparatus, with which the park is well provided. The flowers in the sunken garden are especially worthy of note, the large variety of peonies, phlox, asters, petunias and gladioli, oriental popies and many flowering shrubs, adding greatly to the beauty of the park. With its num- erous groupings consisting of many varieties of plants, shrubs and trees, increasing in beauty from year to year, and lending the charm of their varied coloring to the landscape, it affords great pleasure and interest to visitors.
Toward the close of the Civil War, the ground of this park and the vicinity was the scene of the organization of the 29th Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, of which Colonel Thomas Saylor was the commanding officer. Fifty years after, during the Summer of 1914, a large held boulder was placed in a prominent place at the junction of the main walk and the winding road, to mark the vicinity of the camp. On October 20 the appro- priate monument was dedicated. the unveiling and exercises taking place before a considerable number of the survivors of the 29th Regiment, public officials and citizens. There was placed in the boulder a copper box con- taining records and souvenirs of the Regiment, and data and records about the city, and the occasion of the unveiling. On the bronze tablet in the face of the boulder is an inscription denoting its purpose, the date, and names of the donors of the monument.
Creation of Board of Park and Cemetery Commissioners
By an Act of the Legislature May 24, 1905, the parks of the city passed into the care and control of a Board of Park and Cemetery Commis- sioners. The original members of this board, appointed May 29, 1905, were James G. Macpherson, E. P. Waldron, Frank Plumb, Charles Il. Peters and William B. Mershon. On December 31, 1900. Walter J. Lamson was ap- pointed a member of the board to fill the unexpired term of E. P. Waldron, resigned : on January 17, 1910, John A. Cimmerer replaced Frank Plumb, resigned : L. C. Slade was appointed November 21, 1910, to fill the unex- pired term of Charles H. Peters, deceased: and O. R. Fowler succeeded William B. Mershon January 6, 1913. on account of expiration of term. The board was automatically retired January 1. 1914. by provision of the new city charter, and the commission form of government, which went into effect on that date.
During the life of this board, covering a period of eight and a half years, was witnessed the greatest progress in carrying out the idea of Civic Beauty, in the development of our park system. Great credit is due the members of the board, for their untiring and unselfish efforts to beautify the city, and in particular do our citizens honor William B. Mershon and James G. Macpherson, and cherish the memory of Charles H. Peters with tender care. Under the new city government William H. Reins, one of the five councilmen, was designated Commissioner of Parks and Cemeteries on Jan- uary 2, 1914. His term expired April 11, 1915, but he was re-elected for a
256
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
two-year term, his conduct of the office on an economic basis of efficiency being eminently satisfactory to the city. Daniel HI. Ellis, the superinten- dent of parks under the old board was retained, his valued services recog- nized by the new administration.
Ezra Rust Park Improvements
It was during the existence of the old board of commissioners that the great preliminary improvements were made to Ezra Rust Park. In the Summer of 1906 a survey was made of that part of the park lying between Lake Linton and the Saginaw River, including the waters adjacent thereto, and therefrom a grade was fixed for the filling, and an estimate made of the quantity of earth required. The year previous William S. Linton, who has ever had the interests of the city at heart, interested his friend Ezra Kust. in a project to secure title to the old "middle ground" lying in the river between the Bristol and Mackinaw Street bridges, and in time convert the unsightly ground into an attractive city park. It was a huge undertaking, but through the generosity of Mr. Rust the property was purchased and a proposal made to the city for its improvement. The property with several additions since made by the donor, now comprises one hundred and thirty- six acres in the heart of the city, and eventually will be one of its chief show places.
By the terms of the proposal, which was accepted by the city fathers. the city contributed fifty thousand dollars, to which Mr. Rust added a like sum, for the cost of filling: and on September 24, 1907, a contract for the work of dredging and filling was awarded to H. W. Hubbell & Company for ninety-six thousand five hundred and twenty-five dollars. During the sea- sons of 1'08-09 the work was vigorously prosecuted with a hydraulic dredge and a dipper dredge, under the direction of Mr. Hubbell, until the comple- tion of the contract in December, 1909.
The work of filling of the ground north of Court Street brought the elevation to five feet above city datum, and that south of Court Street to six feet, while the dredging of Lake Linton ( Emerson Bayon) and the waters adjacent gave a depth of ten to twelve feet below city datum. Six hundred thousand cubic yards of filling was required for this preliminary improvement. Much further filling was required, however, to bring the elevation above flood waters, and this was provided during the Summer of 1914 by hydraulic dredges working in the river on a government contract for widening and deepening the stream. Upon the settling of the ground to a permanent level, this section of the park, comprising seventy-six and a half acres, will be in condition for the permanent improvements which con- template the laying out of two base ball diamonds, a foot ball field and tennis courts, within a mile speedway, and an elaborate plan of beauti- fying the ground. The filled area has a water front of two and a half miles, and a water area of over thirty acres.
The benefit of this improvement in converting a large area of swamp land and stagnant water into solid ground and living water, and the gen- eral benefit to the health of the people, cannot be measured by a monetary consideration. It is even greater than the improvements already made to the entrance and older portions of the park, improvements that please the eye, give a quiet restful tone to the whole neighborhood, and help to make life worth living in the city. To the parkings in the vicinity of Washing- ton Avenne a peculiar interest attaches by the presence of a boulder mark- ing the site of the camp of organization of the 23d Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, which was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on September 11, 1913; and also by a smaller boulder bearing a bronze tablet.
1.
EZRA
HONOR
-
-
Bristol M
CITY HALL
GM
Holland
Hust- Linke
Titelon
TRAU
TRACK
IMILE
Forhe's
River
- RUST PARK.
MAP OF EZRA RUST PARK Showing proposed improvements
258
IHISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
to mark the spot upon Mound Hill on which once stood an ancient Indian village, which was placed by the Saginaw Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and dedicated by them on October 26, 1911. The Still fountain at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Court Street, is also a work of some interest.
Fordney Park
The use of this attractive park, which was presented to the city by Joseph W. Fordney, is very similar to that of Bliss Park, a neighborhood resting place, popular for picnics and a playground for the children. It is the latest acquisition to our park system, having come under the care and control of the park commissioners in 1913, and comprises ten acres of wood- land, level green sward and a small pond. Conveniently situated in the southwest part of the West Side, adjoining the estate of the donor, it is of easy access to a large population, and its privileges are enjoyed by numerous parties and individuals during the Summer.
Jeffers Park
At the triangle formed by the intersections of Genesee, Germania and Warren Avenues there is a small park quite tastefully laid out with shrubs and flowers. A few years ago this property was covered with business blocks, but in order to leave a fitting memorial to his brother, the late Michael Jeffers, John Jeffers and his niece Miss Elizabeth Champe, cleared the ground and converted it into an attractive little park. To perpetuate the memory of the man who had done so much for the upbuilding of the city, Mr. Jeffers soon after erected an enduring monument, in the form of a large and ornate drinking fountain supplied with crystal water from a deep well close by. The park is situated almost in the center of the business section of the East Side, and, although small in area, is much frequented by the public.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.