(photo)  SECOND DISASTROUS FIRE, on May 26, 1902 again hit the Main Street section, then businesses were rebuilt on Stafford.

DR. HENRY HULL delivered me for a fee of $10.  (So now at the age of 80, I ought to be worth a million!)  I was born above the saloon which my father owned and the family lived upstairs at the time.  Fortunately we had moved to our home up Main street by the time of the fire which claimed the saloon and most other businesses.” - - Jane DeHart Hamilton

(photo) Yes, this is Stafford Street in Ravenna, and of course, long before any though was given serious consideration for paving.  Also the horse tied to the hitching post dates the picture before the automobiles made parking a problem.

I will attempt to give you a summary of the old businesses as seen on Stafford Street in the 1908’s.  O.A. Conklin operated a general store and  furniture.  His store was at the corner of Main and Stafford, foot of the hill.  George E. Eason had a general store across the street on Stafford.   He had a general stock of merchandise, dry goods, groceries, ladies’ and men’s apparel.  (Donald Swanson is a grandson of George Eason).   The next store on the right was Lavender’s Millenery Store.  Mr. Lavender also had a photo studio, and he did interior decorating.  W. W.  Robertson operated dry goods and shoe store, then Charles Haas Jewelry Store, and Carl Stauffer’s barber shop.  Mr. Stauffer doubled as  deputy sheriff for Ravenna and was a terror to evil doers when he was commanded by his superiors to “get’em”.  M.C. Baranowski had the  saloon and poolroom, and next was Bartholemew Hardware.  The Post Office was where the old Times office later stood and now occupied by a  beauty salon.

(photo)  During the spring of 1905 Crockery Creek flooded its banks and caused considerable property damage and resulted in a tragedy when  Charles Stauffer attempted to cross the turbulent stream in a dock boat.  The Roller Mill produced ground feed and flour for the community.   The name implies that the grinding was done primarily by stone grinding wheels.  The power for the operating of the mill was by waterwheel.   A dam along the left side of the bridge backed up the water which was diverted into a flume and then over the waterwheel.  The house atop the  hill at the left was that of Dr. Henry Hull, the one at the right on the hill was the home of E. E. Thatcher.  Yes, Ravenna, at one time had a jail.   That was on what is now Thatcher Park and is seen lodged against the bridge.  The jail was primarily for the keeping of those who got a bit  unruly, sometime from imbibing too much in the spirits.  Really, the worst of it all was the drowning of one of the community’s prominent  young men, Charles Stauffer, who was justice of the peace.  He drowned at 1:40 in the afternoon.  When the accident occurred he was  endeavoring to get from the village to his home across the creek up on Harrisburg Road.  (The Archenball family lives in the house now.)  The  place where the accident occurred was near the grist mill.  Due to the heavy rains Crockery Creek had swollen so that the current was swift and  his boat was capsized throwing him into the water, carrying him under the bridge and down the stream, where he disappeared in the waters for  the last time opposite the “Hotel Patterson” about 40 feet from the bank.

In bygone winters, it was common sight to see many gravel sleighs drawing gravel for the township roads.  It was one way the farmer had of  earning some extra money, perhaps to pay his taxes.  Another very important item was the cutting of ice on the creek and pond.  This was  another means of extra earnings.  All the ice houses had to be filled with ice and packed in saw dust.  People had just common ice boxes in their  homes.

Those were the days when you could buy fresh milk from the Linck farm and old “Mollie” helped the boys do chores.  The George Price farm  on Heights-Ravenna road also provided fresh milk for many residents.  (That farm for the most part has been subdivided for modern homes on  the west side of town.)  Also in World War II days the Arthur Huston farm on the road to Kelly’s corners was a milk producer.  Now across  the road lies one of the greatest dairy cattle farms – that of Don Nutt.  (An oldtimer who ran a local milk route for years was John Wenzel.)   Anderson Barber shop on Stafford Street was started in 1905 by Wesley Anderson.  In later years a newsstand also was added.  Fred, the son  of Wesley and Lena Anderson, retired from barbering in 1973 after a 45 ½ year career.  The Ravenna Post Office was later moved from Stafford  Street to James Street then back to Stafford.  At the present time it is back on James Street about where it was many years ago.  OH YES,  RAVENNA HAD A BAKERY.  T.W. Owens, better known as “Dad Owens” owned and operated a fine bakery and cream parlor on James  Street.  Mighty fine baked goods were sold.  Bread for 5c a loaf! “Ma Owens” as she was called, operated the restaurant which was always a  charming place to eat and to meet old friends.  Continuing in that line their son Ted and wife Edith had a restaurant next to Eason’s Store; and  once a drugstore and soda fountain in the old Thatcher building.  Both served as township clerk.

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Sietsema Farms jobs

On the morning of April 9, 1947, a fire was discovered in the basement of Mrs. C.C. Strickland, the primary teacher in the temporary classroom  there.  Every bit of the building was beyond saving.  However, the fireman saved the parsonage next door, during the day-long blaze.   Since  the church was located next to Ravenna High School at the time, and fire quickly spread throughout the 75 year old wood structure, it was an  automatic day off from school, as well as for volunteer firemen from their regular work.  It was a stubborn, long burning fire and sad to see it  leap to the old belfry; equally sad for the teenagers who at the time comprised both the church choir and Methodist Youth Fellowship under  leadership of Rev. J. Lawrence Ward.  After raising funds to purchase new choir robes, they had been worn for the first and only time that  Easter Sunday, a few days before the fire.  Reverend Ward and the young people later worked to clean up the rubble and he spearheaded the  rebuilding drive immediately.  (Of further significance, church services were temporarily held in the old Oddfellows Hall, which in the late 1940’s  also helped accommodate some classes from the overcrowded school, as did the Grange Hall across the street.  A couple years later, the IOOF  Hall caught fire one morning - - again school was out for the day as students and volunteers fought a losing battle and another Ravenna  landmark was gone.)  The first Sunday after the fire, a little girl, Gaylon Sullivan gave a dime to start a new church.  Later, she gave a dollar she  received for her birthday.  Work-bees helped to clean up the rubble and in the Fall of 1947, a new church started.  It has been remodeled a  couple of times since and a parsonage was purchased – the former Albro Young home - - located west on Stafford Street.  The old parsonage  was razed thus providing space for a church addition to the red brick edifice.  The First Reformed Church of Ravenna was organized on March  8, 1924 and was known as the Moorland Reformed Church.  At that time, the Reformed Church purchased the Moorland Church building from  the Methodist Episcopal Church, which had moved from the country to the village of Ravenna.  The church purchased two acres of land at  strategic location on the edge of town.  A basement church and a parsonage were built on this lot.  The name of the church changed to the  First Reformed Church of Ravenna.  In the Spring of 1964, the First Reformed Church passed its first landmark with the burning of its last  mortgage.  Now membership numbers 221.  Gerrit B. Rozeboom served as the first pastor from 1932 – 36.

Fully 200 people witnessed the accident and drowning, and it cast a gloom over our little town and all business was suspended, since efforts to  rescue the body were at once begun.  Mrs. John Blackmer kept watching the creek each day.  Finally one morning Mrs. Blackmer found his  body near the Blackmer bridge.  (Mrs. Blackmer was the mother of Mable Thatcher, Lynn Blackmer, Hazel Mansfield, Walter Blackmer, and  Eva Zack.)  A prominent millionaire of Muskegon, Charles M. Hackley came to Ravenna and bought a farm joining property where Hoogtraat  School once stood.  (It would be known now as the Green Top Farm.)  Mr. Hackley bought this farm from Frank Doubleday.  Mr. Doubleday  was the father of Hazel Harrison and Garnet Lindgren.  Mr. Hackley came to his farm often but did not live on the farm.  In 1908 he had a  serious accident due to an explosion.  He was injured by the explosion of two sticks of dynomite which he was prodding with a crowbar; due to  this he lost his eyesight.  William Rogers cleared land to be known as the Cox farm, also the McLaughlin farm on the curve south of town,  and DeHart farm.  He built and partly finished a house in the village where he and his wife lived out their lives.  Their daughter Sarah Rogers  DeHart inherited the house and the farms the DeHart family resided there until about 1915, when the Mainone family bought it.

