USA > Michigan > Bay County > Bay City > The county of Bay, Michigan : maps, history, illustrations and statistics > Part 7
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REV. J. AMBROSE WIGHT, D. D,
Rev. J. Ambrose Wight, D. D., bore an important part in the religious history of Bay county. He was born in New York, 1811. He first left home at the age of six years. He worked his way up in the world, and at the age of eighteen, began the study of law at Ben- nington, Vermont. He became converted and de- termined to enter the ministry. In 1836 he graduated from Williams college, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. From then until 1855 he was engaged in editorial work, part of the time on the Chicago Tribune. In 1855 he was licensed to preach. He came to Bay City in 1865 and built up a strong church. His alma mater, Williams College, honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1876. He died in Bay City in 18 -.
H. D. [BRADDOCK.
H. D. Braddock came to Bay City, then the village of Portsmouth, in 1855, from Essex, Connecticut. With his son, H. A. Braddock, he formed the firm of H. D. Braddock & Co. and went into the manufacture of lumber. In 1857 or '58 they built the first boat of con- sequence that was built in the Saginaw waters. In 1860 he and his two sons, H. A. and L. W. Braddock, organized the firm of H. A. Braddock & Co., and began the manufacture of salt. In 1863 they built what was afterwards called the Watrous mill on the middle ground. He lived a life of usefulness to the community. He died 1864.
Churches of Bay County.
The pioneers of Bay county were fully alive to the beneficent influences of churches upon a community; hence we find that while the boundaries of towns and townships were being marked out, the organization of churches was being contemplated. The first church in Bay county was an Indian Mission church, erected on the bank of the Kawkawlin river in 1847. Religious services, however, had been held here sporadically since 1828 or '29, by both Roman Catholics and Protestants.
Judge Albert Miller, in writing of the church privileges of Bay county when he first came here, says: "Coming to Portsmouth to reside when there were only four or five families within a mile of us. There were a few families living at Lower Saginaw who had so far advanced in civilization as to build a small school house about twenty feet square, which, I believe, now stands connected with another building near the corner of First and Washington streets. A successful mission had been established among the Indians, and as a result, many of them had been converted from heathen to Christianity. The Rev. Mr. Brown, the Methodist mis- sionary at Kawkawlin, preached occasionally in the little school house in Lower Saginaw, when the people at Portsmouth had the privilege of attending religious worship by walking two or three miles over a rough road, which privilege some of them almost invariably availed themselves of.
In 1850-51, the firm of Russell, Miller & Crowl was engaged in the lumber business at Portsmouth, employ- ing a number of men, many of whom had a temporary residence for their families. The resident members of the firm, desiring some religious privileges for their families and for those in their employ, in the fall of 1850, hired the Rev. Mr. N. B. Payne, a young man belonging to the Wesleyan Methodist connection, to come to Portsmouth to preach. His first sermon was delivered from the cabin of a propellor that had come to that point for lumber. Soon afterwards a rough building, 20x30 feet on the ground, was erected and formally dedicated to the worship of God. The build- ing was afterwards enlarged and improved for a school house, and was used for school and religious purposes, until the new school house (the one that was burned) and the Baptist church were built. Mr. Payne did not remain long at Portsmouth, and after he left the house above referred to was open for all denominations to preach in, and was for some years a regular preaching station for the Methodists."
METHODIST.
After the first school house of Lower Saginaw was built, just south of the Woodside avenue on Washing- ton avenue, religious services were held there, con- ducted by Hon. James G. Birney.
The first Methodist Episcopal society of Lower Saginaw was established in 1852. The Rev. Geo. Bradley was assigned here by the annual conference held in Niles, and during his ministry a church was built on Washington street. This church was improved and added to from time to time and served its purpose for nearly forty years. The society is now located at the northwest corner of Ninth street and Madison avenue in one of the finest houses of worship in the city. The Methodists now have five splendid church structures in Bay City and three in West Bay City, besides six that are located in the various townships and villages of the county.
PRESBYTERIAN.
