1880
Back to Main "Rosa Nettleton Book" Page
January 2, 1880
The Charlevoix Historical Society will meet at the Sentinel sanctum Wednesday evening next.
____________________________
Little Johnny Nicholls' birthday, on the 20th, was celebrated by a gathering of boys and girls at his father's residence, and they made the welkin ring with their happy turmoil.
____________________________
January 2, 1880
Masonic-At the regular communication of Charlevoix Lodge No. 282 F. & A. M., held Tuesday evening, December 23, the following officers were installed for the ensuing year by Past Master, Hon. E. H. Green:
W. M. ..... Willard A. Smith
S. W. ..... Fred J. Meech
J. W. ..... A. R. Upright
Tres. ..... E. Carpenter
Secy. ..... Orange S. Washburn
S. D. ..... Richard Cooper
J. D. ..... Joseph Clark
Chaplain ..... Rev. B. H. Whitman
Stewards ..... N. Balch, J. M. Ackert
Tiler ..... A. F. Myers
____________________________
The Christmas Ship
Christmas Eve was celebrated at the M. E. Church by the good people of Charlevoix and the little ones in glorious style. A full-rigged ship was raised on the dais and her hall was loaded, and her rigging hung full of gifts for both big and little, from the bologna which Fred, our genial butcher bestowed upon "Wiggins" our hardware man, to the magnificent silver ice pitcher received by Mrs. Fox. Four hundred gifts were bestowed, and the Sunday School authorities saw that no one was forgotten among the little ones. Major Green made a happy speech to the Sunday School, and all hearts were merry.
____________________________
January 30, 1880
Metric System-At Crouter's Drug Store, in this village, may be seen a chart of the "International Metric System of Weights and Measures." This system has been legalized by Congress and is being rapidly introduced throughout the country. The beauty of the system consists of only one measure of lengths, one of capacities, and the word gram for measures of all weights throughout the world.
____________________________
February 6, 1880
Dam Gone-About twenty feet of McGeagh's mill dam was washed out Saturday.
____________________________
February 6, 1880
Norwood Notes
The following are the newly elected officers of the Good Templars Lodge for the ensuing quarter, commencing February 1st:
W. C. T. ..... Wm. Harris
P. W. C. T. ..... John Muirhead
W. V. T. ..... Miss Della Stafford
W. S. ..... Ernest Harris
W. A. S. ..... Miss Belle Meech
W. F. S. ..... Mrs. Anna Bugbee
W. T. ..... Samuel Brown
W. C. ..... Rev. S. G. Blanchard
W. I. G. ..... Miss Emma Moore
W. O. G. ..... Wm. Cowan
W. M. ..... Arthur Meech
W. D. M. Miss Jennette Smith
W. R. S. ..... Miss Kate Graves
W. L. S. ..... Miss Mary Moore
____________________________
March 13, 1880
Next Monday evening B. F. Bisbee is to lecture before the Charlevoix Liberal Club on Science and Religion.
____________________________
We have received calls during the week from Judge Hatch of Traverse City; J. A. Keat and S. G. Isaman, of South Arm; Gill White and Editor Clink, of Boyne, also "Uncle John" and Hugh Miller, of the same place.
____________________________
Dr. Chamberlain is the guest of his nephew, F. J. Meech, of Norwood. The doctor talks of remaining permanently in this country.
____________________________
The Corporation
The first year of the corporate life of Charlevoix has closed and our citizens are able to judge from the visible results, whether the act of incorporation was wisdom or folly. No one has been burdened or oppressed, and no taxpayer has had his increased a penny more than if the corporation did not exist. Over a mile of sidewalks have been built in a substantial manner, with durable crosswalks. The ordinance enacted to prevent fires, although not strictly enforced, has, without doubt been beneficial. No special tax has been assessed for the year and no sources of revenue save liquor and billiard table tax. The experiment thus far has convinced us that the movement has brought substantial benefits, and that these benefits will multiply.
____________________________
March 13, 1880
The Charter Election
The election of Village Officers occurred yesterday with the following results:
President ..... Robert Miller
Trustees ..... John Nicholls, D. C. Nettleton, J. M. Clark
Clerk ..... Geo. W. Crouter
Treasurer ..... John Bell
Assessor ..... O. S. Washburn
Street Commissioner ..... Henry Newman
The council for the coming year will consist of J. Milo Eaton, A. Buttars, W. A. Smith, John Nicholls, D. C. Nettleton, and J. M. Clark.
____________________________
The Farmer's Meeting-Pursuant to call a number of the farmers and others, of Charlevoix County, met at the Court House in this village on Saturday afternoon, to consider the question of organizing an Agricultural Society.
