Linda Osborne Cynowa

‘Local Option Inforced’

Linda’s Monday Morning Moaning’s

Today I want to talk about something that has given me reason for thought since working on my research material when writing the ‘Macomb Township’ Arcadia book. In Waldenburg on the north west corner of 22 Mile and Romeo Plank Road, there still stands the Dopp Building with a cap stone that says 1909. But here I will go back a bit.

On this same corner was the general store owned by Peters and Kruth that unfortunately would burn in a fire in 1907. Robert Dopp bought the land and in 1908 construction began on a new store of brick.

Peter and Kruth general Store before the fire

Robert Dopp put the word out that men were needed for the building of the building, and as per the usual community, there would be many local men that would want to help with this project. During construction on one particular day, a photograph was taken of the men while they were resting, and the group very willing obliged the photographer with their posing. Along with this happy group, someone added a sign, ‘Local Option Enforced’, which drew my attention. After researching the saying, I found it very interesting.

‘Local Option Enforced’ has to do with alcohol, and was first used during the temperance movement, as a means to bring about prohibition gradually. Citizens in a community could hold a local option election and they had the option of deciding to legalize or prohibit the sale and use of alcohol within their community.

I found in my research that this was a mainly German Lutheran area, working harm, farming and family always come first. When harvesting time came, everyone gathered to help one another and get the job done faster. When it was accomplished all gathered for food and drink, and time to celebrate.

My curiosity got the better of me in what these gentlemen where trying to tell us with their sign in the photograph? Were they telling us that they were for prohibition? Doesn’t really seem likely, as when they were able to they could very well ‘cut lose’ and enjoy the German beer that was available. Or were they telling us they were trying to bring it to the attention of who ever was to see the photograph that this was what people were trying to bring into the community? Not sure I will be able to find out the correct answer to this question. But does make one wonder.

The Dopp Building looks much the same today on the corner of 22 MIle and Romeo Plank Road

On the ‘wee note’ till next week.

Thank you to Shelley Steir Henshaw for her all her help with the ‘Macomb Township’ book when working of the Waldenburg chapter for the images used here today.

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Jackson Crissman’s Home

Linda’s Monday Morning Moaning’

There is a house that has seen much in over 160 years, and probably, over the years a big variation in the amount and type of traffic passing by it on Mound Road in Washington Township.

Really my story starts with Josiah Jewell from Genessee County, New York, and his original purchase of land from the government of 160 acres on June 8, 1825. The acreage spanned the entire front portion of land running from 28 Mile to 29 Mile on Mound Road. By 1859, Jackson Crissman owned those 160 acres, by now configured a little differently. Jackson would soon add another 75 acres for a total of 235.

This property would stay in the Crissman family until Jackson’s death in 1881 and his wife May’s in 1902. By 1916, the property had new owner in William Hart, who picked up an additional five acres; he remained the owner into the 1930’s. It is known that by 1982, Stanley Ross had owned the land for some years, and was worked as the Maxwell Diary Farm.

The Crissman House at it’s most glorious, circa 2000 (Pat Hallman)

By 2001, the land moved again in to private hands, where today it still rests.

Although the home on the property that was built by the Crissman’s has been in the process of being remodeled for many years now. Progress seems to have stopped some time ago. This sad shaped building is now there for all to see. Further down the road you come across another building on Mound, it is the Thornington School, in much worse shape. There is little understanding as to why someone wants to own an historic property and let it go to ruin.

If the costs of fixing are too dear, ways need to be found to work around that, if the problem wants to be fixed. The school really hasn’t long left before it will be at the point of no return. I guess my question is, why has the township of Washington not stepped in, similar to Shelby Township that has amassed a park now for some of their historic buildings, and save this school, especially?

Two Mound Road Historical buildings in ruins (authors images)

On that ‘wee note’ till next week.

Thank you to the Greater Washington Area Historical Society and Museum for my research material.

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Dr. Dennis Cooley

This morning I would like to talk about a very interesting gentleman from Washington’s early start, called Dr. Dennis Cooley, he will be my point of interest in todays Monday Morning Moaning’s. Let me explain why.

