USA > Michigan > Bay County > Bay City > The county of Bay, Michigan : maps, history, illustrations and statistics > Part 5
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Since obtaining the charter in 1865 tbe growth of Bay City has been phenomenal. The new comers have been altogether too numerous to mention and our space will not admit of a detailed account of events. The city is noted over the state for its many fine buildings, streets and other improvements, concerning which it may be stated briefly that the Fraser House, a fine four story brick structure on the southeast corner of Water street and Center avenue, was erected in 1864. A land-mark in Bay City, recently burned, was the old Miller hard- ware store erected in 1855. The Watson block in 1868; the Rouech House in 1869; the old Shearer block in 1876. The Westover Opera House block, which was destroyed by fire about twelve years ago, was immediately re- placed by the Phoenix block. The MeEwan block on Water street was built in 1876; The First National Bank block was built in 1872, the Central block in 1880, and the Shearer Brothers' block in 1884. The Crapo building was built about five or six years ago; the new M. C. depot in 1892; the government building in 1893. The city hall-not yet completed-is located at the cor- ner of Tenth street and Washington avenue, and will be superior to any public building in this corner of the state. In 1896 the Republic House was partially de- stroyed by fire. It has since been reconstructed and greatly improved in many ways, and is today one of the fine structures of the city. The Ridoto building was erected in 1896. The oldest brick building now stand- ing in the city is the Meeker & Adams store.
Bay City has enjoyed the privilege of a public library for more than twenty-five years. For the last ten years, since the erection of the Wood Opera House Block, the city library has been located in the rear of that building.
The telephone was first introduced here in 1879.
The first paving in Bay City was done about twenty- three years ago on Water street, from Third to Sixth streets. We have heard old residents remark that the city has never had a pavement since to equal it.
When the city was first organized the executive was vested in a marshal and one or two deputy policemen. After a few years part of them were partially uniformed, but in 1877, upon the formation of the Board of Police Commissioners, the city was provided with a first-class police department, uniformed and equipped. Chief N. N. Murphy was then appointed to the position which he now holds. Captain Wm. Simmons was appointed at the same time. Sergeant Geo. A Hemstreet was also appointed, and in 1881 Wm. E. Toles received a similar honor. The police department of the present time con-
sists of the officers mentioned and twelve patrolmen, one truant officer, one special detective and one driver.
The street railway of Bay City was laid some twenty- six or twenty-seven years ago. It has been gradually improved and extended, and now the entire system takes in about ten miles of track. About three years ago electricity was substituted for horses as a motive power.
The manual force of the fire department consists of sixty-eight men. Engines, trucks, hose carts, sleighs, cutters, etc., number nineteen. The city has erected six substantial brick fire stations. The department has twenty-one horses in its service. The alarms turned in during 1895 numbered 159. The damage done amounted to $59,229.50
The waterworks were established in 1873, and the receipts for that year were $728.82. The total on the roll for 1894 was $23,366.11. The waterworks system is as far in advance of the system of 1873 as the receipts of 1894 were ahead of those of 1873. The pumping ma- chinery in this department, together with the engines, hose, and other necessary equipment, cost the city about $100,000. Piping, hydrants, etc., have cost about $400,- 000 more. There are at-present waterworks bonds out- standing to the amount of $362,000.
The eighth annual report of the Electric Light Com- mission (1895), shows a total investment of $36,305.11. It shows that for 1895, 181 lamps were run on 341 nights, a total of 2586 hours, at a cost of $8,900.31. The system extends over 36.64 miles of wire and lights up eleven and one-half square miles of territory.
Bay City has suffered from very disastrous fires in 1865, 1872 and 1892.
The total bonded indebtedness of the city is $651,000.
WEST BAY CITY. .
BANGOR.