Robert Miller was elected Chairman and A. R. Upright, Secretary. On motion the Chair appointed a committee consisting of A. R. Upright, O. D. Hilton, Wm. Black, to confer with leading farmers in various parts of the county in relation to the object in view.
____________________________
Jefferson Weikel is building a few boats for fishing on the Jordan.
____________________________
May 1, 1880
We were unable to attend the recent lecture of A. E. Mason on "The Puritans," but have heard it spoken of by many as being highly interesting and instructive.
____________________________
The Herald says that it is not so that the pigeons have abandoned their Traverse City nestings. The nestings are so extensive and the pigeons are as numerous as ever. Half a thousand dozens a day will not cover the shipment of pigeons at that point.
____________________________
The Common Council Saturday evening elected Robert Miller Chief Engineer and Aldin Chamberlain Fire Warden.
Stockman began excavating the cellar for his new brick store on Saturday. The stone for the foundation are to be brought from Xa-Ga-Che-Weng, six miles northeast of here by scows this week. It is expected this will be a fine building and an ornament to the place.
____________________________
June 5, 1880
The Fountain City House addition is progressing rapidly. The frame is up and the roof nearly on.
____________________________
Norwood
A representative trio of the "young and fair" of Charlevoix were in Norwood during the week, namely, Miss Celia Nicholls, Miss Minnie Lewis and Miss Essie Buttars. They came to visit Miss Nellie Meech and other friends, and returned home Wednesday afternoon by steamer City of Grand Rapids. They report a "splendid time," which we think no one will dispute.
____________________________
June 19, 1880
McLeod will pay four cents per pound live weight for all fat cattle until further notice.
____________________________
We saw a stock of broom corn at Moses Cooper's the other day nearly three feet high. The seed was taken from a broom and planted in a vase. The question to solve is whether the plant will produce brooms ready handled or not.
____________________________
June 26, 1880
The Timber Raft-Very few of our people have any idea of the magnitude of the job being done on the north side of the harbor by Lyon & Son. The pine and rock elm timber which they got out at the head waters of the Boyne and East Jordan last winter lies boomed in the harbor, and a force of fifteen men and a team of horses are busily engaged in making it into a number of drams or rafts for towing through to Quebec. About 25,000 cubic feet of timber will be contained in the raft, representing a value of quite $28,000. About two weeks has already been spent in the work, and it will not be completed before July 10th. About 20 tons of heavy chain is used in securing the raft and when completed the heaviest sea will break a fastening. The tug Niagara will do the towing, and about 35 days will be occupied in making the passage. The timber is destined for the English market.
____________________________
July 10, 1880
Just stop and think a minute. Eleven years ago Charlevoix had a dozen houses, one store and a 12 x 24 school house. Two mails a week, carried by a crippled Indian with a strap over his forehead. One small tug constituted our steam fleet, and row and sail boats were the only facilities for travel between Charlevoix and up-lake points. Small sail boats could by dint of hard labor, pass from Lake Michigan into the harbor, and on the event of a forty cord scow-the old Mendota-scraping through over the bar, our people carried on in a manner to rival a good sized Fourth of July celebration. We looked forward to a government appropriation for the harbor as the acme of our fondest hopes, and for a time with but little hope. When the state granted sixteen sections of swamp land for the improvement of Pine River, we were in clover. Our days of dredging with a horse and scraper are nearly over, and we rejoiced.
Look upon that picture and then upon this! Have any changes taken place? Can the most ambitious complain of our progress within the past decade? Four mail routes center at Charlevoix, mail is received daily, and but about thirty-six hours from Chicago or Detroit. Four tugs do the business of our harbor and vessels of 350 tons pass our way with full cargoes. Two passenger steamers are required to convey travelers between Charlevoix and points on our inland lake. Charlevoix, in the place of one store, now has sixteen business establishments, all of which are gradually by constantly enlarging their capacity and increasing their trade. From the insignificant nucleus of eleven years ago, we have builded well. We have a prosperous, thriving village, well built, neat, supplied with nearly three miles of sidewalks. Eleven years ago a stranger was stared at as we would a Kangaroo in a menagerie. Now our summer guests are numbered by hundreds and our streets are full of business and life from morning to evening.
