Michigan History Magazine Collection

The Fowlerville District Library Historical Collection has everything from farm equipment to uniforms to genealogy to maps to tons of historical memorabilia.  It also has quite a collection of the glossy, highly-informative "Michigan History" magazine.  

If you like going down memory lane or learning something new about this state, the magazines are available for you to peruse.  

The collection is under lock and key and it is best to call the library to make sure a time would be right for the staff to help you with looking at these magazines or anything else in the collection.  The biggest reason this collection is in a locked room is due to some items having gone missing when everything was stored at the old library on Mill Street.  It is a sad fact but these items are nearly irreplaceable.

But don't let that stop you!  Please feel free to call the library to check out this awesome collection.

Carrie Nation and a Hatchet

In 1903, Carrie Nation arrived at the Fowlerville Fair, as scheduled, and spoke about the ills of drinking.  The article "Record Breaker" was found in an issue of "The Fowlerville Review."  Carrie Nation's schtick was (supposedly) going into saloons with a hatchet and chopping at the bar.  

I don't believe there were any authentic hatchets in view during her speech but, a couple years later, a wooden hatchet was given out as a promotional item at the fair.  Were the organizers inspired by Carrie Nation?  We'll never know but it does make one wonder.

Today is Wednesday, June 14, and I am at the library historical collection until noon if anyone would like to stop in to see the hatchet.  Or any of the other wonderful items we have in the collection.

Labeled Items at Historical Collection

It is Wednesday, May 5, and I am in the historical collection until about noon.  Looking around at this organized room, I realized many may not be aware of some of our smaller displays.  Today, I've chosen a couple of shelves of memorabilia.  

The first picture shows a tile block from Woods Drug Store.  Some may still remember this business--especially their fountain area for ice cream and sodas.  The picture also shows a pocket watch, shaving equipment, a sharpening stone, and a tattling shuttle and hook.

The next picture shows a hanger from Utter's Menswear, old eyeglasses, hair accessories from the 1930s and 1940s, a silver mesh purse, and an 1848 penny.

This last picture has a promotional "hatchet" from the Fowlerville Fair, window weights, school books and a chalkboard, plus arrowheads.

It is quite an eclectic collection of items, plus there's more than shown.  In my opinion, it is just plain fun to look at the items in this room and think back to the day long before computers and iphones.

The Fowlerville Review 1977-1984

A recent donation of bound copies of "The Fowlerville Review," from January, 1977, to December, 1984, continue to round out the Historical Collection at the Fowlerville District Library.

On the front page of the January, 1977, issue, two young boys are shown skating on a pond near the Fowlerville High School (that would have been when the high school was located on Collins Street).  Breezing through that first issue, predictions were made for the coming year, a public works proposal was defeated, marriages, wedding anniversaries and obituaries were noted, six pages of want ads were found in the middle of the newspapers, school news and sports were reported on, and Steve Horton (editor and publisher of Fowlerville News and Views since 1985) was shown as a staff writer.  There were also numerous advertisements from the best car deals, to insurance and banking opportunities, to lumber supplies, and everything in between.  One notable ad, found on the back page (24th page) was a full-page ad for Frank's Foodliner IGA.  

~~Fryers were $.39/lb, bananas 5 for $1, $.77 for a large jar of peanut butter, a dozen large eggs for $.77.  

Oh how, things have changed!  The biggest change is that Frank's Foodliner (or Curtis Grocery) is now the Fowlerville District Library.  Has been since the building purchase in 2017, renovations conducted for the next year, then the grand opening June, 2018.  

And then, curiously, the December, 1984, issue has Larry Schmid along with two ladies shopping in Frank's IGA, to celebrate Larry's passion for being a part of the American Motorcycle Association's racing community as a "flag man" for starting and finishing races.

