To City of Newaygo Newaygo County Michigan |
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To City of Newaygo Newaygo County Michigan |
Newaygo, MI (Bird's Eye View) (1910s) - Contributed by Paul Petosky
According to the Congressional survey,
Brooks Township is 12 west, 12 north
and is bounded on the north by Everett
on the east by Croton, on the south by
Grant, on the west by Garfield. It at first contained the entire western half of the county
and was one of the two first townships organized befor
the county itself. For many years it contained the
west half of township 12 north, 12 west, and the east
half of 12 north, 13 west. In 1880, the latter track
was used in making the new township of Garfield, and
hall a township was taken from Croton, by way of
compensation. By this arrangement, the village of
Newaygo is thrown on the line between Garfield and
Brooks. The Muskegon winds through the township
from east 10 west, crossing sections 24, 13, 14, 15, 23,
26, 27, 22, 21, 20 and 19. The Newaygo division of
the Chicago & West Michigan railroad runs through
the northwestern quarter of the township, crossing
sections 5, 4, 9, 17 and 18. In the southwestern
corner the Big Brooks (or Hess) Lake and Little
Brooks Lake. The former is about two miles long,
and one of the largest bodies of water in the county.
In the northwestern corner is Great Marl Lake, and
portions of Little Marl and Pickerel Lakes.
Brooks was one of the two townships organized in
1851, before the county was organized. Isaac D.
Merrill was the first Supervisor. At the last election,
held April 2, 1883, the following officers were elected:
Sanford Brown, Supervisor; Frank Towns, Clerk;
James Herron, Treasurer; Otis Freeman, Highway
Commissioner; Henry Hyde, Drain Commissioner;
Samuel D. Bonner, School Inspector; Sanford Brown
and John A. Brooks, Justices of the Peace; Aaron
Courtwright, George King, John T. Thompson and
Anselrn Miller, Constable.
The population of the township of Brooks in 188o
(then containing all of Newaygo village) was 1,497.
There are now four school districts in Brooks
Township. For the year ending Sept. 3, 1883, the
number of children between the ages of 5 and 15
was 502; the number of children that attended
school, 295 ; number of non-resident pupils, 8; number of days of school taught, 498; number of frame
school-houses, 3; number of log school-houses, 1
number of pupils that can be seated, 384; value of
school property, $5,500; number of male teachers
employed, 3; number of female teachers employes
5; wages paid male teachers, $1,372; wages paid to
females, $956.
The valuation of property in this township has in
creased from $44,613.33 in 1853 to $127,775 in 188;
and the taxation from $189.79 in 1852 to 82,242 in
1883.
SUPERVISORS
NEWAYGO VILLAGE
Newaygo 15 one of the oldest villages in Northern
Michigan, dating back nearly half a century, and has
been for over thirty years the county seat of a magnificent county. It has grown slowly, but steadily
ind surely, and now presents an appearance of personal prosperity.
The first view which the traveler gets of Newaygo
is always a surprise. As he comes around or over some hill, the village bursts into full view all at once,
with the suddenness of a "jack in the box." To
people journeying through here thirty years ago, the
sensation on reaching Newaygo was novel as well as
delightful. For many and weary miles an unbroken
forest, and then with the suddenness of enchantment
a compact, smiling village right at their feel, as
though it bad been transplanted into the wilderness
and set down in a sheltered nook for their special
convenience.
The Muskegon River, a strong and rapid stream,
running between high bluffs, here makes a crescent-
shaped bend, and a small valley is made by the
bluffs on the south side, receding from the river and
cutting across the curve like the string of a bow. In
this crescent-shaped valley lies Newaygo, raised a
little above the river bottoms by a sort of natural terrace at the foot of the southern bluff. The view,
from whatever direction, is highly picturesque. On
the north is the river, hugging closely to the foot of
the steep and curving bluffs, beyond which is rising
ground with a few clearings, and the bare skeleton
like dead pines, that stand like white tombstones of
departed forests. The bluffs that rise almost perpendicularly from the river bank, arc in many places
bare of vegetation, scarified and abraded by land
slides, and scores of roll-ways down which hundreds
of thousands of pine logs have been plunged into the
river.
