Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-08-01
THE VILLAGE OF CORAL.
-rne TOWN AND rHe COUNTY.
Short Sketches OF Ser Business and
Educational Affairs fu-
turs Prospects.

The village Of Coral l. located IN Maple
Valley township, MoDtcalm county, on The
line OF the Detroit. Lansing A Northern
Railroad, and has population Of about three
hundred persons. II il twenty miles west Ot
Stanton, the county seat, and seventy one
northwest of Lansing, and does quite con
siderable business for town OF IL size.
There l. some manufacturing done. and
there Il some excellent farming land in the
vicinity, which i generally coming more
and more under cultivation, 50 thai the fu-
ture outlook for tie Town l. favorable O~
ing Ia various circumstances the growth OF
Coral has not been rapid, bot II has held its
own, and the probability Il that IN the near
future, and with the return of better times,
II will show a marked improvement IL seV-
eral respects.
Among the manufactures al present III
operation ia the town and vicinity are the
Coral Staye Factory, BOyse's ShIngle Mill,
located three miles from town, aud "a saw,
feed and shingle mill owned and operated
by III. {. Fisher, all of which appear 10 be
doing prosperous business. The best
farming lands in the neighborhood lie north,
south and west of the village. To the east
the land Il not 30 good for agricultural
purposes, but still II produces fairly we'll.
The soil Is mostly clay, or sandy loan, and
may be rauked a. OF medium quality. I'm
provements are being rapidly made, both IN
farm buildings and in the acreage under
cultivation.
Hon. :. W. La Du. State Oil Inspector.
owns farm OF ltO acres Just Outslde of the
village that j. under an excellent state of
cultivation, and which Is this year producing
some fine crops of grain. Mr. la Du II M
popular AT home as be u abroad, and wher
ever ho is wields a vast influence for good.
As State Oil Inspector, he Is the right man
IN the right place.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
In religious and educa iional matters
Coral Is a. well provided for as most villages
| of its size. 1t contains Al present Congrega-
tional, Free Methodist and Methodist EpIs-
copal churches, all of which appear 10 be IN
fair state of prosperity. Its schools
looked after and managed by the following
board of directors: DIR. King, John A. Per
| rim, VIM. Smith 4. A. Baldwin. and ID. J..
| Shook, the two latter of whom were placed
| upon the board at the recent school election,
! and as they represent the pTogess ele-
| ment of the community they will nndoubted-
ly use their influence 10 promote the best in
ierests of the educational affairs of the vii
! lage.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The leading and most important manufac-
| turing institution located in Coral l. the
| Stave Factory. of which Mr.. VI. Mcmillan l.
manager. The factory has been IN opera
! ton for about fourteen years and manufac-
| lures slaves and heading. IL has capacity
| of about 800 set of heading, 300 -four bar
| rel slaves, 1000 tierce stayes and T.
| go tight barrel heading per day.
| 1t gives employment TO about fifty
men in the Winter and twenty IN Summer
| and does a business of about $4,000 per
year, so that it is an important factor IN the
prosperity of the town. The greater part of
| the barrel stock manufactured Is used by the
Greenville Barrei Company.
| Among the most important mercantile en-
terprises of the town the following may be
| mentioned.
J. S. Newell d Co. conduct general store
| on the principal business street. and carry a
stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and
| shoes. IL is 2 young but vigorous firm and
will undoubtedly prosper. They purchased
| the stock and fixtures of J. III. Althouse
| about three months ago. and at once began
| adding new stock TO meet the demands OF
| trade. They are doing a good business
! already, which Will doubtless increase as
| time passes.
| Edwin Medes is located on Main street
| and deals in groceries, provisions, crocSery
| and glassware. he Is one Of the ~ Oneers of
the town. and his extended acquaintance IL
of great value 20 him in his business. His
stock il one of the best IN the town and his
| trade Is satisfactory. considering the times
he makes speciality of country produce.
The drug store of \. Shook Is located near
| the railroad, and Is popular resort for pur-
chasels Of drugs and groceries, both of
| which lines of goods are kept IN stock. Mr..
| ID. L. Shook. who has the management of
| the business. has been identified with the
| town for thirteen years past and y one of Its
| best known citizens. He was recently
elected n member of the School Board.
| Mrs. \. r. Ross conducts the leading mil
| Iinery store of the town on Main street,
| where she has been located for two years
! past She endeavors to keep posted IN the
| STYLES of millinery and supplies her custom
| ers with the latest novelties.
Miss Ellen Siiverthorne j. one OF COrais
| popular young ladies and il engaged IN the
| millinery and fancy goods trade. She has
| been IN business only about one year but
| has built up good and increasing trade
| aud bids fair soon fo outstrlp her competi-
| tors.
J. H. Herrick conducts meat market
| and bakery on Main street, where he deals
| ont the necessaries OF life 20 all cOmers.
| Mrs. r. A. Donaldson u engaged ia the
| dressmaking business on Main street
Coral hiss two hotels which meet the de-
msnds Of the town IN this respect. Cranes
| Hotel Of which Geo. 4. Crane "a proprietor.
has fourteen rooms for the accommodation
| of guests and j. located near the depot The
| Exchange Hotel, of which Thomas Silver
| thorne is proprietor, has recently been
| thoroughly reftted and is nov better pre
pared than ever before 70 accommodate the
travelling public.