Jul. 22, 2008 - 131 years ago...
Midland Street District History.
-- One of the rare historical business districts that is still representative of its earliest history, which dates back to 1865/66 when the town of Wenona was established by the Sage & McGraw Sawmill. Later it became main merchant district of West Bay City, before it was merged with the east side of Bay City in 1905.
-- Most of the districts buildings are still standing and many have their original owner's name and year they were built. Knowing the early history of these buildings can make your next visit to the Midland Street area far more interesting... when having a fine meal at "Moots hardware store" or doing a little shopping inside the "Lumberman's Bank." If you don't know their location, you can find it on the history page.
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    Jul. 9, 2008 - 152 years ago...
    Arnold's Was City's First Bakery.
    -- Fred Arnold, an immigrant from German, opened Bay City's first bakery in 1856, when it was known as the settlement of Lower Saginaw. Arnold recalled many years later how the bakery struggled in the beginning and was only able to survive because its popularity with local Indians customers who liked the taste of his "sweet" bread. They kept the business going until the lumber boom began a few years later. Arnold's Bakery became one of the largest north of Detroit with their branded "Ma Ma's Bread," being shipped to stores in other cities around the state.
    Picture 1909: Arnold's Bakery and parade wagon in front of store on southeast corner of Fifth and Saginaw streets.
  • Heritage/People/ [View]
    Jun. 27, 2008 - 170 years ago...
    History of Bay City Streets.
    -- Pioneers didn't give much concern to the problems they would pass onto future generations when they carved out a community in the wilderness, and began giving names to dirt roads. Today's greater Bay City is the result of six separate villages merging over time to become a single community. Each merger involved renaming of some streets to avoid confusion. In addition some streets simply did not line up and still zig-zag today. Perhaps the most notorious example is Madison Ave. which not only zig-zags but changes to Michigan Avenue upon entering the city's south end, the former Village of Portsmouth.
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    Jun. 16, 2008 - 126 years ago...
    Early Base Ball History.

    1884 Baseball Team
    -- In 1882 one of Bay City's biggest events took place. That year the Bay City Independents became the city's first organized baseball team. Three years later Bay City joined the Northwestern Base Ball League taking on teams from other cities, including the city's oldest arch rival, Saginaw. Base ball in those days was spelled as two separate words, and the rules of the game were considerably different from modern day baseball.
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    Jun. 1, 2008 - 117 years ago...
    Jewish Colony Tragedy of 1891.
    -- In 1891 a band of Russian imigrants left Bay City on a journey to establish a Jewish farming colony in the backwoods of Huron County. The spot they chose was two miles north and two miles east of Bad Axe in Verona township. Not having farming experience, they ran into many difficulties and were not able turn this wilderness land into productive farmland. The colony slowly began to disintegrate, and by 1906, only one of the original group remained. -- Heritage/Writings/ [View}
    May 17, 2008 - 65 years ago...
    Mighty WWII Effort of Small Shop.

    Sparling & Fogelsonger.
    -- While everyone did what they could during WWII to support the nation's war effort, none made a more outstanding effort than a two-man machine shop located at Williams and James streets on the west side of Bay City. The shop was owned by Jake Sparling, and his sole employee was Percy Fogelsonger, a former lumberjack. In spite of their combined ages talling 139 years, their production of steel flanges was so remarkable that the War Production Board cited them with an accomendation.
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    May 4, 2008 - 80 years ago...
    President of Industrial Works Died.
    -- Ernest Blackman Perry, was born in 1868 at Praire Du Chien, WI. He grew up in Ann Arbor, MI, and graduated from the University of Michigan. In 1891 began work at the Industrial Works as a draftman where he worked his way up to present of the firm in 1924. Mr. Perry died three years later at his residence, 2230 Center Avenue.

    Read his obituary page, which includes link to the history page for the Industrial Works.
    Photo 1919: Center Ave. Homestead.


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    April 19, 2008 - 118 years ago...
    Famous "Pin-up" Artist Born in Bay City.
    -- On Easter Sunday, April 21, 1889, one of the world's most popular artists in the 20th Century was born in Bay City to Richard and Harriet (Scott) Armstrong. Rolf Armstrong who weighed in at 14 pounds, lived near the old Fremont school on Broadway and Fremont. His father owned the Boy Line and Fire Boat Company, which was struggling at the time and only a few years after Rolf's birth, the family left Bay City for greener pasteurs.

