History of Grindstone City Area, Grindstone City, Huron County, Michigan Copyright © 2000 by Mabel Cook. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. MIGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed MIGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the MIGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. _____________________________________________________________________ HISTORY OF GRINDSTONE CITY SCHOOL PORT AUSTIN DISTRICT NO. 2 The first Grindstone City School was organized about 1865. It was situated about ¼ mile west of the town on what is called the JACKSON Farm; now owned by Joseph LABA. (Now in 1962 owned by Alvin INDO) The schoolhouse was a log building about fourteen feet square, with one long window and a door in the south end. The door was of rough boards hinged by braided rope hinges and fastened with a rope over a peg. The door had a number of holes bored in it for light on cold days when the window hole had to be closed. The window was hinged the same as the door. The mud and plaster chinking between the logs was continually falling out in places and had to be repaired with moss and mud to keep out the cold. The room was heated with a flat-topped cordwood stove. The boys gathered the wood for the fire. On cold days the teacher wore a red wool scarf about his head during school hours and often wore his mittens too. The benches were made of logs fastened to the clay floor. Near the front of the room was a large whiskey barrel placed upright. If anyone was naughty, he was lifted up and plunked down on top of the barrel with his back to the school and if he was still naughty his ear was tweaked. The school was taught by a Mr. JONES during the winter and early spring. He was given board and room, also food and shelter for his horse at the different homes of his scholars. A little extra for incidental expenses was procured through collections taken up at meetings held at the schoolhouse. Some of his pupils were Margaret DEEGAN who later became Mrs. Robert WALLACE, Mary Ann DEEGAN who married Dan MORGAN, Peter and Dennis DEEGAN; also some of the KILPATRIEKS, GILL and PROVINES family. In 1869 a building was erected on the Sand Hill at the East End of the Ridge Road, now called Copeland Road, where the WALLACE Store later stood. The first teacher was Susan CLARK, next was Ester BUTTERS. She was paid a regular salary of $15 a month in the winter and $11 a month in the spring and fall. Her salary was raised several times during her stay in the district. She was succeeded by Lavina WILLIAMS, Miss MARTIN and Miss NORTON. The building was sold to the Loyal Orange Lodge and moved nearer to the center of town across from the REED farm. (There are two stories with regard to this transaction; one that school continued to function in this building; the district purchasing new benches and blackboards for the building. This story says that A. E. MCINERNEY, Hugh ROSS and Miss PARKS taught here. The other story is that there was never any school in the building after it was sold.) Some school officers during these early years were ROBERT WALLACE, MR. SPARLING SR. and Sam KINETH SR. The present school site was purchased in two lots, the one from Robert WALLACE and wife, Margaret on Sept. 13, 1876 for $33.33. It was the undivided tow thirds of the following description, commencing where the west line of Washington crosses the north line of Port Austin Road near S. E. corner of S. W. ¼ of the S. W. ¼ of Sec. 25-19-13, thence N. along the west line of Washington Road 10 rods, thence east along the N. line of said road to the place of beginning. A third plot was purchased for the Cleveland Stone Co. in 1905 and completed the present school plot. For this plot the district paid $75. This completed the present school plot of about one and one-half acres. The other was from Aaron G. PEER and wife Sarah, on Sept. 25, 1876-Dec. 9, 1876 for $16.67. This was the undivided one-third of school lot No. 2 running 10 rods from the center of State Road N. on Washington Road from Washington Road, thence 10 rods south to center of State Road thence to place of beginning in Sec. 25-19-13. The first board members of this school were ROBERT WALLACE, JOHN COPELAND and WILLIAM SPARLING Sr. This was a white frame building about 45 ro50 feet long by 25 or 30 ft, wide and one story in height. There was one large room with a door and two windows in the south and three windows on each side of the building. There were two cloakrooms, one for the boys and one for the girls. The teacher’s desk was in the north end of the room and the larger scholars (mostly girls) sat in the back of the room. There were two rows of seats on each side of the cordwood stove. Hugh ROSS taught the school in 1877, and A. K. BURROWS in 1878. Then came William WALLACE. In 1882 Austin CASE taught for $30 a month. After him cam D. A. SPENCER who succeeded in having it organized as a graded school, adding a primary and grammar Room. A course of study was adopted at this time. Mr. SPENCER received $35 a month. He taught twelve terms with gradually increasing salary until he was receiving $75 a month. The first primary teacher in this school was Minnie SPEARING at $25 a month. Some succeeding teachers were Mary SHAW, Maggie SPARLING and Mary DAVIS primary), Susie SPARLING, Jennie WALLACE and Libbie DEEGAN (grammar). Other primary teachers