(P.191b) In 1880 Hunter & Holmes then building contractors here, commenced the erection of an opera house. The building was opened in 1881, with Joseph Jefferson. It was at once a convenience for the town which was fully appreciated and has always enjoyed a loyal patronage from Howell people for public meetings.

     As a play house the patronage has been of the streaked order, sometimes strong and then not so good, but usually pretty fair for a town the size of Howell.

     The building enterprise proved to heavy for the builders and the building went on the mortgage. It was owned for awhile by Detroit parties and was then purchased by Arthur Garland who has since managed it and conducted his business there.

     October 2, 1892, fire broke out in the basement of Isaac Bush's grocery on Grand River street, between Division and State streets. The flue stop had fallen out of the chimney in the basement. People in the store adjoining, burned out some papers and truck, in their stove, The fire was drawn down through the chimney, with the result already given. It had a (P.192) good headway before discovered, and was soon beyond control. All the buildings in that block, fronting on Grand River street, except the east store, were burned. The loss was estimated at $75,000,

     Among the heavy losers were Hickey & Goodnow who occupied a double store. The building collapsed before anyone expected and several people had very narrow escapes. Oliver Cook had to be pulled out. Mrs. F. G. Hickey was caught by one foot, and called loudly for those near to get an axe and cut off her foot. Crowbars were secured and she was finally pried loose with great effort.

     Frank G. Hickey and Darwin Wines were very soon missed. Their remains were found in the ruins as soon as the fire was sufficiently under control so that the anxious ones could search for them. Mr. Hickey was senior member of the firm. Mr. Wines was a contractor and builder.

     In the fall of 1890 Hon. Charles Fishbeck who was soon to retire from office of Judge of Probate, took steps to organize a second bank for Howell. J. A. May who had had some experience in the business was secured to lead in the enterprise and several good men were soon interested. Preliminary meetings were held in Fishbeck's office. The application for a charter was filed Nov. 28 of that year. The charter was granted Jan. 12, 1891.

     Miller Bros. who had for years run a saloon and cigar factory, about that time bought the block where (P.193) they have since been. The room they vacated was fitted up for the bank which took the name of First State and Savings Bank of Howell, Michigan. The first officers were Charles Fishbeck, president, Frank G. Hickey, vice president; J. A, May, cashier; directors, Charles Curtis, Frank G. Hickey, Charles Fishbeck, Asa Van Kleek, J. A. May, John Ryan, S. B. Rubert.

     The bank opened for business Jan. 13, 1891.

     The present board of directors are Charles A. Goodnow, Arthur Garland, Asa Van Kleek, George Barnes, John Ryan, F. O. Burt, W. P . Van Winkle. The officers are: president, W. P. Van Winkle; vice president, Asa Van KIeek; cashier, A. L. Smith, assistant cashier, L. R. Manning.

     George H. Hazelwood who was the first agent here for the Ann Arbor R R interested himself in a factory project and raised the necessary money to secure A. A. and Fred Piatt and Edward Porter who moved here from Hudson with their bending works.

     The company took the names of The Howell Manufacturer Co., and manufactured quite an extensive line of bent woodwork. In 1891 their works which stood near the present milk factory site, were burned. They were rebuilt upon a much smaller scale but were burned again in 1893. By this time they had worked up about all the available timber in this section and the works were never rebuilt here. The Piatts moved to Lansing. (P.194)

     Along in the '80s James M. Turner of Lansing, organized a milk factory there, taking the name of Michigan Condensed Milk Co. In time he casually asked Wm. McPherson one day, if he knew where a man could be secured to take hold of their business in New York, to look after sales. This talk led to the employment of  Birt F. Parsons who closed out his business here and moved to New York, for that purpose. Shortly after this James F. Joy and C. H. Buhl of Detroit, acquired the business from Mr. Turner.

     Largely through Mr. Parsons' personal efforts the business grew until the company required more milk than one factory's, capacity. Mr. Parsons remembered his old home town and took the matter up here. A meeting was hold in the Opera House in 1891 and the required bonus of $5,000 was raised to secure the factory.