Looking through this issue, Howard's Market (where Save-On is now located since 1985) advertised fresh ground hamburger for $.99/lb, sliced bacon at $1.39/lb, and Vlasic Crunchy dills for $1.29, along with so many items for under $1.  The average price for a house ran about $70,000, with the highest noted at $139,900.  By 1984, you needed to head to Howell to see a movie (Orr Theatre had closed by then)--Pinocchio was on tap for viewing.

There are nine more volumes in this collection between the beginning and the end.  If you ever feel like going down memory lane or just researching what it might have been like in the 70s and 80s, these issues are a superb resource.  The paper is fragile but the bindings are solid and strong.

 

Fowlerville District Library Historical Collection

 

The Fowlerville District Library has a dedicated room, toward the back of the building, that contains a large collection of papers, photographs, artifacts, and some interesting memorabilia.  The door to the room is locked when not in use.  Two of the biggest rules of the room is that an appointment needs to be made to reserve the room and also that the room is monitored when in use.

It is a sad fact that when the collection was not under "lock and key" at the old building some irreplaceable items went missing.  Someone felt they deserved it more than the library did.  

As I have spent numerous hours cataloguing and organizing what is available for research, I have offered my volunteer time to be at the room on Wednesdays, from 10 am to noon.  For April, those dates are the 5th and the 12th.  I won't be available the last two Wednesdays of April but will start up again in May.  At this point, I am planning on all five Wednesdays in May.

The picture above shows part of the south wall of the room.  Nellie Lansing Glenn was a wonderful keeper of the history until her death in 1970.  She was also an artist and painted representations of some of the original buildings in the village from 1847 on.  They are a treasure and we're happy to have them for display purposes.

I hope you will come to check out what the collection has to offer as well as looking at displays by the fireplace and in the alcove at the back of the building.  In lieu of a museum, the library is being very generous to offer space for this collection.

Books, Books, and Torch 180

I recently had the great pleasure of participating in Torch 180's first Market Day, this last Saturday, at their location at 131 Mill Street in Fowlerville.  I had all of my books on display and for sale.  It was a fun day, to say the least.  

As I spoke with people and even directed them to this blog, it dawned on me I hadn't posted nor updated this blog in too long of time.  So now I am doing just that.  Since "A Soldier, His Brother, and a House" was posted on here, I've worked hard on a second edition of the commissioned "Mr. Smith's Forgotten Community," a memoir-of-sorts of past and present residents of Brighton Gardens in Brighton.  I will do a blog post when this revision is available on Amazon through their Kindle Direct Printing program.

For now, though, I'd like to tell you about "She Wore a Hat in Prison."

This historical fiction novel is the third in my collection of traditionally-published stories.  The Wild Rose Press published this one and "Tilly Loves Johnny" (a few years back).  Whiskey Creek Press published my first story, "Juniper and Anise," way back in 2014.

I am so happy with my latest novel and hope you will take a look at it.  It is available on pretty much every online book store but you can easily find it by clicking here.  "She Wore a Hat in Prison" is based on an event that actually took place in 1907 in California.  The woman wreaking Mayhem on her husband was Bertha Boronda.  She was convicted on this felon and served two years of a five-year sentence.  Here is are two pictures of her mugshots taken at the time of incarceration:

I moved this event to Cedartown--a village that looks a lot like Fowlerville--and highly-fictionalized her story because who really knows what happened in 1907.  I did a great deal of research to incorporate much of what happened in California but so much was pulled out of own imagination.

We didn't have cell phones, social media, nothing that would broadcast this story out to the masses.  So different than today's world.

I will be doing an author talk at the Fowlerville District Library on Thursday, September 29, 6:30 pm.  The book will be available for purchase but, of equal importance, I will be showing a power point presentation of Bertha's story.  It should be a fun yet a bit shocking evening.  

Hope you will be there.

A Soldier, His Brother, and a House -- the Defendorf Story

Now available on Amazon.com in paperback format -- it is a great addition to your collection if you are history buff for either local history or Civil War letters.