This was in 1900 when little Jane DeHart was only 6.  “They carried Mr. Higgins up Main street to my folks’ home where my mother tried to  treat him but he died a few hours later.  I was so worried that my mother would be upset with the blood staining the carpet.”  Then two years  later they met with another bad fire, which again took away most of the business places.  Then the town was built up on Stafford Street, and  again progress was evident as buildings were built much better.  It must be noted also the first cemetery in 1845 was located on Blackmer Road,  where the Ravenna School forest is now located.  This was not a desirable place so the bodies were moved to what is called “The Old  Cemetery” or the first section in the present location, behind the old Tibbits’ homestead.  There has been two more additions.  For years  Sidney Tuttle was caretaker, walking daily back to his home, near the depot.  He also sold many Christmas trees from his pine plantation.

(photo)  I.O.O.F. HALL was popular place for dances, dinner, wedding parties and meetings, right to the time it was destroyed by fire before 1950.  The Oddfellows rebuilt their lodge.

Travel was by means of oxen team and over rough wood roads.  Many of the settlers lived on forest game.  In this area, Ravenna, Slocum and  Trent were scenes of great lumbering mills as well as the shipping of both logs and lumber that had been cut in local mills.  The Slocum mill  produced many thousands of feet of lumber which was shipped out on a railroad

All these enterprises employ many residents from the surrounding village and country.  Swanson’s Pickle Company was started in 1946 by  Wesley Swanson, later joined by son Donald in the business.  They grow and process about 1,200 acres and employ about 100 people during  the season.  In the early years the migrant workers came in from Mexico, until mechanical methods took over.  The pickles are shipped to  different points, as far as New York, Dallas, Texas and Montgomery, Alabama, besides having huge vats for storage.  Loyd Arends purchased  the Farm Equipment Store from Paul Herman in 1960.  He later moved to his new location on Apple Avenue in 1968.  The Arend operate about  3,000 acres; milking some 300 cows, feeding 400 dairy heifers and about 300 beef cattle.  He is in business with his 3 sons, Jimmy, Jerry, and  Jack.  The name of the farm is the 4 J’s Ranch.  THE VILLAGE INSTALLED A MUNICIPAL WATER system in 1964 to improve the standard  of living in the community and with the hope of attracting more industrial expansion.  Since 1950, Michigan consolidated Gas Company put a  gas service in Ravenna adding natural gas to Ravenna’s utility services.  Electricity is provided by Consumers Power Company, and telephone  service by General Telephone company.  A sewage disposal system has been added in place of the septic tanks.

(photo)  MEMORIAL DAY ON MAY 30, 1910 in Ravenna in this lineup by the Grange Hall shows most veterans from Civil War, one in Oddfellow regalia and three in Spanish-American War uniforms.  Those who were identified are: left to right, Fred Plumhoff, John Gilbert, Mr. Laubach, (man unknown), Mr. Kelley, Fred Hoogstraat, George Bradfor, Benj. Sipps, (unknown), Mr. Franks, Mr. Cryderman, Orange Daggett, Mr. Eckwright, William Knowles, Mr. Morey, James Noble, (three unknown men), Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Enos, (an unknown ), John Flora, Pole Harrison, Spanish war vets Carl A. Stauffer and Neil VanCampen; and George Eason.

At an early date it was rumored that Dr. Sloan started the home intended for a hospital but little was ever known about this.  In the past decade  the house was moved 11 miles north out on Behler road, clearing the property for a new service station.  Another case of the old making way  for the new.  Jane DeHart recalls original houses in the village as E. Young, Hoefelmeyer, Herman, Hoogstraat, A. Rogers and Enos.  “Eight  trains a day kept the rails warm between Grand Rapids and Muskegon; two morning and two evening trains passed at Ravenna.  “For years an  eighth grade schooling was considered adequate; than 10th grade and finally in 1911, Elizabeth Cleland graduated in Ravenna from 12th grade.   In 1912 there were four in the senior class—Gladys Bunker, Lillian Nostrant, Minnie Kops and Jane DeHart – all of whom survive now except  Minnie Kops.”  “There were many dedicated teachers too, in those days.  I remember Bessie Bennett, Jennie Crotty ( later Mrs. William  Hagen), Lizzie David, Mrs. Eva Wilson, J. R. Partridge.  Years ago Judge Elliott Prescott taught in the upper grades, then about 1913,  Sylvester J. Linck came in as principle.  (In his 80’s, he still resides in Ravenna, counting some 40 grandchildren plus great grandchildren)

THE FIRST BANK WAS OPENED by E. Burt Jenney of Sheridan.  This bank was operated in the Citizens Telephone Company’s building and  later a cement structure was built.  Milton Kraft was the cashier.  Later this bank closed and many of the stockholders lost heavily.  Later, as  now, we have Security First Bank of Grand Haven, with a Ravenna branch bank.  Outstanding achievements of S.J. Linck sr., have been in  education and banking circles, but he has always laid claim to the “village farm’ on Adams Street where he raised his seven children (all of  whom earned college degrees).  S.J. and his wife Maude later built a new home, renting the old place, and now in his 80’s, Mr. Linck still takes  pride in his strawberry patch.  Back in the 1940’s when pickers earned about 2 cents a quart, he was sure to pay those who earned it in silver  dollars, coming home for lunch from his bank duties.

Gilbert) attended this school.  In fact four generations attended the Hoogstraat school.  There was a house built on nearly every 80 acres of  land starting at where Six Corners was located and coming down to Ravenna Village as far as the old Faulkner farm.  It seems many settlers  were not accustomed to the hard pioneer life so nearly all went back to Grand Rapids except Mr. Jacob Hoogstraat who settled on the farm,  now occupied by Richard Gilbert, who is a descendant of the Hoogstraat family.  Among the first settlers in what is now the village was  William Rogers, who kept the first hotel, operated the first sawmill owned by J. Mortimer Smith of Grand Rapids, and Thomas D. Smith who  looked after the mill and sold lumber.  TWO OF THE OLDEST FAMILIES to settle Ravenna were those of William Rogers and John  Thompson.  First white child was born to the John Thompsons, says Jane DeHart Hamilton (now 80 living in Grand Rapids) and “my  grandmother, Margaret Rogers walked through the woods to assist at the birth.”  She traces the Rogers family tree, born to William and  Margaret were the second white child, Thomas F. Rogers, also Aaron, Sarah, William (who died during Civil War and buried in Indiana) and  Hamilton and Ada who both died at a young age, in Ravenna.  Other pioneers recalled are the Tibbits, Youngs, Sipes, Enos, Alberts,  Hoogstraat, Daggett, Dr. Henry Hull, Plumhoff and Porter.  Coming later on were Herman, Eason, Conklin (who opened a store) and  Hoefelmeyer (had the mill), Thatcher, and Dr. and Mrs. Hubbard.  EARLY FARMS WERE BEGUN by brothers Will, John and Floyd Link with  original homesteads on Squire Road.  This farming is still maintained by descendants in the same settlement.  The Zoll family also came here  early, with Fidel Zoll as the oldest, having been born in Germany.  He married Melinda Deros in 1857 and for a number of years drove state  from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo.  In 1859 they bought the Zoll farm where their descendants now live; two sons Lewis and Andrew farmed it.   Fidel Zoll died in 1913 at the age of 85.  Andrew married Minnie McCarty of Polkton; their children were Mrs. Frank Nutt, Mrs. Matt Deindorf  and Joseph Zoll.