The village lies at the tout of the opposite bluffs,
the principal part of it on one straight street, that
leads from the depot to the court-house. The railroad comes 10 the river below and southwest of the
village, creeps in along the face of the southern bluff,
passes between the village and the river, which it
crosses al>ove the middle of the bend, and finds a
way out of the valley through the deep ravine, by
which Pennoycr Creek cuts its way to the Muskegon.
On the business street, there are a number of brick
buildings, all new, and constructed in 1883. Since
the fire in the spring of this year, only brick buildings
can be erected in the business portion of the village.
The residences are almost entirely of frame, painted
white. There is no ostentatious display in the
direction of expensive residences. In viewing the
beautiful grass-covered bluff overlooking the village
and valley, one cannot avoid wondering that some
wealthy citizen has never been tempted to crown its
summit with a magnificent mansion, that would be
the pride and envy of the town. But this feature
remains to be added, and the only large building on
the hill is the fine school-house with its spacious yard
and surrounding lawn. Streets ascend the hill both
above and below the village, but the stranger sees
the face of the hillside street less and pathless,
covered with meadows and orchards, and is puzzled
to know how he shall reach the school building.
Finally he gets sight of a meandering stairway near
the upper part of the village, and by diligent search,
or inquiry, finds the narrow path that leads to its
foot, aud climbs its long series of broad steps, wondering how many broken legs and anus it occasions
among the school-children every winter.
The dam across the Muskegon River is between
the railroad bridge and the upper wagon bridge, and
is 14 feet in height. There is a dam across the
mouth of the Pennoyer Creek, which comes dashing
down from among the hills in a series of cascades
and rapids, and a fluinc to convey its waters if necessary into the Muskegon above the dam. It is a line
sight to see the locomotive come out of the ravine at
this dam, pausing, elephant like, before it moves upon
the bridge, giving the passengers an opportunity to
look out upon the flashing, foaming waters, the dam,
and the beauties of the suddenly discovered village.
Newaygo derives its name from an Indian chief of
distinction, who lived in Western Michigan in an
early day, before it was explored by the whites, and
when the site of the present village and the hill above
it were favorite camping grounds of the Indians. In
1836, the pine forests of Western Michigan had
begun to be spoken of at the East, but it was left for
years of growth and development in the Western
States to create a market that would render the
manufacture of lumber profitable.
It was in 1836 that Augustus and Frederick,
brothers of Hon. Henry Pennoyer, of Ottawa County,
built a saw-mill on Pennoyer Creek, which was the
first settlement at Newaygo. This mill was afterward run by Samuel Rose and Robert W. Morris, and
a grist-mill was added to it. The next miller was
the well-known John A. Brooks, the father of
Newaygo village. He was an enterprising and energetic man, who, previous to his coming to Michigan
had been a hotel-keeper at Statistead, Canada.
Until 1852, he transacted the largest part of the
business of the place, and until his death, after the
close of the war (in which he held the post of
quartermaster), was prominent in both business and
politics, being twice elected to the Legislature.
The village was platted by John A. Brooks and
Sarell Wood, in 1854. The palmy days in the
history of Newaygo began in 1853, when a number
of enterprising men at Glens Falls, N. Y., who had
previously purchased large tracts of lands on the
Muskegon River, organized the "Newaygo Company,"
and commenced building a dam across the river, and
erected one of the largest mills in the county, in
which 120 saws were run. The company consisted
of A. N. Cheney, L. L. Anns, A. F. Orion, H. J.
Orion and Amasa B. Watson. Almost everything to
be used in this work had to be conveyed from Grand
Rapids by teams, giving employment to a large
number of men. Greater hotel accommodations
were needed, and the Exchange Hotel was erected by
Samuel W. Matevey. The Brooks House was
erected four years later, by John A. Brooks. The
mill added at once nearly 200 to the population of
the village.
