January 21, 2004
Herald news ... 100 years ago
By Emma Jane Muir
Special to the Herald
• Preceding the regular sermon at the First Methodist church Sunday night, Rev. William L. Laufman severely criticized the citizens and local authorities for allowing Front Street to be used as a speedway. His denunciation was very fervent and occasioned much comment. He reminded his audience that a statute makes it unlawful to drive at a speed greater than a certain number of miles an hour in order that women and children may be safe.
• Captain Webb of the Traverse Bay line of steamers is contemplating an improvement in the service to bay points the coming summer. One of the considerations is a boat to run between the city and Ne-ah-ta-wan-ta only.
• A potato car loaded by C. W. Hastings at Mabel caught fire Saturday and was discovered just in time to save it. There is no indication as to the cause but an investigation is underway to make a determination.
• Charley Ellis, a resident at Ogdensburg, had quite an experience coming from town Saturday night. Within a short distance from his home, on the top of McClusky hill, the drifts were higher than the horses and in trying to unhitch the team from the sleigh, he froze his hands quite badly. Mrs. Golden, in a one-horse cutter, was just behind and neighbors came to dig a path for the horse then lifted the cutter over. A good horse and an umbrella saved both Mr. Ellis and Mrs. Golden from freezing.
• Manager Steinberg has announced that he has been successful in securing a contract with the Rose Cecilia Shay Grand Opera Co., an organization numbering 60 people, including its own orchestra and carrying two full carloads of scenery and effects. The performance will be January 26 and the opera decided upon is Verdi's famous masterpiece, "Il Travatore".
• A party of young people met and surprised Harold Gibbs at Mayfield Friday evening. The occasion was his fourteenth birthday. A very pleasant evening was spent in taking a sleigh ride, playing games and toasting marshmallows.
• Friends in this city have received word that Mrs. Norman White of Cadillac, committed suicide at her home Tuesday night. She was discovered by her husband and although every possible effort was made to resuscitate here, life had fled. It is presumed that she took strychnine. While the cause of the rash deed will perhaps never be known, it is presumed that it was the result of despondency due to domestic trouble.
• A large audience was disappointed Friday evening in not being able to hear Melvin Robinson, the impersonator who was to appear at the high school lecture and music course. After patiently waiting, Supt. I. F. Gilbert announced to the crowd that the train was hopelessly stalled and dismissed the crowd. It is expected that Mr. Robinson will appear on the evening of January 23.
• At the regular council meeting Monday evening, a resolution was adopted instructing the board of building inspectors to examine the City Opera House, Steinberg's Grand Opera House and all three-story and over buildings, halls, hotels, churches and public schools. They are to report on the safety of each structure and make recommendations.
• Mrs. Catherine Sargent, an old and highly respected resident of Summit City, was found dead in bed Sunday morning by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Frank Sargent, when she went to call her to breakfast. The deceased had been a sufferer with heart disease for several years and death evidently came suddenly and painlessly.
• The cold weather for the last few days has set many of the older residents to thinking and a number of inquiries have been made regarding what is known as the "cold February of 1875". The records from S. E. Wait indicate that the mercury stood below zero on 21 days during that month. The fruit trees suffered severely with the peach orchards being almost entirely ruined.
• Advice on deportment. A pun occasionally can be forgiven, in good society, but the man or woman who makes a pun on every other work, is a terrible nuisance.
• Medical advice of a century ago. To treat St. Anthony's fire, take a decoction of elder leaves as a sweat applying to the part a cloth dipt in lime water, mixed with a little camphorated spirit of wine.
• Best buy of the week. Ladies' Seal Finish Capes, $5.98 at Steinberg Brothers.