A very modern high school was built north of the town of Ravenna.  Later, a middle school was added with many flares and beauty, near the  new high school.  A fine educational system has developed in the Ravenna Public Schools with more varied course of study developed ,  including a fine music program.  At present, there are about 65 teachers working under the system.  Mr. George Townsend is the Ravenna  School District’s superintendent; Rodger DeVoogd is high school principal; Donald Moran, assistant superintendent; Lawrence Olson,  principal of the elementary; and Charles Ash, middle school principal.  We have insurance and a law office in town operated by the Linck  brothers; also some real estate agencies.  Kent Electric and Michigan Electric are other enterprises which greatly add to the town.  Modern  beauty parlors, laundermat and dry cleaning firms are also found in Ravenna.  The Security First Bank – in one of the most modern offices – is  headed by I.C. Pierson as vice president.  Rogers Publishing, Inc., is a growing web offset printing plant.  L.H. Beechnau, D.O., has been  practicing in Ravenna for 20 years.  We have a dentist and funeral director and a funeral home has been added.  I must say, Ravenna is a  progressive, modern and up-to-date coming town.

In the old school, Tom Rogers taught and earlier taught at the Hoogstraat school.   The first doctor in Ravenna was Thomas D. Smith, close  friend of Tom Rogers, with whom he resided (and is buried in the family plot).  The rest of the doctors were as follows:  Dr. Hull, Dr. Secott,  Dr. Mead and Dr. Hagen.  Dr. Thieme came in 1907, serving the community nearly half a century.  A very reserved and quiet man, tending  strictly to business, he was the last to call on patients in their home (in winter even going on skis or snowshoes to deliver babies.)  He married  Corinne Grannis, the blacksmith’s daughter.  The “Farm Bureau” came into existence in 1906.  A.E. Young operated the elevator in 1908.  He  sold coal, lime, cement, plasterboard, flour, commercial feeds and fertilizer, brick and tile.  A.E. Young also bought grain and had a good  business.  In about the year 1910, three men namely Tom Moore, Wes Anderson, and Sherm Sturtevant, went into a herb business, called   “Ginseng”.  This is a Chinese herb having leaves, scarlet berries and an aromatic root valued locally as medicine.  These plants had to grow in  the shade, so they used lath and built racks over the plants.  Sherman Sturtevant raised his on his farm; Sherman being the father of Isabell  Shook.  Wes Anderson raised his behind his house (he was the father of Fred Anderson).  Tom Moore raised his in back of the cemetery.  This  plant or root sold for $9.00 a pound at that time.  Now it is worth $60.00 a pound.  It seems great to think of our little town “Ravenna” being so  popular.  In the 1906 era Ravenna always had a homecoming.  An out-of-door “Bowery” was held and this was a place to dance.  It was held  about where Paul Herman’s showroom is today.  They put down a wooden floor and “Oh how they did dance!”  Oh yes, once upon a time we   had a “Show house” about where Hazekamp’s market is.  People both young and old enjoyed this.  Then came the out-of-doors free movies  sponsored by the Ravenna merchants.  The Pets of 1904 on were the pride of Ravenna.  The Ravenna Pets baseball team came into existence  and the businessmen all took part and played a good game of ball.  This, again, was a highlight of the town.  Admission was 25 and 15 cents.    The old homecomings were also very well attended.  They would feature a baby show, pie contests and races.  A balloon ascension was held  in the early evening.  They were first known as the Ravenna Jubilee.  (From the Times Jubilee edition in 1908:

(photo) ORIGINAL CATHOLIC CHURCH was built about 1905 in Ravenna.  Among those helping put in the basement were August Nutt, Henry Behler, John and George Goebel, and Ben Hoefelmeyer.

Ravenna feed millreviews

(photo)  This coal burning steam horse was of the vintage of 1915, at least it was running at that time.  The Grand Rapids and Indiana line ran  between Grand Rapids and Muskegon with stops at Reno, Conklin, Ravenna and Sullivan.   At that time a young blade could take his girl for a  train ride, round trip mind you, for 20 cents.  Is was quite the thing to meet the train Sunday evening just to see who was coming and who was  going, where didn’t make much difference, because it wouldn’t be far as a rule anyway.  Now this trip with the young girl of your choice. The  great ride was a round trip from Ravenna to Conklin and back.  There, at Conklin, the north and south trains passed and there was time to catch  the returning passenger train back to Ravenna.  The rate per mile then was about two cents.  It was considered quite a deal for those who had  the 20 cents, or forty for the pair.  The first station agent at the depot was Charles Bullock (his son called Mable Thatcher not too long ago).   Renold Lindgren, when in Phoenix, Arizona this winter met Charles Bullock’s son at church.  After Bullock at the depot, we had Harry  Gielman, followed by Mr. Thompson, then Mr. Huff until the station agent office closed in 1955 – also the demise of the one-coach  “Doodlebug” providing the last of daily passenger service between Grand Rapids and Muskegon.  The section of bosses were Amos Brooks, Harry Morey and Bob Shavalier.  (The latter was killed by a train while walking across the tressel.)

(photo) Aerial photo of Ravenna in the 1920’s.  The old cemetery is in the upper left corner, Main Street bridge over Crockery Creek in upper right corner.

Sietsema Orchards

In 1964 the Ravenna Bowl opened, adding much needed recreational facilities and a modern restaurant, having fish dinners on Friday.  A  modern Masonic Temple was built on James Street in 1961.  Before this temple the Masons and Stars met for many years above Bartholomew’s  Hardware.  Ed Bartholomew and son Windsor were early businessmen for many years carrying a full line of hardware.

On February 10, 1888 the first newspaper in Ravenna appeared, another institution, a rural weekly newspaper.  This was brought about by Tom  Rogers, second white child born in the village.  Three generations have published The Ravenna Times, including Ralph B., Senior, who was  the son of Tom, and Ralph Junior, a grandson.  News from the outside world was always looked upon with great anticipation and very much  needed.  Many weeks and months must elapse before messages could be carried by horseback and stage from those left back East.   EARLY  POLITICAL DEBATES are recalled across Stafford’s business street, possibly being most heated between publisher Tom F. Rogers  (Republican) and Frank Thatcher (Democrat), druggist.

(photo) SECOND HOTEL, SHOWN IN 1914, to be operated in Ravenna likely had the Scholes as proprietors.  This scene depicts the changing time – a horse-drawn carriage and the horseless motor version.

