Muskegon Heights High School - Oaks Yearbook (Muskegon Heights, MI)

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THE OAKS 111 A HISTORY OF MUSKEGON HEIGHTS Sylvia Meeuwsen Muskegon Heights is one of the few cities in Michigan which were char- tered while the land was still a wilder- ness. As early as 1890, an improvement company of Muskegon decided to hold a sale of lots on the land surveyed and platted for Muskegon Heights. The day of the sale. was set for May 12, following the decision of several manufacturers to build factories in the Muskegon Heights area, providing enough lots were sold. Un the open- ing day, more than 3564.000 worth of lots were sold at S130 each! Thus began what is now the thriving city in which we live. Home construction, however, did not begin until the real estate boom had subsided to some extent. There was one resident, though, who had the foresight to establish a home on what is now Peck street, as far back as 187-1. His name is lVilliam Collier, the first Muskegon Heights resident. Mr. Col- lier told us that the land which he purchased was previously owned by Samuel Peck, whose orchard extended over 15 acres lying between the boun- daries of what is now called Peck street and Hoyt street. At that time there were only three houses on Peck street south of the Muskegon County court house, in Muskegon. In -lune, 1891, the population was 300. An organization meeting was held to further the appointment of the village council. The roads of the vil- lage. were mere trails, and Getty street the only route on which one might reach Norton. But improve- ments soon began. By the year 1892 Peck, Jefferson, and Broadway were paved with cedar blocks over which commerce was swiftly flowing. The Village of Mus- kegon Heights had several factories which were paying Sl,525,000 a month in wages. The Alaska Refrigerator com- pany is said to have been the largest company of its kind in the world at that time.. Kelly Brothers Manufac- turing company produced interior dec- orations and hnishings. This company was organized in 1888, and employed 125 men. The Morton Manufacturing company came to Muskegon Heights in 1891, incorporated with an author- ized capital of S100,000. The Morton family is now and always has been one of Muskegon Heights strongest sup- porters. Following these years of prosperity, there came the economic depression of 1893. Many land owners were finan- cially disabled. Some were forced to give up their land and return to the place of their origin. Une Mr. Alias Merrill, who was a real estate promot- er and owned 80 acres of land, was forced to return to Maine. He had made the trip from Maine to Muske- gon Heights by canoe. Those were the days of the pioneer! By the year 1900, things had taken a much better turn. The population had increased to 1,0l2, generally a sign of increasing prosperity, and the vil- lage decided to grow up into a city. The village officials, including Village Attorney Turner, President L. E. Eg- gert, Thomas Stead, Henry Morton, and Fred Cashbaugh, drew up a new charter. The village fathers retired in 1903 in favor of new city managers. Councilmen included George Betts, Martin Schoenberg, Red Ridout, Thomas Stead, Robert Morris, and Joseph Atkins. Charles Adams was given the honor of being the first mayor of Muskegon Heights. The city progressed rapidly. In 1906 appropriations were made for the new city hall. Many places of business were put into operation: a general store, hardware store, and bakery. A water system was established, the First well being drilled on VVest Sherman boulevard. In addition, a standpipe was erected. This system accommo- dated the city householders and pro- vided protection against fire. It is in- teresting to note that in 1906 the busi- ness section of the city which now is located near the site of the Consumers Power Company on Peck street, was a vineyard. The vineyard extended over 40 acres and was the property of Samuel Maffett. D C:-

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112 THE Muskegon Heights schools have made great progress since the building of the original one-room school at Sixth and Broadway, in 1891, In 1892 a bond was issued for the construction of a second school. Land was pur- chased on the site of the present Cen- tral -lunior High school for S900. Education proper really began in 1893, but for several years there was little or no improvement made in the build- ings. In 1910, however, Glendale school was built. South Park then followed. By 1915 there were 1,773 pupils and only 46 teachers, necessitat- ing the construction of Uak Grove school, and the building of additions to Glendale and South Park. A strong demand then arose for a high school beyond the tenth grade. In 1921 Muskegon Heights High School was opened for 'lbusinessf' and Mr. C. F. Bolt, our present principal, was hired for the job of leadership in the high school. How well he has done OAKS this can be seen in the years that have passed. His enthusiasm never weak- ensg his faith in youth is strong. Central Junior High School and Central Grades provides opportunity for education for pupils from the mid- dle section of the city. Roosevelt and Lindbergh schools were established in 1930 and are line examples. All children in our city, therefore, have access to the best kind of train- ing. There are today about 4,500 stu- dents attending Muskegon Heights public schools. In 64 years, it has been seen, a bar- ren wilderness has become a city of four square miles area and a popula- tion better than 15,500. As is true of any pioneer development, much in the way of culture may be added. VVe of the graduating class of 1937 believe that this phase of progress has been neglected only because of necessity. We feel that it is definitely on the way. V P: A 4 .3 f.5l 04' cg, gtg, d Q ' im, 'fsiff' f- Y N ' fed lf , --gasp Gyfloq-' V' 'L 1-,L-, -,.7