Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan by Albert Baxter, 1891 [366-369] Agitation for several years of the subject of erecting by the State of Michigan a refuge for disabled, decrepit, aged or indigent sold- iers, culminated in the passage of Act. No. 152, Session Laws of 1885, approved June 5, 1885, which provided for the "establishment of a home for disabled soldiers, sailors and marines, within the State of Mich- igan." Under the provisions of this Act the Governor appointed as the Board of Managers, A. T. Bliss, of Saginaw, and Samuel Wells, of Buchanan, for six years; Byron R. Pierce, of Grand Rapids, and Charles A. Remick, of Detroit, for four years; and Michael Brown, of Big Rapids, and Charles Y. Osborn, of Marquette, for two years. By virtue of his office, Governor Russel A. Alger was chairman of this first Board. By the same Act, an appropriation of $50,000 was made for maintaining the Home for the years 1885 and 1886. The first work before the Board was the selection of a site. They had before them sixteen propositions from as many different points in the State. After careful examination the Board selected Grand Rapids as the locality for the Home. This was August 12, 1885. The proposition from Grand Rapids included an offer of the choice of several different pieces of land for the building site. At a subsequent meeting the Board determined to build upon the "Burchard Farm," near Reeds Lake, if the city would construct and maintain proper sewerage. This prov- ing impracticable, that farm was abandoned and a new site selected on the "Nelson Farm," three miles north of the business center of the city. The tract comprising 132 acres, was purchased by citizens of Grand Rapids at a cost of $16,500 and deeded to the State. The amount was made up, chiefly in small subscriptions, by upward of 450 persons. Plans and specifications were advertised for, a premium of $1,000 for the best and $800 for the second best being offered. A number were received. That of F. W. Hollister, an architect of Saginaw, was ac- cepted and adopted, and the first premium awarded to him. Proposals for the construction of the building were then solicited, in response to which eight bids were received. January 27, 1886, the bids were opened and the contract was awarded to Charles Tiedke, of Saginaw, at $99,667.57, he being the lowest responsible bidder. March 15, 1886, ground was broken for the excavation for the building. April 13 the first stone was laid. June 3 the corner-stone was laid with approp- riate ceremonies, but without special public demonstration. In it was placed a sealed box containing: Michigan Manual, 1885 and 1886; official report of the Nineteenth Annual Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic, held in Portland, Maine; Report of Sixth Annual Reunion of Soldiers and Sailors of Southern Michigan; roster of the G. A. R., 1885-86, Department of Michigan, copies of current local railway time tables and reports; Charter of the city of Big Rapids; memorial by Pennoyer Post, G. A. R., Saginaw; "Michigan, my Michigan," poem by Major J. W. Long; memorial lines by Colonel Samuel Wells, Manager of the Home; copy of Governor Alger's first message; copy of the law authorizing the establishment of the Soldier's Home; copy of Daily Eagle of November 30, 1885, with list of contributors for the purchase of the site; copies of the Democrat and Telegram-Herald, and the fol- lowing penned by Major and Justice of the Supreme Court A. B. Morse: "This day the corner-stone of Michigan's best and latest testimonial to the worth and services of her sons in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion and the re-establishment of a United Government will be laid; a Home for the disabled and enfeebled veterans who lost their health and energies in defense of our homes. May it stand forever!" Pending the construction of the building, temporary arrangements were made as provided by law for the care of indigent soldiers, and applications for admission began to come in at once, the first admit- ted being John Wright, Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, Sept. 11, 1885. Colonel Samuel Wells, Manager, was selected to have charge of the temporary Home. The office was first opened in Lansing, with Major J. W. Long as clerk and book-keeper, but August 31, 1885, was removed to Grand Rapids, and remained in the city until the completion of the Home, and on January 1, 1887, was again moved to the new building. During the interval, before occupying the new Home, 454 were admitted. The conditions of admission were: A declaration from the applicant, stating that he served as a soldier or sailor in the Union army or navy during the late civil war, and, that if he did not serve in a Michigan regiment, that he was, on the first day of June, 1884, an actual resident of the State of Michigan; also, a statement of his military service, number of enlistments, age, nativity, occupation, married or single, and