    -- Young Rolf was a gifted artist who went to a college school of arts Chicago. Afterwards graduating he moved to New York where he was able to established himself as commercial artist. His paintings appeared on calendars, magazine covers, music sheets and in advertisements for many prominent companies. His work earned him the high praise as among the best "pin-up" artists of the 20th Century.
  • Heritage/People/ {View}
    April 2, 2008 - 81 years ago...
    Pioneer Recalls Early History of Bay City.

    Robt. & Catherine Anderson
    -- In 1927 The Bay City Times rans a series of six articles bases on the memories of Robert Anderson, who was 84 years-old at the time. Anderson came to Bay City (then Lower Saginaw) in 1855 at the age of 12. Arriving by boat he recalls the land along the Saginaw River was still primative and was lined with dense forests and many Indian wigwams, and Water Street was little more than a beaten path. These articles provide an interesting insight into a time period when Bay City's development represented little more than the present downtown with only a few merchants and business along Water Street and the rest of the area sparely populated with residential homes.
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    March 20, 2008 - 133 years ago...
    George W. Ames (1852-?), native of Albion, NY.
    -- George W. Ames, a native of Albion, N. Y., spent his much of his early adulthood working as a brakeman in the railroad industry. He was working for the Detroit & Bay City Railroad when he moved to Bay City in 1874. Later on he switched his focus to the real estate business where became very successful in developing great deal of wealth - owning properties in Detroit, Chicago and Bay City. One of his holdings was the Pine Ridge Cemetery which he bought from Sophia (Birney) Blackwell in 1990. Another point of his interest was the abstract business, which held the original plats of Bay County at his office in the Phoenix building.
    -- George and his wife, Jennie (Thompson) resided at 1908 Center.
  • Heritage/Writings/ {View}
    March 5, 2008 - 133 years ago...
    First Congregational Church, Founded in 1875.

    Photo 1920: Church Building.
    -- Nestled on the s. e. corner of VanBuren and Sixth Street is one of Bay City's oldest church groups. Sunday services have been held in there in the church's orginal building since 1876. The church has struggled through hard times over the years, but a core of steadfast members have always rose to the occassion to assure the faith of their ancestral heritage endured.
    -- The first pastor of the group was, Rev. J. B. Dawson, of Ovid, MI, who helped organize the initial church group. The dedication service of the new church building was provided by Rev. Zacariah Eddy of Detroit, with the assistance of Rev. W. D. Love, of Saginaw. Rev. J. Homer Parker became their first fulltime pastor. The first churche officers were Dr. Joseph Hooper, T. F. Langstaff and Ralph Crable. Former local historian and educator, George Butterfield and his wife Ester, were a members of this congregation, as was his son, Judge Ira Butterfield and his wife Eleanor.
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    February 17, 2008 - No so long ago...
    Grand Theatres were Centers of Entertainment.
    As late as the 1960s Washington Avenue in Bay City was the dominate location for movie theaters. For younger readers, these theaters had but one screen and they were lavishly designed inside and out. Heading south down Washington were the Empire, Bay, Regent, Washington and Roxy theaters. Only the Empire and Bay, now the State Theatre, are the only ones left. Theater lovers should see the renovated State Theater as a comparison to the simplistic look of today's theaters. A few other theater buildings that are still in this area are the Westown Theater (tavern on Midland St.), Woodside Theater, ( Woodside, now Cinema Arts) , Pine Theater (Columbus, now Bay City Players), and the Colonial Theatre (Woodside Ave., Essexville). If your interest is peaked in knowing more about the history of theaters and their location in the Bay City area, see the historical directory for a listing of theaters by name and by location, which include the years they existed.
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    Jan. 29, 2008 - 72 years ago...
    Bay cityans Felt Two Distinct Shocks.
    On October 31, 1935, citizens of Bay City were shakened by trembling of a magnitude 6.0 earthquate centered in Helena, Montana -- some 1,500 miles away. During October several hundred tremors were recorded at Helena, which included three damaging earthquates. Read the Bay City Times story and view resources pertaining to the earthquakes of 1935.
  • Heritage/Writings/Disasters/ {View}
    Jan. 16, 2008 43 years ago...
    Wenonah Beach Amusement Park Closed.