The village of Bangor was so named by Thomas Whitney, an early pioneer from Bangor, Maine. It is now known as Banks, although it is within the corpo- rate limits and is therefore a part of West Bay City. It occupies a beautiful site of land fronting the river and directly across from the north part of Bay City. The Bay county records show that Jos. Tromble, men- tioned in connection with the history of Portsmouth, owned all of the land at this point in an early day, and was the originator of the village. In 1845 he took up his abode there. In 1851 he caused twenty-five acres of his land to be platted as a village. The splendid ripa- rian advantages of the place caused several mills to be erected, the first of which was built and owned by Thos. Whitney. Moore, Smith & Co., and also George Lord, erected mills and entered into the manufacture of salt. As an industry the fishing business has been of little less importance than that of lumbering. Many are engaged in that occupation, and the freight bill of one dealer to one railroad company for a single season was over $6,000. An industry which was indeed humble in its beginning, was ship building. Wm. Crosswaite came from Buffalo in 1864 and established a ship yard and dry dock. He employed some thirty men. Since that time the ship building industry has grown more than a hundred fold, as will be seen later.
The village of Banks was incorporated April 15, 1871. It became the first ward of West Bay City in 1891.
SALZBURG.
Salzburg was so called by Dr. D. H. Fitzhugh, the proprietor of its land-site. That name was given from an Austrian salt manufacturing town, and was deemed appropriate on account of the abundance of salt found, and the excitement aroused over the prospects of a suc- cessful salt industry. The place was platted by Dr. Fitzhugh in 1861, but was never incorporated as a vil- lage. It seems to have received an early immigration, for we find Jos. Cushway living there, established as a
blacksmith for the Indians in 1834. In 1842, Captain Soloman S. Stone and wife arrived in a canoe. He built a bark wigwam on the Indian cornfield, where he resid- ed about two years. He then purchased "Stone Island," where he lived until his death in 1883. Dr. Fitzhugh, Hill & Son, Johnson & Walsh and the Huron Salt & Lumber Co., were the first to engage in the manufacture of salt or lumber: Laderach Brothers settled here in 1861. The post office was established in 1868 ..
THE VILLAGE OF WENONA.
On the opposite side of the river from Bay City, nature seems to have intended a town. The regular ascent of the ground from the river, the pleasing land- scape presented by the shady trees and smooth waters, the accessibility of the spot by boats, all these seem to have forespoken a town; but until 1864 the bark wig- wams of a few Indians were the only signs of dwelling that marked the spot. Soon after this date John Hayes made a home for himself on that side of the river. He was a ferryman, and assisted passengers between Bay City and Midland street, across the river. The next house built was that of George King. A little school house had been erected in 1860, and it accommodated the pupils from the entire township of Bangor, then very much larger chan at the present time. The build- ing was also used for many years as the polling place for the township. A little distance west from the river bank were the Chilson and Sayles' farms. In January, 1864, Mr. H. W. Sage purchased one hundred and six- teen acres of ground on the west side of the river for a mill site, and erected a mill in the same year. He also erected a store building, which at that time was consid- ered a mammoth structure. They also caused their land to be platted into village lots, which they offered for sale at $200 each. They first named the village Lake City, but found it necessary to change, and Wenona was substituted. During 1865 business began in earnest. A postoffice and telegraph office were established. The Presbyterian church was built, and a bridge was built from the village to Bay City. The growth of the place was so rapid that by 1866 the people felt that they were 'entitled to corporate privileges. The village site had been greatly benefitted by the Bay City and Midland plank road, and also by a plank road constructed by the state from Saginaw to the same point. A village char- ter was granted in May of 1867, and at the first election held on the first day of the following June, David B. Arnold was chosen president.
CITY ORGANIZATION.
The three villages grew rapidly, the settlements of one gradually approaching those of another, until they concluded that there was not room enough for three small towns, and remembering that "In union there is strength," they were consolidated by the state legisla- ture of 1877, under the name of West Bay City.
The city had three wards-the three original vil- lages respectively. The first election was held on the first Monday in May, 1877, and David G. Arnold was chosen mayor. In 1883 the charter was amended, es- tablishing five wards instead of three. There are now six wards.
West Bay City may with some propriety, be called the Phoenix city, for in 1881 she was visited by a very destructive fire, entailing a loss of $90,930.00, and a temporary suspension of business. The fire originated in the tailoring establishment of Waldbauer & Szysper- ski. The flames swept easterly, taking down before them the fine brick structures of Fisher and Norrington, W. W. Vedder, the Alpin block, the Opera house block, and others.
