The recent donation of a scrapbook of clippings from Eva Whalen sheds light on the origin of the list of local farms, their names and owners, which has been the inspiration of recent study to locate and learn about them. Around 1900 the editor of the Brighton Argus, Seth Jacobs, was encouraging farm owners to […]
This second of a series of notes on farms and the names given them, will be concerned with the Ernest M. Crippen Farm, Springdale Farm. Located just north of the Charles Jacobs farm, which was described last month, it was also on Ore Creek.
In this issue Shady Nook, on the southwest corner of Spencer and Kensington Roads, is the site of our research. In the newspaper clipping c. 1900, Charles S. Foote, is listed as the owner.
Research is continuing on a list of farms, copied from a c. 1900 newspaper clipping. Attempts are being made to find where they were located, why they have the name assigned and some information about the owners. This issue deals with the Henry J. Crawford Farm, Meadow Brook on Pleasant Valley Road in Brighton Towship.
Number four in this series of attempting to identify some of the areas early settlers and where they located. Listed on an undated newspaper clipping, Wirt Bradley is noted as the owner of Elmdale Farm. One can only assume there were a number elm trees in the area to give rise to the name.
As the logical repository of items of historical value the Society has acquired a listing of local farms and the names given them. The listing gives no clue as to date or origin, compiler, reason for compiling or how these names were determined or bestowed.
The c. 1900 newspaper clipping includes three Bidwells, F.E. (Frank) G.A. (George Albert) and W.L. (William). Frank and George Albert are two of the three sons of Seth Bidwell. William is a son of George Albert.
Although the distance from the young wife’s parent’s house to their home on the other side of town was only seven miles, the recently married couple know the ride in the cutter would be slow and cold. The wind during the day had driven the remnants of the previous day’s snow storm into deep drifts.
Its July 4, 1871, and lots of celebration is on the schedule. Not only are Brightonites celebrating the 95th anniversary of the United States, but also the completion of the railroad to Brighton from Detroit. Farm folks from miles around join the townspeople in their merrymaking for this long awaited occasion.
The next time we drive down Main Street or Grand River try to imagine its 1920. Yes, there are concrete sidewalks but the road surface is of earth with a little clay, sand and gravel on it. Can one image the mud of rainy weather or the dust of dry?