Dennis was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts on February 18,1789; he received his primary and preparatory education in the schools near his home town. Soon he completed his studies at the Medical College of Berkshire, Massachusetts, from where he graduated in 1822. He would travel south to pursue his career for some years and return to his home town, before deciding in 1827 that the area of Macomb County, MI, and namely Washington might hold his future.

Dennis married Elizabeth Anderson of Deerfield, Massachusetts on May 16, 1830. Dennis and Elizabeth had two children Etta, born 1831 and died June, 1834, Belle, born 1834 and she died January,1844. Loss had still not finished with Dr. Cooley when his wife Elizabeth died in November, 1834. In May of 1836 he married again to the daughter of Elon Andrus a prominent Washington resident. Clara was born in Genesee County, New York in 1812, and came to Washington with her family in 1822. They adopted a son named George, birth date unknown, so where not much else is known about the young man, other than he passed away in 1856.

Dr. Cooley’s house on Main St and West St

Dr. Cooley was described as ” a man of fine form, with a good mind and eccentric with his habits”. He was among the few early physicians in the area, and his patients would come to the crossroads of West and Van Dyke Road, which became known as Cooley Corners. Dr. Cooley was well known for his special interest in botany and went on to publish a “List of Plants Common Within Ten Miles of Cooley Corners”.

This is a small area, and this images shows it’s relation to the Washington Bank, now Bank of Antiques

Dr. Cooley was given the appointment of post master for Washington after the first post master Otis Lamb, so the mail was carried by stagecoach from Royal Oak for the next 23 years, where Dr. Cooley attended to both the mail as well as to the sick from around the area, at his home. He continued to practice medicine until 1856, when he ceased due to his own illness. Dr. Dennis Cooley passed away on September 8, 1860 at his home in the Village of Washington.

Years later after the home was demolished, there was a small gas station on the corner, and eventually a new construction business would built its showroom on this busy corner. Dr. Cooley should be remembered as a great lover of science, a skilled botanist, and had collected a fine and large cabinet of natural scientific objects.

On that ‘wee note’ till next week.

My thanks to the Great Washington Township Area Historical Society for the use of the images, and Cheri Allen for always having a better memory than I have. And least but not last, Find -A-Grave Memorial pages.

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Mr. McCullough

Linda’s Monday Morning Moaning’s will be a bit off subject this morning, but wanted to make this author part of history blogs, probably because this man influenced me and my love of history, and is my favorite historical author.

David McCullough, a great American Historian, just had a birthday this past week, and turned 88 years old. Readers and fans of his have called him a ‘National Treasure’, and with that I certainly agree. Many, many years ago he wrote a book on one of my favorite and often misunderstood Presidents, John Adams, and much was also written about his brilliant wife Abigail Adams. Her quotes, when writing her husband, who was often for great lengths of time, away from his wife and family while helping bring forth a new country, have been listed in many of his books. Each of the books I have written has a quote of Abigail Adams along with the dedication.

‘In the cold colorless light of a New England winter, two men on horseback traveled the coast road below Boston heading north. A foot or more of snow covered the landscape, the remnants of a Christmas storm that had blanketed Massachusetts from one end of the province to the other. Beneath the snow, after weeks of severe cold, the grounds frozen solid to a depth of two feet. Packed ice in the road, ruts as hard as iron, made the going hazardous, and the rider, mindful of the horse, kept to a walk’. Chapter 1 of John Adams, by David McCullough.

Beyond writing, he is a first rate narrator and speaker and over the years I have listened to his wonderful voice narrate PBS American Experience, and many other historical shows, and can still be found on C-Span where there is so much to learn by his programs and presentations.

Many years ago in the early 2000’s, I heard he was coming too Meadowbrook, in Rochester Hills, to do a book presentation. I HAD TO ATTEND! At that time I owned four of his books, all big and heavy and wanted to get them signed. My husband David, was kind enough to carry this awkward pile of books in order for me to see if signing was an option. And being that photography was another hobby of mine, my camera and equipment had to also accompany us! What a thrill, for me it was like seeing the ‘rock stars’ we all want to see in person, but for me it was David McCullough, author.