Paul Moon was the technician and supervisor of the plant.  Sanford Hunter and Fred DeGrost were the attendant operators at the time.  They  worked an alternate 12 hours shifts, sleeping and actually living in the power house most of the time.  Consumers Power company took over as  soon as they could to restore Ravenna’s service.  A loss of $185,000 in two hours time made the businessmen very distraught as many had lost  heavily in the Private Bank and then another failure in the Power Dam.  THE FIRST DEATH RECORDED was that of a Mrs. VanTassel in 1846.   The first marriage recorded was that of James F. Tibbits and Christine Burbie in 1853.  There are three establishments of primary consequence  to the agricultural community because they all assist in the farmer’s product.  These three are:  Ravenna Livestock Sale, Swanson’s Pickle  Company and the Ravenna Cooperative.  SOME OF THE RAVENNA’S BIGGEST business has its heritage dating back to 1878 when Joseph P.  Herman opened Ravenna Harness Shop.  He died in 1892 but each generation has branched out more and more from this beginning.  His son  George K. Herman, born here in 1883, became a leading citizen and prominent businessman before his untimely death in 1941 as the result of  auto injuries received while on a trip to Mexico.  The entire community was shocked at the news.  In 1905 George K. Herman and Mary Johnson  were married, and that same year he launched his career, opening a harness and repair business in the rear of the Carl Stauffer barbershop,  which was located on the site of the present Ravenna Party Store (now owned by J. Paul Herman).  George K. entered a diversified field of  selling; he began auctioneering in 1912, sold at auctions, bought cattle and horses.  He started selling Chevrolets in the new dealership in 1924,  then added farm equipment sales in 1929.  He launched the Ravenna Livestock sales in 1939, and died two years later, but the auto dealership  and livestock sale grew to become two of Western Michigan’s largest enterprises in volume.  His son J. Paul Herman took over management of  the family businesses, only to be faced with the advent of a world war when General Motors stopped producing cars, so Paul concentrated on  expansion of the livestock sale, farm sales, real estate and farm equipment.  The old auto showroom, corner Stafford and Main, was torn down  and the modern garage built at the foot of Stafford in 1946 when GMC began car production again and to meet high demand for new cars.

Ravenna feed millowners

(photo)  The saw mill was owned and operated by James F. Tibbits and his son Harvey.  The two men, 2nd and 3rd from right, are riding the carriage on which the log rides as it is being cut to lumber or beams.  The circular saws, at right, replaced the old band saws that often proved to be a great hazard when they broke and ran amuck of the mill.  This picture was taken in 1889.

(photo)  This class of 1922 came from, in part, from the surrounding area because Ravenna High School was even then reaching out into the  area.  They are:  back row, left, Mildred Gilbert, Flossie Arnold, Myrna Thompson, Clara Rosel, Carl Higley, Edward Kelly, 2nd row, Louse  Bennett, Jennie Kaufman, Lena Stockhill, Edna Priebe, Jennie Coon, Addie Ellcey, front row, Louis White, Theola Patterson, Irma  Rollenhagen, Clare Cazier and Mildred Manning.

(photo)  This gay looking group of Ravenna High School grads is quite distinctive.  The boys are wearing their hair in nice flowing pompadors  and the girls seem to like the middie blouse.  At least they are wearing broad smiles.  From left, standing are:  Leon Parker, Kelly Bunce, Fred  Lane, Barney VanGergen, James White, Aaron Kraft, Harry Parker, George Kraft and Russell Morton; second row; Beatrice Bunce, Eva  Ferguson, Mae Yarrington, Thelma Isenhart, Ella Butterfield, Etta Smith, Dorothy Young; front row;  Josephine Herman, Beatrice  Baranowski, Flossie Eggers, Caroline Young, Pauline Lindgren, Merle Hunter and Ina Johnson.

When as newlyweds in 1932, Raymond (Casey) and Mae Jones’ first home burned down, it soon after prompted Casey to join the Ravenna  Volunteer Fire Department, which turned out to be a second career for him.  He likely set a record here as a volunteer fireman, serving for 31  years, nearly all of that time as chief.  He stepped down in 1966, partly due to health reasons.  Ken Patterson is now fire chief.  Back in 1946 the  village purchased its first pumper (prior using only chemical firefighting equipment) and this new rig was driven home from Kalamazoo by Fire  Chief “Casey” Jones with councilmen Renold Lindgren and Claude Hendershot.  Tom Fisher, a half brother of Joe Mansfield, has operated a  saw mill for many years.  The first circular sawmill was set up at “Six Corners” on the old stage road, about 1865.  This was later bought by  Amos Mansfield and moved to Farr Road near the Ravenna Road.  Cash Mansfield, son of Amos, moved the mill to the present location and  since has been operated by Tom Fisher, being the oldest mill in this part of the country.  It was built in Batavia, New York in the middle 1800’s.  It must be recalled how Ravenna lost a bridge.  It went down with a team of horses on a sleigh load of gravel.  Sanford Hunter was driving the  team, but survived the plunge into Crockery Creek.  Another bridge was erected.  Soon this bridge was too narrow for modern day traffic so a  much larger bridge was built.

The first mail regularly established in Ravenna was received at the hotel operated by Marion Higgins on Main Street.  This mail was brought by horseback.

Frank’s four sons were F.E.N. (Ed) Thatcher, Marion, Lynn and T. Thomas, each born seven years apart.  To trace political careers, Tom  Rogers served in the State House of Representatives in 1916-17, Ed Thatcher became probate judge in Muskegon and Thomas Thatcher  served as clerk in the state house.  C.P. Read also served in the Legislature.  The former Thatcher home which sat on the hill at Harrisburg road   finally was razed and the new village water tower built there in 1964.  Judge “Ed” Thatcher married the blacksmith’s daughter, Daisy Grannis  (her family once lived in the Patterson flat).  His brother Marion carried on the father’s pharmacy business.  Lynn died at an early age.

(photo)  The dapper young man at the wheel of this ultra stylish car was the late Douglas Starks.  And notice the steering wheel is on the right  side.  His brother, the late Don Starks is at the right.  The others are surely important passengers, but the names are not clear.  That Franklin,  air-cooled car was a popular vehicle for the young men and women of the time, about 1914 or 15 (?).  Note the head lights in front.  Probably the  old carbide type and the dash lights evidently kerosene burning.  And it’s a touring car, and a late model to be sure.

At this time Paul’s sister, Josephine Knauf took over ownership and operation of the Livestock Sales.  With Herman for years, Ellis Balcom  worked the country in livestock and farm equipment circles, then aided the 1946 spurt of car sales, new and used, to a record of over 2,700 units  in that one year.  Balcom is an auctioneer and helped expand the weekly livestock sale; he also sold farm equipment all over Michigan.  Art  Steward was another familiar voice at the weekly sales and considered “the best left handed auctioneer in Michigan” if not most handsome  too.  He also turned to auto sales prior to retirement.  Buicks were added to the agency in 1955.

Garnet Lindgren, born to Frank and Althea Doubleday, was raised in Ravenna and has lived her entire life in the same home, from childhood through her married life.  The residence was newly built when her father bought it from Ab Snowdin (he and a daughter operated Ravenna’s  first telephone facility).  Garnet attended Ravenna school in the same red brick building on Stafford street al 13 years, graduating in 1925.  That  school was built in 1912 and the building was razed in 1972.  But she quickly recalls that her senior class could not use the gymnasium for  commencement exercises that year as it was not yet completed.  (It was begun in 1924 after a controversial bond issue to finally get voter  approval for financing of the new gym.  It was built at a cost of $14,000).  Garnet went on to study at Western Michigan University in  Kalamazoo where she earned a life certificate and bachelor of science degree in education.  Although not required she took many additional  courses over the years.  Mrs. Lindgren has always taught school, right after her graduation, while raising a daughter, up until this past year  when she retired – after a career of 45 years.    She began at Hoogstraat School in an era typical of that day – the one-room country school,  housing kindergarten through eighth grade pupils.  When Hoogstraat was closed in 1958, she stayed on with Ravenna public schools,  transferring to the local elementary faculty where she taught another 15 years.  She is still visited each year by many former students,  especially from Hoogstraat days.  When the

spur from Slocum to the main line in Ravenna.  This line came out at the foot of Harrisburg Road, Ravenna Road and Adams.  A very gainful  operation that provided work for many men, it also resulted in the clearing of hundreds of acres of land that was toiled and produced good  crops.  More and more sawmills and shingle mills were started.  Mr. Tibbits mad shingles from his shingle mills and built the custom gristmill in  1868.  Ben Smith located where the village now stands, and Thomas D. Smith and William Rogers, father of Tom F. Rogers, located in  Section 11; James Rollinson and Hiram Wilkinson in Section 36.  In 1848 Elmer Spencer and John Thompson arrived.  Thus the English and  Scotch made the first in-roads into the forest area of the land along the Crockery, and they were followed shortly by a Holland settlement of  Hodenpyle,  H. F. Hoogstraat.  Lloyd Gilbert’s great grandfather built a building out of logs where the Hoogstraat School once stood.  The  building housed a blacksmith shop in the front of the building and a school in the back.  Mary Hoogstraat (a grandmother of Lloyd, Russell,  Margaret, Richard and Walter