One of the most important buildings of West Bay City is the Sage library, which is not second to any thing of its kind in the state. This magnificent struc- ture, together with ten thousand dollars, is the gift of Henry W. Sage, of Ithaca, New York, and was founded in 1883. The management of this library is in the hands of a board of trustees, composed of five citizens
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of the city and the mayor, the president of the board of education, the superintendent of the public schools, and the resident clergymen of all church congregations in the city. There are about 23,000 volumes properly arranged and classified in this library, which is open to the public at all times from eight o'clock in the fore- noon to nine o'clock at night, Sundays excepted. Mrs. M. F. Ostrander has been librarian since its establish- ment.
West Bay City is well sewered. In 1888 the first sewer bonds were issued. They amounted to $60,000, and were issued for the purpose of raising money with which to build the main or trunk sewer. It is con- structed of brick, and has a diameter of about five feet. It is about a mile in length, extending from its outlet, just south of the M. C. R. R. bridge, on South street and Washington street to South Union street, then to Center street, and south along that street to its ter- minus. - Since the construction of this trunk line many district and latteral sewers have been added to the system of sewerage in the city, at an additional cost of nearly, if not quite, $100,000.
The present city fire department was organized in 1888. It consists of twenty members, including the chief; three hose companies and one fire engine, with a complete system of Holly water works at its disposal whenever a fire occurs. It is due to the energy and ef- ficient services of George F. Russell, the present Chief of Fire Department, that the city succeeded in obtain- ing the complete Gamewell system of fire equipment for its use.
The police force of the city now consists of a chief of police and six patrolmen, who are appointed for a term of "during good behavior," unless by a two-thirds vote of the common council the force is decreased. The present police system was established in 1891, by an act amending the city charter. Prior thereto the police system was quite imperfect, partisan preference being the guiding rule.
Wenona Beach, while in the township of Bangor, is properly an institution of West Bay City. It is a beau- tiful summer resort, located on Saginaw bay, just west of the mouth of the river. It is connected by electric railway with the consolidated system of the Bay Cities, and is the resort of many parties of pleasure seekers.
To Hon. S. O. Fisher, of West Bay City, must be given the credit of introducing electric street railways in the Saginaw valley. Through his direct and persist- ent efforts this system of street transit was introduced in West Bay City some years before Bay City or Sagi- naw enjoyed their presence.
ORGANIZATION OF BAY COUNTY.
Bay county, previous to its organization, was the territory of Saginaw and Midland counties. After a very hard struggle with these two counties, the citizens of Lower Saginaw succeeded in forming a separate or- ganization called the County of Bay, in 1857. The legality of this organization was disputed for years by the above mentioned counties. As first formed it in-" cluded the whole of Arenac county, which was set off by itself in 1883. Immediately after the county was formed the seat of justice was fixed at Bay City. A res- olution was once passed changing the county seat to Portsmouth, but it never went into effect and was soon changed back again. A wooden building on Water street served as court house until 1868, when a one story brick was erected where the court house now stands. The present brick structure was erected by the county in 1868. The first jail was a one story wooden building erected on the corner of Sixth and Saginaw streets for jail purposes. It was destroyed by fire in 1863, and a wooden building of a similar character was leased of James Fraser until 1870, when the present jail building was erected on Center street at a cost of $75,000.00.
The County Infirmary was purchased by the Bay county board of supervisors in 1866. It consists of 120 acres of land in the township of Hampton, and is well equipped for its purposes, with jail, hospital, etc.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIPS.
As previously mentioned, the township of Hampton was organized in 1843. The name was chosen by James G. Birney, and applied in honor of his wife's old home- stead in New York state. Its territory included all of the Lower Saginaw region, but was rendered smaller from time to time by the formation of other townships from its territory. It now contains an area of about thirty square miles. The land of the present Hampton township was but a few years ago mostly covered with water at certain seasons of the year, and was thought to be entirely too low and wet to admit of drainage and cultivation. A visit to the township today will soon convince one of the erroneousness of this opinion, for the land is very rich and productive, and some of it has been put in such a perfect state for the production of fruits and vegetables that three hundred dollars per acre. has been refused by its owners.