were Ida WILSON, Mary WALLACE, and Etta SMITH. Principals were Fred W. SCHLEGELMILCH, Fred CHURCHILL and G .A. WRIDE. Some of the board members of the period between 1877 and 1906 were Dr. W. J. HERRINGTON, John COPELAND, James HALL, William JACKSON Sr., Benj. RUNNING Sr., John DOYLE Sr., Dennis MORGAN and William SMITH. There was also Dr. COFFRON who worked hard to get a new school. In 1906 the old building was confiscated, part of it being torn down and part sold and moved away by the purchasers. William JACKSON Sr., Benj. RUNNING Sr., John DOYLE Sr., Dennis MORGAN and William SMITH composed the school board at this time. The contract for the present building was let for $6000 but cost about $7000 before it was completed. It is of birch construction, having a large assembly room, stage, library and long hall in the upper story. On the first floor are two session rooms, a long hall, a janitor room, entry and stairways. There is a full basement under the building, containing a large room and two smaller rooms, one used for fuel and the other a repair room. The first heating system was hot air but it proved unsuccessful so was replaced by steam heat, which is still used. Since the completion of the building in 1906 the following teacher have had a part in training the future citizens of the district: G. W. BUSCH (prin.) 1906-7-8 at $80 a month, Eliza JACKSON $40 a month, Kate MCFADDEN $40 a month, Ester ERVINGHAM and Miss BUCHSMAN. William H. SPARLING 1909-10 at $75, Audery CLARK $40 and E. VOLKER $40. William H. SPARLING 1909-10 at $80, Audery CLARK $40 and Gertrude KOLKER $40. William H. SPARLING 1910-11at $80, Minnie WRIGHT $40 and Gertrude KOHLER $40. Ezra DENEEN 1911-12 at $75, Kate COCHRAN $45 and Gertrude KOHLER $45. Ezra DENEEN 1912-13 at $75, Kate COCHRAN $45 and Gertrude KOHLER $45. J. F POBANZ 1913-14 at $85, Elsie MOSHER $50 and Etta KINCH $50 and Mae HUNTER $ R. W FORNER 1914-15 at $85, Etta KINCH $50, Mae HUNTER $50 and Winifred MCCARTHY W. J. QUINLAN 1915-16 at $100, Adah COLLON $50 and Mae HUNTER $50 W. J. QUINLAN 1916-17at $80 and Mae HUNTER $50 W. J. QUINLAN 1917-18 at $80 and Adah JACKSON $60 Miss Susie SPARLING 1918-19 at $85 and Bertha Cramer UPTHEGROVE at $75 Miss Susie SPARLING 1919-19 at $90 and Posie KENNEDY at $75 Miss Susie SPARLING 1920-19 at $105 and Posie KENNEDY at $95. She resigned at the Christmas Holidays and Norma COOK finished the term. Miss Susie SPARLING 1921-22 –23 at $90 and Norma COOK at $85 James CHESNEY 1923-24 at $100 and Norma COOK at $95 Norma COOK 1924-25 at $85 and Mabel COOK at $95 Elizabeth MEAGHER 1925-26-27 AT $105 AND Mabel COOK at $100 Irma WEISS 1927-28 AT $100 and Mabel COOK at $100 Irma WEISS 1928-29 AT $105 Mabel COOK 1929-30 AT $115 and 1931-32 at $105 Elizabeth RUNNING 1932-33 at $45 Mabel COOK 1933-34 AT $55 Elizabeth RUNNING 1934-35 at $55 Mabel COOK from 1935 to 1948 with salary beginning at $65 and gradually increasing up to $190 a month. At this time the enrollment had decreased to twelve scholars although it increased slightly after that for a few years. Clara MORAN was the last teacher. The school was closed and children transported to Port Austin for several years. Recently the district affiliated with Port Austin Public School and are transported by bus. I understand the building is now incorporated by five men for a term of 99 years. Some of the board members since 1906 were David HUNTER, Dr. F. A. SHAVER, Dr. W. J. LACKIE, Benj. RUNNINGS Jr., J. E. EPTHEGROVE, Frank MURAWSKE Sr., Ray COPLAND and Arthur O’BRIAN. The board of 1937-38 is composed of Garfield COPELAND, Albert INDA, Daniel MEAGHER, Charles NASH AND Jake NAVOCK. Grindstone City School has turned out its share of outstanding personalities. Along them are EDWIN REED—(lawyer), S. C. KINEK—(Supt. Of Schools, Spokane, Washington, and councilman of city of Glendale, California), FRANK KINEK—(Master Farmer and Part owner of the Port Austin Level Factory), S. J. WALLACE—(merchant), Thos. DEEGAN—(Capt. Of Coast Guards at Marquette, Mich.), David RUNNING— (Bee King), John and William COLLON—(morticians), Mrs. Wm. COLLON— (Mortician, She died on Nov. 10, 1962), Dr. D. J. COLLON—(dentist at Romeo), Wm. H. SPARLING—(Comm. Of Schools in Huron Co. for 36 years), Ted SCHUBEL— (Register of Deeds), John DOYLE—(County Clerk), J. E. WALLACE—(banker), Wm. WALLACE—(Congressman), Charles SMITH—(conductor on the P.M.R.R.) and Jewett SMITH—(manager of the shipping dept. of the National Tube Co. at Loraine, Ohio). Among the first graduates of Grindstone City High School (1891) were Mamie O’NEIL, and Etta SMITH. The Last High School diploma was given to Adah COLLON JACKSON, now of Bad Axe. The first School Reunion was held on Aug. 3, 1935. The oldest living teacher Mr. A. K. BURROWS was present. He was also present in 1937. Other former teacher present at the first reunion were: F. W. SCHLEGSMILCH, Susie SPARLING, Wm. H SPARLING, Adah JACKSON, A. K. MURDOCK, Ellen BUCHANAN LEITCH, James CHELSNEY, Norma COOK, Mae HUNTER THOMPSON, Ester ERVINGHAM NELSON, Winifred COLLON, Bertha CRAMER UPTHEGROVE, Audery CLARK KEEN and Mabel COOK. Every year since 1935 a reunion has been held and many former pupils and teachers have enjoyed a fine time, with a program, a noon lunch and general get-to-gather and talkfest. The successes of these reunions were due principally to the capable leadership of Mrs. Nettie