The creamery operated for many years.  Mr. Harvey Averill was the manager (and father of Mrs. Lois Gilbert).  Peter Bradfield and Lanson  Christian worked in the creamery for many years.  Mr. Bradfield was the father of Niada Germiquet and Dr. B. B. Bradfield.  Lanson Christion  was the father of Hattie and Albert Christian and Mae Jones.  (Albert was better known as “Bunny”.)  At one time Jane Lee, Mae Jones and  Josephine Knauf worked in the office of the creamery.  Later, the creamery became an institution of the past and the building known as  “American Engineering”.

Ravenna has steadily grown and has experienced many dramatic incidents which have provided riches in its history that down through time  give us the romance of a good community brought into being.  A select school was taught by Cornelia Boynton as early as 1848.  This school  was held in the old hotel, not the one standing but the very first hotel.  A select few attended this school.  District No. 1 School was organized  in 1849 and the school was built of logs by August Plumhoff.  Miss Margaret Batson was qualified to teach the school.  She later married  August Plumhoff.  Salaries ran about $15.00 for 72 days of teaching, a few days a week as conditions permitted.  This school stood where the old site of the Free Methodist Church was for years and presently is a modern beauty parlor on Main Street.

(photo)  THE FLOOD OF 1905 brought further disaster in a short time to merchants; major victim was the Crockery bridge, and a man drowned.  At right is the Bill Heaton Saloon, with Squire Grannis Blacksmith Shop at left and Ben Hoefelmeyer Grist Mill, center.

Published by:  Rogers Publishing, Inc., Ravenna, Michigan in conjuction with Ravenna’s Quasquicentennial “Nostalgia Daza” celebration, August 6 – 10, 1974  … proceeds from this book will help development of Thatcher Park.

(photo)  REBUILDING AFTER THE 1902 FIRE, on Stafford street this structure was occupied by Carl Stauffer’s barbershop at left, then  Charles V. Haas Jeweler, next was Will Robertson shoe store and at right, Lavendar photographer.  Contractors came from east part of the  state but the work crew was local; from left are Ed Bartholomew, the contractor, Carl A. Stauffer, David Bracken, Charles V. Haas, Ben  Sippes, a workman, W. W. Robertson, a workman, Roley VanSlack and Miss Robertson.  Others on frame and on wagon might be Louis  Dingle, Fred Hoefelmeyer and Bracken.

(photo)  Strikes are not necessarily of modern origin.  This shows a strike on a rather large scale and the strikers meant business.  Evidently  they, the gravel haulers, were not getting enough pay for hauling gravel from the pit to the roads involved.  They just called a halt to the  proceedings and demanded better pay for their work.  It was sometime after 1902 and in the winter as seen by the sleighs the horses were  drawing.  Roller-skating is nothing new to Ravenna.  Many years ago, about where George DeVries lives on Enos street, a large skating arena  stood.  This was run by Bob Shavalier.  The young people really enjoyed themselves.  In 1911, the red brick school was built for $10,000.  In  September of 1912, classes moved into the newly completed two-story, 8 room red brick building.  Basketball for both boys’ and girls’ teams  were added and practices were held in the old I.O.O.F. Hall.  Mr. S.J. Linck, Senior, father of “Bets,” (S.J. Jr.) Tom, Leo and John and three  daughters, was the first superintendent in the red brick school, earning $90. a month.  It was difficult for the community to pay that amount!   There were five teachers employed to teach in this building.  The enrollment of the high school was 40 and in the grades there were 125 pupils.

(photo)  The year of the old Model T in front of the drug store will give a clue to the date of this picture.  Yes, that is a gasoline pump in front  of the drug store almost hidden by the touring car.  About the only one in town, or that part anyway.  A close look will reveal another auto  further down the street.  Evidently the horses were not entirely forgotten as evedence by the hitching post and pipes in front of the Alberts  store, and down the street as well.  This is looking east on Stafford St.

(photo)  The early Ravenna baseball teams were known as the Pets.  This one of 1910 was undoubtedly one of the best of that era and other  eras as well.  The local team played the best teams around and many fine teams from Grand Rapids and Muskegon when baseball as a great  sport f or all towns.  Sullivan and Slocum also boasted of very good teams.  The team above was as follows, from left, top row:  Art Hamilton,  pitcher; Ernest Eadie, lf; Joe Hoefelmeyer, utility; Kulms, c; Dr. S.W. Thieme, cf; Kerns, ss; Melville Ledlie lb; middle row; Robert D.  Shavalier, umpire; Carl A. Stauffer, secretary-treasurer; Albro E. Young, manager; front row; Jack Boozer captain and rf; Folger, 3b, Tracy  2b, George Price, mascot; Rhae Price 3b.

Mr. Fred Hoogstraat, county road commissioner, built an impressive home which is situated just west of the business portion of Stafford  Street.  This residence was one of the finest in the village and the family took much pride in this house.  Bertha Sturtevent, a grand-daughter  of Fred Hoogstraat, was his pride and glory.  Bertha went many places with her grandfather.  She lived with her parents in this dwelling.   She  became a teacher in the Ravenna Public School for a number of years.  Bertha’s mother, Mrs. John Sturtevant was a music teacher and  instructed many pupils.  Mr. Hoogstraat lived on a farm for many years before coming to Ravenna.  This farm was located one and one-half  miles south of the village, and was one of the finest farms in Ravenna Township.  Nettie Hoogstraat Fairchild was a descendant of Fred  Hoogstraat, as her father was a relative of Fred Hoogstraat.  This farm was later sold to William White and then to Ralph Jablonski.  The Fred  Hoogstraat home on Stafford Street was later sold to T.M. Thompson.  The Thompsons lived in this beautiful old home for many years, until  recently.  Now the home has been sold to our dentist who has remodeled and made this into a dentist’s office and home for himself.   Another  very attractive home was built by Harvey J. Tibbits.  This home is on Main Street.  Harvey J. Tibbits and his father formerly operated the saw  mill, but later turned to the undertaking business and were manufacturers of pile or hemorrhoid treatment.  This became quite a business.  Later  on Harvey Tibbits was appointed postmaster.  ‘Clock’s Funeral Home” of Muskegon bought the Tibbits place for a funeral home, in the 1940’s.   Mr. Clock’s son-in-law Darrell Nollar, a funeral director, also lived in the home with his family until moving back to Muskegon.  Mr. and Mrs.  Albert Mark since bought and live in this grand old home.

The Frederick Henning family farmed on the south town line; the children were John and Frank, and Mrs. Frank Daggett.  When supervisor  Dr. Thomas D. Smith toured Ravenna township, accompanied by Tom F. Rogers then a young lad, they would have to leave the horse and  buggy at Hennings going on foot to reach the homes of Sabo, Maycrofts, John Legg and others.  Mr. A. Plum, Cornelius Von Seldrick, C.  Dorendamme and A. Dodge also arrived at this time.  Peter Conklin, father of O.F. , W.P. and Orange Conklin, settled here also.  Among the  people who came to make homes on farms west of Ravenna were George W. Bradford, George Eccles, settled on the farm where Maurice  Eadie now lives.  John Thompson settled on one of the farms which later was owned by August Wunsch.  To the west of the Price School were  Henry Gregory, Harry and Thomas Young, Herman Kusig, Sylas and Peter McGan, Lafayette Knowles, Zatter Butterfield, and James Mills,  and Lorenzo Conklin.  These early settlers formed the little nucleus

ANOTHER TRAGEDY IN 1905 OCCURRED in the village when a tremendous downfall of rain early one spring flooded Crockery Creek, carrying tons of ice and logs swiftly down stream wrecking the dam that furnished power for the grist mill and damaging the bridge.

