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East Jordan, MI (Main Street) (1906) - Contributed by Paul Petoskey A flourishing and growing village of more than twenty-five hundred people, at the extremity of the South Arm of Pine lake on its eastern shores, East Jordan is one of the three leading centers of imputation in Charlevoix county. W. P. Empey was the first settler at this point. He was born in Canada in the year 1840. In 1866 be came to Michigan, although he had previously been in the states. For several years he was connected with the lumbering interests and had traveled over this part of the state locating pine land for a Toledo firm. In 1874 he built a store on the eastern shore of the South Arm, and the following year began putting up the first building on the present site of East Jordan for a store. About this time a blacksmith named John Vote came along and Mr. Empey induced him to locate here. Tic built a block building for a shop upon a lot opposite the future site of the Jordan River House, but he only remained a short time. In June, 1877. a postoffice was established and Mr. Empey was appointed postmaster. When the office was about to be established the question of a name for the settlement came up. Mr. Empey sent a number of names to the department, but they were rejected on account of there being other offices having the same; at last he sent among others that of East Jordan, which was adopted. Mr. Empey carried on his store also handled wood and bark and engaged in farming. In the fall of 1883 his store building was destroyed by fire. The lumber mills of East Jordan "made the town." The first to be established there was that of Joseph C. Glenn, in 1879, and it was the pioneer mill above Charlevoix on Pine lake. It was small, but successful because it had the right man behind it. Soon after its establishment W. P. Porter bought an interest in both mill and general store, and the business was thus conducted until 1888, when Mr. Glenn sold all his interests to Ames & Frost of Chicago. Thereupon was organized the East Jordan Lumber Company, which has beeu a never-failing source of strength and prosperity to the community. It has not only aided in the local advancement, but the corporation has been the means of developing fine fruit and farming lands in the county and the Grand Traverse region generally. It operates two sawmills and a large maple flouring plant at East Jordan and draws its lumber supplies from large tracts of both soft, and hardwood lands which it owns in Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska and Otsego counties. The East Jordan Lumber Company is one of those up-to-date concerns iu Northern Michigan which has had the foresight to push the sale of its cleared lands for farming and fruit-raising purposes. The original plant of the East Jordan Lumber Company was erected on the west side of the South Arm, and in the eighties other sawmills followed its example. Stoppel & Company and Empey & Palmiter installed plants in that locality. In 1890 the sawmill of the former concern was purchased by the East Jordan Lundier Company and became its B mill. Later the Empey mill was moved away and on its site the East Jordan Company put up a plant for sawing cedar shingles. On the west side, also, John Monroe, Sr., erected a sawmill which was purchased and operated by the South Arm Lumber Company until it burned in 1902. The Willson Hoop Company also operated at East Jordan for n number of years what was then the largest lioop factory in the country, but the lack of elm stork caused it to discontinue about ten years ago. What is now known as East Jordan Station was formerly the village of South Arm, on the west side of the Arm. Its tirst industry was the lumber mill carried on by Nelson. Redington & Company. The name of Nelsonville was given to this locality, and in May, 1869 a postoffice was established about a mile from the present site of the village, and Mr. N. C. Nettleton, now of Charlevoix, was postmaster. At an early day Amose Williams, a character already mentioned, had squatted in this vicinity. Mr. Nettleton kept the postofiice a short time, and then removed to Charlevoix. The office was removed to Intermediate. At this time Charlevoix county was just beginning to be settled. Pine river was only a diminutive settlement, and the "head of the Arm" was far away in the wilderness. The present industries of East Jordan are flourishing aud their future assured. The East Jordan Lumber Company continues to be in the foreground. As the headquarters of the East Jordan & Southern Railroad, which commenced operation in October. 1801. There are well-equipped machine aud car-repair shops at this point. There are also cooperage and box factories and planing mills; flour mills and chemical works and enterprises are under way and likely to result in the establishment of several iron and brass foundries. The State Bank of East Jordan was the first financial institution organized in the village, having been founded by George B. Martin as a private enterprise in 1886. In 1891 Mr. Martin was succeeded by R.R. Glenn, who conducted it with Alex Bush until the former's death in 1895. This organization was succeeded by Glenn & Company in 1897, Mr. Bush retiring and being succeeded by George G. Glenn. In July, 1901, the bauk was reorganized as a stale institution with a capital of $20,000, with Joseph C. Glenn president, W. L. French vice-president and George G. Glenn cashier. The building which the bank occupies was erected in 1899. In 1909 the capital was increased to $50,000, as at present. Its surplus and undivided profits amount to $5,000; its total resources. $306,543; deposits. $251,460. The People's State Savings Bank of East Jordan was established in October, 1910. It has a capital stock of $25,000 and its surplus and undivided profits amount to $1,622. W. P. Squier is its president and R. O. Bisbee, cashier. East Jordan owns its water works, the municipal plant, which is under the control of the mayor and two commissioners, having been erected in 1896. The village is furnished with light and power by a good plant operated by a private company. As will be correctly inferred from the above, East Jordan is having its initial experience of the commission form of municipal government, having been incorporated as such in July, 1911. Its commissioners are heads of three departments comprising (1) Public Utilities, (2) Streets and Sewers and (8) Finance, Health and Sanitation. The public system of education embraces a Central school, in which is the High school, and the West Side aud Jordan River buildings. East Jordan has a number of churches, the leading religious organizations beiug St. Joseph Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Norwegian Lutheran. There are also societies of Episcopalians and Latter Day Saints. The secret and benevolent societies of the place flourish in the shape of large lodges of Masons, Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows, with numerous minor organizations. History of Northern Michigan - Perry F. Powers 1912
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