JEMEISON MCGARDLE and her few loyal helpers. I compiled this history in 1938 and haven’t kept it up since. Someone will need to fill in the missing links since then. Many have departed this earth and there have been many other changes through the years. The School Corporation dissolved several years ago and was returned to the Port Austin School District. Then in Oct. of 1962 it was sold through sealed bids to Russell MORAN for a sum reported to be in the neighborhood of $1600. I owe the following people a sincere debt of gratitude for their help in compiling the information. Mrs. David COLLON Sr. (her clippings) Mrs. Nettie MCGARDLE (she loaned me her scrap book) He School Officers- especially Garfield COPELAND who gave me free access to all the school files. HISTORY OF GRINDSTONE CITY MICHIGAN In the year 1834 Capt. A. G. Peer, with his schooner, the Rip Van Winkle, he was forced to take haven at this place during a severe storm. While he was anchored here he recognized the quality of the grindstone rock and took some samples of the stone with him on his return to Port Huron. He later took rock from here to Detroit where it was used to pave part of Woodward Ave. This was the first grindstone rock used in Michigan so far as has been recorded. Capt. Peer acquired 400 acres of land here in 1836, including the Grindstone quarries. He began taking out stone immediately, but the first stone was used entirely for building purposes. Through his efforts a company was formed in 1835 to produce grindstones. It was operated by Pease and Smith and made grindstones for ten years; at which time Pease died and his share went to Capt. Peer, a relative. Capt. Peer then built the first grindstone mill, which was run by waterpower. Previously the stone was turned out by hand. He later installed steam power to operate the mill. The engine used was the first steam engine ever built in Detroit and had been used in the first steamer that plied between Port Huron and Detroit. Capt. Peer operated the quarries until 1865, when he took into partnership James Wallace and Mr. Prentiss. He later sold out to them. They then took into partnership Robert Wallace of Grindstone City and Frank and E. L. Wallace of Detroit, after which the quarries were operated under the name of Lake Huron Stone Co. In 1865 a total of 3400 ton of stone were manufactured, docked and shipped out of Grindstone City, according to Mrs. Tom Smith, Mr. Smith was shipping clerk here for twenty-five years. Robert Wallace become manager and finally sole owner of the company and in turn sold all his holdings to the Cleveland Stone Co. in 1888. In 186? Capt. Peer sold part of the original property to Cooper and Prentiss who sold their property to Worthington and Sons of Cleveland, Ohio in 1870. This company operated a salt block and General Merchandise Store between the former location of the grindstone mill and the Pere Marquette Depot. Angus McAshen said the salt well was drilled over 2000 feet deep and they pumped up a black, oily substance, which he thought might have been oil. They filled up the hole for about fifty or sixty feet and pumped salt. In 1888, the Cleveland Stone Co. Purchased the property owned by Worthington and Sons and became the sole owners of all quarry properties in Grindstone City. They continued to operate the store and quarries but the salt works were discontinued, as operating costs made it no longer profitable. They built a mill to make scythe stones and whetstones in addition to the grindstones. The grindstones made here varied in size and weight from small kitchen stones six to twelve inches in diameter, weighting 3 ½ to 10 lbs. To large grinding stones weighting 3 ½ tons or more. The largest stone ever turned out weighed over six tons. The first step in quarrying is stripping the area to be worked. This was usually done in the fall or winter by removing the topsoil and shale rock. Usually three or four inches were left until spring to keep the stone from freezing and cracking. In the spring the final stripping was done and the work of getting out stone was begun. There were two grades of rock, light and heavy, the light rock from 12 to 15 feet deep and the heavy rock form 5 to 10 feet deeper. The rock here lies in strata varying in thickness from two to three inches to six feet. The lighter top stone is usually cut in squares in approximate size wanted; by a steam drill, then the section were loosened and lifted by picks, bars, wedges etc. The large, heavy stone were cut in the same manner but often were loosened by charges of dynamite. The large squares sections of stone were then lifted out of the quarry hole by means of a steam hoist and set down on the top of the ground, where quarrymen roughly rounded the stone and cut a square eye in the center of each one. The stone were then hoisted on a flat car and hauled to the mill by a dinky engine. The company had their own cars, engines and tracks for the purpose. At the mill the stone were put on mandrels run by a system of belts and operated by steam engines while the turners finished the stone. Two men worked on each stone smoothing them with crowbar like tools, which were frequently sharpened to keep their cutting edge. It was Bill Bruce’s job for many years to keep these tools sharp. He was the Company’s blacksmith. They maintained their own blacksmith shop. The finished stone, which