Albion 100 Years Ago - November 1899 - Historical Albion Michigan

We continue with our theme of "Albion 100 Years Ago" as we approach the year 2000. Week ending November 9, 1899: "Shall We Pave? Some Reasons Why We Must Continue to Wear Our Rubbers for the Present. The chocolate colored liquid which floated down our Main street last Saturday and Sunday, and which we may expect will float at intervals during the coming season, has again very forcibly called the attention of our people to the crying need of our city: pavement. During the pleasant season the street became so hard and dry that we relapsed into a state of indifference concerning the matter, which reminds us of a certain owner of a house with a leaky roof."

"An interview with Mayor Loud the other day disclosed the fact that the present city charter precludes the possibility of its accomplishment until some legal technicalities are overcome. The charter which the city holds at present, comes under the Blanket Charter Act of 1895, in which cities of the fourth class, in which Albion ranks, are allowed to raise only three mills on the dollar for their interest and sinking fund which covers their bonded indebtedness."

"At a recent council meeting, it was decided to purchase new and better bedding for the four bunks at the city jail, which certainly should be done by a city with the pretensions of Albion."

"The assembly which was held in Hodge’s Hall Friday evening after the close of the hour of instruction of the class in dancing which has been organized by Mrs. T. A. Butt, was a very enjoyable affair, and was well attended."

Week ending November 30, 1899: "Several weeks ago we made note of an accident that occurred to two hunters a few miles north of the city. The accident was the explosion of their gun which was purchased from O. H. Gale. Mr. Gale wrote to the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms company, the manufacturers of the rifle, to ascertain why it had not proved as worthy as others of the same make. The reply stated that this make of rifle was never made for the use of smokeless powder such as had been used in it. The reply stated that smokeless powder is exceedingly dangerous in the hands of an amateur, as the explosive power is vastly greater than that of ordinary powder."

	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
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