    H. Jarkey.

    The Wenonah Beach Amusement Park, located along the shoreline of the Saginaw Bay near the entrance of the Saginaw River, was one of the most popular entertainment distinations in mid-Michigan for over 70 years. The park had a wide variety of carny type activities, including a rollor coast and ferris wheel that thrilled riders while providing an excellent view of bay. The complex included a sandy beach, beach house, large pavilion and several eating establishments, including comedian Harry Jarkey who was a local favorite.
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    Jan. 10, 2008 - 170 years ago...
    Judge Sydney S. Campbell (1804-1887)

    Judge Campbell
    -- Judge Campbell was born in New York State and came to Michigan in 1830. Six years later he founded the village of Bridgeport. When Lower Saginaw (now Bay City) was platted for village in 1838, he moved there and erected the village's first residential home. He also was the first supervisor of Hampton Township. He and his wife Catherine J. McCartee lived out their life in Bay City. The family had a homestead at 1704 Woodside Avenue.
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    Dec. 24, 2007 - 121 years ago...
    Judge Albert Miller's Recollections.

    Judge Miller.

    -- The above was the title of an article published in 1886 by the Bay City Tribune newspaper. The article was written by Judge Albert Miller, the founder of the first settlement outside of Saginaw on the Saginaw River, which in later years became a part of Bay City.
    -- At the time of his writing the lumber boom in Michigan was well underway, with Bay City being the largest center of lumbering in the state. As leaders in the city were trying to predict the future progress of the city, Judge Miller wrote his article as a way of encouraging them to think boldly about the future prospects of the city. In do so, he passed on to us a first-hand, although brief, record of the Bay City's primative years.
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    Dec. 10, 2007 - 125 years ago...
    City Diary of 1882.

    Bay City Tribune
    -- One of the more interesting articles in old newspapers is the year year review of news items. The follow are some items listed for 1882:
    -- Jan. 12 - West Bay City Presbyterians decide to erect a $15,000 church. / Mar. 16 - Thomas Coon ran over by a street car and fatally injured, at the south end. / Apr. 5 - Terrible tornado passed over this section. Six men killed. / Jun. 28 - Launch of James Davidson's steam ship, "Siberia," the largest craft ever built on the Saginaw River. / Sep. 2 - Nomination of H.H. Hatch for Congress. / Oct. 14 - Formation of Bay City Stock Base Ball Association. / Nov. 28 - Forty head of cattle at H.P. Merrill's farm poisoned.
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    Nov. 24, 2007 - 142 years ago...
    The Saginaw Valley Indians.

    Chief Shop-a-gons
    Died 1911 in
    Saginaw
    -- Some of the most interesting articles of early newspapers were the recollections of pioneer settlers about life during the settlement years. In the March 16, 1865, edition of the Bay City Journal, appeared an article by senior pioneer who recalled meeting Pu-tea-quas-a-min, an Indian who told him the history of the Saginaw Valley and other parts of Michigan before the arrival of white settlers.
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    Nov. 7, 2007 - 51 years ago...
    First Mercy Hospital Building Demolished.
    Nathan B. Bradley-- Few may know that it was named after Nathan Bradley, who home was the first building used by Mercy Hospital in 1889.
    -- In 1956 that house was demolished to make room for a new hospital parking lot. This was covered in a story by The Bay City Times story, which includes some of the hopital's early history.
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    Oct. 24, 2007 - 142 years ago...
    Local Theatre History.

    Globe Hotel
    -- Ansel N. Rouech is credited with having the first theatre facilities in Bay City. It was located on the third floor of his Globe Hotel. In 1865 he hired a group of actors that played before a packed house. The hotel was located on Water Street and was originally built in 1838 by Sydney Campbell.
    -- That year James Fraser built a new hotel on the s.e. corner of water and Center Ave. and it included a theatre on its upper level.
    -- The first building dedicated to threatre was the Woods Opera House. It was built in 1886 and was located on the s.e. corner of 6th and Washington Ave. The large building included an upper level that was leased out for other activities. The library was there for a number of years.
    -- The present State Threatre building was first known as the Bijou. It was built live theatre in 1908, then converted into a movie house later on when motion pictures became popular.
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    Oct. 10, 2007 - 146 years ago...
    Union Red Rover Fire Company No. 1.


    1886: Westover Block fire.
    An article published in the Bay City Press and Times on July 19, 1861, listing the names of citizens who were appointed volunteer fire fighters. The list included some of Bay City's most prominent men - Judge Albert Miller, James G. Birney, James Davidson, to name a few.
    -- From this page there are links to the histories of some of these men and to the Pictorial on Fire Departments. If you haven't seen this pictorial, it is one that is quite interesting as it includes quite a few images of old time fire equipment.
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    Sep. 28, 2007 - 120 years ago...
    Salt of the Earth.