must be true and evenly balance, are then weighted, marked and ready for shipment. Among the old stone turners for the company were: William McCoy, Peter Green, Ira Wirt, James Hall, John Copeland, William Sparling Sr., Jack Hoy, John O’Neil, William Hunter, David Collon, Pat Kane, Roy McMullins, Pat Doyle, Pat Condon, Robert Copeland, James Reed, Bob Talbot, Tom McAllister, Dan Colhane, Louis Hebert, Thomas Ludlow and Samuel Cook Sr. Mitchell G. Cook, who worked in the mill says that their schedule one hundred forty gross of whetstones a day. He was later employed as crane man, lifting stone from the quarry and also loading them on the flat cars to go to the mill. These stone found a ready market in Canada, Germany, Russia, Africa, where they were used in diamond mining; and many other parts of the world as well as all over the United States. George Robertson was superintendent of the company for many years. After Mr. Robertson’s death, Mr. Barnum became superintendent. He was later transferred to Ber?a Ohio and George Pearson become the last superintendent of the quarries. Mr. Pearson still looks after the company’ interests here, and on Nov. 14, of this year 1945, seventeen gondola cars loaded with grindstone rock were taken form the quarries here, billed form Port Austin and shipped to the Cleveland Stone Co. Of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Pearson tells me these stones were to be used to make whetstones and scythe stones. Thomas Cook of Grindstone City still has a lathe capable of making stone from about eighteen to fifty inches in diameter; he has another smaller lathe on which he makes miniature stones form four to eight inches in diameter. These lathes he operates with a stationary gasoline engine. He has recently made stone for several people in Detroit, a thirty-four inch stone for a man at Centerline, Mich.; whose business is sharpening butcher’s tools, and a thirty-six inch stone for a tombstone man near Milford, Mich. Most of the stone he turns were for farmers and about 18 to 24 inches in diameter. Now, in 1961 and 1962 he has been making mostly miniature stone, which sell for $1.00 and up. He also makes frames for customers who order them. These completed stone sell for from $5.00 to $9.00 depending on the size. Perhaps is would be advisable here to mention some of the more prominent men who worked in the quarries of for the company. Tom Smith was timekeeper and shipping clerk for 25 years. Charles Smith had charge of the company’s horses and barns. James Minard later followed him by Mr. B. Smith and then. Dan Smith was carryall man, William Bassett engineer, Charles Winters, fireman; William Jackson, Charles Mellinson and Bill Bruce were blacksmiths; Duncan McGeachy was carpenter; Benj. Running, manager of the whetstone factory; James Kilpatrick Sr., was night watchman; Angus McAchen was foreman of the quarries, a position he held for many years. Due to carborundum taking the place of grinding stones, the quarries could no longer be operated at a profit, so were discontinued in 1930. Just one more example of new inventions killing an industry and a town. Such is progress. All of the good machinery was shipped to Cleveland, Ohio or sold to private people. A steel cutter who came here from Detroit broke up the worn out materials. This steel and iron was sold as scrap. The first stone was docked and shipped out on boats. The Cleveland Stone Co. Built one dock and the Wallace Co. built another. The stone was loaded on scows and taken out in the lake where it was transferred t the lake steamers. The first railroad came to Grindstone City in 1982, and from then on most of the stone was shipped by rail. This railroad was discontinued between Port Austin and Grindstone City in 1930. Trucking has taken the place of the railroad. The Wallace Co. Built, owned, and rented to their employees, small houses most of them painted red, from which was derived the name “Red Row”. Some of these houses were moved away and some were torn down and the lumber sold. Nothing remains of this section of town except some clumps of lilacs which continues to bloom and cast their fragrance on the air every spring. (Two summer people have cottages here now. 1960) Capt. Peer continued on the lake for many years and did not live in the town until 1853. He lived at the far end of “Red Row” then, and at the extreme north end of the town. He built the large stone structure on the corner of Copeland and Rouse Roads, which bears his name. This was in 1884. His daughter and son-in-law operated a General Store here for many years. His name was C. C. Cooper. They lived on the upper floor of the building. Capt. Peer spent his last years here with his daughter. Later his grandson Dr. William Cooper had Dental parlors in the building. It was later sold to the Cleveland Stone Co. Who in turn, sold it to the present owners, the Thomas Cooks, in 1929. Capt. Peer is reported to have been a blustering, domineering and overbearing individual much disliked by his employees and to the young fry of the town a frightful ogre. They scurried past his dwelling like frightened rabbits, turning to jeer when at a safe distance. The one and only lawyer of the village was Reiley R. White, who was admitted t the bar in the late fifties. He traveled from Lexington to Caseville doing most of the legal work of the territory. He