From this time forward, Newaygo was an important point. It became the headquarters of the
lumber business north of Grand Rapids. Mr. Brooks
secured an appropriation to improve the Muskegon
River flats near Muskegon to facilitate the running
of rafts, and the river was so far improved that
steamboats made Tegular trips to Newaygo during
favorable seasons. Appropriations were made for
State roads, and a road was built 88 miles north to
Traverse City, and the road to Grand Rapids was
graded and turn piked. Centering at Newaygo, 187
miles of State roads were built in different directions.
Hon. E. L. Gray, who came to the village in 1854,
and thenceforward took an active part in all public
enterprises, built 90 miles of these mads. As lumber
operations extended up the Muskegon River, the
trade of Newaygo increased, l'.s two large hotels
were crowded with guests. Its merchants bandied
vast quantities of lumbermen's supplies. Long
trains of teams traveled the roads leading to Grand
Rapids and Muskegon, and a daily stage ran to
Grand Rapids, and afterward to Big Rapids,
while a stage ran to Muskegon every other
day. The Newaygo post-office was for several
years the distributing post-office for the Grand
Traverse region.
Bui all this was the work of years, during which
Newaygo shared in the ups and downs of the lumber
business. In 1857 the old Newaygo Company was
compelled, like many other institutions in that disastrous year, to make an assignment and re-organize.
In 1856, J. II. Maze, now of Grand Rapids, started
the Newaygo Republican, which was for many years
the only paper in the county. At present there are
four.
A new order of things began in 1867, when the
Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad was built to Cedar
Springs, and a share of the northern traffic and travel
diverted in that direction, and it became evident that
the commercial importance of the town could only be
retained by securing railroad communications with
Grand Rapids. This was accomplished through the
persistent labor and wise management of D. P. Clay,
ably seconded by W. D. Fuller, Hon. E. L. Gray, S.
K. Riblet and other prominent citizens. The railroad reached Newaygo Sept. 11, 1872, and from that
time has done a prosperous business. In 1876 it
was extended to Morgan Station 011 the Big Rapids
branch of the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore railroad. Its final terminus will be at Traverse City.
Soon after the railroad was built, the village was
greatly improved by the grading and graveling of
State Street, at an expense of between 3,000 and
$4,000. This street, upon which are nearly all the
stores, offices and public buildings, is excelled in few,
if any, western villages.
The lumber trade, though it will continue some
years longer, must yearly become less and less a
factor in its business, and Newaygo will finally have
to fall back on its agricultural resources, and those
of the surrounding country, for its importance. Happily for the town, these are abundant, and of a high
order. The water power furnished by Muskegon
River and Brooks and Pennoyer Creeks is amply
sufficient to run more machinery than now exists in
any city in Michigan, and it can be managed and
applied with little trouble and expense. The field is
an inviting one to men of capital and enterprise, and
when the one overshadowing business of lumbering
ceases to monopolize both, they will doubtless be
diverted into the many branches of manufactures
for which Newaygo furnishes so fine an opening.
Brooks Creek, with more than a hundred feet fall in
half a mile, should be lined with factories, and Pennoyer Creek, with like the super flinity of power, should
also be put into use, while the strong and stable current of the M uskegon awaits the day when us tireless
force shall turn hundreds of turbine* and do the
work of thousands of men. Pure water and rapid
streams render Newaygo one of the most healthful
places in the State.
The act of the Legislature incorporating the village of Newaygo was approved March 16, 1867, and
the first election was held April 8, following. The
principal officers chosen at that time were xs follows:
John H. Standish, President; Wilkes L. Stuart, Dexter P. Glazier, Aaron S. Skinner, John A. Brooks,
Augustus Paddock and Henry Kritzer, Trustees;
William D. Fuller, Clerk. The following are the
present village offiers, chosen in April, 1883:
President, John H. Simmons; Trustees, I. N. Robinson, Jno. A Brooks, Aaron S. Skinner, Tyson
Smith, S. D. Hornier, Sanford Brown; Clerk, Walter.
