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Muskegon County was originally
inhabited by the Ottawa Indians. The first visitors to the area now known
as Muskegon County were the fur traders and missionaries in the late 1700s
and early 1800s. The trading posts came and went during this period but
regard is given to Jean Baptiste Recollett's trading post that was opened
near the mouth of Bear Lake in 1812. Louis Baddeau bought a trading post
in 1834 which is the present site of the Indian Cemetery on Morris Ave.
Mr. Baddeau is generally given the distinction of being the first permanent
white settler in the area. Muskegon's name comes from the Chippewa word
- Muskego - meaning "river with marshes".
The fur trading era, 1810
thru the late 1830's, was followed by a booming lumbering era from the
late 1830's until 1900. The first sawmill construction, built by Benjamin
H. Wheelock, began in 1837 on Muskegon Lake with operations commencing
in 1838 and by the 1870s 26 mills were in operation .
Fire was a major problem for
the area with wooden buildings, white pine lumber and huge saw dust piles.
A fire in 1874, destroying a quarter of the business district and 200 homes,
triggered Muskegon to established a professional fire department which
it had debated since 1871. Two more devastating fires occurred in Muskegon,
the first being in March, 1887, destroying many buildings on Pine Street
at Webster. The fire of May 16, 1891, known as the Pine Street fire, destroyed
17 city blocks and 250 buildings including the original court house.
AND JUST A FEW HEADLINES
FROM THE PAST:
...October 22, 1859 - Supervisors
authorize purchase of shackles and three pairs of handcuffs for sheriff.
...August 24, 1860 - Federal
census shows Muskegon township with population of 1,442.
...May 3, 1861 - Muskegon
Rangers (military company of 100 volunteers) left for Washington for service
in the Civil War.
A few days later they were
in their first combat at Bull Run.
...June 20, 1862 - Village
authorities designated the bell of the Methodist Church as the village's
official fire alarm signal.
...April 14, 1865 - Muskegon
mourns death of President Lincoln.
...June 9, 1869 - 400 men
engaged in clearing right of way for railroad between Muskegon and Ferrysburg.
...July 31, 1874 - Fire destroys
business area, destroying 12 square blocks, one fourth of city.
...March 31, 1876 - Hackley
Mill shipped 300,000 feet of lumber to Liverpool, England.
...January 15, 1880 - Police
crack down on drivers who race their horses on Terrace Street.
...June 20, 1883 - Electric
lights used here for first time.
...May 30, 1884 - City passes
ordinance prohibiting cows, horses, mules and swine from running at large.
...November 10, 1886 - Great
storm on Lake Michigan beaches Schooner South Haven at Bluffton. Schooner
Helen is washed ashore near mouth of Muskegon Harbor with all hands lost.
Schooner Conway cast ashore at Whitehall with all lost.
...May 16, 1891 - Great Pine
Street Fire.
...May 23, 1898 - Muskegon
Rifles musteres into federal service as Co. C, 34th Michigan Volunteers,
for duty in Spanish American War.
...February 13, 1907 - First
crane for Panama Canal completed at Muskegon Heights' Shaw Electric Crane
Co.
...May 15, 1908 - All dogs
ordered muzzled within city limits.
...November 1, 1909 - Thomas
Hume donates Home for the Aged at Southern and Lakeshore Dr.
...January 6, 1916 - High
school closed because of smallpox.
...April 6, 1917 - President
Wilson proclaims war against Germany.
...July 20, 1918 - Ringling
Bros. Circus, showing here, raided for draft dodgers.
...September 8, 1918 - Sunday
joyriding is banned.
...November 11, 1918 - City
dances in the streets as war ends.
...January 5, 1922 - Factory
employment increases 75 per cent.
...July
27, 1925 - First Greyhound bus service begins between Muskegon and Chicago.
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