Not until in the early 80’s was railroad transportation available for shipment of food and provisions to the community.  After years of hard toil  and struggle to build up a good frontier town, tragedy hit the village when fire started in one of the wood structures.  In the early evening of  April 6, 1900 the fire started that could not possibly be either stopped or controlled by the bucket brigade, although women and children  worked until exhausted carrying water from the creek.  In a few hours, 14 business places representing a loss of about $50,000 had burned to  the ground.  Nothing was left but a charred mass of ruins.  The business district lined the street from the bridge across Crockery Creek to the  north.  A freak fatality occurred in the first fire when a soda fountain in the store or Aaron Rogers exploded and a large piece oaf metal flew  across the street, striking Marion Higgins who was in front of the hotel.

You could ride the bus for as little as a dime and be delivered to your home.  Ravenna began to have many trains passing through, from  Muskegon to Grand Rapids.  It was very popular to meet the train, especially at night.  A general store was operated by Fred Griswall, located  where Mrs. Ray Hosmer now lives, opposite the old depot.  The Budlong Salting Station was located near the depot.  This industry was added  through the efforts of the Improvement Association and did a rushing business taking in from 100 to 400 bushels of cucumbers daily for which  75c was paid for four inch pickles.  B.A. Ratch was manager for the Budlong Pickle Company of Chicago.

Ravenna, the most progressive yet peaceful town in Western Michigan, is celebrating 125 years.  That well means a lot has come and gone and  to prove it, I have gathered, bit by bit, information from many reliable sources.   The story in its telling must touch lightly over the magnificent  years of the survival of the fittest “pioneers.”  Along the banks of Crockery Creek was the land between the pine forests of the North and the  hardwood forests of the South.  The original course of Crockery Creek was running south from east of the north end of the iron bridge along  the roadway to the foot of the hill, where 3 roads are now located.  Crockery Creek received its name from the fact that where it passes through  Ottawa County, a large number of Indian mounds were found and in these mounds were found pre-historic pottery placed there by Indians of  long ago.  In the valley made by the glacial river was a sand, clay, and loam variety of soils.  Here, on the dividing line, grew many pine and  some hardwood trees.  This soil showed good signs for farming, and it was bought for $1.25 an acre.   First came lumbering.  In 1844, the first  record of land ownership was made by Mr. E.B. Bostwick, an Italian, who located land and started a sawmill in 1844.  This was named after  Ravenna, Ohio, where Mr. Bostwick had originally settled.  The region afforded ample lumber business.  Streams would furnish cheap power  and attracted those who did not have capital and could do business on a small scale.  The first mill was operated by an “Overshot Wheel” which used the weight and force of the water.   This wheel could be built by any millwright.  The logs to be cut were put into the pond and floated to the mill where they were  drawn up a long slanting chute that went up into the mill.  They were hauled by what was known as a “bull chain”.  The first mill  had one upright was that sawed one board at a time.  This was slow but it was the start of Ravenna industrially.  Only pine was  made into lumber then.   Soon after Muskegon proper built its first lumbering camp and saw mill, the lumbermen began operating in the  almost unbroken forest belt of white pine, beech, maple, oak and hemlock extending from the Grand River through to the east shore of Lake  Michigan.   “Ravenna” was a part of that great movement.

(photo) FIRST PRINTING OFFICE OF the Ravenna Times was located below the Post Office in a building at the corner of Stafford and Main.  Shown with mail carriers and possibly some employees is Tom F. Rogers (top, second from right) who served as postmaster and first publisher of the Times.

(photo)  BUSINESSMENT PROMINENT HERE IN 1910 were, back row left to right:  Carl A. Stauffer, A. H. Moore, Geo. K. Herman, Tom F.  Rogers, Edward F. Powers, Owen Harrison, C.E. Alberts, Benjamin Hoefelmeyer, E. E. Bartholemew, Arthur Scholes.  In the front row from  left:  W.W. Robertson, William Norton, Herbert C. Starks, Matt Mainone, Charles V. Haas, Frank E. Thatcher and Fredrick Plumhoff.

THE CENTENNIAL PAGEANT staged 25 years ago in 1949, marking Ravenna’s 100th birthday in a full scale celebration, was written by Ralph B. Rogers Sr., narrated by S.J. Linck and directed by Glen Sullivan (who for years emceed shows of the area and played in his own band).

From its original site on Main street, the Ravenna Livestock Sale has moved in 1950 to the larger facility on Slocum road.  The popular flea  market just kept growing until today thousands of people come each Monday from several states.  All kinds of livestock are sold on  consignment or put on the auction block.  THE RAVENNA CO-OPERATIVE is the only feed manufacturer in the county.  Most of the grains  used to produce the various feed are locally grown but the co-op is also a retail supplier of much of the seed, feed and general farming supplies  for the county and surrounding trade area.  DONALD NUTT, A SON OF FRANK Nutt and Ida Zoll, once was a 4-H boy, growing up with the  town’s growth to become prominent in activities which serve the farmer.  His son, Jim is in the business with him.  They have a dairy farm  which not only produces milk, but he is a dealer in high grade dairy cattle.  AMERICAN ENGINEERING COMPANY has been in business  machining engine pistons for the past 31 years.  ALLOYED GRAIRON CASTINGS CORPORATION, a foundry, produces iron and steel  castings such as tappets and valve guides for the automobile industry, as well as marine propellers and many more types of castings.   RAVENNA SPECIALTIES is a satellite business.  In 1951, Alloyed Grairon Castings corporation built on its present location because of the  electrical power accessible from the power lines through the area.  About half of its iron products to Muskegon.  This enterprise is owned and  operated by Clifford Lonneee and son, Rudy Lonnee.  RAVENNA PATTERN & MANUFACTURING COMPANY and RAVENNA BRASS &  ALUMINUM FOUNDRY are operated by owner, Ed Emery.  CAM-CAST, INC., is another growing foundry in Ravenna.  RAVENNA ROLLER  MILL (as told in a 1908 Times edition) – By the Crockery creek stands the grist mill which is harnessed to afford power which it does with two  40-horse-power wheels, and turns out a fine flour and grinds feed with the old stone-run, making the best and sweetest feed in the world.  B.  Hoefelmeyer is the proprietor and will put his Royal Crown flour up against anything made for good, sweet, wholesome bread.  (The first church services in the village were said to have been held in the grist mill.)

