Historical Albion Michigan
By Frank Passic

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Albion 100 Years Ago - April 1913

Morning Star, March 31, 2013, pg. 4

We continue with our theme of "Albion—100 Years Ago." Week ending April 3, 1913: "A very pleasing recital was given in the college chapel last evening by Miss Nema Phipps of the college conservatory of music."

"C.K. Bedient, the local grocer who bought out Fischer Brothers about a year ago, has started the construction of a new store building on Linden Avenue, thirty feet north of his home on E. Erie St., facing the mill-race. Mr. Bedient expects to be able to move his stock into the new place within three weeks."

Week ending April 10, 1913: "George V. Dearing Found Guilty. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of misappropriating funds of the institution. The father, H.M. Dearing was brought to Detroit from Leavenworth and was the only witness for the defense. On his testimony he shielded his son in every way."

Week ending April 17, 1913: "The Parma creamery burned to the ground Sunday. Nothing was saved but a few hundred pounds of butter, of which according to the butter maker, there was about 2,000 pounds in the building. The Parma Butter Co. is composed of Parma people."

"A decision of the attorney general will decide whether Calhoun County is to be wet or dry these next two years. As the official count now stands, the county is dry by 95 votes. The wets really won by 154 votes, but because of a clerical error in the 1st precinct of the 1st Ward of Battle Creek, a majority of 120 votes that belonged to the wets were given to the drys."

"The employees of the Hayes Wheel works, among whom there is a great amount of excellent historic and musical talent, will give a minstrel show in the Albion Opera House Saturday evening this week."

"America has been losing ground for the last 25 years on the subject of Sabbath Observance," said Samuel Dickie, president of Albion College, in an address on the subject delivered at the Methodist Church Sunday morning…In speaking of the Sunday newspaper the speaker intimated that he thought that no Christian should occupy his time in the perusal of the Sunday sheets as while there were a few columns taken up with religious matters, most of the papers were "filled up with sporting news and all kinds of other material unfit for reading on the Sabbath."

"Albion probably has well over 8,000 people today," said a well known local citizen this morning. Our city has grown remarkably during the last year or two."

Week ending April 24, 1913: "Saloon Men to Take a Chance. The eight Albion saloon men have evidently decided to take a chance on losing their license fees of $500 each if the county is declared dry, as they have determined to take out their licenses as usual, regardless of the outcome of the present wet and dry controversy. Those who made application were as follows: Herman Starks, L. S. Pearson, McGuire Brothers, C. W. Dowling, J. W. Farrant, F. J. Steinkrauss, Ernest F. Boldt, and John McAuliffe."

"Rev. Judson Conant of Philadelphia was calling on Albion friends yesterday. Mr. Conant was born and reared in Albion and although he has not lived here for many years he encountered a number of people yesterday he knew and who remembered him as a young man."

"Kushrow and Bohm will give their last weekly dancing party of the season at Woodman Hall, Friday, April 25."

"The grocery story of Benjamin C. Franklin, S. Superior St., was entered some time Friday night and the sum of $20, a hat and coat belonging to the proprietor, and a quantity of cigars and pipes taken."

"How We Run our City. If you had a business the size of the City of Albion, where several million dollars invested, would you change managers every year? That’s what we are doing under our present form of government and some of us wonder why the tax rate is near the limit and why the city must borrow money to conduct its business. About $40,000 is raised annually in city taxes, and at the last meeting of the council there was on hand to run the city until the summer taxes are available, about $600.

Our kick is in the system. We pay eight men elected for their popularity in their Wards, and without reference to business experience, fifty dollars a year salary, and we expect them to spend forty or fifty thousand dollars a year to the best advantage… Let us look into the commission form of government."

Next: 1940 AAA BROCHURE ABOUT ALBION

Next 100 Years Ago Article: May 1913

Read more Albion 100 Years Ago articles


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