     For some time milk was shipped to Lansing. By the time the factory was ready there was milk enough coming in to start work here. It was opened in 1893, with E. P. Gregory as superintendent. He resigned in 1901 and Wm. S. Sanderlands succeeded him to that position, May 8 of that year.

     The factory has for years received an average of 90,000 pounds of milk per day. It has averaged paying the farmers $360,000 per year for milk, and over $40,000 per year to help. Other factories have paid in checks at panicy times but the Howell factory (P.195) has always provided the cash without a single failure. The value to the whole community by having this stream of money flowing in regularly winter and summer, is beyond competion.

     In 1881, W. Sexton who then lived on his farm in Marion, bought some Holstein cattle at St. Clairville, N.Y., He was so well pleased with them that when the man from whom he purchased imported from Holland in 1882, Mr. Sexton secured some to come with his. At that time this section was considerably noted for Durham cattle and Mr. Sexton's black and white stock created all kinds of comment when he showed them at the county fair that fall. He had carefully studied his breed, however and given them a severe test, and pinned his faith to the Holsteins. For his careful work in those days the industry here has much to be thankful. In that first importation was a noble cow with the characteristic Holland name of Houwtje. Recognizing her value Mr. Sexton moved his operations largely toward her family. He has lived to see them among the country's leaders.

     Frank Metz who worked for Mr. Sexton, caught his ardor and enthusiasm, and was the second Holstein man here. Horace Norton soon followed. All of these were in Marion but they laid the foundation for what has become, beyond any question, Howell's greatest and most paving enterprise.

     The advent of the milk factory had much to do (P.196) with the developement of the Holstein industry. R. C. Reed, now of the firm of Reed & Knowles; Frank Crandall, The McPherson Farms Co., Dr. W. C. Huntington, F. W. Munson, W. W. Crittenden, J. W. Worhington, E. P, Gregory and other Howell farmers are extensively engaged in Holstein breeding. The A. R. O. movement which requires record of production before registry, has found hearty support here, and the fame of Howell cattle, including several farmers in other towns, is as wide as this country. Messrs. Reed and Crandall have been officers of the state and national Holstein breeders associations. Car load lots of thoroughbreds are regularly shipped from this market to breeders every where, Howell being the only place where choice specimens of this breed can regularly be purchased in such quantities. The trade in Holstein grades too is very large. So many buyers come from all parts of the country that D. M. Beckwith has made it his regular business for some time past to act as a sort of broker, to bring these buyers in contact with the cattle available for sale on farms in this county.

     In the matter of records, Howell cattle are right at the front. Houwtje K. Pietertje DeKol. No. 61,543, leads with a record of 99.6 pounds of milk in one day and 675 pounds in seven days. Her butter record in seven days was 18.98 pounds, She is owned by McPherson Farms Co. The 90 pound class has a large number of cows hereabouts. (P.197)

     Going prices paid to farmers for thoroughbred Holsteins run around $250, with choice animals more than doubling those figures. For grades the farmers are receiving $60 to $80.

     Year after year, in the state medical society, the question of establishing a state sanitorium for tb treatment of tuberculosis, was discussed. Committees were often appointed, only to be turned down by the Legislature. In 1905 the matter was brought on again by a paper in the state medical society, by Dr, Hartz of Detroit It was decided to make another trial and Dr. Hartz became chairman of the committee to take the matter up at Lansing. Some local physicians, became interested and brought the matter to the attention of Senator Rumer and Representative VanKeuren of this district, and posted them as to the need and value of such an institution. When the bill reached the Legislature, they were both among its strongest supporters. When it passed with an appropriation of $30,000 to establish the institution and maintain it for the coming two years, Dr. W. C, Huntington, to use a modern expression, got busy.