Jacob Defendorf was a 15-year old soldier for the Union side in 1863 during the Civil War.  Some letters he wrote and some he received were found in a Fowlerville house.  They have now been transcribed for this book.  Timeline history and explanation of some things he wrote, as well as ancestry research, is contained in this book.

Get it by clicking here!

A Soldier, His Brother, and a House

New book out! "A Soldier, His Brother, and a House" With access to original Civil War letters, I traced heritage from the soldier's home in New York, to his time in Virginia during the Civil War, to his brother's help in becoming a homeopathic surgeon who lived in Fowlerville, Michigan, onto the incredible history of the brother's house and its owners. I transcribed all of the letters to make them easier for the reader but scanned copies of the letters are also in the book. I have a few copies at $25 but will be on Lulu.com in the very near future. If you are interested in the Civil War, this has awesome moments in the life of a soldier.

Thank you to Mike and Jamie Hernden for the opportunity to put this project together!

History Books Available for Purchase

Check out two of my books you can order from Lulu.com (click here).

Usually takes a couple of weeks to get a copy.

Both "Mr. Smith's Forgotten Community" and "The Fowlerville Chronicles" are available in hardbound.

Candy Cane Production

In the 60s and 70s, Christmas time in Fowlerville meant making candy canes of all sizes by the Spagnuolo family.  Thank you, Lenore, for providing this wonderful picture of her father working hard to model and manipulate the hardening candy.  

As a side note, check out this link if you are interested in purchasing a copy of "The Fowlerville Chronicles."  There's more about the Spagnuolo family, both on this blog and in the hardbound copy.  Thank you to all that have purchased the book since it was published in 2011!

The Fowlerville Chronicles

"The Fowlerville Chronicles" is now available for purchase through Lulu.com.  Click on here to buy your copy!

1926 New High School Building

While doing research on a different subject, I came across this picture, published in "The Fowlerville Review," September, 1926, issue, announcing "School Opens in This Building Tuesday, Sept. 7."  This new high school building was three stories tall and located on Collins Street, across the street from what is now the senior center.

The building was torn down in 1998. 

Would love comments from anyone having attended this building.

2019 New Hardbound Available for "The Fowlerville Chronicles"

The proof copy has arrived! Additional copies will be coming in a few weeks -- newly set-up as an 8.5x11 hardbound book. All the same great information but even better than the paperback from a few years ago. Message me if you'd like me to reserve a copy. And, please share -- Fowlerville has a lush history and this book has so many pictures, you almost feel like you are stepping back in time. Thank you to all that have been great over the years helping get this book this far!

If you'd also like to go to my author page on Facebook, click here and message me to reserve a copy.

1929 Prohibition Era

This is not a Fowlerville house (as far as I know) but probably located in the Detroit area around the late 1920s, early 1930s, as I got permission to post it from another website.  The picture shows a raid by the police, where barrels were tipped over, causing a waterfall of illegally-gotten or illegally-made alcohol during the years this country was supposed to be "dry."  Isn't this just a most interesting picture?

Part of the reason I gravitated to it was because my first historical novel, "Juniper and Anise," is about a woman bootlegger.  During the writing process, I tried to visualize the old farmhouse she operated out of.  In my story, I placed it just north of town and the house looked a bit like this one.

The other reason I wanted to show this picture was to make mention of my two novels, "Juniper and Anise" and "Tilly Loves Johnny," both available through the publishers, on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, etc. and to let you know I am in the process of having my local history book, "The Fowlerville Chronicles," reprinted as a hardbound.  I will have the proof copy shortly and will then be offering it for sale, here on this site as well as at a couple local venues.  Be sure to check it out!

1963 Christmas Decorations

I am wondering if my readers could help.

The other day I had someone ask if anyone remembered Christmas decorations strung across the main four corners intersection along about the 1970s and 1980s.  I found the above picture from 1963 (no snow) looking eastward.  I'm not sure that's what they were referring to so I am wondering if anyone remembers other decorations during that era.

