Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-08-12
"reminiscences"

several papers published in this part of Mich
igan 1t has awaked the attention of an an
tiquarian who cries "who goes there, Pin some
very pleasant suggestions which we copy from
the Grand Rapids Herald and Enquirer of
August 9th.
The Grand Riyer Times Of Grand Rap
ids was published for some time by said Pat
tison, who not meeting with the golden re-
suits he had perhaps anticipated, sold the pa
per to other parties, who continued its pub
LEGATION for how long time, we are not aware );
but it was finally discontinued.
In 1852 the Grand River Times Of Grand
Haven was commenced by Mr. JOHN w.
BARNS, who was employed during the publ
cation of the old paper, and he named ms
sheet after the one he had formerly worked
on, the name not being in any respect par
tcularly appropriate to Grand Rapids.
The First Copy of the Grand River Times. u
have before me venerable antique-the
first impression of the first newspaper ever
printed at Grand Rapids. 1t is the first num-
Der of the "Grand Rioer Times" and bears
the date of "April 18th, 1887" tits about
the size of our daily papers, edited by Geo.
w. Pattison, who was also its proprietor. The
paper now before me is cloth-not that the
said Pattison printed all his editions on cloth,
but that this Identical one, the first impress
SION, might be preserved. 1t has printed on
the margin: 4
Presented to LOUIS CAMPAU, by @a. y
GEORGE w. PATTIsoN, Ga 81
Editor of the Times. ~
Mr. Campau has kept it as a treasure: and
he will, doubtless, see that it is not lost when
he is no more. move that it be framed and
placed as an heirloom, in one of the printing
offices. What do you say, uncle LouisG
Looking over the paper find that ideas
were expansive then. They had great place
in embryo /; and there are the business cards
and advertisements of some who are famil-
lar spirits with us at present. 80.
The editor announces his intentions in
modest salutatory, and states that he shall
wait until the 10Th before he commences the
regular issue of his paper, 1t was an enter
prise then to issue that sheet. The place was
a little frontier village, and Pattison had no
golden prospects before him when he sent out
his comely little sheet. One, the leading ar
ticlc, is worthy of notice; and l hand it over
to the editor, to publish entire, or to make
extracts therefrom, as he may see fit. The
sheet itself may be seen for few days, con-
spicuously displayed in the editorial sanctum,
for the inspection of the antiquarian. He
will there learn that the ancients bought and
sold that they feasted their imaginations, as
at present, on tales of love; and will come to
the conclusion that the ancients were like the
moderns, with this difierence-the moderns
are little more so. QUEEN SABE. Z
The "leader" to which QUEEN SABE audcs was
the first editorial" ever published here, and as it
refers to local matters, we transfer it to our col
umns. Read it; it is interesting, amusing and in
structive:
"The Rochester of Michigan +" I'm 1887.
From The Grand River Times, april 1S, 1897
Though young in its Improvements, the site of
this village has long been known and esteemed for
its natural advantages. II here that the Indian
traders long since made their grand depot. 1t was
this point that the missionary herald established
his institution Of learning-taught the forest child
| the beauties of civilization and the inestimabc
benefits of the christian religion. This has been
the choicest, dearest spot to the unfortunate In
! dian and now is the pride of the white man,
Like other villages of the west its transition from
the savage to civilized state has been as sudden
as its prospects are now iattering.
! Who would have believed, TO have visited this
place two years since. when it was only inhabited
| by few families, most of whom were of French
origin, people so eminent for exploring the wilds
and meandering rivers, that this place would now
contain its twelve hundred inhabitants? Who
could have imagined that thus rapid would have
been the improvement Of this romantic place?
The rapidity of its settlements beyond the most
visionary anticipation: butts location, its advan-
tages and its cline, sufficient to satisfy the
observing mind that nothing but the frown of PROV
4 idence could blast its prospect! 1,4tt
| The river upon which this town is situated is
one of the most important and beautiful to be
/ found in the country-not important and beauti-
full alone for its clear, sver-like water, winding
its way through a romantic valley of some hun
dred miles, but for its width and DEPTH its suscep-
| tbty for steam navigation, and the immense n.y.
draulc power afforded at this point .f-
! We feel deeply indebted to our Milwaukee
friends for their lucid description of the advanta-
ges to be derived from a connection of the waters
! of this river with those of Detroit by canal or
railroad. A canal Is nearly completed around the
rapids at this place, sufficiently large to admit
boats to pass up and down with but little detention
Several steamboats, are now preparing to COM
mence regular trips from Lyons, a the mouth of
Maple river, to this place, distance of sixty miles
and from this to Grand Haven, a distance of
thirty-fve or forty miles; thence to Milwaukee or
| New England may surpass this place with her
lofty mountains, but not with her greatest boast,
purity and cearness of water Our soil is sandy
and mostly dry. The town is delightful, whether
you view it from the plain upon the banks of the