Birmingham, Mich. : its past, present and future.

BIRMINGHAM, ITS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

Previous to this a yoke of oxen was borrowed and driven from a
distance to break up land. And this is the manner in which the
hrst settlement in birmingham was made. The place became well
known to immigrants and land-seekers on account of the Hamilton
and Willits taverns. The place was then generally known as
"Vvillts'," "hamilton's" or "Hunter's," and for several years after
contained only a few settlers. Later the place became known as
"'iety Hill," but whether this was taken from the extreme piety
of the settlers, or was intended as sarcasm on a few, has never been
ascertained. All of these original settlers lived to see the place
become quite a village. Elija Willits died in Birmingham, John
W. Hunter in the Township of Commerce, and Major Hamilton in
Genesee County. Other settlers who came to Birmingham in 1819
were Amasa Bagley, Ezra Baldwin, William Morris, Dr. Ziba Swan
and Sidney Dole. In 1820 came Colonel David Stannard, Asa B.
Hadsell, Major Joseph Todd, Elijah Fish, Daniel Ball and Asa
Castle. Captain Laban Jenks came to Birmingham in the fall of
1821. Oliver Torry came in with the Jenks family, having started
to walk through Canada to Michigan, when he fell in with the
family. In 1822 came George Taylor, a carpenter, Orrin Jenks,
Apolios Dewey, Smith Jenks, Ezra Rood, Leman Case, Joseph
Park and Dr. Ezra Parke. Scriba Blakeslee came in 1623, and
Jacob Baker came in the same year. The first settlers in Birmingham were obliged to come here by way of Mt. Clemens and the
Clinton river. A little later the old Ball road was cut through to
Detroit, but it scarcely deserved the name of road, as it was nothing
nore than a crooked path through the forest. The first industrial
enterprise undertaken at Birmingham was a tannery erected by
Elija Willits. About the year 1828 John W. Hunter, who was a
blacksmith by trade, built a foundry, worked by horse-power, a
little back from the main road. Later this was purchased by R. T.
Merrill and George Allen, who continued it for several years. The
writer is assured upon good authority that Mr. Merrill named the
town of Birmingham after the city of that name in England. Mr.
Allen retired from the foundry and Isaac Smith took his place.
Later a banker of Detroit became interested in the foundry. The
plant was increased quite extensively and they manufactured mill
work, agricultural implements, stove castings, etc. They erected a
shop to build thrashing machines and it is said that in one year
three hundred machines were made. The first merchandise business was started by Messrs. Dennis and Sullivan Kelsey, the second
by a Mr. Clock and the third by Orrin Poppleton. About this
time the postoffice was removed to the village and Sullivan Kelsey
was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by T. A. Flower, who
was succeeded by H. W. Botsford, Orrin Poppleton, Geo. L. Lee
and J. A. Bigelow, who were the early postmasters. The population
and manufacturing interests increased quite rapidly from the year
1835, and in 1839 the famous Pontiac & Detroit Railroad was completed to Birmingham. The road had been built to Royal Oak for
some time previous, but the cars were propelled by horse-power.
When the road was completed to Birmingham a locomotive was
put on and the road assumed all the dignity of a "sure enough"
steam railroad. There were no coaches on the road those days and
passengers were obliged to ride standing up in box cars. The roadbed was in horrible condition and when in motion the cars swayed
frightfully, making it almost impossible for passengers to keep
their feet. The old strap rails were not very securely fastened and
occasionally an end of one would shoot tip through the bottom of
a car. Many amusing tales are told of "Salt" Williams' experiences
while he operated the road. In court one day Mr. Williams was
being sued by a farmer for the loss of a horse which was killed by
a train. His defense was that it was pure negligence on the part of
the horse, for, he said, "if the horse had not stopped to look back,
the train would never have overtaken and killed him." It seems
that Mr. Williams worked in every sort of capacity on the road.
One night he was at the lever of the locomotive coming out from
Detroit. The station building at Birmingham was built over the
tracks, with large swing doors at either end to admit the trains,
and these were closed at night. Someone forgot to open them on
this particular night and Mr. Williams, either forgetting them or
thinking the locomotive (which he had began to look upon as
partly human) would have sense enough to stop to be admitted, ran
clear through the doors at both ends, slnashing them to smithereens. It is said that Mr. Williams would frequently assist the
engineer at Pontiac to get the train started, and then go out into the
barn, hitch up his best horse and beat the train into Detroit. The
road finally passed out of Mr. Williams' hands and was owned by
one corporation after another, until to-day nothing of it is left but
the right-of-way, over which the present fine trains of the Detroit,

Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad now pass. The town of Birmingham has had a steady, healthy growth during the past twentyfive years, until at the present time it may properly be said to be
one of the prettiest, healthiest and busiest towns of its size in the
State of Michigan. Birmingham has to-day broad, shady and well
kept streets, many very fine residences and business blocks, and a
general air of neatness and progressiveness that are a credit to its
people. Among the public institutions may be mentioned
THE WATER WORKS,
located in a neat and substantial brick building in the western part
of the town. A direct pressure of sixty poundcs to the square inca
is obtained from two hughes duplex steam oumps, the capacity of
which are seven hundrec and afty thousand gallons daily. The
source of supply are flowing wells, which feed a reservoir nolding
three thousand barrels of water. In cases of emergency the waters
of the River Rouge can be used. There are live miles of mains,
four to ten inches (mostly sixes and eights), and fifty double
hydrants.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
was organized in May, 1894. The officers are: A. Whitehead,
President and Captain; Harvey C. Wilson, Secretary, and L. B.
Peabody, Treasurer. I'he equipment consists of two hose carts,
one thousand feet 2 2-inch hose, fire alarm and electric station, and
building with 6o-foot tower. The department has in the past had
a number of serious fires to contend with, but has in each instance
shown the ability to handle them.
THE LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
was organized in 1867. In 1893 they erected the present fine brick
building, which contains a hall with stage and seating capacity of
four hundred, and a library of about one thousand nine, hundred
volumes. The membership fee is $I.oo per year, and this enterprise
is, beyond doubt, one of the most beneficious in the town.
'THE HIGH SCHOOL,
a large brick structure, was erected in 1861. The school roll at
present contains the names of four hundred and twenty-one
scholars. There are two special courses of study-four years of
Latin and two years of German completing the courses. Over
eight hundred dollars has been paid into the school fund for outside
tuition, scholars from this school being admitted to the State University by diploma, without examination. Edmund F. Waldo, the
present superintendent, was born in Wisconsin, graduated at the
University of Michigan and has been here a number of years. His
success with this school is a matter of pride to the whole townspeople.
THE LADIES' CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
was incorporated in 1885. The cemetery is located just north of
the town in a pretty locality, and has been greatly improved and
beautified during the last few years.
THE TOWN IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY
has done a great deal to improve the appearance of the streets of
Birmingham. They have recently placed wire receptacles for waste
paper, etc., at the street corners, which is a move in the right
direction. The members of this society labor without compensation or hope of reward other than to see the town present an
attractive appearance. They should be encouraged and assisted by
all good citizens.
THE RAILROADS
are the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee and the Detroit & Pontiac Electric car line, the latter running large, elegant cars to
Detroit, Pontiac and return, every thirty minutes.
THE BIRMINGHAM ECCENTRIC
is the only newspaper published in the town, and so well has it
performed its duty as a live, thoroughly up-to-date home paper that
the need of another has never been felt. It is a large eight-page
sheet and is issued on Fridays. Messrs. Whitehead and Mitchell
are the publishers, Mr. Mitchell managing and editing the publication.
THE EXCHANGE BANK
was established a number of years ago by Messrs. Whitehead and
Mitchell, and supplies all wants in this direction. The bank is a
solid institution, managed by gentlemen in whom the people of this
section know that they can place their utmost trust. The bank has
a number of safety deposit boxes that can be rented for the low
price of $I.oo per year. There are many who should avail themselves of this security.
THE POST-OFFICE.
is located in the Masonic block and is a model of convenience.

There are a number of combination lock boxes and drawers, and
everything is handled in first-class manner. Mr. George H.
Mitchell is the postmaster.