R. Taylor; Treasurer, S. D. Thompson; Assessor
Wellington Persons; Marshal, Aaron Courtright;
Village Attorney, William D. Fuller; Street Commissioner, S. K. Kiblet; Fire Warden, A. D. Graves;
Health Officer, David W. Flora; Pound Master,
Richard Potter; Constable, Fred Rode; Special
Police, Hcwett Potter, L. Meeker.
Regular meeting of Council, first and third Wednesdays of every month.
The population of the village was 703 in 1870,
976 in 1874 and 1,097 in 1880.
The Newaygo Company has been refened to as
one of the main pillars of Newaygo's prosperity, by
employing a large number of hands, and adding to
the general business of the village. The years of
depression following the panic of 1873, caused this
company to suspend, and many considered it dead.
In t88o, all its property was bought out by a new
company, called also the Newaygo Company. The
stock in this new organization was comjiosed of 4,000
shares, of $25 each. The shareholders at that time (substantially the same as now) were as follows: D.
P. Clay, 3,600 shares; Bennett Fulkerson, 130; John
B. Graves, 50; Luther Colby, 40; George H. Hobart,
40; Allien V. Thompson, 40; Hugo Harbinger, 40,
and James M. Edwards, 20. This company has
steadily enlarged its business, and now employs
about 125 to 150 men, besides the large number
in the store of D. P. Clay & Co, and in Mr.
Clay's lumber camps. The principal brnach of
the business is the tub and pail factory, which
employs about 30 hands and turns out daily about
57S pails, shipped to Grand Rapids and Chicago,
chiefly. The company also have a planing mill,
employing 20 hands, two saw-mills and a lumber
yard, employing Ho hands. Mr. Clay also operates a
flouring mill, on his own account.
The Nkwavoo Chair Company was incorporated
in October, 1882. with the following stockholders:
Lyman Guinnip, 500 shares; H. D. Guinnip, 100;
J. F. A. Raider, 200; John H. Simmons, 40; E. L.
Gray, 40; A. V. Thompson, 40; C. C. Kritzer, 20;
S. D. Thompson, 20; Wm. D, Fuller, 20; H. J.
Orton, 10. The company have their building
completed, and are ready for the machinery. It is
very advantageously situated, by the railroad. Its
products can be loaded directly on the cars, and
teaming will thus be saved.
The flouring mills of Henry Kritzer completes
the list of Newaygo's present manufacturing enterprises.
Following is a list of the general business firms of
Newaygo:
BUSINESS FIRMS.
The Medical Profession is represented by D.
W. Flora (Regular), Tyson Smith (Homeopathic), O.
Smith (Homeopathic), and L. F. McCormick (Regular); and the attorneys residing in the village are
George Luton, A. G. Day, E. I- Gray and W. D.
Fuller.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is the pioneer
religious organization here, as elsewhere. The first
sermon preached in Newaygo in Newaygo
County was delivered by Rev. William Kelley, June
30, 1850. There were at that time only three houses
in Newaygo. The Muskegon circuit, embracing Newaygo, was organized in 1853, and Newaygo charge
was first designated as such in 1857. The church
was built in i860, when Rev. Thomas H. Granger
was pastor. He appointed as trustees William
Loomis, Henry Looinis, Pomeroy C. Spooner, John
Morse and T. J. Randolph. At that time the Church
had but nine members. The present membership,
under Rev. Mr. Van Wyck, is about 50.
The Congregational Church is an old society,
and has the honor of building the first church in
Newaygo. The society was formed Nov. 8, 1855,
with the following members: Sarell Wood, James
M. Strykcr, E. P. Chapin, Edmund Lamb, Edgar L
Gray, Ashley B. Furmaii and John H. Standish.
The first trustees were Sarell Wood, James M.
Stryker and Edmund Lamb. Their church was
erected the winter ensuing, at a cost of about $3,000.
The society has always been a strong one until the
fire of 1883, which destroyed the church. A new
building will be erected this coming summer (1884.)
