May 23, 2001
Herald news ... 100 years ago
By Emma Jane Muir
Special to the Herald
- The most disastrous fire to occur in the city in some time broke out yesterday afternoon in the new Tonnelier block and destroyed that structure as well as the City Bookstore next door. Apparently the fire caught in the basement and was discovered by the tenants but not before it had a good start. The desperate work of the firemen to save the buildings was hampered by the fact that there was no entrance to the basement. Losses for all the tenants are unavailable at this time, but they are expected to be high.
- Fred D. Curtis is showing much pride with the three fine specimens presented to him by John Wright who recently returned from Florida, the land of oranges and alligators. Two fine cypress buds and an orange stick are the souvenirs being displayed. Mr. Curtis intends to make a walking stick of the latter.
- A very pretty party was given this afternoon in honor of the ninth and seventh birthdays of Misses Mary and Gladys Morgan at their home on Sixth Street. The afternoon was spent most delightfully with the 40 young guests playing games and enjoying other pleasures.
- Work has begun in the removal of the old wooden water mains on Front Street. The workers have found them to be in excellent condition in spite of the fact that they have been in the ground 20 years.
- People who have been out on the huckleberry plains report that if no serious frost occurs, the prospects are excellent for an immense crop this summer. The yield for these berries for the past several years has been near failure.
- One of the oldest pioneers of Grand Traverse County, Mrs. William S. Nickerson, died very suddenly at the home of her son, George, on Wednesday. Mrs. Nickerson came to the region thirty-seven years ago with her husband and four sons to homestead west of Kingsley.
- Miss Hattie Benedict of Kobe College, Japan, gave an interesting talk at the Congregational church Sunday which drew a large audience. She told about the good work being done by missionaries in the "Flower Kingdom" and gave a little sketch of the condition of the country.
- The Traverse City ostrich farm will be sending a number of their birds to Wheeling, West Virginia to participate in a D. O. K. K. parade later this month. At the present time, they are at Streator, Illinois. The ostriches are always a main attraction wherever they appear in such events.
- Harry Wait, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Wait, has been suffering intensely from burns received in the explosion of a toy alcohol engine with which he was playing. The explosion threw burning liquid into his face as well as his hands and has created several painful blisters.
- George W. Lardie is the new owner of Dr. J. B. Martin's fine driving horse and rubber-tired surrey. The horse and surrey were frequently used by Dr. Martin when he made calls in and around the city in his medical practice.
- A. S. Pray has received a letter from Railroad Commissioner, Chase S. Osborne stating that he had ordered the P. M. railroad company to construct and maintain an automatic electric alarm bell at the Hammond crossing near Mabel. Improvements at that crossing and the Brown crossing will also be made.
- Advice on deportment. Chairs in the guest chamber should be light and graceful, and decorated with embroidered scarfs with fringed ends or trimmed with chenille balls.
- Medical advice of a century ago. To treat inflamed eyes or eyelids, apply white bread poultices.
- Best buy of the week. Lap Dusters, 25 cents to $2.50 at Wilhelm, Bartak & Co.