     Dr. Huntington's son Harry had recently returned from treatment in a similar institution in the east. He and his father, at once began a search of property in this vicinity for the most available site. They picked the grounds which were afterwards decided upon. (P.198)

     Dr. Huntington then called a meeting at the "eugine house", and the matter was taken up. It was decided to go after the institution and committees were appointed accordingly. E. P. Gregory who was chairman of the meeting, became chairman of the general committee. Everyone pulled together and the institution was secured. The first board, was Dr. Hartz of Detroit; Hon. Geo. W. Teeple of Pinckney; Frank B. Leeland of Detroit; Dr. Lohnson of Grand Rapids; Dr. Gray of Clare and Dr. Copeland of Ann Arbor.

     Dr. Kennedy of Detroit was its first superintendent.

     The local committee raised the money to present the site to the state, as an inducement to locate here.

Dr. Pierce is now superintendent. The present board is as follows: Dr. Hartz of Detroit; Dr. Johnson of Grand Rapids; Hon. Geo. W. Teeple of Pinckney Dr. Gray of Clare; Dr. Hinsdale of Ann Arbor, and Dr. F. B. Leeland of Detroit.

     In 1898, E. A Bowman opened a little bazaar store in the Cardwell block. It wasn't a very large institution and while Howell has a welcome for large and small alike, no one thought a great deal about it anyhow. In Mr. Bowman's desk is a little brown envelope labeled "First sale, March 15, 1898." It contains five cents.

     While the stock was small, its owner possessed (P.199) indomitable will, courage, courtesy and hustle. These qualities didn't show up on the first invoice, but they went right into the business with the little stock. After awhile, the store moved to a more central location and then to one of the largest stores in town. Then came a balcony, a basement fitted up for additional departments, a commodious store house erected in the rear and an annex in another building. At the start, Mr. Bowman and a boy took care of all the trade and had lots of time. Now, seven clerks are regularly employed, more on Saturdays and in the holiday season, as high as twenty-eight have been required to take care of the trade. The little store has grown to be the leader in its lines. Its a marvelous development.

     In the early '80s Frank H. Bush built Howell's first greenhouse. It stood on the ground now occupied by John Kingquest's house. For two or three years he did a good business, and then having engaged in the news and confectionary business allowed his greenhouse to go down. By the way this young man's confectionary business was in the room now occupied by Kirk's millinery store on State street. His peanut roaster was a new thing in Howell, and gave him a big business and this in turn gave to the row of two story business places, then lately erected, the name of "Peanut Row", which it has since held.

     About twenty years ago, Mrs. Geo. B. Lake who (P.200) was then living with her father, Dr. Z. H. Marsh, built a small greenhouse adjoining her home. About that time a young man named Samuel D. Chaney arrived in Howell and arranged to work for Mrs. Lake for his board, and go to school. The greenhouse become largely his care. Chaney afterwards became an operator on the Chicago Board of Trade, where he made a handsome fortune, He retired a few years ago and built a splendid home at Joliet, Ill., and has a fine summer home at Chautauqua Lake, N.Y.

     Soon after Mr. Chaney gave up his job of working in the greenhouse for his board, J. Albert Brown was employed by Mrs. Lake. He worked for her about seven years, and thirteen years ago, purchased the property. Under Mr. Brown's skilful management the business of flower culture has developed to one of the best in this section of the state, calling for several large houses, well equipped with the very latest appliances.

     The idea of raising vegetables under glass was new here when Lee Chamberlain took it up with Howell people in 1906. He succeeded in interesting capital with him and organized the firm of Lee Chamberlain & Co. Arrangements were made with the Water Works and Electric Light Board to run waste steam from their works for heating purposes and the green houses were built. In 1907 the old firm was changed to an incorporation under the name (P.201) of Howell Greenhouse Co., Mr. Chamberlain remaining in the general management. At this writing two houses each two by twelve rods in size, have been under cultivation since the company began operations, and a third is to be erected in the very near future. The leading products are lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers which find ready market at, home and in the
cities, all through the winter.

     Another greenhouse was built by Walter Papworth, in connection with his market garden business, some years ago. It has laid the foundation for quite an extensive industry. Every spring, tomatoes and other plants which are started there, are shipped to towns all through this part of the state.