died in 1862. The first schoolhouse was organized in 18654. I have already told about it in the school history so will not repeat it here, except to say that Mr. Spencer who succeeded in making it into a grade school died in British Columbia in 1948. In the year 1874 the first Presbyterian Church in the county was organized at Grindstone City about three-fourth of a mile east of the present school. Rev. John Kay was the first pastor. The church was later moved to the Ridge Road (now Copeland Rd.) but blew down in a severe windstorm and was never rebuilt. After the schoolhouse was built a Rev. McIntosh preached there every Sunday. The first Methodist Church was built at the foot of Quarry Road, in 1902 it was moved to its present site. Through the untiring efforts of Nettie Jameison McGardle the church was repaired and remodeled as a memorial to her mother, Mrs. Ella Copeland, one of our most devoted and well-loved church members. The church was rededicated on March 15, 1936, and church services are still held here every Sunday for the little group of loyal worshippers. Rev. Bishop is the present pastor of the church. (This was true in 1938 when this history was first compiled but now in 1959 church is only held for about four months in the summer) Adding another postscript in 1962. We have now united with the West Huron Church group, since their church burned in March 1962. They have used their insurance money to repair the church and regular church and Sunday school is held here every Sunday with Rev. Elizabeth D. K. Isaacs as regular pastor, and a find devoted one she is. The first doctor was Dr. W. J. Herrington who came here form Canada. He married Euphemia Cooper, granddaughter of Capt. Peer. Dr. Herrington practiced here for many years and Mrs. Herrington was an active and highly esteemed member of the community. They later moved to Bad Axe, where Dr. Herrington become head physician of the Hubbard Memorial Hospital, a position he held until his death. Mrs. Herrington still lives in Bad Axe and her two sons are practicing physicians there. Dr. Herrington was succeeded in Grindstone City by Rd. Coffron, a man of outstanding ability. Other later doctors were Dr. David Lackie, Dr. F. L. Tupper, Dr. F. A. Shaver, Dr. Scrutin, Dr. Hathaway and Dr. Cady; who left here in 1916. Since then there has been on resident physician in this town. The first gristmill was built by Robert Wallace. Fire of undetermined origin destroyed it in 1887. A new elevator built of grindstone rock in 1887 still stands, a memory of the imperishable stone, but is now used as a stock barn on the farm owned by the Cleveland Stone Co. The farm was later sold to three men. These men have dredged a cannel between the docks and have had the lake frontage surveyed and platted, for lots which are being sold for summer cottage sites. (The elevator was purchased by Mrs. Georgie McAchen and remodeled into 12- one and two room apartments for summer renters. It was leased by colored people from Detroit from 1954-1958. (Then in 1961 is was sold to Bryan Conklin of Northville. He plans on using it for a summer residence, along with other members of the clan.) The first golden wedding to be celebrated in the vicinity was that of Mr. And Mrs. Mitchell Lagassa, my husband’s maternal grandparents. They homesteaded near Grindstone City about 1860. They had fourteen children but only nine lived to grow up. Their pioneer log cabin was purchased by Mrs. Wm. Lyon Phelps and moved to the grounds at Seven Gables, their summer home at Huron City, three miles east of here. It was made into a curiosity shop and visited by hundreds of visitors every summer. Now that both Mr. And Mrs. Phelps are dead, their niece, Mrs. Lucas has moved the building to a new site but she still maintains the old ship; but has added two more buildings to the group, all containing antiques and well worth the admission charged to see the three buildings. Now some things of the building section of the town. Thee were two hotels, the Huron House operated by Henry Richards and the Grindstone City Hotel owned by Hunter and Ferteau. Will White owned and operated a fully equipped harness shop on School Street. C. C. Cooper and S. J. Wallace owned and operated General Store. About where Stephen Kreinke’s residence was in 1838, there had been the carpet weaving place of Wm. Taggert. (Mr. Hammon has a summer residence there now.) A millinery and goods store with all the latest gear for milady was owned and operated by Mrs. Robert Mathis. Mr. Mathis operated a trucking business and was Justice of the Peace. Next Mr. Mathis was a grocery store run by George Newberry. Mr. Newberry sold out to Peter Rouse who came here from British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Rouse enlarged the store and made it into a general Store which he operated until his death. Mr. Rouse also drove a grocery wagon which supplied the surrounding farming community, taking groceries to the farmer’s doors and buying their eggs and butter. Mr. Rouse’s team of old white horses and his grocery wagon was a welcome sight to the busy farm women. His youngest son, Roy now operates the store. Mrs. Rouse, “Aunt Kate” to the neighborhood is a true friend to everyone in sickness, deaths, births and time of need, left us on June 17, 1945 at the age of eighty-four. She will long be missed. A couple years after