September 22, 2004

Herald news ... 100 years ago

By Emma Jane Muir
Special to the Herald

       The heat, sweat and dust did not dent       - Claude Wilsey, who resides about eight miles out at East Bay, was severely injured Friday afternoon by a road scraper. The sudden starting of the team threw it over and struck him just above the temple, cutting a deep gash and severing an artery and dealing a frightful blow as well. Temporary dressings were put on and then, in the company of Herbert Welsh, drove as rapidly as possible into town. The gash was stitched closed and aside from extreme weakness, Mr. Wilsey is resting easy.
      - The Columbia took a load of crates to Bowers Harbor Saturday where they will be filled with green corn for the canning factory. About five hundred acres of fine marketable corn has been grown at that place this past summer.
      - The Jewish New Year, which is always a great holiday, was observed Saturday by special services at the synagogue on Park Street, Sidney Frank delivering the lecture. Twenty-five visitors from nearby towns were guests of the Jewish resident members.
      - J. M. Akers, a farmer living near Hatch's Crossing, was found by his family Monday morning lying unconscious across a pile of wood that he had previously been splitting. Dr. Garner was called and found, aside from the deep gash cut over his left eye in falling, that he was suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage.
      - After working and saving every possible cent all summer, although partially disabled, that he might go to New York to see his 80-year-old father before he died, Allison Hill is heart broken today. Mr. Hill resides with his son who runs a boarding house for mill workers. Saturday evening, one of them was asked to stay in the house to look after things, but apparently he found Mr. Hill's savings and made off with them.
      - The basement of the church at Ogdensburg is at last cemented at the bottom. Minton Willobee did the work or it would not have been done this fall. The first brick was laid Monday for the new federal building, corner of State and Cass Streets. Today, one wall of the brick foundation is complete and it looks as though the whole foundation will be ready this week for the gray granite which is on its way from South Carolina.
      - Mr. and Mrs. James F. Gillespie of 355 Washington Street were considerably injured in a runaway on East Front Street. Mr. Gillespie was bruised and his wife was picked up unconscious, but is resting easy today. Richard Reynolds with his speedy horse "Noble" came up behind and intended to pass, but startled the Gillespie horse which then ran into the curb, causing it to topple.
      - A hermit, Sam Vint, living on North Cedar Street, who has successfully avoided the curiosity of the public for eighteen years, was taken violently ill last week and lay alone twenty-four hours before he crawled out and lay on his yard where he was discovered by S. H. Toombs, a neighbor. Mrs. Dora Roberts, a widow living nearby and the only one in whom he has faith, attempted to remove the filth and it took thirty pails of water before the pine flooring of his two-room hut was recognizable. He has deeded over his property and investments to Mrs. Roberts for her to care for him the rest of his life.
      - The first frost which did considerable damage to the late potatoes and green corn visited the lowlands at Long Lake Sunday night. Further reports from the bayshore farms on the peninsula and west and north of town report no frost.
      - An important matter will come up at the next meeting of the board of supervisors in the shape of a petition signed by a large number of residents of East Bay, Paradise and Garfield townships, asking for the formation of a new township to be known as Boardman. The village of Mayfield is included which also contains some rich farming territory and one of the prettiest lake regions in Michigan.
      - John Brown, the fellow who has been causing the Pere Marquette Railroad so much trouble by building his house across the rails which he claims cross his land, is now lodged in jail here. It took considerable scheming to get him out of his "fort". Last week he was induced to come to town to see the lawyers and get the matter fixed up during which time, a crew of section hands quickly removed the structure from the rails. He then replaced the building and as a result is now in jail, but the matter has not ended yet.
      - Advice on deportment. When ladies make a formal call, about fifteen minutes is usually considered the proper length of time.
      - Medical advice of a century ago. To prevent leg cramps, to one ounce and a half of spirits of turpentine, add flour of brimstone and sulphur of each half an ounce, smell it at night three or four times.
      - Best buy of the week. Good Sox in black or tan. 2 pair for 15 cents at Steinberg Bros.