     When William McPherson first established his store In Howell, a few drugs were among the stock as they are in all country stores. Later, when he formed the partnership with William Riddle and moved to the corner now occupied by O. J. Parker's drug store, the drugs became a main stock, gradually developing, until a few years later, a fully equipped drug store was to be found there. In time the late H. P. Browning came here to clerk in this drug store, and for some years managed it for Mr. McPherson and Son.

     Later this stock was owned by Henry D. Wilber who ran it for a good many years, finally moving to the old Winans block, where crockery, etc, was added, and where it went out in the first big fire which swept that block. (P.202)

     Another early drug store was run by E. A. Youngs who gained quite a reputation with his medicines.

     Mr. Youngs sold out to W. F. Griffith who ran the store for a short time and sold it to O. J. Parker, twenty-five years ago. Mr. Parker moved to the M. J. McPherson block when it was completed and has been there since, but is soon to move to the Greenaway block.

     Another early drug store was Dr. Blanck's. It was located in the Green block, afterwards known as McKeever block. Dr. Blanck sold to A. H. Phinney who moved the stock to the Van Kleeck block, where it was sold to Tim P. Stowe and E. K. Johnson. They were together for seven or eight years, when Mr. Johnson, in 1880, bought his partner's interests. When this was done, the stock was in what is now known as Monroe Brothers' block. It was moved from there to the Gregory block in 1909.

     Sometime after selling his interests in the firm of Stowe & Johnson, Mr. Stowe started a new drug store, which he ran for some time and then sold to Barron & Wines.

     Drs. Spencer & Hutton carried a growing stock of medicines in their offices. When these were united in the formation of their medical partnership, it pretty nearly made a drug store of itself. They were leaders in their line for some years, and were succeeded by Henry P. Spencer, who sold to E. Herendean, who afterwards failed and the stock was largely sold (P.203) at auction, the balance being stored for some years, in a barn.

     Another very early drug store was that of Frank Wells. He moved from here to Lansing where he was prominent in business circles for several years.

     In 1901 W. H. S. Wood was elected Supervisor and he proposed a petition for a vote on the proposition of not to exceed a one mill tax for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a township library, and among the first signers thereof were M. J. McPherson, Wm. Van Winkle and K. S. B. Holt. Meanwhile Mr. Wood also wrote to Andrew Carnegie who offered $10,000 for a library building if sight and ten percent or $1000 was promised for annual maintenance. The vote, was taken at the April election in 1902, no great effort being made to influence voters, except some quiet arguments and letters in the press by members, of the Howell Woman's Club. Mr. Wood having stated that he desired the voters and taxpayers to exercise a careful and consistent choice in supporting or rejecting it, but it carried by a vote of about two to one. The Township Board then appointed suitable committees and the plans of architect E. E. Meyers of Detroit, who was also the architect of the State Capitol at Lansing, and those of Texas, Colorado and Illinois were accepted,

     Meanwhile, the sons of William McPherson, viz. Wm. Jr., E. G., M. J. and Alex. secured and (P.204) purchased the entire block on Grand River street formerly occupied by the old foundry and presented it for a site, the central front where the building stands being accepted by the township and the remainder of the block by the village as a park.

     It was decided to build the library of field stone or glacial granite, found in fields near here and it has certainly made as fine an appearing library building as there is in the state and being on the best thoroughfare, is generally noted and remarked about by all strangers passing in automobiles, etc.

     The contract was let to G. Kuehnle, he being the only bidder on the entire building and it was commenced in the spring of 1903, but after getting the walls up and roof boards on, the contractor failed and it so remained until Mr. Carnegie was induced by M. J. McPherson, to make a further appropriation of five thousand dollars, by which it was completed and the building was opened for use Thursday, November 19, 1906, with an address by Rev. Dr. J. H Barkley of Detroit.

     The first Board of Township Library Commissioners, elected in 1903, consisted of M. J. McPherson, W. H. S, Wood, Rev. Brooke, Thomas Gordon Jr., George Chapel and George Barnes and since then, R. B. McPherson, A. D. Thompson and Rev. Cooper have acted thereon.

