GITCHEL Jamestown Township, Ottawa County, Michigan ‘GHOST TOWN’ By Glenn Gitchel In mining areas where mines no longer produce, we hear the expression, "Ghost Town", this term might be applied to the little town of Gitchel. In 1873 the building known as the Gitchel School was built on the southwest corner, 3 miles south of Jamestown. H. H. Hall cleared the land on the southeast corner, but left a grove of maple trees for the school children to play in. The road was narrow and high making it easy and safe to run across. A store was built by John Damstra on the northwest corner. A story is told about a farmer coming to the store for a pound of coffee. Mrs. Damstra gave him the coffee and he said, "charge it". She said, "Who will I charge it to?" He replied, "I don’t care, charge it to anybody." and he left the store. A few days later Mrs. Damstra saw him coming to the store and said to her husband, "There’s the man that got the coffee." But Mr. Damstra knew him and it was settled jovially. This store contained the Gitchel post office until R. F.D. (Rural Free Delivery) was started in the beginning of this century. It changed hands several times until it was demolished in the late 1940’s. The schoolhouse has been changed into a home. The grove of maples has been cleared away for modern transportation. This is now the corner of Adams Street and 24th Avenue. All the roads are black topped. Michigan Bell Telephone built an office south of the school. "Ghost Town?" It is still a lovely neighborhood – families of growing children. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

 

Transcriber: Evelyn Sawyer
Created: 20 July 2003