I recently received an interesting article from a member of the Clinton, MI Historical Society. It was interesting in that it was a summary of a visit made to the Coldwater, MI institution by a one, G. W. Stephenson, Superintendent of the Poor, in Michigan. It provides some insight into the organization that once occupied Read More
By: David McDonald Ever wonder what Confederate money would have looked like? In 1865 it would have become worthless. Who might save some as a souvenir? How about Federal soldiers who were making an unprecedented tour through the south to places like Atlanta, Georgia, and points to the east in Savannah. General Sherman fought his Read More
By: David McDonald – This image was taken in the 1902 timeframe. Charlie Sanford, milkman, stands next to his milk wagon on a very muddy East Chicago Street. Charlie was a resident of Girard. Note the sign over the entrance door to the wagon, “Clean Milk”. The milk business was owned by John Neal, an Read More
By: David McDonald In 1835 a young man of twenty, by the name of Abram Canfield Fisk, came to the infant village of Coldwater, MI. Bringing no claimed wealth with himself, his goal was to find work, accumulate money, and buy some of the government property that was abundant in the new Branch County. After Read More
By: David McDonald If you are in Branch County and you mention the Civil War battle of Chickamauga, anyone remotely knowledgeable of local history will say, “Oh yes, that’s where the Loomis Battery lost five of their cannons.” With plaques in the 4-Corners Park downtown, Coldwater tells the story of the Loomis Battery (correctly identified Read More
This historic marker is located in front of the Coldwater City Police office on the northeast corner of Division and Washington Streets. “On this site lived Cyrus Gray Luce, twenty-seventh Governor of Michigan. Born in Ohio in 1824, he moved to Branch County about 1849. He soon became involved in township, local and state politics, Read More
By: David McDonald, BCHS – Justice came with the new settlers when they forged their way into south central Michigan territory in the late 1820s. Not long after arriving in the prairie area in the future west side of Branch County, legal issues were re-enforced with the appointment of a Justice-of-the-Peace. This new job fell Read More
Located on Matteson Street north of the 4-Corners stoplight, the Historic Marker reads: The Bronson Library originated in the early 1880’s as the Ladies Library Association. In 1888 the township assumed ownership. Built with funds donated by steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie, the Classical Revival Bronson Public Library opened on May 23, 1912. This structure typifies Read More
Located in the city park at the 4-corners stoplight downtown Bronson, the Historic Marker reads: Bronson was named after Jabez B. Bronson, who was the first settler to the area, moving her from Ohio in 1828. He became the first postmaster in 1830, calling it Bronson’s Prairie. It was incorporated as a village in 1866. Read More
This site is located on the north side of the St. Joseph River on the east side of the downtown bridge, the Historic Marker reads: Blue Star Memorial, a tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America. HISTORIAN NOTES (Dave McDonald): In a small memorial park located directly on Read More
