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Hilton School,
Norwood, MI
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By the time these
pictures of the Hilton Schoolhouse and class were taken, Norwood
was already a thriving community. Fueled by the logging industry
the village of Norwood had an extensive dock installed where
freighters would stop to "wood up." Sawmills ran around
the clock and the village grew. By the early 1900’s, Norwood
boasted mills, boarding houses, a store, and hotel named the
"Eagle House." The first postmaster, William Harris
established the post office in 1867 and remained busy for years to
come within the same time period Orwin Adams platted the village
of Norwood.
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The growth surrounding the logging
industry continued at a robust pace and as the communities grew
churches and cemeteries were built. Norwood even had a barbershop
where the hard working men would often gather to solve the
world’s problems. |
Loggers
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Norwood
A Legacy of North Woods Living
By: Nancy Ritsema
$24.95
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The
village was moving at such a rapid pace they even had a village
band complete with a bandstand of sorts. Actually, it was a
windmill built by the Ferguson family in the late 1800's. It
housed a well and supplied water for the family home. The landing
near the top of the windmill was where the band would set up and
perform weekly concerts during the summer months.
The
concerns of the day were not that different than they are today.
Schooling the children of the community was an issue of priority
and the boom of building schoolhouses was well under way
throughout our country as well in our little corner of the planet.
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Since the
children mostly walked to school the buildings spotted the
landscape every few miles which is why there are so many of these
lovely old structures around today. Many were turned into homes,
some turned into antique stores and shops. It seemed like a
logical thing for the Bier's to transform the Hilton schoolhouse
into an Art Gallery. The old building continues to bring smiles to
those who enter through its doors today in much the same way the
sense of the joy of discovery and learning did so long ago for
another generation at another time.
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Windmill-Bandstand
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Class
Picture, Hilton School
Feb. 19, 1913
Teacher: Ella Meggison
Students: Orvil Hilton, Myron Hilton, Frank Cook, Emma Klusak, Marie
Klusak, Alice Jones Heise, Catherine Hartwell, Bob Jones and Burt
Jones. |
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