History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, profusely illustrated with portraits of early pioneers, rare pictures and scenes of olden times, and portraits of representative citizens of today, [Vol. 2]

ALBEE TOWNSHIP

351

AN ANCIENT LANDMARK
The Farm Homestead of Colon Barnum, Section 14, Albee Township
houses for single men, a general store and postoffice, a dance hall and refreshment parlor. The village has its own water system, with running water in
every house, and an electric lighting plant with cables reaching the elevators,
barns and sheds. There is railroad connection by a six mile branch road
with the Grand Trunk Railroad, whose line passes through Taymouth Township. A detailed account of this farm project is given in Vol. 1, pages 694-9.
Small Farmers are Prosperous
The individual landholders of Albee are pretty well scattered through the
eastern and southern sections, which are drained by several creeks, chiefly
Misteguay and Pattee Creeks. Some farms of moderate acreage are still
owned and cultivated by descendants of men who first cleared away the forest
and made the land fit for cultivation. The farmers of Albee are generally an
industrious and thrifty people, wholly devoted to the improvement of their
land and the growing of large crops.
Schools and Churches
In the matter of schools and church societies the inhabitants of Albee are
well provided. There are five well equipped schools taught by experienced
teachers, and are located in Alicia Village, in section 18, and in sections 12,
24, 29 and 35. The enrollment exceeds four hundred. The churches are three
in number, but all located in the southwest part of the township, in sections
28, 29 and 31.
Stone Roads
The well settled areas of Albee are so situated that the main highways
run north and south, there being little need, excepting in the southern sections, for any roads east and west. The townline road, an extension of Sheridan Avenue, between Albee and Taymouth Townships, is an improved stone
road for about two miles from the north township line, while East Street
extends for three miles into the township and also is improved. From its.