The Presbyterian church of Bay City was brought into existence in 1856. In 1855 a subscription was taken, in which $300 was raised towards paying a minister's salary. The prime mover in this enterprise, was Mr. Wm. Jennison. In the spring of 1856 Rev. L. I. Root came to Lower Saginaw in response to an invi- tation of some of the citizens to look over the ground to see what might be done in starting a Presbyterian church. He decided to locate here, and accordingly brought his family. In September the church was formally organized with eight members. The church worshipped, at first, in the school house previously men- tioned. Afterwards its meetings were held in a public hall, and for a time in the court room. In 1861 they built an edifice which soon burned. A new one was built on Washington street and dedicated in 1863. This church is now used for the I. O. O. F. hall, and the Presbyterians now worship in the finest Protestant building in the Saginaw Valley, located on the corner of Center avenue and Jackson street. Rev. J. Ambrose Wight, D. D., was chosen pastor in 1865, and his good influence upon the society, and upon the city as well, have given him a permanent place in local history.
The denomination is represented by the above society, called the First Presbyterian church, the Memo- rial Presbyterian, both of Bay City, Covenant Presby- terian and Westminister Presbyterian in West Bay City and three Presbyterian societies in the villages of the county.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
The first Baptist society organized in this county was at Portsmouth in 1858. The society was formed in the house of Jesse M. Braddock, and was called the first Baptist church of Portsmouth. Of the fourteen original members, seven were Braddocks. The early history of this denomination in Bay county is filled with pioneer struggles; for several years the services were held alternately at Portsmouth and Bay City. In 1859 an edifice was built. The first Baptist church of Bay City was organized by twenty-seven members of the Ports- mouth society, who withdrew from there for the purpose of helping to establish the Bay City congrega- tion. They at first held services in the courtroom and at Birney hall. The late James Fraser presented them with nearly enough money and property to enable them to build a church, and they succeeded in raising the small additional amount required, and built a church on Washington street, between Fifth street and Center avenue; later, they required a larger structure, and built their present fine edifice on the corner of Center avenue and Madison avenue.
In Bay City are the following Baptist societies: Broadway Baptist church, at the corner of Broadway and Twenty-sixth; First Baptist church on Center and Madison avenues; South Bay City Baptist church on South Center street, between Broadway and Braddock streets; Patterson Mission church on Barney street, between North Johnson and Sherman streets; Second Baptist church (colored), on Monroe street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets. In West Bay City we find the Brooks Baptist Mission on the corner of Hotchkiss and Andre streets; and the First Baptist on the corner of Ohio and Dean streets.
LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
Bay county is a stronghold for this denomination, there being ten societies scattered over the county. There are in Bay City: The German Evangelical, on the corner of Broadway and Thirty-second street; the Ger- man Lutheran Bethel church, on the corner of Eighth street and Madison avenue; and the German Evan- gelical Lutheran Immanuel church, on Lincoln avenue and Tenth street. Three are located as follows in West Bay City: German Reformed on corner of South Center and Second street; St. John's German Lutheran on the corner of Alp and Jane streets; and the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran on Henry street, at the south west corner of Thomas street. The township of Frank- enlust has three German Lutheran churches.
The oldest church is the Evangelical Lutheran Bethel, which was organized in 1852 under the title of the German Lutheran society of Lower Saginaw. In 1856 they built a church. Ten years later a larger one was constructed, the old building being used as a par- sonage and parochial school. In 1871 these buildings were burned, and a beautiful brick church was constructed and dedicated to the worship of God, November 25, 1872.
The German Lutheran Immanuel church was founded in 1854 by Rev. F. Sievers of Frankenlust. The good works of this man will long be felt in Bay county.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
This denomination has four societies in the county; two in Bay City, and two in West Bay City. The oldest society is the Trinity Episcopal, which was prin- cipally aided by the Fitzhughs in being established. Their edifice, located on the corner of Grant street and Center avenue, is one of the fine structures in the city. Their membership includes many of the wealthy citizens of the city.
Congregational services were first held in Bay City at the Good Templars' hall, in June, 1875. Rev. J. B. Dawson preached, and called a meeting to consider the practicability of organizing a Congregational church and society. The meeting decided favorably to the plan, and regular services commenced. They imme- diately set about the erecting of a church on the corner of Sixth and Van Buren streets. This was com- pleted and dedicated April 20, 1876, and Rev. J. Homer . Parker was called as their pastor. The church is now presided over by Rev. Chas. F. Patchell. The denomi- nation has a church at Essexville, but they have no regular pastor there.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
The Universalist denomination is represented in Bay county by the First Universalist society of Bay City, Mich. They were organized by Rev. William Tomkins in 1864. The society is composed of many of the prominent Bay City people. About two years ago they were unfortunate in having their fine house of worship destroyed by fire, and at present they are with- out a church.