    Salt Blocks - Kern Manufacturing Co.
    -- In the late 19th Century, Michigan led the nation in the production of salt, and a large portion of it came from Bay County. Salt industry was developed shortly after the lumber era began. Most of the sawmills along the Saginaw River installed salt blocks to pump brine to the surface which they dried to get the salt crystal.
    -- An article published by the Bay City Tribune in November 1887 details the early history and production of salt dating back to 1859. By 1864 the number of companies manufacturing salt in Bay county were: Kawkawlin (2), Bangor (5), Salzburg (5), Bay City (10), and Portsmouth (4). Their combined annual production of salt was 167,328 barrels. By 1886 the production of salt in Bay County had climbed to 3,667,257 barrels.
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    Sep. 12, 2007 - 143 years ago...
    News Brevities of October 31, 1863.


    Bay City Press & Times.

    Bay City -- Read excerts of the news from this issue of the Bay City Times & Press. While the Civil War had broken out earlier in the year and was on the minds of everyone -- the city was maturing and prospering as reflected in news items of the day:
    - High price of lumber cause for expansion of lumbering interests.
    - New Western Union telegraph opens.
    - Twenty-one new buildings erected in burnt district.
    - Sherman House recently renovated, now Boutell House.
    - Watson's stave mill machinery being moved to make way for two new brick stores.
    - Nothing heard yet from the draft!
    - New sidewalks completed on Saginaw and Fourth streets.
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    Sep. 1, 2007 - 121 years ago...
    Jennison & Company Hardware.

    Jennison Building 1919.
    -- On May 23, 1886, the Bay City Tribune published a story about the long history of hardware stores located on Water and Fifth streets in Bay City. That tradition in some respects continues today. The Jennison Condo building was built for the former Jennison hardware business before being converted into condos. Bay City at the time of this writing was only three decades old. I'm sure the author of the article would be amazed to know that 121 years later a hardware building still occupies the north west corner of Water and Fifth streets.
    -- In the right hand column of this history page is a listing of ads that appeared in the paper that day, i.e., "Pasture to hire in section 10, town of Portsmouth. Enquire of Wm. Lumsden, Bullock Road."
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    Aug. 20, 2007 143 years ago...
    Tthe Fraser House.

    Bay City, MI -- On the south east corner of Center Avenue and Water Street today stands the Delta College Planetarium. Some may recall the Wenonah Hotel held this spot for most of the 20th Century. Local history buffs remember this spot as where the Fraser House stood, the city's first hotel of stature.

    -- The Fraser House was erected in 1865 by James Fraser, one of the founding fathers of Bay City, and notably, its strongest promoter during the city's infancy years. James immigranted to this area from Scotland at a time when the only settle here was at Saginaw.
    -- The Fraser House symbolized an important turning point for the city. Up until then the only hotel accommodations were quite primitive. The city was in need of a hotel offering the finest accommodations expected by visitors to a prosperous community. The opening of the Fraser Hotel provided a clear statement that Bay City had transcended its rough years and was now a city of prominence.
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    July 31, 2007 - 111 years ago...
    Eastern High School 1896 Monthly Newsletter.


    Bay City, MI -- Eastern High School was located on Madison Avenue where the YMCA is today. When Central High School opened in 1925, Eastern was converted to junior high.
    -- Thanks to a contribution by Dan MacMeekin, we are able to go back in time and read a full edition of "The High School Monthly" published in June 1896. The newletter includes many names, such as members of Board of Education comprised mainly of city commissioners, the school's faculty, the senior class, among others. June marked the graduation of the senior class and much of the newsletter is devoted to this. Photos include a group picture of the senior class. Also included, is an interesting listing of businesses that supported the publication, most of which are now gone.
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    July 13, 2007 - 170 years ago...
    1837 Expedition to Saginaw Valley.

    Michigan -- If you have ever wondered what the Saginaw Valley wilderness was like for the earliest settlers, this document written by Bela Hubbard will be of help. In 1837 Hubbard was an assistant geologist with the newly organized state of Michigan. In 1887 Hubbard wrote a book entitled, "Memorials of a Half-Century," which included a section on his expedition through Michigan during 1837. We've transcribe from this section the portion pertaining to his trip to and through the Saginaw Valley, which describes the conditions of the early settlement communities -- their geology and natural environment.
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