Although it had been stated that Mr. McCullough would not be able to sign books that night, someone did thrust a book at him to sign anyway, and this polite man signed their copy. (It was not me, though). As the years went on I made sure I obtained a copy of all his books, and found his writing to be magnificent, and I would eagerly await for each new book. Sadly, he retired from writing, just before the pandemic , as he wanted to spend more time with his family and friends. So sadly, we won’t be seeing any new writing from this very talented man, nor have the luxury of probably hearing the velvety voice in public again talking about the history he so loves.

My McCullough book shelf and miniature Royal typewriter

Mr. McCullough always typed out his books on a late 1940’s Royal typewriter, no computers for him. Many years ago a company made a replica of his typewriter to use as a bookend, and of course I had to add one of them to my many books he had written. He wrote his books in a tiny cabin in his ‘backyard’ because of the peace and quiet around him. He would speak before Congress and won many awards, along with 2 Pulitzer Prizes for literature. He will always be a hard act to follow, and he set a high bar and encouraged many writers and documentarians to push forward on their work. Some months ago, while reading his Facebook page and people were talking of his books and showing their collections, I also listed the image above as I am very proud of my shelf of McCullough books, and I was contacted by the administrator of his site to ask if they could use my image as their mast head! Needless to say, what a thrill for me.

His writing will be missed. I will always treasure his writing and the books I have been fortunate to own. The stories he wrote were always written to understand and be very interesting. One of his last books was on the Wright brothers, and my first thoughts were, ok? But as usually I was over taken, what a great story and his take on their lives and what these brothers brought to us. I guess there is a small bit of hero worship in my blog this week. Happy Birthday Mr McCullough, and many happy returns of the day.

On that’ wee note’ till next week.

Little Sable Point Light Station

This week’s Monday Morning Moaning’s is going to open up the research I have been doing on this new venture I have begun on the Great Lakes Lights.

In 1867 lumbering was the main business in Golden Township on Lake Michigan where Little Sable Point Light is located. With very little roads at the time, most of the lumber and supplies were shipped in by boat. Shipwrecks in the area put out a call for a lighthouse to ease the navigational problems. Since ships had very limited navigational equipment , lighthouses were a very important contribution to safety on the lakes. Plans were drawn up by the Major of Engineers, O.M.Poe, and building began in April of 1873, were the crew and supplies would again come in by boat.

Circa 1915 Light Station via vintage postcard

Construction of the 115′ tower and 2 1/2 story brick dwelling was completed in the spring of 1879 and be the first time the light would shine. The was produced by a lamp with three concentric wicks which initially burned lard oil, but later burned kerosene. A lens made of hand-ground glass prisms intensified the light so it could be seen for 19 miles out into the lake. In order to make the tower more visible as a day mark, the tower was painted white in May, 1899. 1910 brought a change in name to the lighthouse, being that the original name of the lighthouse was Petite Point au Sable, French for Little Point of Sand. It would go on to be known as Little Sable Point Light Station. In 1911 the house was enlarged to better accommodate the keepers growing families, were dormers on the north and south sides and windows in the Attica were added. In 1915 the light was changed to an incandescent oil vapor lamp, which produced a brighter light.

President Franklin Roosevelt abolished the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1939 and jurisdiction for all the lighthouses was transferred to the U.S Coast Guard. A land exchange between the U.S. Federal Government and the State of Michigan was approved in 1973, and the State received the deed to the lighthouse and land in 1974. To reduce the maintenance the Coast Guard removed the white paint from the tower in 1976.

There were 14 keepers at Little Sable. The last last keeper was Henry ‘Hank’ Vavrina, who transferred to Big Sable Lighthouse when Little Sable was automated. No date information is known, as to when the keepers house was removed.

Little Sable Point Light today (authors images)

On that ‘wee note’, till next week.

I wish to thank the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association in Ludington, Michigan, you can check out http://www.splka.org for even more information.

Thank you for visiting and reading today. Be sure to share with your friends using the share button below if you haven’t already, please enter your email address in the form bellows to receive my stories by email.