HEBREW SOCIETY.
Anshei Chesad, Hebrew reform congregation, has a synagogue at 417 Adams street, with Rev. Wolf Landaw, Rabbi. The society was organized in 1878.
Schari Zadeck congregation, at the corner of Eleventh and N. Van Buren sts., Rev. Jos. Taub, Rabbi.
77
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
Was organized 1875 by many of the most prominent Germans of Bay city. Their church is on Monroe street, between Fourth and Eleventh streets.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Bay county has also the following organizations: City Mission, Gospel Hall, Seventh Day Adventists, Salvation Army and Latter Day Saints.
ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIETIES.
The church going population of Bay county is about evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants. The former must be credited with the priority of arrival, for their missionaries were passing up and down the river administering to the moral wants of the Indians and of the French settlers as early as 1829. Fathers Kundig, Louis and Peter Kindekens were the most frequent visitors prior to 1848, and Fathers Monaghan, Joseph Kindekens, and Kilroy, until the time of Father Schutjes' arrival in 1852. In 1850-51 the Catholics of the valley considered themselves numerous enough and financially able to attempt the building of a church; they being the first to take advan- tage of a free church site offered by the projectors of the village to all Christian denominations.
The work progressed very slowly, but upon the arrival of Father Schutjes they found in him an able director, and the building gradually assumed shape; and Father Schutjes was soon able to perform divine service
in it. He was pastor over the whole Saginaw Valley, and had to divide his time between the upper and lower towns, every alternate Sunday being spent in Saginaw and East Saginaw. Many were his battles for life in his contests with the rains and winds and snow as he traveled back and forth.
In 1863 the increased population made it necessary for the appointment of a priest at Saginaw and one at East Saginaw, so that Mr. Schutjes could confine his labors to Bay City. It soon became apparent that the little St. Joseph was too small to accommodate the congregation, and it was resolved to build a new church, which they called the St. James church. Father Schutjes retained charge until 1873, when he went to Detroit to assist in the labors of the Bishop. He was succeeded here by Rev. Father Thomas Rafter, a native of Monroe, Michigan. He is in charge of the society to day, and his judgment and experience has made him occupy an influential position in society.
Previous to Father Schutjes' departure it was deemed necessary to set off West Bay City as a separate parish. This was brought about by an order from the Bishop, and Rev. M. G. Cantors was appointed for the parish.
Since then there has been a large immigration of Germans, French Canadians, Poles, Hollanders and Irish, and the authorities have endeavored to accomo- date each of these nationalities in a church of its own.
St. Joseph's (French) church, on the corner of Grant and Second streets, is presided over by Rev. F. J. M. Dangelzer.
St. Stanislaus Kostka (Polish) church is on Grant,
at the corner of Twenty-second street. Father Bogacki is its pastor.
St. Boniface (German) church is on Eighth street, between Lincoln and Birney streets. Father John G. Wyss is pastor.
St. James church is on the corner of Columbus avenue and Monroe street. Rev. Thomas Rofter is pastor.
St. Johns church is on Hudson street at the south- west corner of Pine street in Essexville.
The Catholic church at Linwood, the name of which we have been unable to learn, is making good headway battling with the disadvantages of an unde- veloped locality.
St. Mary's church was started in 1873, being the oldest established Catholic church in West Bay City. It is located on Walnut street, near Clara, and Rev. Sebrembs is its pastor.
Notre Dame de la Visitation, on the corner of Smith and State streets, is ministered to by Father J. G. Sanson.
Holy Trinity Catholic church, on corner of Alma and Park avenue, has for pastor Rev. Leo. L. Browns.
In 1895 and '96 discord arose among the members of St. Stanislaus church, resulting in several legal actions being instituted, and finally a change of priests; Father Matkowski being succeeded by Father Bogacki.
The Catholics of Bay county have always been fortunate in possessing broad minded, patriotic leaders; believers in education and progress, who have labored unceasingly to inspire their members with energy, ambition, prudence and good citizenship.
