A new book highlighting Albion history has just been published by Albion Historian Frank Passic.

Entitled Albion in Review, this 128-page soft cover coil-bound book features a variety of over 215 Albion postcards, photographs, and memorabilia. This pictorial covers over 150 years of Albion people, places, and events. This book is the author’s eighth major work, the first of which was produced in 1985. An Albion native, Passic is the author of several hundred articles about Albion history over a 30-year period. Many of these are reprinted on the www.albionmich.com website.

“This book is loaded with group photographs,” states Passic. “Chances are good that you are related to someone, or know someone that is pictured here,” he said.

The highlight of Albion in Review is the first-ever publishing of several historic “yard long” panoramic photographs of the 1920s, with individual identifications included. The Emancipation Day photograph from 1927 is an especially precious one. The group includes many of the original African-American men who were recruited to work at the Albion Malleable Iron Company during World War I, and their descendants. Most of those pictured in the group have been identified. Because of its historical significance, a portion of this photo is also featured on the cover of the book. The reader will appreciate the vertical placement of these panoramics in sections. The coil binding allows for easy open viewing throughout the book, and several large photos throughout the book have also been positioned vertically. Other panoramics presented are the World War I veteran’s photo (1919), the Hayes Wheel Company employees (1925), and the Gale Manufacturing Company employees (1926).

The book is arranged by eras and decades. The first chapter, entitled “Old Albion,” begins by featuring two lads who were on the Orphan Train which stopped in Albion in 1857. Several pages are then devoted to the Civil War, including the 2008 rededication of the Grand Army of the Republic lot in Albion’s Riverside Cemetery. Another mini-theme found in this chapter is the Interurban which ran through Albion from 1903 to 1929. Several numismatic items are included, including an 1866 medal issued by Albion College, and a $10 National Bank Note issued by the First National Bank of Albion in the 1890s.The remainder of the chapter features a variety of picture postcards and group photographs.

Highlights in the chapter about the 1930s includes scenes taken from an October, 1935 silent 16 mm. film made in the Albion Public Schools. The reader will especially find the way the “Pledge of Allegiance” was recited in that era quite interesting. Albion High School’s only state championship basketball team, 1939, is pictured, followed by a 40th anniversary reunion photo of the remaining members.

The chapter about the 1940s contains several pages highlighting World War II, including a large billboard containing the names of every Albion person serving in the armed forces. The commemorative stamps issued by Starr Commonwealth for Boys during this period are especially patriotic.

The chapter dealing with the 1950s and 1960s highlights happenings during Albion’s “boom” years. Two group photos of Albion’s dinner club, the “Boosters and Knockers” can be found here, as well as a Dalrymple Elementary School 4th grade class photo from the 1962-63 school year.

The fate of the World War II Albion Victory ship, named after Albion College, is revealed in the chapter which brings the reader to the end of the 20th century. The ship was towed to Alang, India in the summer of 1994, where it was scrapped.

The book ends with a chapter about the current decade, bringing the reader up-to-date with the Albion of today. The first portion of this chapter brings closure to the demolition of several Albion factories and landmarks: Harvard Industries, Union Steel Products, the Albion Elevator, the Eslow Block, and the Consumers Power Company powerhouse. New additions to Albion’s positive turn-around include the Veteran’s Memorial Stage in Riverside Cemetery, the Kids ‘N’ Stuff Museum, the Albion River Trail, the Albion College science complex and the Nancy Held Equestrian Center. Pictures of the 2007 Albion High School Girl’s Track & Field state championship team, and the 2008 Boy’s state championship track team can be found near the end of the book. The current Albion City Council and several officials are included in this chapter.

Books are available locally for $25 each, plus $1.50 Michigan sales tax for a total of $26.50. If ordering by mail within the state of Michigan, the cost is $25 for the book, plus $5.00 postage and handling, plus $1.80 sales tax for a total of $31.80. If ordering outside the state of Michigan by mail, the cost is $25 for the book and $5.00 postage and handling for a total of $30.00. Check or money order payable to Frank Passic, 900 S. Eaton St., Albion, MI 49224.

Copies of the book are available from the author, or at the Albion Chamber of Commerce. A name-page index for the book has been prepared by cataloger Robin James, and is readily available for free download and printing on the www.albionmich.com website. For more information, contact Frank Passic at Albionfp@hotmail.com.

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