her death, Roy sold the store to Kenneth Perdue, who later discontinued it as a grocery store but uses if for plumbing and electrical supplies for his business. Then going on we come to Randall’s confection and tobacco shop where all the kiddies spent their few pennies. Next was the Shoe Shop of J. L. Bentley and John Hawn, both of whom made shoes to order. Near the little creek called “The Freshet” was the Barber Shop of Alex Guyette. South of here on Second Street was the home of James Watling, a cabinet Maker and carpenter who did much of the work on the Peer Building, including the elaborate carved woodwork in the two front rooms of the living quarters of the building. Mrs. John Secord was the town dressmaker and a very good one she was too. David Collon and Jonathan O’Neil were undertakers here for many years. After the death of Mr. Collon, his son, John, became undertaker and served the community until the spring of 1942 when moved to Bad Axe, where he and his brother William went into partnership in a furniture and mortuary business. The first white child born in Grindstone City was Eleanor Kinch. She later become the wife of John Copeland. The first Post office was established in 1874 with James Green as Post Master. Another Postmaster was John S. McDonald. Later Mrs. Anna Thompson was Post Mistress. She retired on a pension in 1941. Mrs. Thompson died in 1958. Then a civil service examination was given and Mrs. Frank Copeland became postmistress. She retired in 1957 and Mrs. Wanda Rothgarber became Post Mistress. An attempt was made in July 1962 to close the Post Office. But through the special efforts of Mr. Sam Bologna, Mitchell Cook and Mac Whalen along with petitions of the rural and town subscribers we were able to keep a postal station and our won address. The first rural route was established by William Hunter. In 1908 it was divided into two routes, one taken by John Collon and the other by John McCann. Several years ago it was again made into a single route with John McCann as the rural carrier. Mr. McCann still carries the mail and faithful he is, through mud and snowdrifts he makes his route often walking miles when he can’t get through with his car, and carrying his mailbag on his shoulder. His motto seems to be “The Mail Must Go Through”. Mr. McCann died in 1949 a the age of 79. James Foster substituted until a new carrier was appointed. Stanley Polwski is now the Rural Mailman. In its hey day there were between five and six hundred people living in this little hamlet. Today we are often called a “Ghost Town” but we have the knowledge that the rock on the shore of this great lake has helped to make history here and elsewhere. Commercial fisherman have found this locality a profitable place to fish for trout, whitefish and herring. Prominent fisherman have been Dandy Wright, The Wood families, John E. Upthergrove, John Kavanaugh, and the present day fisherman: Nelson Wood, and some Roy, David Summerville and Russell Moran. (Another change since first compiling this book is that now-in 1962 the fisherman are Russ Moran, Roy Wood, Dick Wood, Richard McNab and Stanley Ornowski and the principal fish are chubs and perch.) Our little town is visited by hundreds of tourist every year who come often, to see a ghost town, but they return again and again to partake of our hospitality and to enjoy the outstanding sport fishing. We have tourist cabins, boats for hire, bait and a restaurant to make their stay a more pleasant one. Two trailer courts are a more recent addition to the other accommodations. At the corner of Rouse and Copeland roads is a huge stone weighing 4750 pounds, one of the grindstones made here, and dedicated t the memory of the Pioneers of the region who helped in this great industry. The stone was dedicated by Dr. Wm. Lyon Phelps, professor of Literature at Yale University. It was dedicated at a special unveiling ceremonies during the Grindstone City School Reunion on Sept. 3, 1937. It stands a fitting tribute to an industry known and recognized throughout the world. Grindstone City received its name in 1870. It happened in this manner. Mr. James Wallace, one of the owners of the quarries at that time, in talking to Mrs. Samuel Kinch Sr. remarked that the place was growing so fast that it ought to have a name. They were discussing “Stoneington” as a name, when Mrs. Kinch suggested Grindstone and Mr. Wallace added City, and from then on our village was known as Grindstone City. Some interesting business cards of 1890 are here given: GRINDSTONE CITY HOTEL Wm. J. Hunter, Prop. New House, Everything First Class Good Sample Rooms, Rates reasonable Grindstone City, Mich. W. J. HERRINGTON Physician and Surgeon Calls answered promptly at all hours day or night, rain or shine Grindstone City, Mich. GEORGE W. BRUCE Dealer in HARDWARE Mowers, plows and farm implements Grindstone City, Mich. D. E. SPENCER Attorney And Principal of the High School Grindstone City, Mich. MRS. ROBERT MATHIS Always carries a full line of seasonable MILLINARY------------GOODS Prices and goods to suit all Grindstone City, Mich. PETER ROUSE GENERAL MERCHANT Grindstone City, Mich. MORE RECENT HISTORY Thousand of cattle, sheep and hogs are shipped from the stockyards at Grindstone City. The three principal buyers are: James Hunter, Abe Morrison and George Nicholson. Most of the stock shipped from 1920 to 1930 