NYMONROE-L Archives

From: "Terry Teesdale" <>
Subject: A gift back for yesterday's SURNAMES
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 08:38:00 -0400

I have called and just checked on sharing these articles and as I get my
hands on more I will share. I know they are all housed at the Old Rugged
Cross Museum in Reed City, MI. Myrtle Holmes was a 90+ woman writing her
memories for the newpaper and telling about life in this area a long time
ago. She also included SURNAMES, which are now a real gift to researchers.
My newfound COLE family in Utah---this one is in the memory of your father,
and grandfather Maurice E. Cole. Bernard ZIEGLER in the article is my
Uncle, The COLE Men were also uncles.The OBERLIN name is "indirectly
related" but I'm not researching them. There are people still alive in the
article that I am in contact with that know some memories. Have fun.
Jan Teesdale (nee ZIEGLER)


SHINGLETOWN ETCHED ITS PLACE IN HISTORY
By Myrtle Holmes
Thursday January 5, 1995
As Published in the Osceola Co Herald Newspaper, Reed City, MI

At the junction of what is now 17 Mile Road and 130th Avenue at the inner
corners of Section 1-2-11-12 of Rose Lake township a settlement came into
being that dates back to about the 18th century.

This area was heavily wooded with a variety of hardwoods and fine hemlock.

Because of the amount of timber that was available, the potential for the
lumbering industry attracted many large companies and independent
speculators such as the Manistee Salt and Lumber Co. and the Union Lumber
and Salt co.

Both of these companies had large holdings and timbered land in this
territory. Other smaller companies also had their share of property that
was not sold to the larger companies. Sawmills were known by their number
which were sawmill numbers I, II, or III, depending on the number of mills
that the company owned.

Men, many with their families were attracted to this area because of the
variety of jobs that were available. A variety of job skills and
merchandising skills attracted people from Michigan, other states, and even
from other countries, especially Sweden.

These sawmills were connected by a narrow gage railroad to the main line
that transported logs and lumber products to the main line, which then
transported them to LeRoy.

From there they were transported to the consumer. Many of the shipments were
sent to Grand Rapids that was noted as the Furniture City. Grand Rapids was
a fast growing city and it seemed as though everyone wanted to build. The
Whitcombs of Grand Rapids were very good customers at that time.

The narrow gage railroad bed may yet be seen in many regions of Shingletown.
Because of the vast amount of shingles made and used, the region soon got
its name "Shingletown" that it has retained to this day.

The settlement known as Shingletown had many thriving businesses; a post
office known as the Rose Lake Post Office; a school house; and a grocery and
general merchandise store. A small building located on the southeast corner
was probably the first building in the new village. Here was housed
Shingletown School. Both the roof and sides were covered with shingles.
The building was used as a schoolhouse on week days and as a place of
worship on Sundays. This little building later became a residence.

The lumber industry very quickly cut down the cream of the crop of huge
trees and burned what was left, assuming that the area that was left would
be sold to farmers. The mills were moved to other places where the timber
had not been harvested.

The post office closed and since there was no longer work there, the
settlers in many instances followed the mills, hoping to find employment in
other places. Eventually, farmers bought the land and Shingletown became a
ghost town.

Names of some of the land owners and settlers were CUSICK, LAWTON,
CUNNINGHAM, COLLISON, WILLIAMS, MAITLAND, MCDONALD, OBERLIN,HICOCK, ZIEGLER,
WEST, MOLLETT.

I might add that the building that first replaced the shingle covered school
house was later torn down and a larger cement block building replaced it.
It was used as a school for many years but as schools began consolidating,
the school at Shingletown was closed and the children transported by bus to
other schools.

Now all that remains of a once thriving settlement is the Rose Lake Free
Methodist Church and parsonage. The latest school building is used as a
church and fellowship building. Charles and Irene FEWLESS' residence
completes what is referred to as Shingletown. But there are still many
settlers there; if not pioneers, they may be relatives of pioneers.

Matthew McDONALD was one of the early settlers of this area. He was a
grandfather of Corrine Austin EDSTROM, he was a farmer and a millsright
manager. He was born in Canada and came to Michigan in 1882. He settled in
Hartwick Township and was engaged in sawmill work and as a builder and
manager during his lifetime.

Mrs. Reber WILLIAMS was one of the many teachers that lived in the area of
Shingletown. I do not think that even though she has passed away, that the
children she taught will ever forget her. She was loved by all who knew
her. She was the motherly type who taught not just for the money, but she
taught because she loved children.

We also had many other people that I might mention that were active in that
area. Waldo and Vivian WILLIAMS are two. Vivian died while still quite
young. Waldo is still alive. Louis EASTWAY had a store in Shingletown for
a long time.

Bernard ZIEGLER had a ball club that played baseball at Rose Lake. Bernard
played baseball, too. They tell me that he was a relative of Herbert COLE.
Herbert COLE was Osceola County's Register of Deeds.

I might mention that Herbert had lost one leg in an accident and for that
reason, he needed only one shoe. Another name, John Anderson, had the
misfortune of losing one of his legs also. These men were friends. They had
lost opposite legs, one the right and the other the left leg, so they had
use for opposite shoes. They evidently wore the same size.

So these men were very thoughtful and frugal minded, so what did they do?
One pair of shoes served two people.

Corrine Austin EDSTROM once lived in the Shingletown area. She attended and
graduated from LeRoy High School and later married Ernest EDSTROM. Ernest is
now deceased but Corrine still lives in their home in LeRoy. She is active
in civic activities and gave me some of the information that I have used
about Shingletown.
Myrtle Holmes

This thread:

• A gift back for yesterday's SURNAMES by "Terry Teesdale" <>