Galesburg Augusta High School - Rambler Yearbook (Galesburg, MI)

Page 6 text:

I BUSINESS STREET. -Photo by Joy. X OUR VILLAGE X Isaac B. Rogers, George L. Gale is described by bis cotemporaries as having been a man of numerous endeavors and but few successes. But when, in the year of our Lord 1837, the denizens of the vicinity resolved that the present site of the village of Galesburg should have a name, he appears for once at least, to have scored a success and to have secured so much of immortality as the adoption of his name to be the designation of said locality, may have conferred. It was twenty-four years after Mr. Gale was thus honored, or in 1861, that through the granting of its charter, the village became legally entitled to the ap¬ pellation. In the year mentioned, the village govern¬ ment was organized and of those who first filled its elective offices, only two it is believed, survive. These are W. A. Blake, recorder, and Dr. O. F. Burroughs, treasurer. Both gentlemen are yet residents in the vil¬ lage. The year 1837 was also made memorable through the opening of the Bennett House as a hotel. The old house after more than six decades of arduous service, yet stands, an indisputable relic of former times. As lecentlv as the date of its incorporation, the surroundings of Galesburg were far from attractive. In all directions and closely bordering the resident por¬ tion, oak grubs diversified the scenery and beneath them in many places, the water soaked soil became a morass that notwithstanding the most artistic “cordu¬ roying, was a perpetual inconvenience, not to say menace, to both man and beast. But with the granting of their charter, the people of Galesburg and also its vicinity imbibed new ambi¬ tions, and now few villages can boast of more attrac¬ tive or convenient surroundings.

Page 5 text:

V X W, A, BLAKE. A history of the graded scho ols of Galesburg that omitted the name at the head of this article would he incomplete. Mr. Blake’s participation in the management of our schools dates from the year 1875 when our schools were changed from the ungraded to graded system. During twenty-six consecutive years he has been in continuous service as one of the board of trustees, and during fifteen of these years has filled office of di¬ rector, to the satisfaction of patrons and the manifest advantage of our schools. The confidence of his acquaintances and fellow ' cit¬ izens has been manifested in many directions other than such as relate to our educational affairs. Since his arrival in Michigan in 1851, Mr. Blake has held many posifions of honor and trust. Among them have been the offices of clerk, trustee, village president, supervisor, and member of state legislature in 18111-2. His election to the two last named positions must be regarded as the greater compliment since Mr. Blake’s township and legislative district are normally opposed to his political views. He has never been an office seeker, his political honors have come unsought, as evi¬ dences of the confidence of his fellow men in his good judgement and integrity of purpose. But it is as a farmer that he finds his greatest en¬ joyment, and his numerous acres give to his inclination wide scope and generous opportunity. Mr. Blake was born in Livingston county, N. Y., in 1832, and is consequently now on the verge of “three score and ten;” but his equable temperament and meth¬ odical life have given him the advantage of at least ten years in appearance, and he bears his age lightly.

Page 7 text:

Unconsciously, former generations reared for them¬ selves monuments that should not only perpetuate their memories, but also engender a sentiment of grati¬ tude in the breast of every one of their descendants, or successors. This refers to the avenues of maples that beautify her streets and that, through familiarity, scarcely appreciated by Galesburg’s citizens, are yet, the admi¬ ration of every stranger within her gates. Immediately after the construction of the Michigan Central railroad, Galesburg became emphatically a “business place,” with tributary territory extending for miles in each direction. This activity continued until the Peninsular road, now the Grand Trunk, invaded the territory to the south, when the village entered upon a period of gradual decadence terminating in actual stag¬ nation of several years duration. At this period, the loaning of money was the most important factor in village affairs excepting perhaps, the borrowing of the same, and the decline in real estate values made Gales¬ burg a village of cheap homes and minor ambitions. In truth, there were several years during which not a single habitation for human occupancy, was erected, the trifling enterprize, then existing, finding gratifica¬ tion in the remodeling of old structures. The erection of the Cory block in 1886, may justly be regarded as the inauguration of a new era and al¬ though the development of the renewed spirit of enter¬ prise was gradual, the building of new residences and business blocks has long since ceased to be a novelty. Until 1895, the village in its organic capacity had taken little part in its improvement. In that year and during the term of T. S. Clapp as village president, an ordinance was adopted by which the village assumed a liberal proportion of such expense as might he incurred by individuals in the construction of cement sidewalks. To this action the citizens responded with a prompti¬ tude and jjei istence such as have resulted in providing sidewalks that in durability and appearance, as well as in the area already constructed, compare favorably with those of far more pretentious localities. The ordinance is yet in force and within a year or two, hoard or plank walks will be hut memories in Gales¬ burg. It is hardly necessary to make extended reference to the wide notoriety given the village through its hav¬ ing been the birthplace of Major General W. R. Shafter. In the exciting Santiago days it was the theme of wide¬ spread newspaper description and the “Shafter house” was illustrated to an extent previously unknown in the history of private dwellings. The house yet stands and it is to he hoped that local pride may conduce to its preservation, not only by reason of its family and his¬ toric associations, but also as an excellent illustration of Michigan’s pioneer architecture. Cotemporary with every period above referred to,