Looking Back: Charlevoix highlights from 1873
CHARLEVOIX — After 16 weeks, Looking Back resumes its regular reportage from 150, 100, and 50 years ago after the hiatus that focused on Charlevoix’s maritime and lighthouse history.
This week will zero in on what happened in Charlevoix between mid-June and the first week of October, 1873. Basically, the Charlevoix Sentinel newspaper focused on two topics: the need for constant maintenance dredging, deepening and gradual widening of both the upper and lower channels, now four years old, and how the town and its surrounding area were beginning to blossom to the point that Charlevoix was becoming known nationwide. Also, the railroad was about to reach Petoskey from Traverse City.
Editor Willard A. Smith was constantly alluding to how that was going to affect Charlevoix also, that we had to be destined to receive one now that the little settlement of Bear River was destined to grow fast into the booming town of Petoskey, which happened almost at once. But unfortunately it did not turn out that way. We, and Smith, had to wait another 19 years for a railroad to work its magic.
Charlevoix Sentinel, June 14: “The Third Assistant Postmaster General or somebody else has decided that a postage stamp can be used twice. The first time it costs three cents, the second time fifty dollars.” That is a fine of almost $1,300 today for reuse.
June 28: “Japan is the place to run a newspaper in. The Tycoon has started one, and if a man refuses to subscribe they chop his head off, and every merchant who refuses to advertise has his property confiscated.” Charlevoix Courier, take heed.
Same issue: “The Northport paper says the steamer Gen. Sheridan, one foggy day last week, left Elk Rapids for Old Mission (in Grand Traverse Bay), and bro’t up at Elk Rapids dock—their starting point. That is what we call skillful navigation.”
July 5: “The telegraph line between Manistee and Frankfurt commenced operation on Wednesday. Frankfort is now ‘out of the woods’ and in communication with the outside barbarians.”
Same issue: “HARBOR MEETING.--A meeting of the people was held on Wednesday evening, and the commissioner was instructed to close up the space between the south pier and the shore.” This structure, laid out the year before, must have been an odd-looking thing, a runt compared to the 750-foot north pier across the channel. It was only 80 feet long, and sat like a big rectangular box unconnected to the shore for some reason. Now that connection was about to be made, but it took well over a decade for the south pier to almost reach, in stages, the length of its neighbor.
July 26: “There is no law in this State for hanging a man who murders a lightning rod, Milk Safe, or Sewing Machine peddler, or a life insurance agent. Let the oppressed people remember this, and exercise their privileges.” I know of telephone phishing/scam artists I’d like to get my hands on. The more things change ...
Same issue: “Bridge.—The Commissioners have condemned our (1864) bridge, yet take no steps toward repairing it, or preparing for the probable result of dredging under it.” Smith said the commissioners were getting ready “to prop up the bridge.” But a $1,000 dredging contract in August necessitated removal of the bridge pilings, hence no bridge for a while. A moveable scow bridge was put in place for pedestrians until a new one could be erected. Flat-bottomed scows, rafts, and rowboats took heavier cargo across.
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August 9: The Hannah, Lay Company of Traverse City was advertising teas directly from China via San Francisco. They took “only 60 days” to arrive. FedEx, UPS, where are you now that we need you?
September 20: Back to the lack of a bridge. “NARROW ESCAPE.—Amos Fox, Esq., of this village, narrowly escaped being drowned one night last week. In crossing the river on the temporary scow bridge, in the extreme darkness, he stepped off the up stream side of the scow, getting hold of the edge of the scow, however, and keeping up until, his strength failing him, he was forced to let go and swim under the scow. He reached shore completely exhausted. He was discovered in this condition and assisted home.”
Fox lived nearby on what is today’s Pine River Lane. The experience left him so disgusted with Charlevoix township and the county’s nitpicking, bureaucratic dithering about proportional funding for a new bridge that he offered to build a duplicate himself, for $400. It was ready by April of the next year.
Finally, an example of Willard Smith’s whimsy and wit, the personal touch he but upon his newspaper that made it a joy to read for almost half a century, and still does. This concerned a second near drowning.
October 4, 1873: “ANOTHER.—On Wednesday night, W. C. Newman accidentally fell overboard from the deck of the Berty Mac, striking the bottom in ten feet of water. However, he remained cool, came out, adjusted himself in a suit of dry clothing, and now perambulates among us mortals, instead of sojourning among the Naiads of the bottom of Round Lake.”
The entire mood of those 16 weeks could be summarized in a small article that a constantly upbeat, optimistic Smith wrote for the July 26 edition, titled “Busy Times. Charlevoix has never known the bustle and activity that now prevails on its streets and waters. The roar and rattle of the ponderous steam dredge, as it digs its way into Round Lake, the shrill whistle of the tugs, the beautiful chime whistle of our lake steamers, and all the hurry and eager expectancy attendant on the transit from a dull inactivity to the dawn of the new era, is seen and heard on every hand. Everybody has taken a new supply of courage and energy, and our village begins to show the effects of it. Farewell the past, and welcome the new day.”
Next week — 1923.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Looking Back: Charlevoix highlights from 1873