The settlement of the township of Ravenna began in 1847.  The rich soil that today make the area one of the outstanding farm locations of the  county was cleared of timber in great community logging bees.  Actually, in 1847, there were only five families in the present village.  Then in  1848, 10 or 12 more settlers appeared.  Growth was slow for some time.  The first town meeting was held and a grand total of 13 votes were cast  on April 2, 1849 or 125 years ago.  The only place of business in the township was the hamlet of Ravenna, 10 miles north of Coopersville on the  D.G.H. & M. Railway which it served daily communication by stage.  It contained some one hundred & fifty inhabitants, a gristmill, saw,  shingle and planing mill, some dozen place of business of all kinds, church and Grange Hall.  The sawmill was commenced in 1844, by Shears  & Wells, who sold out to Mr. VanTassel in 1845.  In 1847 Benjamin and J. M. Smith purchased it, and in 1867 James F. Tibbits became the  owner of it who subsequently added a shingle and planing mill and to whose energy Ravenna owes much of its prosperity.  Mr. Tibbits also  built the present custom gristmill in 1868.  This passage I must tell you about was taken from “The Hackley Library.”  It seems Mr. Ryerson of  Muskegon was quite a prominent figure at that.  Mr. Ryerson was most interested in getting a road through from Muskegon to Grand Rapids.   In September of 1839 he started on foot to go to Grand Rapids to attend Indian Payment.  The ordinary route at the time was by the beach of  Lake Michigan to Grand Haven thence up the Grand River.  Mr. Ryerson however, went through what is since the township of Ravenna  although there was no road or settlement on the way except along the first five miles west of Grand Rapids.  He kept his course by a pocket  compass, crossed Crockery Creek somewhere near the village of Ravenna, and stopped for the night about ten miles beyond.  He made a brush  tent, built a fire and roasted a coon that he had caught during the day and brought with him, and made his supper from it without salt or water,  and then slept soundly on his brush bed; the rest of the coon served for his breakfast in the morning, after which he proceeded on his journey  and finally reached Grand Rapids without feeling and particular fatigue.  Later Mr. Ryerson and a group of Indians made a road from Muskegon  to Grand Rapids by way of Ravenna.  They used a string to guide them.

(photo)  Ravenna School in 1910 offered 12 grades, but this schoolhouse was replaced in 1912 by the new red brick high school.  This scene shows a need for more space.

Historic Rogers Dam of Ravenna brought several years of excitement, benefit and disappointment to the area during its conception,  construction, and destruction.  The project involved hundreds of men and horses who then moved earth by the fraction of a yard, put Ravenna  on the map at that time in 1922.  Combination of a flood and sleeping spillway operator caused rising waters to wash around the dam  abutments.  It served its purpose at the time bringing electrical power to the rural area some 10 years ahead of time but after its destruction  Consumers Power took over.  The town was in darkness when the dam went out on Sunday, November 16, 1925.  It was in service  approximately 2 ½ to 3 years.

Education was a prime interest to the early settlers.  Around 1877 a three room school was built and later the fourth room was added.  This  school was built on the same ground as the present elementary only back, nearer the Methodist Church.  The school, with its typical double  seats and raised platform for the teacher’s desk, also sported the water pail and a wood burning stove.  This school took care of and educated  many children.

(photo)  Looking west on Stafford Street on the left is the Oscar Conklin Store, the house of Mrs. Reed who was township librarian, the  William Patterson Store, the diamond shaped second floor of the Aaron Rogers home and to the south was his drug store, the Grange Hall  looms up farther on.  On the right is the George Eason store, Lavender’s photographic business and Mrs. Lavender’s Millinery store, W.W.  Robertson drygoods and shoe store, Charles Haas Jewelry Store, Carl Stauffer’s barber shop, M.C. Baranowski saloon and poolroom,  Bartholomew Hardware, the Post office, now where The Times office was located.  Archie Bennett, later Mainone meat market, Frank  Thatcher’s drug and general store, Alberts & Co. general store.

Sietsema FarmsRavennami

The first I.O.O.F. Hall was visited twice a month by both young and old, on the occasions of Saturday night dances, with a band from Grand  Rapids.  The dance was always orderly and well attended.  During the holidays the Rebeccas would put on a delightful midnight dinner for the  dancers, complete with chicken, biscuits and all the trimmings.  Everyone like to go to this entertainment, drawing from miles around.  A  gentleman could take his lady friend for $2.00 that included the price for both the dance and the dinner.  Wasn’t too bad in those “good old  days”.  Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Knowles should not be forgotten - - they were among the early grangers.  Mrs. Knowles served in every capacity  of the grange.  The Grange Hall stood across from the red brick school.  It has since been made into a dwelling, after also providing classrooms  for the overcrowded school until a new elementary was built.  OF CURRENT PROMINENCE is Lloyd Gilbert (former pupil of the author at  Hoogstaat) who is a topnotch inventor.  His innovations include the pickle picker, tree trimmer and excellent fabricating in his Gilbert Welding  Shop, both in farm machinery lines and manufacturing forms for area shops.

After Marion Higgins, hotel manager, was killed during the fire, Charles Higgins built a new hotel and fine livery barn about where the  present hotel stands.  Later Mr. Higgins sold out to Arthur Scholes.  Years later Fred Cox owned and operated the hotel, until he sold to Jack  Price, grandfather of Robert Place.  The hotel was quite a meeting place for people of the town, especially for the good food which was served  at meal time.  Billy VanKnaps operated a bus from the hotel to the train.  This was a horse drawn bus, with probably room for twenty people  and baggage.

The old Ben Hoefelmeyer Grist Mill was across Main Street from the Village Blacksmith Shop, right on the bank of the creek.  This mill did a  great deal of grinding of feed and flour.  Children loved to visit the mill as some passed by going home from school.  I’m not sure that Mr.  Hoefelmeyer enjoyed their visits but he was very patient and the children always went home with more knowledge than the time before.  The  Ravenna Free Methodist Church started in a log school building.  Reverend Huff was the pastor.  The church was closed for a few years, but in  1938, while Reverend A.D. McLachlan was pastor at Sparta, the Ravenna church was reopened.  Their attendance has grown rapidly ever  since.  Now they have built a new church and parsonage, north of Ravenna.  The old church was sold and remodeled for a beauty parlor, in the  past year.   In 1872, a Ravenna Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed and the following people, William Batson,  James Tibbits, Jeremiah Kettle, Robert Watson, John T. Shaw, Cornelius Mead and Daniel Thomas, served on this board.  A Methodist  Church, parsonage and barn were built and for many years it served as the only community christendom.  Reverend W.G. Swift was appointed  pastor in 1873.  Then, in 1919, during the pastorate of Reverend William Mann, the church was remodeled at a cost of $4,600.  The building  was raised and a basement built.  A furnace was installed.  The front entrance was changed which provided space for steps to the basement  and to the auditorium.

OPENING OF GAS WELLS WEST OF RAVENNA brought workers in from gas fields from many miles around.  This land later developed into  farming again.  Also enjoying an early start was the old library which had a limited amount of books.  It was located in Anna Reeves house near  the present bank drive-in.  Children as well as grown-ups enjoyed going to the library.  We now have a public library which is housed in the  I.O.O.F. Hall.

Prominent in business and politics was Frank E. Thatcher.  He ran a drug and general store for many years.  He had a home up on the hill  where the water tank is now on Harrisburg Road.  He served in state legislature and was on the school board for many years.  CONKLIN PARK  HAS BEEN A HISTORIC Park for many years.  It was given to the town many years ago by Conklin, a prominent businessman.  The park  provides baseball fields and building and site for Ravenna 4-H Fair (successor to Homecoming held downtown).  We have many trees planted  in the park.  Teachers often take their children for a walk in the pines, having them identify the different species of trees.  It’s a great place to  have a picnic and play tennis.  We are now planning a new park called “Thatcher Park” just east of the approach of the bridge, with extensive  plans in the offing.  The elementary school at its present site has grown by adding classrooms.  The building has been remodeled and is a  cheery modern place for the elementary children.