The School System.
By J. W. SMITH, M. A.
The school system of the Bay cities and Bay county presents all the phases that are commonly found in a great majority of the counties of the state. For our present purpose they may be classified into public and parochial. The public school system may be again divided into urban and rural, the former term being applied to the Bay City and West Bay City systems, while the latter will include all schools outside of these two cities.
THE BAY CITY SCHOOLS.
In April, 1842, the first school district was organized in what is now known as Bay county. The school house was a small frame building previously used as a dwelling, 14x 20 feet in size, one story high, and located not far from the gas works on Water street. In November, 1844, the school district was re-organized, and was known as School District No. 2, township of Hampton. It included both sides of the river from about where McEwan's mill now stands, at the foot of McEwan street on the north, to Twenty-second street on the south. A site for the school house was located not far from the north end of Madison avenue, and a building 20x26 feet was erected at a cost of about one hundred dollars.
South of Twenty-second street was located District No. 1, township of Hampton. The school house stood on the corner of Twenty-ninth street and Water, upon a triangular piece of land. It was a simple frame structure, painted white, containing a single room, and would accommodate perhaps sixty pupils. Mrs. M. E. Daglish, nee Matilda E. Southworth, who taught here in 1859, describes the interior arrangement as consist-
ing of a long desk built against either side of the build- ing, in front of which stood a long seat. In front of these seats were two low seats with backs to accommo- date the younger pupils. The course of study included the whole range from A, B, C, to Algebra, the ages of the pupils being from five to twenty. This old school house-now serves as a dwelling, and stands between Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh streets on Water street.
The successor to this school house was a two story, frame building, which burned in 1873, during which year the two school districts were united.
The growth of the school system has kept pace with the growth of the city, and building after building has been added, though even now the seating capacity is insufficient. In 1854 a second building was erected on Adams street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, with a seating capacity of 160, which was deemed amply suffi- cient for the children of the township of Hampton. The last addition is the Washington school, erected in 1895, with a seating capacity of 430, the cost being not far from $32,000. The following is a list of the school buildings with a statement of their valuation, etc .:
Name of School
Erected
Material
No. Session Rooms
Class Rooms
Seating
Valuation
Ungraded, Ist ..
Wood
1
56
Woodside
Wood
186 419
$ 4,500 18,500 40.000
Sherman. Dolsen ...
1874
Brick Brick
19
1
845
High.
1881
Brick
12
359
58,000
*82
Farragut.
1868
Brick
13
1
644
40,000 32,000
Lincoln
1889
Brick
1
282
11.000
Garfield.
188
Brick
1
449
24.000
Fremont
1875
Brick
10
571
28,00
Whittier.
1875
Brick Wood
1
146
2.000
Fitzbagh site ..
2,000
82
21
4627
$275,000
FINANCIAL.
The amount expended in 1895-96 was $71,953.51, or a per capita of $19.12. This per capita is based upon the average number belonging, which was 3762. By far the largest item of expense was that for teacher's wages, which, including the superintendent's salary, amounted to $52,118.32. This was distributed among 106 ladies and six men, the salaries ranging from $100 per annum in the training department to $2000 for the superin- tendent. The janitors received $5855; and the free text book system cost the city $4593.13.
ORGANIZATION.
The public schools of Bay City are organized in three departments of four grades, or years, each, making twelve grades in all. In addition, there is a sub-primary grade for children who are barely of school age and those who, at home, speak a foreign tongue. In the sub-primary, kindergarten methods are largely used. The primary proper consists of four grades, beginning with the first, and the grammar department consists of four grades, beginning with the fifth. Taken together, the eight grades constitute what is known as the com- mon school course.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The development of the school system in our Michi- gan cities has been quite uniform. In the early days, when the inhabitants were few, and the struggle for a liveli- hood hard, the course of study included little outside of more leisure for the cultivation of the mind, a demand
1895
Brick
9
490
Washington
1883
1
capacity
15.000
Bowery ..