St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Mission was
organized in 1872. The pastors of the society have
been Revs. Mosely Morris, E. W. Flower (now of
Greenville), William H. Sparling (now of Geneseo,
Ill.), and J. Rice Taylor (now of Poultncy, Vt.).
The last regular services were held in October, 1882.
The society numbers 23, and the congregation about
60. In 1883, they have been erecting a very commodious, handsome brick church, which has already
cost $1,300, and will cost finally $3,000 or more.
Newaygo Loge, No. 131, F. & A. M., was consecrated with very solemn ceremonies Jan. 29, 1862.
The following first officers were installed : Charles
W. Leonard, W. M.; W. Irving Latimer, S, W.;
Warren P. Adams, J. W.; Solomon K Riblet,Treas,;
Justus C. Hubbard, Sec; Daniel Weaver, S. D.;
George H. Mallery, J. D.; aud John B. Folger,
Tyler. Tlie present membership of the lodge is
about 60. The present officers are as follows: John
Piltwood, W. M.; H. L. Brace, S. W.; Mollis T.
Reed, J. W.; K. S. Bennett, Secretary; S. D.Thompson, S. D.; I. N. Robinson, J. D.; James McKee,
Tyler. The lodge meets the Friday on or before the
full moon of each month.
Newaygo Chapter, No. 138, R. A. M., was
chartered Jan. 1865. Alanson St. Clair was the
first High Priest; W. 1. Latimer, the first King; and
J. L. Alexander, the first Scribe. The present officers
are as follows: S. D. Thompson. H. P.; J. H. Simmons, K.; A. O. White, S.; G. W. Fry, C. of H.; J.
Piltwood, P. S.; W. J. Pike, R. A. C; George Luton,; J. W. Dunning, M. ad V.; E. Edwards,
M. 1st V.; I. N. Robinson, Treas.; W. Persons, Sec.;
J. II. McKee, Sent. The chapter has about 40
members, and meets the Tuesday on or befure the
full moon, each month.
Newaygo Lodge, No. 254,1. O. O. I'., was organized in February, 1875, with E. O. Shaw as N. G-;
William Glanville, U". G.; R. Surplice, Secretary;
Aaron Court right, Treas. The present officers are as
follows: Aaron Skinner, V. G.; George E. Taylor,
V. G.; Pierce Picket, Perm. Sec; C. K. Carter, Ret
Sec; George King, Treas.; Mich. Rep. to G. L.,
William Graham, D. D. G. M. The lodge has
membership of about 60, and meets every Monday.
Newaygo Encampment, No. 8a, I. 0. O. F., was
organized in March, 1877. with William Glanvitle as
C. P.; E. O. Shaw as J. W.; Jerome Carpenter, H.
P.; R. Surplice, S.; Aaron Court right, Treas. At
present, Robert Wallace is C. P.; George King, J.
W_; Ransom Eckel*. H. P.; Jerome Carpenter, S.;
and George King. Treas. The memtwrship of the
encampment is 26, and it meets the last Friday of
each month.
Newaygo Lodge, No. 886, I. O. G. T., was organized Aug. 16, 1875, with 25 members, and the following officers: S. K. Riblet, C. T.; Mrs. S. F.Skinner,
V. T.; E. A. Whitman, Chap.; Mrs. J. H. Edwards,
Sec; J. F. A. Raider, Fin. Sec; S.X Bonner, Treas.;
Wilford Knox, VI. ; Mrs. A. P. Day; John
Mapes. The present officers are as follows;
J. H. Edwards, C. T.; Mrs. J. H. McKee, V. T.; A
H. Noma, Chap.; Walter R. Taylor, Sec; Ernest
Fuller, Fin. Sec; Byron Joslin, Treas.; George H. Young. Mar.; Jennie Fuller, I. G.; Mattie Rosewarn,
I >. G. The lodge now has a membership of about
40, and meets Wednesday evenings.
Newaygo Council, No. 46, R. T. of T., was
organized Nov. 4, iSSr, with 24 members. The first
officers were as follows: J. F. A. Raider, P. C; N.
