Village of New Era

This is a small postoffice village, established in 1872 on the arrival of the iron horse. D. B. Goble was the first postmaster, succeeded by the present incumbent, J. M. Wilson. There are two groceries in the village, and a sawmill with one upright saw. The citizens built the depot, which is four miles south of Shelby, and just within the town of Shelby, with Grant over the town line. The chief business done here is lumbering and in tan bark, ties, etc. There is also a coal kiln not far distant. In 1878 the village is thus spoken of in the Pentwater News: "Like other stations on new railroads, it is growing." A new station house is being erected, and the frames of some other buildings are raised. Mr. a. M. Spaulding owns the mill that has been in operation for some time. Mr. E. C. Hurd has erected a new mill during the season, and is now building a dwelling house. Quite a spacious schoolhouse is built a little southwest of the station, and Mr. G.B. Goble, one of the honored pioneers of the county, lives on his farm, which adjoins the station. The altitude of the land varies in the town of New Era. On the west and southeast it is rather low, while on the north east it is quite high, there being a point near Mr. Spaulding's mill where the vision can reach almost to Montague. New Era has a never-failing brook, or small stream of water, such as one as is always a thing of beauty and value ot the farm or town."