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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, January 7, 2001, pg. 2 We continue with our theme of local news from 100 years ago. Week ending January 3, 1901: "A Sad Case. On Friday evening last Frank Van Atta whose mind has been somewhat unbalanced for the past year, was taken violently insane and on Monday was removed to the asylum at Kalamazoo. Mr. VanAtta has been employed in the moulding room of the shops of the Gale Manufacturing and Malleable Iron companies, and physicians believe that the intense heat to which he was subjected to in his work has been the cause of his affliction. His family have the sympathy of the community in their trouble." "The annual report of Sexton Eben Miller, rendered this week, shows that there have been 82 burials at Riverside cemetery during the past year, which number is ten less than the interments in 1899." January 10, 1901: "Policeman Fred Hagerman lodged his son in jail on Saturday night for drunkenness." "Mrs. Betsey Landon of Springport, died last Thursday at the age of 92 years. She was a pioneer of that vicinity. Her nephew, D.J. Landon, and her niece, Mrs. Cranson, live in this city." "While standing in front of Howard’s Market last Friday afternoon, Frank Haven fell in a spasm. He was taken into the market where medical aid was given and he soon recovered." "L.H. Field, the well known dry goods merchant of Jackson, has reorganized his business upon a profit sharing plan with his employees, and the firm will hereafter be known as L.H. Field & Co." "An interesting and beautiful trophy which is not to be found everywhere may be seen at McGuire Bros [Saloon]. This trophy is a massive punch bowl of beaten silver, gold lined and bears the following inscription which explains its raison d’etre: "Presented by the Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph to the Brooklyn Club, the winners of the Championship Series of Base Ball, October 9, 1900." ...James McGuire, one of the firm of McGuire Bros., is the catcher of this famous Brooklyn team, having been with them for the past two years. He will play in the same position another season. The bowl is 18 inches high and 18 inches across the top. It was made at a cost of $700." From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of Albion’s celebrated baseball catcher, James "Deacon" McGuire (1863-1935), in his Detroit Tigers uniform. "It was with feelings of regret that some of our older citizens saw the few remaining trees, which stood in front of the opera house block succumb to the ax on Friday last, and be borne away to cook some man’s dinner or warm his frosty fingers like any plebian trees from a common forest. These trees with about 15 others were planted by the late John Welch under the supervision of Jesse Crowell about the year 1847, when to the east of them lay, instead of the substantial row of business houses which now extend from the Stone Mill to Eire St., nothing but a mill yard which was a depository for the logs which fed the ravenous saw mill located on that spot." January 24, 1901: "Peter VanSickle, a farmer of Marengo Township, was arrested the last of last week, charged with a neglect of his official duties. Mr. VanSickle was elected overseer of highways last spring, and instead of calling upon the farmers in his district to work out their road tax, he allowed that extra tax to be assessed them, thus compelling them to pay cash." "An old man by the name of Martin Crosby, who has been staying in and near this city for some time, and who appears to be not quite right mentally, was taken on Tuesday to the county house by Deputy Sheriff Graham. Mr. Graham sent him to that place on Saturday, but after reaching Marshall he decided he liked Albion better and so came back." "The meetings of the Calhoun County Lincoln Club are now looked upon as fixed institutions in the county, and every effort should be made by Republicans in this vicinity to make the coming meeting at Homer one of success. Homer people contributed liberally toward the success of the event held in Albion two years ago, and they have a right to expect reciprocal treatment. An effort is being made to secure a special rate on all railroads running into Homer and the committee is confident that some concessions will be granted." 
“Deacon” Jim McGuire
Read more Albion 100 Years Ago articles. Next 100 Years Ago article: FEBRUARY 1901 Next: REV. ANDREW MASON FITCH All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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