Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-06-07

Queen had hardly got anchored
when boat loads of mill hands came
out to pay her visit, and to get,
what was of. far more interest to
them, something to drink, for it
must be borne in mind that spirit
Gus liquors were not allowed to be
sold in Alpena. 1t was no unusual
event when q steamboat with a
saloon on board anchored off the
river, for the mill hands to leave
their work and go out to her-the
mill in the meantime being left to
take care of itself. The Forest
Queen, as was usual with the oc-
casional steamboats, that came to
Alpena, had more passengers on
board than she could provide sleep
ing accommodations for, and at
least seventy men were forced to
sleep on the floor. A sofa was con-
sidered luxury and the fortunate
possessor was much envied.
Among other passengers were
Geo. N. Fletcher and family, j. r.
Beach, William Pulford, Timothy
Crowley and family, Miss Lock-
wood, and the writer of this sketch.
None of the newly arrived settlers
were much impressed by the ap-
pearance Of the town as viewed
from Miller's dock. Where was
the city they had heard so much
of during the past week or so (!
The people did not call the few
saw mills and houses that were
scattered about at wide intervals a
city! Wasn't the main city further
up the river! No, the few houses
and mills constituted all there
was of Alpena in 1864. The new
settlers considered themselves sold,
and there was no concealing the
fact that they were much dis
gusted at the prospects before
them. In what place were the
brick stores, paved streets, fine
residences, and churches that form
the component parts of a city :
They were in the future and ex-
listed then only in the imaginations
of the enterprising founders.
The city at that time, as we re-
member it, consisted of Oldfield's
mill, Fletcher's mill, Boggs' hotel,
and group of buildings known as
salt block, two mill boarding houses,
and less than q dozen private dwell
ling houses, on the north side of
the river; the south side being
represented by Lockwood & Mi
ner's mill, the Island mill, the Les
ter mill, three barn looking stores,
a court house, and about twenty or
thirty dwellings or boarding houses,
The only respectable private resi-
dence was a building owned by
Mr.. Murray, situated on the lot
now owned by Maltz & Co., on
Second street. The site of Bolton
q McRae's brick block was then un-
occupied, its chief decorations be-
ing burnt pine stumps. Wages
averaged from s35 to $40 per month
and board; money was plentiful,
and the only liquor allowed to be
sold openly, was Wahoo bitters and
Sans "fghting cider" Many of
the residents will probably remem-
Der the fighting cider, for it was
common saying among the boys
that a smell of the fighting cider
forty rods off would cause a man to
show his pugnacity. Although
whiskey, etc.. was not allowed to
be sold openly, yet, II man want
ed a drink and was willing to pay
accordingly for it, he could get it.
For a certain money consideration
q man would be informed where,
at the side of a particular stump,
in such and such a place, he could
find bottle of the ardent liquor
embedded in the sand, and a num-
ber of bottles were thus found.
How they came there is of course
q mystery, for it is something out of
the course Of nature to grow glass
bottles full Of Canada whisky with
the duty unpaid.
The only amusements were dane
ing and sail boat excursions to
some of the islands.
The principle diet was pork,
beans and black-strap for break
fast; beans, pork and black-strap
for dinner, and a sort Of medley for
supper. The above diet was furth-
er embellished by cookies, and salt
mule las the beef was termed) and,