It is cosmopolitan in population, but one character istic of all its people is frugality. The township is trav- ersed by numerous stone roads and dredge ditches, which have cost thousands of dollars, but which have given back this cost almost ten fold to the people.
The County Farm is located in this township.
The township contains the village of Essexville- named for R. P. Essex, its founder. The village was platted in 1867. It is now a prosperous place, and the location of a great lumbering industry. It is well equipped with schools and churches, and is connected by electric railway with Bay City and West Bay City. Its postoffice was established in 1872. The village was incorporated in 1883.
.Williams township was at the time of its organiza- tion a part of Midland county, and was organized by the board of that county. It contained the lands of town- ships 14, 15 and 16, north of range 3 east, and all of Arenac county. It has contributed of its territory to the formation of other townships so that now it contains but thirty-six square miles, designated as township 14, north of range 3 east.
The early settlers of Williams township were, for the most part, native Americans, the most prominent of whom were Charles Bradford, John Gaffney, Wm. Spofford, Chas. Fitch, Geo. W. Smock, and Lyman Brain- ard. These gentlemen prospected in that territory in 1854. They were so well pleased with the lands, al- though wild and uninhabited, that they proceeded to Flint land office and purchased farms upon which they immediately settled. The number of inhabitants was added to the same year by the arrival of Wm. W. Skel- ton, A. J. Willsie, and Amos Culver. Upon the organi- zation of the township G. W. Smock was made super- visor. In 1855 Samuel Rowden, David Jones and Josiah Perry came into the township. Jobn C. Rowden came there a boy and has given the best years of his life to the development of the place.
The growth of its institutions has kept pace with the increase of population. Nearly the whole township is now under improvement. The Bay City and Midland plank road, now a macadamized highway, has been a royal road to wealth for the citizens of Williams. The soil is very productive and easily tilled. There are now four post offices in the township, the most prominent of which is Auburn.
This place is well named in respect to its being the loveliest village of the plain. It cannot claim, however, a farther analogy to Goldsmith's English hamlet. It is situated midway between Bay City and midland, and about an equal distance from Saginaw. It has fine churches and school facilities, and enjoys the privileges of railroad traffic.
The township of Arenac was organized by the Bay county board in 1859. It included all of Arenac county which was then a part of Bay, and it also included the territory now comprising the townships of Pinconning, Mt. Forest, and Gibson. Arenac being no longer a por- tion of Bay county, the subdivisions of its territory will not be noted.
BANGOR.
In 1859, soon after the organization of Bay county, the township of Bangor was formed. It comprised all of Hampton which lay west and north of the Saginaw river, being the territory of the present townships of Fraser, Kawkawlin, Bangor and Monitor. The first town meeting was held the 7th day of April that year, at a school house situated in the present Bangor. Scott W. Sayles was elected supervisor. The history of the ter- ritory must be divided among the townships mentioned, as Bangor has become very much smaller than it was when first formed. It now comprises that portion of township 14, north of range 5 east, that lies north of Monitor and north and west of West Bay City, and also fractional township 15 north of range 5 east.
The Kawkawlin river, which flows through Bangor, was the scene of much early activity. The mouth of this river was a favorite hunting, fishing and camping place for the Saginaw tribe of Indians. In 1837 Neh- way-go, a noted brave, had his home here. In 1847 the Indian mission church was built here, it being the first church in what is now Bay county, and there now ex- ists an Indian village numbering some forty or fifty souls. They still maintain their church with the Rev. Mr. Cloud as pastor. In 1842 "Uncle Harvey Williams," a well known pioneer of the valley, moved to the mouth of the Kawkawlin river, and engaged in fishing and trading with the Indians. He died in -1864, leaving many friends among whom the Indians were not last in their devotion .
The villages of Bangor, Salzburg and Wenona, be- fore mentioned, for several years formed an important part of the township's territory, but they were swal- lowed up by the organization of West Bay City in 1877. The farmers of Bangor are favored by their proximity to West Bay City, and by the advantages derived from the Midland and AuSable stone roads which traverse the township.
BEAVER.
