The back yard of the George Sowers House/Mary Meyers Museum at 131 E. Williams Street in Ovid will have a new look this summer after Robby Dobski completes a walkway and patio between the house and gazebo as his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Project. Robby has lived in Ovid since 2000 and has been a Cub Scout and member of the Ovid BSA Troop 585.
The Ovid-Elsie High School senior has been raising funds for the expected $1,000 project and plans to begin actually working on the project in mid- to late May with a completion date by the beginning of July. The paver block patio and walkway will make the gazebo and property more useable for the historical society members and visitors, which is open on summer weekends, by appointment and during community special events.
The patio will be 8' by 10' and the walkway 3 1/2' wide and about 40' long to link the house to the patio. An additional walkway spur of about 10' and 7' by 8' patio may be included in the project to enhance the gardens on the grounds if the funds are available.
The Ovid-Elsie High School senior has been raising funds for the expected $1,000 project and plans to begin actually working on the project in mid- to late May with a completion date by the beginning of July. The paver block patio and walkway will make the gazebo and property more useable for the historical society members and visitors, which is open on summer weekends, by appointment and during community special events.
The patio will be 8' by 10' and the walkway 3 1/2' wide and about 40' long to link the house to the patio. An additional walkway spur of about 10' and 7' by 8' patio may be included in the project to enhance the gardens on the grounds if the funds are available.
Donations are being accepted and would be very much appreciated.Tax deductible contributions can be made out to the Ovid Historical Society. For more information about the project contact 989-834-0202. Contributions can be sent to 202 E. Clinton St., Ovid MI 48866. A sign in the gazebo will list participants who help make the project possible.
Bob Dobski
Bob Dobski
50 years ago…
Ovid Register-Union |
75 years ago…
Ovid Register-Union |
April 6, 1961
Gernard Austin of Jackson started work this past weekend as Ovid's new Chief of Police. During the past several weeks over 20 applicants have been screen by the Police Committee and last week Monday the field was narrowed to five men. Over 500 ballots were cast by Ovid township voters at the annual Spring election hed here Monday. The mood of the voters apparently was one of being "against" everything. They voted "No" on Con-Con; "No" on Industrial loans and a surprising "No" on keeping township roads in repair. The Ovid Masonic Lodge is celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend with special Centennial services. The Ovid Lodge was charged on Dec. 24, 1860 and has grown steadily through the years until it now has well over 200 members. The annual Meeting of the Ovid Development Corp. was held last Thursday evening. Paul Nemanis, Richard DePond and C.L. Squier were re-elected to three-year terms on the board of directors. D.L. Houghton was then elected as President, Paul Nemanis as vice-president and R.D. Martin as Sec'y-treas. and resident agent. April 14, 1961 The annual PTA fun carnival is just two days away and Ovid folks are planning another big frolic at the elementary school on north Main Street this Saturday. This is the one fundraising project sponsored by the PTA each year, and the proceeds are generally used to purchase something for the schools. Mrs. Elaine Michutka is general chairman an dis assisted by Mrs. Marie DePond. Albert Ackley was re-elected president of the Ovid Athletic Ass'n at its annual meeting held last week. Ossie Francis was elected vice-president and Charles Clock is again secretary-treasurer. There will be six teams in the league again this year as Jim Ball has taken over the former Roller Mills team for the time being, unless another sponsor asks for a team. April 21, 1961 Ovid's track team crashed through to a victory last Wednesday in a five-school track meet. Ovid had seven first places and chalked up a total of 51 1/2 points. Portland was runner up with 37;Elsie 34; DeWitt 30; and Perry 24. Ovid's Miniature Golf Course is now open and the public is invited to try their hand at this fascinating sport. The course was built by Dave Houghton and is located just west of the Blue Water Motel on M-21. April 28, 1961 The Blue Water Motel built here several years ago by D.L. Houghton was sold early this week to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Ewing of Stanton and they are now operating the Motel. The Ovid Romans completed their baseball season Thursday by knocking off Bath 9-2 and ended in a three way tie for third spot in the league. Laingsburg and Elsie tied for the crown with 4-2 records. William Semans has been announced as the winner of the 1961 DeKalb Agricultureal Accomplishment Award, he