Historical Albion Michigan
By Frank Passic

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ALBION 100 YEARS AGO - JANUARY 1923

January 1, 2023, pg. 8

We continue with our theme of "Albion, 100 Years Ago." January 1, 1923. Clarence Wilkins, colored, about 35 years of age, janitor at the Albion Post Office, lies at the city hospital with a bullet in his right lung as the result of a shooting affray at the drug store of David Ingram, 702 N. Albion St., about 11 o'clock last night. Ingram, who claims he is a registered physician, says that he shot Wilkins in self-defense." [Note: Headline January 2: "Colored Man Shot Sunday Dies Today."]

"Workmen have started on an extensive program of interior improvement at the dry goods story of the George T. Bullen Company. The plan of the work is in the hands of the Grand Rapids Show Case Company whose plate glass show cases, counters and compartments are considered to be test adapted to showing goods as well as having them easily accessible."

"Saturday afternoon about 5 o'clock, the new Dodge sedan purchased by Jay C. Snyder was given a bad bump by the driver of a Ford sedan who resides on Austin Ave, but whose name could not be obtained by the Recorder."

January 2, 1923. "The City Council held a special meeting this morning at the city manager's office to authorize City Clerk Paul P. Nagle to advertise for bids for the construction of the new $100,000 Sheldon Memorial Hospital."

"The course in salesmanship which Martin's Business School is conducting will begin again on Wednesday evening."

January 4, 1923. Headline: "Colored Folks Ask City for Policeman. Petition Addressed to City Council Asks that Bush Solomon Be Appointed Special Officer Without Pay…to aid the city officials in keeping order among the local members of the black race."

January 5, 1923. Headline: "Jury Clears Dr. Ingram in Fatal Shooting. At Coroner's Inquest in Death of Clarence Wilkins, Verdict is Returned That Ingram Was Justified in Firing."

January 9, 1923. "Three Shots Fired at Ingram Drug Store. The local officers were searching today for two or more men who fired three shots through the front of the drugstore of David Ingram, colored, on N. Albion St. last night about 9:50. It is thought that the men fired the shots to show their enmity toward Ingram for his alleged share in the recent shooting of Clarence Wilkins."

Headline: "Donald Burns Severely Hurt in Queer Way. Employee of Hayes Company Misses Stool When Sitting Down and Strikes Floor in Such a Way as to Injure Spine and Cause Paralysis of Legs."

January 15, 1923. "The demolishing of Robinson Hall was begun today. The oldest building on the Albion College campus which was completely ruined by fire Saturday night December 16, is now being torn down under the direction of William Nixon of Battle Creek, the construction engineer who is now finishing the new Albion High School."

January 17, 1923. "Troop Three, Boy Scouts, will be organized Monday night, January 22, at 7:30 in the Baptist Church parlors. Steve Matechuk will be the Scoutmaster. Any boy 12 years old may join, but those between 13 and 15 are preferred."

January 20, 1923. "Spiritual aid to the 300 Slavs in Albion is now being given by Paul Truss, who started Christian work among the Russians and Poles here six years ago. Mr. Truss, who came to Albion in 1916, is a native of Russia. While working for the Malleable Iron Company, he began personal evangelism among his fellows."

January 23, 1923. "A Cadillac roadster, belonging to Bush Solomon, 703 N. Ann St., and formerly the property of A. M. Amidon of Detroit, a former resident of this city, was badly damaged by fire this morning in a shed at the rear of Solomon's home."

January 24, 1923. "An important real estate deal involving downtown store property was announced today, whereby Byron D. Robinson, jeweler at 211 S. Superior St., purchased the building at 215 S. Superior St., formerly occupied by the Albion Electric Company, from the estate of Henry Olcott."

"It was announced today by Frank H. Darrow, president of the F. H. Darrow Steel Boat Company, that he had purchased the site now occupied by the alley between the H. C. Baker & Company grocery and Nick Daleo's fruit store, on the west side of N. Superior St., and would star work immediately on the erection of a store on that location to be rented for retail business purposes."

January 25, 1923. "A contract has been made whereby the Service Caster & Truck Company of Kansas City, a going concern with a good staple product, will buy the factory building to be erected by the Albion Realty Co. on a contract basis."

January 27, 1923. Headline: "Close to a Million Dollars Will be Spent in Albion for Building During 1923. What is thought to be the most active building era this city has ever seen, in her many years of existence, is about to break, and the entire community will benefit accordingly."

January 29, 1923. Headline: "Incendiary is Blamed for 3rd Fire at College. Blaze at North Hall Causes a $10,000 Loss."

Read more Albion 100 Years Ago articles.

Next 100 Years Ago article: FEBRUARY 1923

Next week: 1956 BOOKLET ABOUT ALBION


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