Some of Antwerp’s old history
By: Stan Jordan
On November 8th 1875, legislation was started for a new jail. Said jail was to be made of brick and mortar supplanting the old wooden structure. I have looked my records over and over and I have never found any other notes or talk or anything about a new jail.
I know the town hall at that time was on the southeast corner of where Erie Street meets up with Stone Street and I feel sure that the wooden jail was on that lot also.
Because in 1927 when they approved funding for city water in Antwerp, they tore that old town hall down and cleaned up the debris and put our first water tower on that lot that the city already owned.
In 1875 there was a number of factories making wood products and Antwerp had a lot more people there than there are now. There was a number of hotels in town and some taverns, so I suppose they needed a new jail sometimes. I could never find anymore references to a new jail, so I suppose they never made a new one.
The town hall we have now was built in 1917, and in the basement is two prison cell. I imagine they need them. I knew sometimes they let travelers or hobos sleep there, but I think that is not usable anymore.
On October 15th, 1891 they purchased 75 street lights, this being the only time I ever saw anything about street lights. They used probably cool oil or kerosene.
See ya!
Another Eagle’s Nest
By: Stan Jordan
We just received a call from Jan Parker who lives over by Monroeville, IN and they have spotted an eagle’s nest over by the state line and the Paulding Road.
He said he could see both eagles easily. I think that is in the area of S.R. 500 and we have heard of an eagle’s nest in that area before, but now is a good time to look for them as the leaves are off the trees.
He also told about on up the road is the nest of a Great Horned Owl.
I thank Mr. Parker for the news on the eagles nest as we are always glad to hear from our readers.
See ya!
Maybe it looked like this
By: Stan Jordan
I’m talking about the canal and Main Street back in the days when the canal was very busy, what is now East and West Canal Street, at that time was Main Street and our Main Street was Hicks Street.
Let’s start in on West Canal Street where Madison Street dead ends on the old canal bank.
White’s Stave Mill sat on 3 1/2 acres there on the north side of the canal. It started in 1860 and changed owners a couple of times and then sold out once more to Michigan in 1885. It sat just west to where Rev. Jim Edwards used to live. The little white office remained on that lot for many years, I remember it well.
Now, I understand there were other factories on west on Canal and even out south on the Wentworth Road, along with big warehouses.
There was a row of lots on the south side of Canal Street and then the canal, that would be 132 feet as those lots were 2 chains deep.
Munson’s Hoop Factory was across the canal to the south of White’s Stave Mill, and sat on Buffalo Street. It operated during the 1880’s and owned by Eli Munson, and the Champion Brothers.
There was a hand shaved Hoop Factory along there on West Canal. This place hired a force of men in the winter months. They took about a seven foot sapling and split it and shaved it down to make a hoop for the barrels. This factory operated till about 1910.
Going on east on Canal Street was very busy with warehouses and the business section. Stores, doctor office and first house built in Antwerp, post office, saloon, and the big marina, a place to park the canal boats, that was right at the south end of now Main Street.
Across the canal on the south side was Saylor Hoop Mill, the biggest in the country. It operated from 1880 till 1891 when it was sold and moved to Michigan. There was a bridge over the canal on Erie Street and that area was dwellings.
Then we go on down East Canal till we come to what is now Kroos Drive. On the south side was Gay’s Bucket Factory. It started about 1882. It was a very big operation. This Mr. Saylor was married to General Curtis’ daughter. This factory used a lot of cottonwood timber. There was an Oar Factory along here on the north side of the canal and east of the Cinder Road. It was a very big operation., it employed about 50 men and boys. They owned around 1000 acres of timber and had their own train wagon to bring the logs in to the factory. There were warehouses along the road here also.
Then there was a feeder canal over to the north to the Antwerp Furnace. They made charcoal and used it in smelding iron ore.
Then you go on east and you find the Harrman Till mill. I think there was a bridge over the canal at Harrman corner.
See ya!
Sam Rivers, Indian Agent, Chapter 20: Meeting the Calamus River tribe
By: Stan Jordan
The three wagons from the Fort got in there just before dark last night. All the drivers looked after their wagons, and fed and watered their animals. We lit some lanterns, and the Mess Sergeant had some corn bread and beans with venison and some sliced peaches.
Sarge said, “I hope you like the beans because Sam said to make enough bean soup to have on the trail for tomorrow night’s supper.”
We’re heading out for the Calamus River Camp early tomorrow morning.
Soaring Eagle, the Calamus River Tribe chief said, “We should go north/northeast one day and a half. We will able to ford the Loup River and push on into camp.”
So we left for that camp about sun up. Those natives and the lieutenant on horse back are the lead; then Callie and I in our wagon and the other wagons behind. It looked like a small wagon train.
We pushed right along, the bright sun was helpful to keep us warm as it is early November 1852.
We bounced right along until we came to the other branch of the Loup River. We forded it and then stopped for the night.
After all the chores were done, we had the rest of the bean soup, and some corn dodgers. When you’re hungry everything tastes better.
Well, Callie had baked some oatmeal cookies and Rooster and I made coffee and we talked about the day’s travel and what we might expect tomorrow.
We all had a pretty good night’s sleep. The Sarge woke the drivers up and they fed the horses and watered them and had the wagons ready to go.
Soaring Eagle said we should get there in the middle of the afternoon. Of course, he didn’t say that, he pointed to that position that the sun be in around 3 O’clock.
We didn’t stop for lunch, we just ate some corn dodgers.
We could see something on the horizon and the chief sent two riders on ahead to tell them who was coming and that we are all friends.
The area looked a lot like the area at Broken Bow, but no buildings, all wicki-ups and one large tent, like a fair. That, I suppose, was the central meeting hall.
All the natives were lined up on both sides of the approach and wondered what we looked like.
We all gathered outside of the community building, and the two chiefs introduced everyone to the crowd. In a short time, everyone was talking and pointing and waving.
I was introduced and I told them that our big leader called the president far away to the east, because you are not a warring nation and friendly to the white man, has sent each and every one of you a new blanket and some other items. I told them we would pass them out tomorrow morning. I told them even a woman who was going to have a papoose, would get a blanket.
After about an hour, the drivers went and took care of their horses, and while it was warm they greased all the moving parts on the wagon.
This camp does not have a cookout area, like the other one does, so everyone had their own supper, and the Mess Sergeant took care of all of us.
The soldiers all stayed in a group and talked, while Callie and I and the Lieutenant met with all the natives leaders.
We talked about plowing the garden and making them a spit and cookout area. We would look about putting a bridge over the Calamus River.
After they understood what it was, they expressed their joyful feelings. We also discussed making a tripod for butchering and some poles to hang their dead animals on.
Then, they told us that they didn’t have any buffaloes yet, but they did have some scouts trying to locate the herd. The lieutenant said that tomorrow they would cut some trees and make some poles and erect them a place to hang their buffaloes during the winter. He said they would also make a new tripod to take along on the buffalo hunt.
I won’t write for a few days now.
See ya!