____________________________
July 24, 1880
Summer Travel-Never in the history of Charlevoix has the flood of summer travel been so great as now. Every boat brings a crowd. On Thursday the Clara Belle landed over fifty here with their mountain of baggage and the other boats, the Grand Rapids and Fountain City, swelled the number to about or over one hundred on that day, and still they come. The Fountain City House is full to overflowing, the large dining room not being capable of seating the guests at one sitting. The Belvedere and Ingleside are running over and private houses are in great demand. Advices from abroad tell us that they are still coming. All this proves that Charlevoix possesses attractions superior to those of any resort in Northern Michigan. It is also proved that we lack the one great essential-hotel accommodations. Double the hotel capacity we now possess would fail to meet the requirements of summer travel here in another year. We repeat was has often been said in these columns, that no better opening exists in the county for the erection of a large, first call hotel than here. Why don't some one start the thing and strike a bonanza?
____________________________
August 7, 1880
The Baptists of Charlevoix, together with several prominent Resort Baptists, have commenced talking over the question of erecting a church edifice at an early day. They have been looking about the village for a suitable location, and their plans have so far matured that they have determined to secure a site this summer. Although the society here is not notably rich, yet the auxiliary strength of the transient Baptists during the summer months will be great, if exerted in this direction. We have no doubt Charlevoix People, irrespective of denominational connections will generously aid the project.
____________________________
August 14, 1880
The Charlevoix Summer Resort have bought the land between their grounds and the channel, also re-surveyed the original plat of the Resort Grounds, and finding it contained more than twenty-five acres, paid for the excess at the rate of $50 per acre; also two rods wide on the south side of their lot for a proposed new road. Total amount paid Stockman, $523.
____________________________
The Upper River-The dredge finished work on the upper channel Friday, and we now have an unobstructed channel of twelve feet of water from the harbor into Pine Lake.
____________________________
August 21, 1880
Another Resort-Wealthy Chicago parties are negotiating with J. S. Dixon for the purchase of forty acres of land on the opposite side of the cut from the Baptist grounds, to be used as grounds for a resort. The movement is being made by leading members of the First Congregational Church, of Chicago, which numbers over twelve hundred members, and represents in its membership much wealth and influence. Rev. Dr. Goodwin, who is rusticating here, is its pastor. The gentleman have visited all of the prominent resorts of Northern Michigan, and pronounce Charlevoix far superior to any of them in the number and variety of its attractions. There is little doubt that another Association will be established here.
____________________________
Real Estate Matters
On Wednesday Alexander Stewart bought the lot on the corner of Mason and Grant streets of J. S. Dixon for $100. Mr. Stewart will erect a residence thereon.
On Thursday Byron See bought a lot on same street of same party; consideration $1.00.
Capt. T. D. Smith had purchased two lots on Clinton street, adjoining A. R. Upright on the East for $100.
Last week Nelson Ainslie was offered $400 for 22 feet on Bridge street, adjoining G. W. Crouter's, by a gentleman who designed erecting a brick store thereon. Mr. Ainslie refused the offer.
____________________________
F. J. Kiser, of Whitewater, Wis., who when a boy resided here, is in town visiting relatives.
____________________________
Charles R. Bellinger, of this village, is enjoying a two months vacation among friends and relatives in St. Lawrence county, N. Y.
____________________________
September 4, 1880
Fire Department-The meeting called Saturday evening to organize a village Fire Department was fairly attended, and a good start made toward organization.
____________________________
Charlevoix has nine pianos.
____________________________
The Charlevoix Summer Resort have just purchased of Austin G. Newman, three-quarters of an acre of land adjoining them near the bayou. Consideration $275.
____________________________
September 11, 1880
Dr. Lewis came around with the cigars last week. Another boy was the cause.
____________________________
The Convention
A. Buttars Receives the Nomination for Senator
Our Candidate
Unanimously Nominated By Acclamation
Special Dispatch to the Sentinel:
Petoskey, Sept.
7, 1880
Archibald Buttars, of Charlevoix, was unanimously nominated by acclamation for State Senator by the Republicans of the Thirteenth Senatorial District, at the convention in session here to-day.
Mr. Buttars is considered by all to be a strong candidate and Emmet County will give him a good majority.
____________________________
September 18, 1880
Mr. Dixon has a standing offer of $500 for the island on the East side of the harbor. It embraces four acres of land.
____________________________
Mrs. H. N. Pope, sister of D. C. Nettleton of this village, has charge of the intermediate department of the public school.
____________________________
September 25, 1880
Another Attorney-At the recent term of Circuit Court for this county, Prof. F. W. Mayne, who has so acceptably conducted our school for the past two years, was admitted to the bar as an attorney. Prof. Mayne has been spending his vacations and spare hours for the past two years reading law in the office of J. Milo Eaton, and his proficiency, as shown by the examination before the committee, is said to be very satisfactory. He left Saturday for Ann Arbor University, where he will enter the arena of the law department for a parchment. Success to him.