I would love to have you comment and I will direct that person to this site to read up on your memories.

Thanks!

1959 Lepard Chevrolet Ad

A few blocks east of the main four corners, where you will now find KW Corporation and the Fowlerville Pizza Box, Lepard Chevrolet showed off the latest and greatest.  In 1959, found in "The Fowlerville Review," big fins were all the rage.

Did anyone have one of these cars?

Lepard actually started out at the northwest corner of East Grand River and South Second Street, the former location of Maria's School of Dance.  As a reminder, there are nearly 3,000 posts on this site.  I did a quick search on the "Lepard" name and at least a half dozen articles came up.  So, please remember to search if you'd like more information!

1949 Harmon Ford Dealership

Mr. Bunn sold his dealership to Gordon Harmon, as reported in "The Fowlerville Review."  He'd owned it from 1921-1948, with a four-year break somewhere in the middle of that.  Without doing a great deal of research, I'm remembering Mr. Bunn lost his son, Ken, in an automobile accident, east of Fowlerville, on Grand River Avenue.  I'm wondering if Mr. Bunn took a break from the dealership when this happened.

At one time, at about where Owosso Road is, the curve was much sharper, nearly a 90-degree turn.  Older maps show it as such.  According to an article I found while doing research for "The Fowlerville Cronicles," this is about where the young fellow's accident occurred.

Eventually, Gordon Harmon would go onto real estate as well as owning this newspaper.

1940 Holt 60th Anniversary

I'm just randomly grabbing articles found in "The Fowlerville Review," published between 1874 and 1972.  Today's two articles are from December 25, 1940, front page.  

Holt and Hart were partners in dry goods stores, 10-cent barns, and doing photography.  There are numerous pictures from the early 1920s where they documented various houses and buildings.  They are treasures.  

The picture and article show the Holts celebrating their 60th anniversary.  The other interesting article is in the right column.  A car accident south of town, Fowlerville Road and VanBuren.  That's always an interesting intersection even now due to speed on Fowlerville Road.  The Mrs. Blank mentioned was probably the wife of H.T. Blank, a local jeweler.  

Any of these names can be searched on this blog for more articles.

1958 Real Estate Office

I knew this building, at the corner of East Grand River and South Second Street, as a collection office; others may remember it as Joseph Cox's law offices.  But, in 1958, it was part of an addition to a house where Mr. Clair Jones lived and the new add-on would be his office space.

Neither the house nor the building exist, both having been torn down a few years back.  The lot is empty except for a large rock at the corner, honoring John Gilully, an officer in the Civil War.

If you do a search on this blog for the military officer, you will find various articles and some squint shots I've posted over the years.

Another item to search on would be the "Spencer House."  Early on, in Fowlerville's development, a large white building stood at that corner and was used both as a storefront for travelers' needs as well as a few rooms for let.  The building was gone by about 1915-16.

The article for this addition was found in the December 31, 1958, issue of "The Fowlerville Review."  As a reminder, if you ever would like to do research in Fowlerville newspapers, head to the Fowlerville District Library.  The ladies there will be more than pleased to help you do a search of the digitized newspapers.  They are available from the years 1874 through nearly current.

1968 Letters to Santa

This is fun -- I looked in a December, 1968, issue of "The Fowlerville Review" and, on the front page, there were wonderfully-written letters to Santa.  I wish we could find out if Robert and Elizabeth and Stacia and Mary Ellen and Davy were lucky enough to get what they asked for.

At this time in the newspaper's history, Dick Rudnicki was the editor and publisher of the paper.  I have forever been grateful for drives around town as Dick told me various stories and identified storefronts and homes.  He is the Fowlerville encyclopedia, for sure!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas with family and friends, and loads of good eats.  And, hopefully Santa brings you what you're wishing for.