ANOTHER STATELY HOME, that of George and Hattie Eason was built on the hill opposite the Catholic church, when the Heights road was  gravel.  They raised their family there, as did their daughter Evelyn and her husband Wesley Swanson (who still lives in the residence).  Ezra  and Harvey Benjamin owned and operated a cider mill near where Edith Owens house now stands.  These brothers were also well drillers  An  old apartment building called a flat or “Patterson Flat” housed about three families.  This stood near Donald Austin’s home.  It accommodated  many families of the early days.  We must not overlook the old Ravenna Creamery which was one of the most important enterprises.  It was a  wooden building.  E. S. Powers from Greenville was the buttermaker and manager.  Mrs. Mable Thatcher was the first bookkeeper.  It grew  rapidly as Ravenna had a natural dairy country surrounding the village.  This helped the farmers immensely.  The butter made at the Ravenna  Creamery won first state scoring contest.  Mr. Powers constantly was trying to interest the farmers in up-to-date dairying.  Mr. Powers had a  fine ice cream plant in his butter factory and had every modern appliance for handling cream.  Businessmen and farmers did all they could to  make this a great industry.  Later Mr. Powers left Ravenna and then a cement block building was erected were the old creamery once stood.

THE DAY OF CHIVAREES for newlyweds finally gave way to the better received wedding reception.  But not before this one happened.   Frank Nutt and his bride Ida Zoll first moved into the house which years later was the George Price farm.  It seems someone had stuffed the  chimney with hay – then lit it, in hopes of driving the couple outside.  But it didn’t work.  So some of those well known to the happy couple  went out to the pig pen and promptly ushered the pigs into the kitchen.  That did it!  Frank called his brother Will, who was a deputy or  constable at the time, to find the dirty varmits, but Will was stymied….how can you say…you can’t turn yourself in … well, where is the back  door?

Many fraternal groups, civic groups and organizations have come and gone, including:  Order of the Red Ribbons 1872, Knights of Honor  1877, Ravenna Grange 1874, Trent Grange 1874, Maccabees 1894, Oddfellows 1881, Masonic Lodge 1904, Order of Easter Star 1907, American  Legion 1921, Rebekah Lodge 1888, P.T.A. 1925, Ravenna Civic Club and more recently, Lions Club and Conservation Club.  All these  organizations do a great deal to spur community interest.  The original Legion building stood at foot of Stafford near Tibbits home.  The  American Legion, as the largest organization in the world, has likewise been instrumental in Ravenna over the years and its Legion Hall on  Conklin Street is the scene of many events.  C.F. Mansfield, better known as “Cash”, uncle of Joe Mansfield, had a saw and planing mill, crate  and hay rack factory.  E sold a good grade of lumber.  He was in business until he sold to Frank Daggett who operated the company until  Vanderveal of Muskegon took over the business.  A.C. Stewart really operated the business for Vanderveal.  Then Raymond Jones bought the  business and had run the Ravenna Lumber Yard for 25 years until he died in April 1974.  His son Bruce Jones and son-in-law Kenneth  Patterson, were associated with him and carry on the business.

Not much is known about the beginning of the Baptist Church except they have a church and a house for a minister which is rented to our  elementary principal, since ministers come from outside to hold the services.  St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic parish was erected in 1908, when  many of the early pioneers helped in building the original church.  Later, in 1934, a parish rectory for a resident pastor was added to the  property.  In 1950, an elementary school was built.  A parish hall was added in 1955 and a new church was constructed in 1964.  This church is  very modern and a real asset to the village, located on the Heights-Ravenna Road.  There are about 125 Families.  Father S. L. Betka came in  1936 to the parish so he has given continuous service to Ravenna (and Chester) for 38 of his 45 years in the priesthood.  He saw the razing of  the old church on the corner when the new one just west of the rectory replaced it.

that eventually became Ravenna Township, and its center of trade became the Village of Ravenna a good many years later.  The town itself  really started at the bridge and went north.  This was called Main Street.  Ladd and Thompson ran a general store.  Most any article could be  bought in this general store.  Later a blacksmith shop, shoe repair, hardware and drug store sprouted up.  A saloon and jail were located on  Main Street.  Occasionally a person was put in jail for misconduct.

Archie Bennett later sold to Mainone and Son Meat Market and Sausage Factory.  Archie Bennett was an uncle of Louise Mark.  On up the  line was Frank Thatcher’s drug and general store. ( C. Alberts was the grandfather of Robert Alberts)  These stores were all on the north side  of Stafford Street.   Then on James Street we had another millinery store and dress making shop, owned by Blanche Stauffer, and Vyda  Mainone.  On James Street we also had Aaron Rogers operating a drug store for about 30 years, carrying a line of drugs and confectionery, on  property adjacent to his home on the corner of Stafford which still dignifies that corner.  Then on Stafford we had a general store operated by  Herbert Starks.  The old “Private Bank” also was on the south side of Stafford as was the Herb Stark Store, across from the Old Times office.   Herb had two sons, Douglas who had restaurants here later, and Donald who moved away.

Ungraded system of teaching was being initiated here in the latter part of Garnet’s career, she easily recognized the familiarity of it all – from  the one-room school house where younger students were allowed to do more advanced work, copying assignments from the blackboard  according to their ability in any subject.  “That certainly helped with the discipline problem and kept students from being bored,” she recalls.  She and Renold were married in 1930 in their present home.  They have always lived in the old home which they purchased from Garnet’s  mother, and maintained her lifetime residence.  Renold Lindgren grew up in Moorland township and was schooled in Ravenna.  He operated  Quality Dairy in Muskegon Heights with his brother Richard for 10 years, later merging their business with Farr View Dairy.  He also retired  last year.  The couple has one daughter Jane who is also a teacher and they have two grandchildren.  Renold and Garnet are very civic minded  and especially interested in children and promoting education.

(photo)  G.R. & I RAILWAY BRIDGE as viewed in 1908 in Ravenna still stands marking a bygone era of passenger and mail service.

(photo)  FIRST BANK IN RAVENNA, in 1910 view with an early water tank on Stafford Street, was known as “Commercial and Farmers Bank.”  It was also called the “private bank” until collapse of this enterprise.  Other business occupied the building until it was razed a number of years ago.

(photo) FIRST FIRE on April 26, 1900 wiped out a business block; this is looking north.  The inferno was stopped at Dick Henderson’s blacksmith shop (distant center) and at Robertson’s store, on left.  The Tibbitts home on opposite side of the street is at right.

NOW WHEN LITTLE JANIE DE HART was a schoolgirl, she claims her sibling cousin Ralph Rogers to be a rascal of sorts.  So she was easily  embarrassed when “Peck” brought cold pancakes (stuck together with brown sugar and coffee) to eat for lunch.  “Come home with me for  lunch” offered Jane, in sympathy.  He would go but he still ate his pancakes.    The name “Peck” came from such a sport as pickin’ melons after  dark, such as in DeHarts patch no less, when one night his uncle called out:  “Ralph don’t pick there, the melons are better on the other side!”   “And we called Marion Thatcher just “Meggs” but I don’t know why.”.

Later on, on Stafford Street, Grandpa Nutt and sons, Frank and Bill owned and operated a meat market and grocery.  They are ancestry of  Donald Nutt; Frank being his father.  (I’ll mention more about Donald in my story later.)  The old Times Office, operated by Tom F. Rogers was  originally at corner of Main and Stafford Streets.  It was later moved up on Stafford Street, across from where the bank now stands.  The  William Heaton Block on Main Street, down by the bridge, supplied spring water and other beverages.  “He handled a fine line of cigars and  always had good Muskegon beer on draught.”  Later, it was owned and operated by Mr. Burt who called it “The Burt Saloon”.  We must not  overlook the blacksmith shop owned and operated by Squire Grannis.  The children always liked to go to the shop and watch “the village  blacksmith” shoe horses.  This was a thriving and popular business.  Later, A.H. Moore owned the blacksmith shop; he employed Sam  McGrady and Ed Randall, who was an expert at his work.  Finally, the local blacksmith became a trade of extinction.