____________________________
October 8, 1880
Capt. T. D. Smith has completed his fine new residence on Clinton street, and will move in this week.
____________________________
It is thought that fully fifty cottages will be erected upon the Charlevoix Summer Resort grounds next summer.
____________________________
Our next State Senator Archibald Buttars, is winning golden opinions among the people in every part of the district that he visits. Mr. Buttars is recognized by the people as a man who has been moulded and rounded by hard life and struggles in a new country, and especially fitted to represent the interests of the district in which he has lived so many years. He will honor the position equally as much as the position will honor him.
____________________________
October 23, 1880
F. J. Meech & Co. are preparing to do business on a large scale in the Jordan River region this winter. They own over 1,000 acres of pine land, and the timber on 2,000 acres of Cedar land, and will put on the banks this winter 2,000,000 feet of pine logs and a large number of railroad ties. They will employ during the winter about 100 men. Mr. Meech is engaged now in superintending the erection of quarters for the men, and other preparations for an energetic campaign in the woods.
____________________________
October 30, 1880
James Ackert, the engineer on the Gazelle, is erecting a nice looking residence on the Mason Hill. It is quite obvious that Jim has matrimonial intentions.
____________________________
Levi Blanchard, father of Mrs. L. D. Bartholomew of this place, returned from Kansas last week, and immediately purchased the Kiser lot on Main street, paying $400, therefor. He already has stone on the ground for the foundation of a residence which he will build this fall, or in early spring.
____________________________
October 30, 1880
The Concert-The Musical Institute Concert under the direction of Prof. Henry Gordon, occurred on Friday evening at the M. E. Church, a large and appreciative audience being present. That the program was well received was evidenced by the applause which followed every piece. The choruses were well sung. Miss Alice Carpenter, in her two songs, "O, Fair Dove, O, Fond Dove," and "Sing Sweet Bird," made a debut as a singer which won for her golden opinions. A course of thorough and careful training under Prof. Gordon has brought out a voice full of musical grace, sweetness and purity. Little Aggie Miller sang a beautiful ballad and sang it sweetly. Prof. Buzzell, Mr. Wm. Kanagy, Mrs. McElwee and Mrs. Green were members of the class and their experienced voices added greatly to the volume and harmony of the singing. Everybody seems to be of the opinion that the Institute and its closing concert combined to constitute a grand musical success.
____________________________
November 6, 1880
The vote in Charlevoix county in 1878 was 723; in 1880 it was 1,184.
____________________________
G. W. Crouter is building a dock on the harbor back of his premises.
____________________________
D. C. Nettleton is erecting an upright addition to his residence on the North side.
____________________________
Dr. Crouter has information that a committee of five from the Chicago Summer Resort Association will be here next Tuesday with a landscape gardener whom they will leave here to lay out and arrange their grounds.
____________________________
November 20, 1880
OUR BUSINESS HOUSES
A Chapter Descriptive to
the Business Establishments of Charlevoix-Their Birth and Growth.
From one solitary and diminutive store which supplied the wants of Charlevoix people in 1869, where the Sentinel first saw the light, the number has increased to eighteen prosperous places of business. No better or positive indication of growth and the future prosperity of Charlevoix can be pointed out than what the enterprise of our business men has done in the past, and is doing now, in the way of enlargement and solid establishment. We purpose briefly taking our readers up and down our business streets and stepping into each place of business beginning with:
FOX, ROSE & BUTTARS
General Merchandise
During the autumn of 1868, the store building now occupied by Fox, Rose & Buttars was built. It was not occupied until July of the following year, when the merchantile business of A. Fox & Co., who occupied the old store on the north side, was transferred to it under the firm name of A. Buttars & Co., Mr. Buttars coming from Northport and assuming the management of the establishment. Mr. Buttars transmitted the energy of his nature into the new concern, and its business grew apace. In July 1872 Mr. Buttars was admitted as a full partner, and the firm name changed to Fox, Rose & Buttars. The business of the house multiplied rapidly, rendering necessary the enlargement of their warehouse, and recently, the establishment has extended itself to the old "Fox Hall," above their store, where their large stock of clothing and hats and caps is displayed. Their business was about six years ago, extended by the establishment of a branch store at Petoskey, which has developed into equal proportions with the mother house. Mr. Buttars also has the personal management of that establishment, spending two days in the week there.
