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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, February 5, 2023, pg. 6 Sometimes diaries can be great historical resources when researching a topic. I use the word "sometimes" because I know of a set of diaries from the 1850s for our area in which the writer only wrote down the weather conditions day-by-day. Very little personal information or events that were happening were mentioned. Needless to say, such diaries are boring to read. However, I recently received a diary from 1912 with entries written by Fred Griswold, (1876-1928), who served on Albion's Fire Department for thirty years, and was a respected member of our community. Fred served as the driver of the horse-drawn hose wagon at the time this was written. Fire Chief at the time was Fred Peabody. Griswold later became the fire chief in 1916, and served in that position for about twelve years. Most of the entries in this diary are personal notes containing information about members of the Albion Fire Department, but Fred also includes some current-day events too. This just happened to be during the time the Albion National Bank failed. Let's enjoy reading some selections from this diary. Note: His grammar and spelling were lacking in some spots, but the intent is understandable. On the "Remembrance" page, Fred jotted down the following information about himself: Laundry Mark: 343; Size of Hat: 7 and one quarter, Hosiery: 10, Underwear: 38, and Shirts: 16 and one half. Tuesday, January 2, 1912: 9:30a.m. "Ray Hess [Fireman] went off duty with sore eyes. Clean harness on hose wagon. Fire alarm 12:45 pm. McGuire Brothers Saloon, no water used. Albion National Bank closed its Doors." Wednesday, January 3, 1912. "Got a pig of Fred Peabody. Robert Adams cut up the pig for me. Henry M. Dearing [bank cashier] and his son Palmer Dearing went to Battle Creek with U.S. Marshall and later to Detroit." Friday, January 5, 1912: "Gave Harry Gale a check received from O. D. Fitch for sink in my house, the check was $3.50." Sunday January 7, 1912: "Charles Seversto was in jale all day." Monday, January 8, 1912: "Drove Ray [Hess] team for him, he was sick. Drove on the babs (?) for first time. Snowed hard all day. Got half ton of coke and quarter ton of coal for the house." Tuesday, January 9, 1912: "Drove Ray's team half hour. Just got in the barn when telephone rang. Fire at 708 N. Berrien St. Whistle would not blow bell, would not ring. Called Chief Peabody by telephone after we got back to the house. Fire at Dr. Hafford (W. Erie St.) at 2:30 p.m. We were fixing Max's collar on the apprentice harness when the alarm came in." Wednesday, January 10, 1912: "Oscar Cooper was sick and did not work in the afternoon." Thursday, January 11, 1912: "Mrs. Charles Sykes called at the Fire Station. Mr. Dick of Muskegon made a collar at the Fire Station. Mrs. Biggs gave me her father's badge. Her father was a member of the Albion Alert Fire Company. Pasted pictures in my scrapbook." Friday, January 12, 1912: "Fixed a chair for the house in the afternoon." Saturday, January 13, 1912: "Received from LeRoy Kimball of New York City the New York Times, giving full detail of the Equitable Life Insurance building fire." Sunday, January 14, 1912: "Went to the Methodist Episcopal Church to hear Rev. Dennis Blancy speak on India." Monday, January 15, 1912: "Got a Hamilton watch from Byron D. Robinson [jeweler]. Sent a paper to Frank Seaham about the First National Bank closing its doors." Wednesday, April 19, 1912: "William Slaughter came to work in Ray Hess' place at 8 am." From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of Fred Griswold. How many of our readers have old diaries that their ancestors wrote? Have you transcribed them?  Fred Griswold, (1876-1928)
All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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