H. Walbridgc, S. C; S. D. Thompson, V. C; M. E.
Massie, R. S.; Lucy Utley, F. S.; Phrebe Millard,
Treas.; George Lolley, Herald; Georgette Fuller.
Guard; C. F. Alwood. Sent.; J. P. Gallagher, Chap.
The present officers are as follows: L. V. Skinner,
S. C; David Millani, V. C; J. H. Edwards, R. S.;
J. F. A. Raider, F. S.; A. N. Jones, Treas.; Charles
F. Atwood. Herald; Mrs. J. H. Edwards, Guard;
Mrs. Lucy H. Utley, Sent.; Marian Skinner, Chap.
The council now has 22 members. It meets the
second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
FIRES.
Newaygo's first serious fire was the burning of the
Newaygo Company's saw-mill, some years before
1870. The second fire of importance occurred on
the night of Sept. 5, 1874. The flames were
discovered by James H. Wiseman, while standing in
the door of his room at the Exchange Hotel, as they
first issued from the rear of Luton 4; Sinclair's drug
store. The alarm being given, at least 500 people
were on the spot in ten minutes; but the building in
which the fire originated was past saving, and the
people turned their attention to saving the buildings
on each side of it,—one owned by Hon. A. H. Giddings, and occupied by E. A. Simons as a grocery
and lunch room, and the other owned and occupied
by F. Jacobi as a grocery and dwelling.
So quickly did the names reach the latter that Mr.
Jacobi s family had barely time to reach the street
before the rooms they had occupied were filled with
smoke and fire. It was soon discovered that this
building could not be saved, and the work of removing goods commenced. Then the fire spread lo D.
E. Sopcr's drug store, and the goods were removed
from there in a short space of time. The building,
occupied by Mr. Soper as an insurance office was
then torn down and dragged away, and thus the fire
was prevented from spreading to Mr. Super's book
and Jewelry storc.
At one lime it seemed impossible to prevent the
destruction of Gidding's building on the west side;
but a few of the coolest, most determined workers
were stationed here, and although the cornice was
on fire several times, they succeeded in preventing,
any great damage. The losses were about as
follows: Luton Ar Sinclair, loss on building and
slock, $1,500, no insurance; F. Jacobi, building
stock, household goods, wearing apparel, etc.,$5,000,
no insurance; D. E. Soper, two buildings, stock and
fixtures of Palace Drug Store, $1,000 on store, and
$1,500 on stock. Mr. Soper had $500 insurance on
his store, but none whatever on his stock. There
was no lack of water, but the means of using it to
advantage were entirely inadequate.
The Groat Fire.
Sunday, April 30, 1883,occurred the most memorable fire which burned 30 buildings, and
destroyed in all $50,000 worth of property.
For many years the row of wooden buildings
on Main Street had been considered a firetrap, and periodical agitation of the necessity
of fire protection had occupied the minds of the people. But long continued exemption from the ravages
of fire lulled the business men and property holders
to rest, and the magnificent natural advantages for
protecting the town by means of water were allowed
to remain unused. Even the large pump and hose
which had been placed iq»n the public square by
private subscription was not in shape for use, and
when the hour of danger dawned upon the village of
Newaygo, her people found themselves at the mercy
of fire and flame. The following is the account
given by the Republican:
"Sabbath morning dawned peaceful and smiling,
and looked down upon a quiet town all unsuspicious
of the rude awakening soon to break in upon its serenity and make it a day long lobe remembered. At
about half past eight o'clock in the morning the alarm
was given, and soon flames broke forth through
the roof of the store building opposite the Brooks
House, owned by E.L. Gray, and occupied by E.
Pine as a jewelry and news store, and overhead for a
dwelling." The cause of the fire is not certainly
known, and as there are different reports concerning
its origin, the question will doubtless remain an open
one.
" It was soon apparent that the flames could not be
stayed, and the work of saving property commenced.