name and address of nearest living relative. This was followed by a declaration of his disability; a statement as to the amount of his pension, the affidavit closing with an obligation to obey and abide by the rules and regulations of the Home. Following this was a certificate of identification to determine citizenship, and condition as far as ability to take care of himself was concerned. A surgeon's certificate followed this, stating the physical condition of the applicant. Arrangements for the keeping and care of inmates were first made with the Board of Managers of the St. Mark's Home, at $3 a week per man. Soon there came many requiring hospital treatment, and for these $2 a week additional was allowed. St. Mark's Home was soon filled, and others were established - U.B.A. Home, Clinton Home, American Home, Wilson Home, Smith Home, and Nelsonwood Home. The lat- ter was in a building on the Soldiers' Home grounds, which had been owned and used by James M. Nelson in his lifetime for a summer resi- dence. At the American Home, a building formerly used as a hotel, on Canal street north of Bridge, a general hospital was established and dispensary opened, and Dr. R. Humphrey Stevens placed in charge as Acting Surgeon. The dedication of the Home at its completion, December 30, 1886, was an affair of unusual public interest. The building was filled. Thousands of people were in attendance. The ceremonies were opened with prayer by the Rev. Washington Gardner. Charles Tiedke, the builder, presented the structure to Fred W. Hollister, the architect, who accepted it and in turn delivered it to Governor Alger. Next in order was the presentation of the Home by the Governor to John North- wood, Department Commander, G. A. R., for dedication. Then followed the ritualistic dedication conducted by Commander Northwood, a dedi- catory address by Governor Alger, and addresses by the Hon. Byron M. Cutcheon, by Governor-elect Cyrus G. Luce, by ex-Governor Austin P. Blair, by ex-Senator Thomas W. Ferry, and other invited guests. Be- tween the speeches the exercises were enlivened by spirited patriotic songs and military music. The Soldiers' Home Building is 258 feet in length, the central por- tion 98 feet deep, and the wings at the ends each 120 feet deep; with a basement, three stories and attics. It is admirably constructed for the purposes intended. It stands fronting the river, is finely loc- ated, 38 feet above the river level, and in appearance is among the handsomest public buildings in the State. The foundation is of stone, the walls are of brick with cut stone trimmings, and it is surmounted by a slate roof with galvanized iron cornices. The stone masonry and brick work, and furnishing of the interior, also the plumbing and gas fixtures, were done mainly by Grand Rapids mechanics and manufac- turers. The building is heated by steam and lighted by gasoline gas. It has an abundant supply of excellent water, and an effective system of sewerage. The State Legislature, at the session of 1889, appropriated for im- provements at the Soldiers' Home: For a hospital $20,000, for dormi- tory $12,000, for a receiving vault $475, and for a root house $725 - in all $33,200 - and those additions are in course of erection. The hospital is 140 feet north and 110 feet back from the main building; 116 feet front by 90 feet deep; two stories and basement. The dormi- tory is 60 feet south and 30 feet to the rear of the main structure; 100 feet front by 40 feet deep; two stories and basement; with an "L" at the rear for laundry and bakery, 100 feet deep and one story high. Excellent provision is made for warming and ventilating these build- ings. The supervision and government of the Home is vested in a Board of Managers consisting of the Governor, who is Chairman ex-officio, and six members appointed by the Governor for a term of six years. The members (March, 1889) are: Capt. Royal A. Remrick and Gen. Russell A. Alger of Detroit (terms expire June 12, 1889); Col. Aaron T. Bliss of Saginaw and Col. Samuel Wells of Grand Rapids (terms expire June 12, 1891); James A. Crozier of Menominee and Michael Brown of Big Rapids (terms expire June 12, 1893). Officers of the Board: A. T. Bliss, Treasurer; Michael Brown, Clerk. Officers of the Home: Byron R. Pierce, Manager; James W. Long, Clerk and Adjutant; Dr. R. H. Stevens, Acting Surgeon; Chester B. Hinsdill, Commissary; E. P. Everett, Chief Engineer. In April, 1886, the Board of Managers located a Soldiers' Home Cemetery. The site comprises five acres near the northwest corner of the grounds, on which is an oak grove. The plat of the cemetery is in the form of a maltese cross, on each of four sections of which are laid out spaces for 262 graves; in all room for 1,048 interments. There have been (August, 1889) upward of a hundred and thirty deaths at the institution, of whom about three-fourths were buried at the Home Cemetery. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================