excelled in scholarship, leadership and farm program activities during his four years in high school. May 25, 1961 Double "O" Extension Club - A lovely one o'clock luncheon was served at the home of Mrs. Robert Gumaer Thursday, May 18. The meeting was adjourned to drive out to see Stanton's 45 acre apple orchard, which was beautiful in full bloom. June 1, 1961 Ovid's Queen Candidates - Kay Crawford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clare Crawford; Diane Kurka, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kurka, Jr.; Noralee Plowman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Plowman; Sandra Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Smith. June 8, 1961 The Ovid PTA has now completed a very worthwhile project at the Ovid Elmentary school on North Main St. Shrubs and a variety of flowers were set out last week by a crew of volunteer workers. One o the group that labored were pictured: Clare Crawford, Hugel Leonard, Gordon Tubbs, Ray Chamberlain, Tony Bocek, Bruce Wiegel and Duane Chamberlain. After several previous attempts in recent years, thieves finally broke into Ken's Market early Tuesday morning and got away with over $200 in merchandise and cash. About $100 in liquor, $100 in cigarettes and a quantity of small change was taken. June 15, 1961 This Thursday evening the 55 members of the 1961 Ovid graduating class will receive their diplomas in exercises planned to be held on the Athletic Field. President of the Board, Harold Green, will give the graduates their diplomas. June 22, 1961 Ovid FFA wins Gold award for 10th time. Forty-eight high schools groups were awarded either the high "Gold" rating or a "Silver" rating out of 230 high school in Michigan that include agriculture and FFA activities in their curriculum. June 29, 1961 The Ovid MMPA plant is continue to break records every day in the processing of cottage cheese and spray process powder. During the month of March the Ovid plant handled 22 million pounds of milk. |
April 2, 1936
Miss Barbara Jenks and Miss Garnet Johnson of Oivd have been chosen as representatives of this village in a beauty contest being conducted by the Captiol Theatre in Owosso. The successful beauty will go to Benton Harbor where she will compete with girls from other sections of th state for the enviable honor as "Blossom Queen." April 9, 1936 The girls of the Home Economics Blub gave their annual Children's Party last Tuesday with about forty children of pre-school age present. About forty Home Ec. girls were also present. The large sewing tables were removed from the Home Economics Room and Kindergarten tables and chairs were used for the children. April 16, 1936 Although the school was officially closed this week for Spring vacation, the pressure of coming events made it necessary for several of the extracurricular activities to carry on during the holiday. Regular practices were held by the Junior Play cast, the baseball team and the candidates for the track team. The school band took advantage of the holiday to get in two and one half hours of marching practice , both indoors and outdoors. Ten of the players from the disbanded Ovid City Band showed their continued interest in having a band when they chipped in to buy a silver plated baton for the drum major. The ten who bought the baton were Warner Briggs, Howard Vaughan, Roy Gumaer, Ed Anderson, Guy Gilman, Milo Shaver, Joe Bartose, Harry Oven, Frank Comstock and Ernie Cross. Two representatives from Michigan State College have been in Ovid for several days going through the files of the Register-Union and calling on the ministers and various business places securing social data and the effects of the depression upon our community. Ovid was chosen as one of the four towns in the United States where a study is being made by the Rockefeller Foundation. A social survey was made in Ovid five years ago and the facts taken now will be compared with those taken at that time. At the regular meeting of the Ovid Community Club held Monday evening at the Life Saver Inn, the election of three directors for the next ensuing term resulted in the selection of Frank Jenks, Dr. Bruce Elliott and Warner Briggs. Report of committee which is working on the question of a dam to provide a swimming pool was made by Dr. Bates. The question of whether or not Ovid would have a Jubilee this year was discusses and when the ballot was taken it was practically unanimous against the proposition - possibly not until 1940 which will be the 100th anniversary of the organization of Ovid township. April 23, 1936 All is in readiness for theRural School Field Day Saturday sponsored by the Ovid High School in the Memorial Park. Mr. Balmer and a few of the high school boys have recently visited about twenty five of the neighboring schools, presented them with bats and balls, and invited them to come to the meet. Track events in which boys and girls compete for a trophy for their school and ribbons for themselves start at 9:30 in