Albion 100 Years Ago

We continue with our theme approaching the year 2000 with our series entitled "Albion 100 Years Ago This Month."

Week ending July 6, 1899: "On last Saturday the ordinance regarding the use of bicycle bells and lamps went into effect. On Saturday evening some of the fun loving youngsters of the town afforded themselves a great deal of amusement by attaching hand lanterns, jack lanterns, gongs, cow bells and sleigh bells to their wheels and parading down Superior Street, making the night hideous with their clamor."

Week ending July 13, 1899: "The foundation for a dwelling for Adelbert Culver on the corner of Center and Eaton Streets is now laid, and work will begin at once on the walls, which will be of brick. A large circle porch has been added to the residence of Reinhold Schumacher on North Clinton Street, as well as to the residence of Dr. W. G. Dunham, on Perry Street. The Catholic rectory on Cass Street adjoining the church is being rapidly pushed. This is a frame dwelling of modest proportions and when completed will present a tasteful appearance."

Week ending July 20, 1899: "At 10:35 o’clock last Sunday evening, the Honorable James Monroe died at his home in Kalamazoo...For some years Mr. Monroe made his home in this city, and was connected with its business interests. When a youth he learned the molder’s trade, and in 1846 built a machine shop and foundry here, which he carried on until 1867. His foundry occupied the ground now covered by the Brockway and Sutherland blocks, the latter being a part of it and used as a warehouse. The molding room was on the spot where Cass Street now joins Superior Street, and Blair’s drug store occupied the site of the blacksmith shop."

"That women are born bargain seekers and that nothing appeals to the feminine heart so quickly as a tempting "removal sale," has been evinced during the fortnight just past. The removal of George T. Bullen into his newly finished store, and the business change and removal which A. T. Richter is about to make, has set the ball rolling among our merchants and has caused the dry goods counters to be so thronged that one might easily imagine that the holiday time was upon us, instead of the season when the usual mid-summer lethargy is expected."

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
	Michigan Prints by Maggie LaNoue Michigan Prints offers limited-edition archival Giclée prints, miniprints, notecards and boxed sets featuring Michigan landmarks, nature, resorts and nostalgia. Each print and card includes a legend on the back with stories about Michigan history. Albion scenes include the Kalamazoo River waterfall and the Blizzard of 1978. Find Michigan Prints online and at local shops. Michigan Prints \| Albion Scenes \| Custom Cards \| Zazzle Gifts
	AlbionMich.net — General Guide to Albion AlbionMich.net is a hub for community life in the greater Albion area, featuring current news, city council updates, river restoration stories, parks and trails. See Albion's beautiful Kalamazoo River waterfall as it looks today — and follow the story of its future restoration. Includes news from The Recorder and stories about Albion's 17 parks. AlbionMich.net \| Albion Blog \| Frank Passic on AlbionMich.net
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	Robin James — Indices Unlimited Robin James is the editor of the Albion Historical Notebook and has kept Frank Passic's thousands of articles organized and searchable for decades. A trained librarian and archivist, Robin specializes in back-of-book and online indexing, multimedia collection management, and corporate information distribution. He also enjoys strange music and is a contributing editor for Igloo electronic music magazine. For more about his indexing services, visit Indices Unlimited.
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