The township of Beaver was created by an act of the legislature in 1867, in which act it was described as being townships 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, north of range 3 east. The first township meeting was held at the house of Levi Willard, one of the best known names in Beaver today, who was made the first supervisor.
The land in this township is as good as can be found in the state. It is level, fertile, and well. settled by an . excellent class of citizens. Beaver has contributed from its territory so that now it contains but one congres- located in the southern part. It is an unplatted village ional township, viz: T. 15 N., and R. 3 E. Willard is a postoffice, and consists of several of the best families. John P. Ittner, the present supervisor, is located here as a merchant and manufacturer, and his home and surroundings may be taken as an index to the thrift and enterprise of the community.
The word Kawkawlin cannot fail to awaken interest as it has been identified with historic events in the Sag- inaw Valley for over a hundred years. But the Kaw- kawlin of today does not contain any of the old historic ground. When first organized, Jan. 7, 1868, it contained all of the territory lying between the Saginaw Bay and Beaver township, and also sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Bang- or, and sections 1, 3, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of Monitor. The ter- ritory has been reduced in area so that Kawkawlin now contains only township 15 north and range 4 east. It is well settled, contains excellent land, and is one of the most prosperous of the newer townships of the county.
Nature has provided the citizens with numerous flowing wells, the water of which is of a most excellent quality, and contains many minerals with medicinal properties. It is proposed by certain citizens of Lin- wood to erect a fine hotel with mineral baths.
Schools are numerous, and for architectural beauty and conveniences are unsurpassed by any townshipin the county. Kawkawlin is well provided with means for moral culture in its four churches. Linwood, situated on the line between Kawkawlin and Fraser, is a splen-
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did little marketing place, supplied with two railroads, hotels, a mill, etc.
MONITOR.
The township of Monitor was erected in 1869. On an old map of Bay county we notice that, Monitor con- tains the south thirty sections of township 14 north of range 4 east, and sections 30 and 31 of township 14 north of range 5 east. At present it contains all of township 14 north of range 4 east, and the two sections mentioned in township 14 north of range 5 east. The township was formed from Bangor and its organization was strongly opposed on the ground of being attempted for political purposes. The effort however was not defeated.
The southern part of Monitor was colonized in 1845 by a portion of the large German immigration to the Saginaw valley. These thrifty people were among the first to subdue the wild land and make farming a suc- cess in this part of the state. The southern part of the . township today is almost wholly occupied by them, and their fine homes, large barns, well fed stock and good roads testify to the value of these settlers to Bay county.
Soon after their arrival we find in the county rec- ords the names of Thomas Kent, James Felker, Wm. H. Needham, Wm. Hemmingway, who took up land in this territory. In close succeeding years came Jeremiah Waite, John Hunn, Frederick Shaw, William Gaffney, Owen C. White. T. C. Phillips, and others. The early settlers here suffered considerably from excessive taxa- tion on account of a large amount of the land being railroad land, and therefore exempt. For several years, however, the citizens of the township have enjoyed gen- eral prosperity.
The soil is very rich and productive, and their fine system of drainage has reclaimed almost every foot of the soaking swamps of years back. Their stone roads have been of untold value to the people. It would be difficult to find better farms, or better evidences of an intelligent farming community. But farming is not the only industry engaged in by the people of this prosper- ous section of the county, as will be noticed by referring to the coal mining industry, which we note herein later.
PORTSMOUTH.
The territory now included in Portsmouth was util- ized as farming land prior to all other sections of Bay county, for we have noticed that the Trombles of the village of Portsmouth were cultivating the soil in the '30's. The territory of which we write was a portion of the township of Hampton, and was detached therefrom and-organized as the township of Portsmouth in 1859. It included all that portion of Hampton comprising the north half of township 13 north and range 5 east, lying east of the Saginaw river, also the north half of town- ship 13 north, of range 6 east, also sections 34, 33, and that part of 32 lying east of the Saginaw river in town- ship 14 north, of range 5 east. In 1871 a strip of land was added to Portsmouth from Saginaw county, which was described as sections 19 to 36, inclusive, being the south half of township 13 north, of range 5 east.
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