the morning. In the afternoon there will be a ball game between the rural boys from the west of Ovid and the boys from the east of Ovid. May 14, 1936 Many topics were discussed at the regular meeting of the Ovid Community Ass'n Monday night, following an excellent dinner served at the Life Saver Inn. It was decided stores in Ovid on Decoration Day from 12 to 4 o'clock. In discussing the proposed project of enlarging the swimming pool and dam across Maple River, near Main Street bridge, it was revealed that the A.M. Smith Co., had generously donated a large strip of land adjacent to the pool, and that the Fineis Oil company, that also owns land which would be necessary to use for the project, had signified its willing to donate. E.E. Hall, county drain commissioner, outlined some of the requirement to be included in the new set up which is an enlargement over the initial plans. He advised repairing the present dam for use until the new project is underway. June 11, 1936 Despite the threatening weather about 1500 people attended the historial pageant presented Wednesday night at the Memorial Park by the student body of Ovid High School and sponsored by the Senior class of 1936. "Ovid Onward" was written by Miss Vera Hudson and Mrs. Rae Lewis , ably assited by other members of the faculty and students of the high school. The pageant covered the history of Ovid from 1836 when Samuel Barker the first settler came to this section of Michigan. |
100 years ago…
Ovid Register-Union |
125 years ago…
Ovid Register-Union |
April 6, 1911
The Scofield Carriage Co. started up again last week, under the charge of the trustees, Messrs. Marshall and Robson, with Chas. E. Eaton as office manager. They expect to operate the factory until all 200 jobs which were in process of manufacture when the plant closed down, are finished and placed on the market. The workmen whose salaries were in arrears have been paid off and there is still some thought of organizing a local company to continue the business. The W. Francis Firth entertainment at the Opera House Monday evening was one of the best ever given in Ovid but was greeted by a small audience and as a result the members of the band are several dollars out of pocket. April 13, 1911 The thirty-fourth annual sixth District convention of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union held in the M.E. church today and tomorrow last Thursday and Friday was well attended. The sixth district is composed of five counties, Clinton, Genesee, Ingham, Livingston and Oakland counties. There were about one hundred delegates here from away. April 20, 1911 The Clinton County Sunday School convention was held in Ovid Thursday and Friday, April 13 and 14. The meeting was called to order by the president, M.O. Lewis in the chair. The song service was conducted by Mr. L.L. Henry of Chicago. The devlo0tinals were in charge of Rev. RJ Slee of Ovid. Mr. Lewis welcomed the people to our village, and spoke of a town which gave such a large dry majority in the local option campaign a year ago. Mr. Osgood of St Johns responded, saying that Ovid did things about right. The Ovid Hospital owned by Drs. Campbell and McGillicuddy was formally opened Tuesday. Many people of the village and surrounding country took advantage of the opportunity to inspect the institution which is now complete in every detail. NOTICE: The Village has an ordinance prohibiting chickens from running at large, so please shut them up. - Chas. Schoch, Marshal. Progressive Club - On April 10 the WPC met with Mrs. WW Dennis. Twenty-three members were present and responded to roll call by giving heir special aversion and chief delight in house-work. Last Saturday the local high school team cleaned up on Ithaca high school to the tune of 18 to 3 on Miner Field. While Ovid came out 15 runs ahead, they were fifteen dollars behind in expenses. May 4, 1911 The new schedule on the Grand Trunk will go into effect Sunday May 7. There will be several changes besides the fast trains being put on. Trains No. 17 in the morning and No. 14 at night will be discontinued. May 11, 1911 On Saturday evening the Ovid band will begin their regular Saturday evening concerts and it Is hoped that the people of Ovid and surrounding country will be on hand. We wish to give a few facts about Ovid's band that are worth considering; That we have the best and largest band in the history of Ovid. That the band now owns, fully paid for, over $1,000 worth of property. That they are playing a standard grade of music selected from the largest publishers in the United States. That the band now numbers twenty-one players-three having been added since last fall. May 11, 1911 Prof. E. E. Everts will give a balloon ascension and parachute drop in Ovid, on Saturday afternoon of this week. This attraction is provided by the business men and everybody is invited to attend. Prof. Everts gave an ascension here last summer and it was fine. The balloon carried him nearly perpendicular