was done through the North Huron Live Stock Association. In it’s boom days the town had: a baseball nine in (sic) charge of “Hank” Smith, later sheriff of Huron County; a real brass band; horse racing on a good track, Fourth of July Celebrations with Calithumpian parades, fireworks, horse racing, a ball game and all kinds of games and races with prizes for the winners. The circus came to town once a year. What more was needed for a real city? In 1935 on August 6, The alumni and Friends of the Grindstone City Scholl held their first reunion a the school house. This was started through the capable leadership of Nettie McGardle (nee Nettie Copeland Jameison). These reunions have been a pleasant feature of each year since then and are held on the Saturday preceding Labor Day. Here old friends meet and new friendships and acquaintances are made. There is always a good time for all with entertainment, singing, recitations, reminisances, a special speaker, roll call etc. Two prominent speakers have been Dr. Wm. Lyon Phelps and Edgar A. Guest. Lunches of sandwiches, pickles, pie, coffee baked beans, ice cream and pop is served by the Methodist Ladies Aid and the day usually ends with old time dancing. It would be most fitting to tell you of one of our most outstanding women, a woman who was of the true pioneering spirit; Isabella Kinch. She came to Grindstone City from Caseville at the age of sixteen to teach at New River School. Here she met and married Frank Kinch. Mr. And Mrs. Kinch owned and operated a 320 acre farm, a creamery, and carried on an extensive dairying and poultry raising business. Mrs. Kinch was a real helpmate on the farm. She raised eight daughters besides doing all the housework, including meals for several hired hands besides her own family. She also found time to take an active part in all community doings. She was my first Sunday School Teacher at the Grindstone City Church, she was a 4-H Club Leader for years, organizing sewing, canning, pig, calf, and potato clubs in her endeavor to make the boys and girls of the community love the farm as she did. She organized The North Huron Farmer’s Club and was its president as long as her health permitted. She was the head of the Pamona Grange for several years and was an active member of the Women’s Club and the Priscilla Club. She organized the League of Women Voters in this section and took an active part in the Woman’s Suffrage Movement, traveling throughout Michigan and several other states, lecturing for the cause. The family finally left the farm and moved to Port Austin where Mrs. Kinch opened a tourist home and served meals to Clubs, parties and family groups, calling her home Questover, and what wonderful dinners she served: chicken, steak, fish, all you could eat was put on the table “family style” for fifty cents. She is now dead and her loss is keenly felt in the community. Since I came to Grindstone City in 1917 there have been many changes. There ware fifteen or twenty of the “Red Row” houses besides a number of more prosperous homes here then. There was the Reed home, a large twelve room house with a screened porch across the front over which Boston Ivy profusely climbed. It burned down in 1921. Next door was the home of Dr. Shaver, later sold and moved to a farm near Kinde. Other homes were those of Goulis, Mercys, Minnards, Peeks, Pearsons, and Wilsons, also the boarding house. Of these none remain except part of the Superintendents house. Two wings of the house have been moved to a location between Port Austin and Oak Beach and made into summer cottages. The remaining wing is on blocks preparatory to being moved. In 1924 there were over sixty pupils in this school and it employed two teaches. Now in 1945 is has twenty-three pupils and only one teacher. The High School was discontinued in 1918. W. J. Quinlan was the last High School superintendent. They taught through the tenth grade at that time. The school has since been discontinued. Mrs. Mary Jane Smith, widow of Tom Smith is our oldest living pioneer. She is 92 years old and has lived here all her life. She spends her summers here with her daughter, Mrs. Ray Copeland and her winters with some of her other children in Elyria, Ohio. Another old pioneer is Mrs. Olive Cook, eighty-two years old, who was born here and lived here all her life. She lives alone in a little house next to the only remaining store and does all her own work. (She died at the age of 89 ½ years). Others among the older generation are: Mrs. Elizabeth Collon, age eighty-nine; David Hunter, eighty; Mrs. Angus McAchen, seventy-five; Mrs. Anna Thompson, seventy-nine, and Dougal Forbes in his middle seventies. (All of these have passed on these many years gone as I rewrite this bit in 1959. I can think of many changes since I compiled this history of our town). BIBIOGRAPHY Newspapers from 1870-1880 Nettie McGardle’s Scrap Book Mrs. Thomas Smith Mrs. Olive Cook Mrs. Anna Thompson Mr. George Pearson Thomas Cook Mitchell G Cook Huron County History by Chet Hey Huron County History by Mrs. Gwinn Atlases of 1890 and 1904 **********Mable Cook************* 1938------------1959 (These dates could be the years she wrote this history) ************************************************************************** HISTORY OF NEW RIVER Three miles east of Grindstone City and between U.S. 25 and Lake Huron was at one time the