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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, November 2, 2003, pg. 3 We begin with an addendum. Our August 22, 1999 article featured the Phineas Graves house at 502 E. Porter St. This is the house that was just moved in September by Cliff McCormick & Sons Housemovers to the west side of Concord Road north of Warner Road in Jackson County. We’re glad the house was saved from destruction. We continue with our theme of “Albion--100 Years Ago.” Week ending November 5, 1903: “Among those killed in the frightful railroad accident at Indianapolis Saturday morning, was E. C. Robertson, assistant coach and captain of the Purdue team two years ago. Young Robertson was born in Albion, being the son of Mott O. Robertson, of East Helena, Montana, formerly of Albion, a nephew of Ezra Robertson, Mrs. T. C. Anthony and Mrs. Jacob Wartman. Many residents of this city will remember young Robertson as a boy.” “The committee from the council, appointed to confer with the electric railway people in regard to paving between their tracks on Superior St., came to an agreement to let the paving be done with brick as the company wanted.” Week ending November 19, 1903: “Land for a Public Market. At last, the question of buying land for a public market place was decided at the council meeting Tuesday evening. A resolution was passed to purchase for $1,500 the strip of land between the race and the river in the rear of the stores on the east side of Superior St. The property is to be bought from Messrs. Potter and Dearing, as trustees, and the Albion State Bank. The sum of $25 is to be paid down at once, and the balance on September 1, 1904, after there has been an opportunity to provide for the same in the next tax budget. This market will be greatly appreciated by the farmers of this vicinity, and all others who have to hitch their horses while transacting business. It has been unsafe to hitch horses on Superior St. ever since the electric cars began running.” “Another resolution ordering the seizure and destruction of all slot machines in the city, was also passed by the council. It is said however, that when City Marshal Mallory went in search of these devices Wednesday morning he was unable to find a single one.” “The Duck Lake ditch case is liable to drain the township and all parties interested in the case if it does not raise or lower the lake. Some years ago there was a drain dug which lowered the lake considerably, three feet, we believe, and it is alleged that a large amount of tillable land was reclaimed. Some time since the board of health of the township decided that the ditch was a menace to the public health, and ordered it filled up so as to raise the lake to its former level. Some of the residents whose lands would be affected by the water secured an injunction and it is now being tried out in the circuit court. Judge Hopkins has had three weeks of it thus far and the end is not yet.” Week ending November 26, 1903: “On the strength of a rumor last Saturday that a slot machine was still being operated in the Commercial Hotel [Writer’s Note: present location of the Moose on W. Porter St.] in violation of the common council’s resolution to stop them...A search warrant was then secured, and the hotel was hunted high and low, but all in vain. As the next step in the proceedings, Charles H. Sykes, the proprietor of the hotel, was arrested Monday on the charge of resisting an officer.” “Portable Telephones. For several months the Michigan Central Railway has had in operations its telephone and telegraph service on the same wires which is a novelty in its way, and promises to be very useful in other directions. ‘The portable telephone is something new,’ said E. H. Millington, superintendent of the telegraph. ‘A conductor can attach it to a wire and summon assistance at once whereas by the old way a walk of several miles to the nearest station had usually to be made. These telephones will be installed in cabooses of work trains.” Next 100 Years Ago article: December 1903 Next: A DIFFERENT RAILROAD TRESTLE All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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