line and after landing from the parachute he was only two blocks from the starting point. May 25 Next Wednesday evening Will Carlton, Michigan's famous author, will appear at the Ovid Opera House in on of his entertaining lectures. He is the only author of national reputation who recites his own poems and sketches acceptably upon the platform. He has been across the continent time and again always appearing before large and e.I1thusiastic audiences. His writings are known the world over, but people must hear him recite them to get the best interpretation. June 1 One of Ovid's greatest sources of pride has been the purity and abundance of her water supply yet those who had occasion to use city water Sunday morning, after the fire, could not help thinking that an ink barrel had been tapped. This merely shows the condition of the mains which have not been properly flushed for years. For a long time we have heard complaints about the sediment in the city water, yet nothing has been done to clean out the system. It's an outrage to ask people to drink water containing such a quantity of dirt. June 8 The Ovid City ball team met its second defeat of the season Tuesday at the hands of New Haven. This team was greatly strengthened by the use of a catcher from Grand Rapids and a couple of other outside players. June 29 The thirty-fourth annual commencement of the Ovid public schools will be held at the Opera House, last Friday evening and every available seat was occupied. The graduation class of 1911 consists of eleven members - seven girls and four boys. The directors of the Ovid Y.M.C.L. wish to extend thanks to the Woman's Progressive club for the financial assistance so generously donated. |
April 2, 1886
Laingsburg News: We understand that the Ovid creamery will extend its route so as to include the vicinity of Laingsburg, going south to the McKee bridge and east to Elder Tucker's. While on our round for local Thursday we stepped into the meat market of W.H. Huntley and there beheld some of the nicest meat ever offered to the public of Ovid. The gross receipts from the Merchant of Venice, Monday night, were about $82. April 9, 1886 The Elsie cheese factory will soon begin operations. April 9, 1886 The annual election passed off very quietly on Monday. The day was fair and there was a good attendance from all parts of the township. Three tickets were in the field, republican, democratic and prohibition; there was considerable cutting especially on constables. The republicans had 86 straight tickets, democrats 78 and the prohibition 3. Did you notice last week the tastily dressed show window at Mrs. F.G. Hills' millinery store? Floers were arranged on black velvet in the form of the letters H-I-L-L-S betsides other artistic arrangement which produced a pleasing effect. April 16, 1886 Mr. H. Stebbins reports the birth of twin calves at his barnyard north of Ovid on the Meridian, a few days since. April 23, 1886 J.E. Gerow is painting his resident on Oak Street. The weather for the last two or three weeks is a surprise to everyone. The thermometer has ranged about eight the greater part of the time and wheat is looking finely. Farmers are all engaged in plowing and all vegetation is at least three weeks in advance of former years. Real summer weather in April. April 30, 1886 Our city fathers have prohibited, and wisely too, the hauling of rubbish to points within the village limits. The boiler at the carriage shop sprung a leak Saturday which caused the factory to shut down Monday and Tuesday. The arch is now being cut through the wall in the rear of Gerow's store, thus opening the alley for the convenience of the several stores. May 7, 1886 The Scofield Buggy Co. are fencing in their factory. Messrs. Potter & Harris are now making 900 pounds of butter daily at their creamery and have thirdteen routes established taking in a radius of ten miles each way from Ovid. Oscar Kenyon is putting in a new floor, repairing the cellar and otherwise fixing up his saloon on Front street. Geo. R. Wendling the prince of orators and platform speakers gave his masterly lecture on Voltaire at the opera house last evening to a large audience of attentive listeners. No one before him ever held an Ovid audience as this gentleman can. About thirty of forty young men of Ovid having heard that one Fred T., a 'stripper' who have been at work in High's cigar factory for five or six months had made slanderous remarks about several girls in Ovid proceeded to vindicate their character on Monday night this way. About 9 o'clock T. was enticed from the Retan House where he was stopping, by two young fellows, to a place at or near the school house grounds where he was met with a shower of eggs from the hands of the rest of the party. He was then placed upon a rail and brought to the Retan House under a continual fire of eggs and made to humble himself before one of the girls whose reputation he sought to ruin and ask her forgiveness, after which the crowd