     Miss Lucy Chapel was appointed librarian. The books of the Ladies Library Association, were (P.205) transferred to it. The children of Mrs. William McPherson Jr., presented five hundred dollars worth of new books, the late Solomon Hildebrant and Dr. W. J. Mills and others gave books and W. H. S. Wood gave about two thousand law and government reports.

     When Miss Chapel resigned February 14, 1910, Mrs. Myrtle Wilkinson was appointed to the position.

     The library is opened every weekday from two to five p. m. and on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings from seven to nine p. m. It now has about 6,000 volumes, and is much used and appreciated by the public, and especially the pupils in the public schools. It belongs to the entire township of Howell, is a free circulating library, books being allowed to be kept two weeks, except reference books.

     A law was passed in 1905. drawn by W. H. S. Wood and introduced by Senator George Barnes, allowing, adjoining towns to join with Howell in its support, and use, but it has not as yet been availed of by them.

     In January, 1907, Prof. D. F. Clark established the Howell Business College, affiliated with the Bliss Business College of Flint, Prof. F. M. Dye was placed in charge for the first year. Prof, W. A. Clark became the head of the school the following fall and is still in that position. The college took a high grade for its work from the start, and has maintained it. Its list of students has been larger each year than the year before. (P.206)

     On May 9th, 1909, A. Riley Crittenden learned that a Detroit factory was looking for a location with more capital. The business looked good and he soon arranged to bring the parties into contact with Howell people. Before noon the next day the matter was practically cinched and on May 20th a contract was signed which resulted in the establishment of the Wickman Wire Works here. The company is incorporated for $12,000 with H. J. Wickman, Robert S. Layman, Wm. McPherson Jr. R. B. McPherson, M. J. McPherson, H. E. McPherson, O. J. Parker, E. C. Shields, Jay C. Walton and Fred P. Schroeder as stockholders. Its first officers were:

President--R. B. McPherson.

Vice President and General Superintendent--H. J. Wickman.

Secretary- Treasurer--H. E. McPherson.

     The company manufactures a line of wire specialties with a twisted wire eave trough holder as a leader. Its first season was highly successful and prospects are bright for a material increase in business.

     Wm. H. Wenk developed a genius for mechanics as a small boy, on a farm in Deerfield. He gradually developed a saw mill and cider mill and made quite a line of cider mill machinery. Early in 1908, he outgrew his country facilities and bought a site from A, M. Wells on the bank of Thompson's lake. There he erected a building in the upper portion of which he placed his Deerfield business. In the basement (P.207)  he equipped a first-class creamery. Capital was interested in this change and the Howell Manufacturing Co. was the result. It was incorporated at $15,000. The new industry was opened for business Sept. 15, 1909 and seems to be enjoying a prosperous and growing patronage.

     City officials of late years have been as follows:

     (P.218) June 28, 1906, A. Riley Crittenden returned to Howell and established a small weekly paper named Livingston Tidings. In a few weeks it was changed to twice a week, and that fall to three times a week. It has been a prosperous publication from the start, as a result of hard work by the publisher and his wife. In November 1910, the Herald having previously gone into the hands of its creditors, it acquired that publication and amalgamated the two plants.

     Largely through the influence of Tidings the Howell Commercial club was formed in 1910. Its birth commemorating the visit of Grand Rapids, wholesale dealers who were entertained by Howell business men at the Womans club rooms. Its officers were; President, R. B. McPherson, Vice president , E. A. Stowe; secretary L. R. Manning; treasurer, D. L. Young; executive committee L. E. Howlett, E. A. Bowman, O. J. Parker, C. A. Goodnow, F. P. Schroeder. When Mr. Manning moved away A. L. Smith was elected in his place. The club secured the Ewer Wrench and Tool Mfg. Co. for which $15000 of local stock was raised, the old company holding $10,000 of stock in the new company here. It has built a building and is just fairly getting under headway.