CARPENTER & BARTHOLOMEW
General Merchandise
This firm occupies the large buildings at the south end of Bridge street. In July 1873, Mr. Egbert Carpenter came from Trempelean County, Wis., and erected the original store building, which has been greatly enlarged since, and in company with S. M. See, under the name of Carpenter and See, commenced the sale of general merchandise. The firm at once worked into a handsome trade, and became known throughout the Pine Lake region as an enterprising and eminently reliable house. In July 1874, Mr. L. D. Bartholomew came from Spring Lake, Mich., seeking a business opening, and recognizing the town and county as possessing the natural elements of future importance, concluded to cast his lot here, and accordingly purchased the interest of Mr. See, and the firm name change to Carpenter & Bartholomew. The business of the firm now developed so rapidly that two successive enlargements of their buildings was rendered necessary, until now they are one of the largest and most firmly established merchantile establishments in the Pine Lake region. Both members of the firm are active and experienced business men, of established integrity. Mr. Bartholomew aside from his firm interests, does a large shipping and marine business, being owner of the scow Supply, and part owner of the Steamer Nellie Booth..
MORRIS J. STOCKMAN
Hardware
In the spring of 1872, Mr. C. B. Norris, a practical tinsmith, established a tin-shop and exceedingly limited hardware store in Charlevoix, the first place of business being Mr. Ainslie's barn, now standing on that gentleman's premises. In June, of the same year, Mr. M. J. Stockman, one of the first settlers of Charlevoix, abandoned the fishing business, in which he had been engaged, and associated himself with Mr. Norris, and the stock was enlarged, and business increased. In the fall of the same year Mr. Stockman built a store on Bridge street, and purchased the interest of Mr. Norris. Mr. Stockman's business enlarged rapidly, and has continued to increase until its magnitude demanded more room, when last spring he commenced the erection of the fine brick store which he now occupies, and which we have lately described. We doubt if another such establishment can be found within a hundred miles of Charlevoix. Mr. Stockman deals in every variety of hardware and has connected with his store a compete tinshop which is managed by Mr. Wm. Kanagy of Banks, a tinsmith of large experience. Mr. Stockman is two-thirds owner of the steamer Gazelle and has large property in Charlevoix county.
BYRON SEE
General Merchandise
Byron See, formerly a farmer in Wisconsin, came to Charlevoix in the spring of 1872. In August of that year, with limited capital, he went to Milwaukee and purchased a small stock of groceries and provisions, renting as a store the front room of the old Chamberlain building on the corner of Bridge and Clinton streets. He soon after erected a small store building on the same street, and by his tact, energy and business rectitude, forced himself into the line of our business men. His trade increased to correspond with surrounding developments, when, in the fall of 1876, O. S. Washburn purchased a half interest in the business, and the stock was increased largely, dry goods being added to their trade. See & Washburn enjoyed a prosperous and growing trade until, in February, 1879, Mr. See purchased Mr. Washburn's interest, and until now has continued sole proprietor of the business. Last year Mr. See lengthened his store building to meet the growing trade, and with an eye to the future, he has purchased the lot on the corner of Bridge and Main streets, upon which, next spring he will erect a fine brick store. The location is one of the best in town. Mr. See has been three times elected Treasurer of Charlevoix County, and his business and official record stand high.
LEWIS AND ACKERT
Druggists and Grocers
From 1867 until his death in the spring of 1872, Philo Beers conducted a limited Drug Business in what is now known as the old "Beers Homestead." At his death Levi Lewis purchased the stock and erected a small store adjoining his residence on Clinton street. Two years later he moved the building to Bridge street, and enlarged it as well as increasing his stock. In the meantime Dr. Lewis continued in the practice of his profession. Last summer finding growing demands in his trade, he purchased of the Beers Estate the very superior building spot now occupied by Lewis & Ackert, and commenced the erection of the new store. When completed, the doctor formed a partnership with John M. Ackert, and the business was extended to embrace groceries and provisions, of which commodities together with a large stock of drugs, the firm carry a good stock. Their trade is increasing and the firm appear to be prospering. Dr. Lewis has a good medical practice.
(continued next week)
____________________________
November 20, 1880
Byron W. Miller is happy in the possession of a son.
____________________________
Alex Macsawba has sold to Chicago parties 62 acres embracing Oyster Bay point for a summer resort. Price $400.
____________________________
A committee of the Chicago Summer Resort consisting of S. M. Moor, B. Saltonstall, C. F. Gates and Mr. Grant were in town last week on business connected with the purchase of their grounds here. They propose to make a boom in the spring.
____________________________
December 11, 1880
OUR HOTELS
A few words about the Charlevoix
Hotelries and their business.
A winter visitor to Charlevoix might perhaps think that the hotel capacity of the town more than equaled the demand. Looking at the average yearly business of the Charlevoix hotels and boarding houses, it may be safely said that if falls far short of it. It is a generally conceded fact among hotel men here that a large first class summer hotel would prove a profitable investment.
____________________________