dispersed. We learn that T. has not been seen since in the locality not even having returned for his baggage. May 14, 1886 The veterans of Co. D of the 1st Michigan cavalry will meet to organize in Shannon's hall on Saturday May 22. They design holding their first reunion at Ovid August 20, which will be just 25 years from the day they left for the war. On that day they had their dinner just north of the Clinton house and they will dine there on the 22nd of August weather permitting. A subscription paper was circulated among our business men this week and liberally signed to raise funds for the purpose of graveling the Meridian road from Hier's hill to Burleson's corners, a distance of about five miles. It will cost about $600 and we learn that the farmers along the line have signified their intention and it is expected that they will meet the people of Ovid half way in this enterprise. It is a much needed improvement and one that will help both the farming and village communities alike. A grand May party is announced for the opera house on Tuesday evening, May 18th, giving by the young people of Ovid. There will be good music in attendance. The salary of the village recorder has been fixed at $80 per year. Street commissioner $1.75 per day, Common laborer $1.50 and teams with man $3. Wednesday evening last as the Salvation Army were marching to their barracks and when at the corner of Main and William streets some unknown individual threw a missile, which struck the captain upon the head. Such conduct is cowardly and if the person were found out would be prosecuted. The men in charge of the meetings here are gentlemen and law abiding citizens and as such will be protected. May 21, 1886 The G.A.R. Post of Ovid have secured the services of Gen. L.E. Trowbridge of Detorit for an address memorial day. The strawberries which Miss Antha D. sent to Ovid friends last week were grown and picked on the battlefield on Missionary Ridge near Chattanooga. The Scofield Buggy Co. recently received an order and are turning out eight hundred buggies for a Chicago cigar firm who proposed to furnish with a certain number of thousand cigars a buggy gratis. The company expect an additional order for about 1,200. What fine fun it must have been for the individual who did it, to maliciously pick one of the porcelain letters off from the sign on the plate glass at Swarthout's store and break it up. More letters, more fun, we suppose. June 11, 1886 The following prices are paid this Friday morning in Ovid. White wheat, 72 to 74cts. Red wheat, 72 to 74 cts. Corn old shelled, 50 cents. Corn new in the ear, 20 cents. Oats 28 to 29 cents. Clover seed $6.00 to $6.25. Buckwheat 50 cents. Barely $1.00 to $1.25. Beans 45 to 90 cts. Onions 60 cts. Potatoes 25 to 30cts. Butter 10 cts. Eggs 9 cts. Chickens live 6cts, dressed 8 cts. Wool 17 to 26. A few days since we strolled into the Retan house to see what Hay had been doing with so much paint, paper, alabstine etc. but soon discovered that there was scarcely a room in that popular hosterly that had not been repapered and repainted besides having the ceilings decorated. There is hardly a room in the building which would not suit the most fastidious and mine host and hostess are doing everything to please their customers. Now that the repairs are completed the house has the appearance of a new structure and is quite an improvement over the late appearance. June 11, 1886 The Ovid school will have no graduates this year. The Ovid school, brother, has been sadly broken up this year having had three principals since September last. Prof. Baker resigned and moved to Big Rapids; Prof. Taft died after a few weeks management and Prof. Ross took the school under very unfavorable circumstances to have a graduating class. June 18, 1886 The Ovid cornet band are discoursing some fine music on the street each Saturday evening. Tuesday noon an alarm of fire was sounded from the Wellman factory near the school house. The bucket brigade turned out and soon extinguished the flames which had began to have a good hold upon the roof. It is supposed the fire originated from a spark from the smoke stack. A. Beattie bought of J. Rohrabacker, near Laingsburg, one load of wool weighing 2,654 pounds, bringing the sum of $668.08. It was one of the finest lots of wool which was ever brought to Ovid for so large an amount raised by one farmer. The Ovid Lodge F. & A.M. have arranged for a picnic in Frisbee's grove on Thursday next it being St. John's day. All masons and their families within the jurisdiction of this lodge are invited to bring provisions and participate. June 25, 1886 All dogs in the village are to be muzzled from July 1st to September 30th, so says a village ordinance. The Scofield Buggy Co., the schools and jewelers adopted standard time last Tuesday. The Register will be issued on standard time in the future. If all will set their time pieces the same we will soon know but one kind of time in Ovid and that a good time. |