78
for a more extended course arose. This demand made itself felt in Bay City in the early 60's, and in May, 1866, the board of education was instructed to purchase a high school site. Accordingly the block bounded by Ninth, Tenth, Grant and Farragut streets, was bought for $4400. In September, 1867, the contract for the high school building, a massive three story edifice, was let at $67,350, and on the sixth day of the following May, the corner stone was laid. : The high school de- partment was formally opened in April, 1869, but occu- pied only a part of the building, the remainder being given up to the lower grades. The rapidly increasing population, the excellence of the location for a ward school, and the undesirableness of having the more advanced and the younger pupils in the same building, led the board to select a new site for a separate school, which should be devoted exclusively to the higher grades. Accordingly the nucleus of the present high school building was erected in 1882, on Madison avenue, at the corner of Eleventh street. Since then additions have been made to the original structure whereby the original seating capacity has been doubled and the school provided with as fine a set of labratories as can be found in schools of like size in the country.
The growth of the high school and the character and variety of the instruction is well shown by the fol- lowing tables:
ENROLLMENT.
Periods of five years
For last five years
By courses 1895-96
1876-77 ..
.. 118
1891-92
Classical ..
19
Mech'l Engr'g
50
1880-85.
178
1892-93.
.374 | Latin ..
.. 59
Commercial.
26
1885-86
.198
1898-94.
..... 379
Scientific
104
Special
34
1890-91
.302
1894-95.
.410
Modern Lg's
.50
Post Graduates ...
:19
1895-96.
418 1895-96.
... . 418
English
Total
.418
Average Number in Each Study.
Boy
Girls
Total
Algebra, elementary
35
46
81
Algebra, advanced. .
4
28
58
Algebra, higher
Arithmetic.
Astronomy ...
‘13
25
39
Bo:any ...
Chemistry .
Civil governmen
5
24
159
Composition
Drawing ..
2.
- 3
13
16
French I. and II.
2
10
41
70
111
General English, 10 B
20
34
General English, 11.
15
25
40
2
Geometry, elementary
Geometry, advanced.
10
15
25
German, JI ...
German, III
9
5
47
85
Greek ....
History, American
History, English.
History, Ancient
History, Modern
Latin, 9 B.
18
31
49
Latin, 9 .1.
12
12
99
Latin, 11.
8
O
12
Latin, 12. ..
Physical Geography
4
10
20
30
Physics, A
13
21
Physiology
Psychology ..
Rhetoric ..
16
25
Rhetoric, advanced
40
0
40
Trigonometry.
14
* Classes during two terms.
+ Classes during one term only.
POST GRADUATE COURSE.
For several years the graduates of the high school have been admitted to the University of Michigan upon the presentation of their diplomas, and without further examination. Since 1890 even better terms have been granted by the University. In the first of the above tables it will be noticed that the number of pupils in the post graduate course is given as nineteen. This course was established in 1890 and its object is two-fold: First, to enable the graduates of the high school to com- . plete at home the studies of the freshman year in college; and second, to furnish an extended course for those of the graduates who desire to enter the teacher's training school. Those of the graduates of the class '90 completed this course in '91, and in the following Sep- tember were permitted to enter the sophomore year of the University. Since then other graduates have put-
sued the same course with like results, so that it has become an established fact that pupils can graduate from colleges in three years after completing the post graduate course in the Bay City high school.
THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT.
Another distinctive feature of the Bay City school system is the teacher's training school. This depart- ment was established in 1877, its aim being to give one year's instruction in the theory and art of teaching to those of the high school graduates who desire to become teachers in the public schools. The number of pupils- teachers was limited at first to eight, but afterwards increased to ten, and they are placed for one year under the close supervision of a principal and a critic teacher, who are specially selected for their knowlege of the theory and their skill in the art of teaching. The train- ing department in a practice school, where the pupil- teachers are constantly engaged either in teaching or in observing the teaching of others, they each receive $50 per annum for their services, and if they show a reasonable degree of proficiency, are assured of any ap- pointment that may occur in the grades after this pro- bationary year has past. Previous to the establishing of this department teachers were taken largely from other localities, but in 1883 we find that thirty-three out of the fifty-five, and in 1892 fifty-four out of the ninety- six teachers employed in the public schools were grad- uates of the training school. This department has been the means of largely decreasing the rate of salaries, and, while it is true that the graduates do not always make good teachers, the risk of failure is far less than when outside persons are engaged upon recommendations which often signify little.
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