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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, July 10, 2004, pg. 3 We continue with our theme of “Albion--100 Years Ago.” Week ending July 7, 1904: “Ate Rat Poison. Russell Shepard, the three years old son of Mr. and Mrs. Morrell Shepard, ate some sugar and arsenic Monday placed in a closet for rats, but prompt attendance and an emetic saved his life, and the little fellow is all right again today.” “The big window on the Superior St. side of the Commercial & Savings bank was broken Monday by a flying piece of iron from the head of an explosive 4th of July cane. Several young fellows were celebrating on the other side of the street in front of a grocery, when one of them exploded three cartridges in the cane all at the same time, shattering the iron head.” July 14, 1904: “The presence in the city Saturday of the Wallace circus was taken advantage of by sneak thieves to enter several Albion residences, and considerable booty was secured. Sometime during the day the home of Mrs. Caroline Houck, 807 N. Eaton St. was entered and a gold watch, a valuable ring and between $45 and $50 in cash stolen. On the latter Mrs. Houck lost about $20 and her daughter, Miss Louise Houck over $25. Another loss reported was at Mrs. Robert Starks in the same neighborhood, where about $10 was stolen, of which $3 was Sunday school money kept by her son, Fred Starks. Eugene P. Robertson’s home on S. Clinton St. was also entered, but the intruder was frightened away by Mrs. Robertson.” “Charles Cortright and Frank Steinkrauff were brought before Justice McCutcheon Saturday to answer to the charge of stealing hides from the Howard Meat Co. It appeared that they had stolen two hides Friday from Howard’s slaughter house and sold them for $7.80 to Talmage & Klemm. Steinkrauff pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days at Detroit House of Correction. Cortright at first pleaded not guilty, but later changed his plea and was given a like sentence.” July 21, 1904: “Albion Sets a Good Example. The sensible authorities of Albion have purchased and fitted a lot with hitching posts for the accommodation of farmers teams. The point selected is free from the frightening effects of the electric cars and automobiles. A row of sheds built at the cost of public spirited citizens who do not value a dollar above the salvation of their souls, occupied the north end of the lot and another will be built along the west side, affording asylum from sun and rain. This will be the market place and Albion will be a gainer by the arrangement. When it is complete the hitching posts in the paved portion of the principal business street will be removed and with them the monotonous thumping of steel shod hoofs, pestilent presence of flies and the stifling aroma of animal fertilizer rising to offend earth and angels. Albion is doing a good work and her example should be emulated.” July 28, 1904. “Killed by Lightning. Willoughby Hartung, a prosperous South Albion farmer 33 years old, was struck by lightning Friday afternoon while standing just outside a door of his barn, and killed almost instantly. It appears that the lightning bolt struck the ridge pole of the barn, traversed a rafter, which it splintered to the edge of the roof, thence went diagonally along an eave pipe to the corner of the barn where the deceased was standing. There was a break of about 2 feet in the pipe about 5 feet from the ground and it was apparently at this point that the bolt jumped to Mr. Hartung’s body with fatal results.” From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of Willoughby Hartung (1870-1904), who was struck by lightning and killed on the family farm on 28 Mile Road (now M-99) four miles south of Albion. 
Willoughby Hartung (1870-1904) Next 100 Years Ago Article: August 1904 Read more Albion 100 Years Ago articles Next: THE ORPHAN TRAIN, Part 1 All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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