village of New River. According to the old newspapers, S. Sharpstein was in the fishing business here in 1865. He was followed later by Pierce and Morgan. In the 1860’s Howe and Clark were engaged in lumbering in that place. The built docks and shipped out lumber. They operated their own sawmill which was built over New River Creek so sawdust was not problem here; as the river carried the sawdust out into the lake. This ventured ended in failure in 1865. In 1870 the land was purchased by Cooper and Crevy who put down two salt wells; one was 1040 feet deep and the other was 1003 feet deep. These wells produced on an average of 150 barrels of salt a day. The salt was shipped to Detroit, Toledo and St. Louis. Near the mouth of the New River Creek are still to be seen the piles driven in the ground where the salt blocks were located. The company owned almost the whole village. They owned the cooper shop and made their won barrels; the houses in which the workers lived, their own lumber mills, blacksmith shop, etc. They built and maintained a boarding house. For several years it was run by Mrs. Thomas Smith and later by Mrs. Mary Omo was the last mistress of the boarding house. The salt block was discontinued in 1883 due to modern methods lowering the price of salt. Present Methods could not be used profitably here. According to Mr. James Kilpratrick a state Geologist who visited there last summer (1937), said New River had the finest grade of salt found in Michigan. Henry Getty was Superintendent of the salt block in 1872 and until it was discontinued. A schoolhouse was built in the village in 1861. It was on the north side of U.S. 25 between New river Creek and the present New River Cemetery. Miss Clark was the first teacher. Robert Mathis kept store in New River. He was the first school director and was the Justice of Peace. He married thirty-four couples before New River had a regular minister. He later moved to Grindstone City where he ran a store until in the 1920’s. He died at the County House for the Aged. The first preaching done here was by Rev. John McIntosh, a Methodist minister, a circuit rider, who rode up and down the shore, preaching a week or two in each community. He preached in the schoolhouse as there was no church. The furs deed recorded in Huron County was in January 1861; a transfer from Lorenzo M. Mason to the County of Huron. This was a tract of four acres, the present New River Cemetery. The oldest marker in the cemetery is dated 1856. A burying ground at Emerson Point near where the Hunter Cottage now stands has yielded many interesting trophies. The burying ground was discovered when the wind and wave uncovered human bones. It was thought by some to be an Indian burying ground, but one human skull picked up on the shore had long red hair and a hole at the corner on one eye. Dr. Coffron stated that he believed the hole to have been drilled for some sinus condition proving that doctors even before his time have known something of sinus and its treatment. Many stone arrowheads and clay and stone pipes were unearthed around New River giving rise to the belief that it was once the residence of an Indian Tribe or at least a popular camping place. Of all that was once a town only the piles of the salt block remain. At the present time there is a summer cottage on the west side of the creek in a beautiful grove of sugar maples. The cottage was built by Mr. Frank Kinch when it was part of the farm, but it has been added to several times since, by successive owners. Mr. Kinch sold the property to Mr. Burkitt, who in turn sold it to a syndicate, and they sold it to Mr. Austin, a Cass City banker. Mr. Austin is the present owner. (1938) BIBLIGORAPHY James Kilpartrick William Pottenger Mrs. Tom Smith Mrs. Olive Cook History of Huron Co. by Mrs. Quium Mrs. Nettie J. Mcgardle. EAGLE BAY A coast guard station was the beginning of what later was called Eagle Bay. The station was located on an inlet of the water two miles west of Grindstone City and had charge of patrolling the shores of Lake Huron. Capt. Henry Gill had charge of the station. The Wallace Brothers, sons of Robert Wallace; formed a company and operated a grindstone quarry here for some time. They built a boarding house and a Superintendent’s house, both of which still stands. Another quarry was opened on the Gill property under the Constitution Stone Company and run by a Mr. Connors. The head office of this company was located in Ohio. This quarry operated only three years. The property is owned at the present time by Mr. John Barringer of Virginia, a college professor. The Barringer family spend there summer vacations in what was the boarding house. Mr. Barringer’s father (John Barringer, once City Manager of Flint, later Gov. General of the Philippines; now deceased) spent his vacation in what was the Superintendent’s house. The wreck of the Leander lies in shallow water near Hardwood Point. The Lender was a fore and aft schooner wrecked in 1853. The owners attempted to raise the schooner in 1854 but a severe storm rewrecked it and no farther attempt was made to salvage it. It still lies out from the bay and green and black bass hide beneath its sides. Many fishermen going out from Grindstone City find it an ideal spot to fish for the wily bass. BIBLIOGRAPHY Newspapers Ray Copeland Mrs. Nettie J. McGardle Mabel Cook (Historian)