Men and women worked like heroes, and a large
portion of the movables were laken from the burning building, and from those adjacent thereto. From
this point the fire spread in both directions until it
was finally stayed on the west at J. H. Edwards
hardware store, and on the east by the dwelling of J.
H. Standish. In the meantime the flames crossed
the street, and in spite of every effort on the part of
the workers, Ihe 'Brooks House,' long the pride of the
village, was a mass of fire and smoke. From this
point the fire lapped up the old meat-market building, and the law and printing offices of W. D. Fuller,
on the north, and, Jumping over the brick store of S.
K. Riblet, stopped by the way long enough to remove
the old vacant store building once used by J. F. A. Raider, and also a small building next adjoining, occupied by Persons and Edwards as an abstract office,
and which had been an eye-sore to the villagers.
Here the Raider brick block stopped the farther
spread of the flames, although McKee and others
on the south removed most of their goods and furniture to safer quarters.
"As soon as the fire was fairly under headway, dispatches for help were sent to Grand Rapids and
Goodville, and just as the flames were under subjection an engine from each town appeared upon the
scene of action. The Grand Rapids engine left a
quantity of hose, and the Woodville machine, manned
by a brave set of men, proceeded to wet down the
burnt district in a thorough manner. All day long
the joint work of destruction and salvation went on,
and as the shadows of night closed in upon the village, the stars looked down upon a scene of widespread ruin and disaster. One hundred heads were
shelterless, save as cared for by their more fortunate
neighltors, and many had lost their all. Still a spirit
of cheerfulness reigned, and plans for rebuilding were
talked of before the hot Hames had sunk into sullen
rest amid the smoking ruin they had so quickly wrought."
The principal losses were as follows:
W. L. Fuller, law office and personal property,
$1,000. Insurance $500.
Aaron and William Courtright, Brooks House, furniture and other personal property, and old meatmarket building, $18,000. Insurance $4,500. The
Brooks House was one of the ancient landmarks of
the village, having been built by John A. Brooks.
J. F. A. Kaider, vacant store and small building
adjoining, and damage to brick store, $1,000, mostly
covered by insurance.
J. H. Edwardi., small building adjoining his hardware store, and an old bam, $700.
Richard Surplice, store and dwelling. $5,500. Insuranee, $2,200.
J. H. Simmons, two buildings. $3,500. Insurance,
$1,500.
D. H. Gates, household goods, etc.. #250.
Mrs. Julia Jarse, Jarse House, $4,000. No insurance.
John Bailey, two buildings, $2,500. No insurance.
George King, store and dwelling, $2,800. No insurance.
E. I. Gray, office and store building and papers
$500. No insurance.
A. G. Day, office and papers, $500. No insurance.
I. N. Robinson, personal property, $300. No insurance.
Banker & McKee, one building, $i,ooo. No insurance.
Kalamazoo Printing Company, $300. No insurance.
J. M. Allen, dwelling house and livery stable, $2.-
500. No insurance.
C. A. Banker, blacksmith shop, $500. No insurance.
Congregational Church, $3,000. No insurance.
Charles Atwood, dwelling. $200. No insurance.
A. T. Day, house and barn, §1,000.
Ed. Pine, personal property, $700. No insurance
Joe. Maynard, personal property. $roo. No inssurance.
S. Thompson, damage to store building, S300. Covered by insurance.
S. K. Riblet, damage 10 store, $500. (Covered by insurance.
David Millard, goods, $200. No insurance.
E. I. Hewes, damaged goods. S700. Insured.
Jerome Carpenter, stock and goods, $1,200. No insurance.
Scarcely had the ruins stopped smoking, when the
work of rebuilding began, and, before the winter set
in, several brick structures were completed, or well
underway. "The Courtright,' which succeeds the
Brooks House, was formally opened Nov. 16. Severe
as the individual losses were, it is certain that by another year Newaygo will be all the better for the
fire. A better class of buildings are going up, and
the village is to have better protection from the destroying element. A liberal sum has been, voted for
water works.
Source: Portrait and biographical album of Newaygo county, Mich. Chicago - Chapman Bros. 1884.
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