Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-02
OUT OF THE EARTH
The Great Plaster Beds of
Grand River Valley
HOW THEY ARE WORKED
Hissory Of the Industry From the Dsscov-
cry OF the Beds 10 ths Pres
ent Time.

back IS 1877 we're c0galzant OF the fact
that gypsum existed near the surface
OF the ground in the neghborhood of
Plaster creek. An Indian chef by the
name on MONDAY hsd found plaster
rock. which he showed 10 Mr.. Mccoy,
. teacher IA the Slater MISSION, which
stool near TIE point now indicated by
the Junction of West Bridge and south
Front streets. Nothing Was known at
that time OF rs great extent and value,
bat IN the year 1888 DIR. Douglas
Houghton, the state geologis,. who WAS
sent here 10 select point for sinking
. salt we'll below the rapids, made a
report that led 10 the development Of
the Grand Rapids plaster beds. The
development and manufacture we're
begun IN istl by Warren Granger and
Daniel Ball, VINO erected plaster mill
Oh Plaster creek, two miles south Of
the elty. The output OF the mill the
first week was forty tons, which was
sold A. the mill for 81 per ton. Wheat,
pork and other produce were received
IN exchange for %, the sales not being
10 CASH StE. Dali
soon sold his interest IN the mill 10
Henry K. Williams, who did much 10
create a market for the article by his
enthusiasm N making It's merits known.
Other Mills EstabIished
He conducted the mill several years,
selling it n 1882 10 r. h. Morgan and
Noyes l.. Avery VINO assumed the firm
name OF h. b. Morgan Il Co. TINS
mill stood on Plaster Greek near the
present crossing of the Grandville road,
snd Tor several years was the only one
there. II was q small establishment;
but It's success and the demand for It's
product showed the value of the
gypsum deposit. and led To the estab-
lshment OF their mills. For nearly
thirty years, beginning with 1872,
James A. Rumsey was connected with
the nj as manager or IN other capsc-
ties. During the winter OF ls4S-i9 the
demand for the plaster was greater
than the supply, though the mill ran
night and day TO fill orders. Teams
came from points 100 miles distant
only TO return empty IN many cases.
In January 1852 shipments by teams
southwark were sixty tons or more
daily \. l.. Avery & Co. purchased the
works afterward, the members of the
frm being Noyes l.. Avery, sarell
Wood and Benjamin Il. Church. In
December 1857 this firm dissolved and
WAS succeeded by Sarell, Wood and
Barney Burton under the firm name
of Sarell, Wood q Co. Shortly
after Nr. Burton withdrew and
was succeeded by Charles A. Todd
and Abel Thompson.
The Florence Mills
About the year 1850 Freeman and
silss +. Godfrey began operating in
gypsum and n 1864 they. with Amos
Rathbone and George III. White, under
the name OF e.. ri. White Il Co., pur-
chased the old plaster mill property
and . large tract OF land extending
down 10 Grand river. along the line of
Plaster creek. The new propretors
erected a mil on the river bank. near
the mouth of the creek, and also made
extensive additions 20 and alteration.
in the old mill building. The new mills
were named the Florence mills, the
firm being F. godfrey & Brother. In a
very short time TINS became an import
ant manufacturing industry.
The FIRST mill. together with 40 acres
of land. has passed INTO the hands Of
the Aiabsstlne company, of which VI.
Il. Church 3 the general manager. Cal
clned gypsum = prod uced. the same
also beng the product Of the Godfrey
mills rhe Old mill has gone out Of
use "a manufacturing establishment.
This completes the early history OF the
plaster industry on the left .bank Of
GTsnd river.
In the year lsf9 Richard +. Butter
worth opened the first gypsum quarry
-. 4.
built small mil about three miles De
lov the city and earned on success
fai manufacture OF plaster untll about
sa6, when tiovey 4 co. purchased the
plant or SIS. 900. About the time Mr.
Butterworth q scovered the gypsum de-
posts on toe right hank OF the river
two other quaTries were opened. one
iy Adm j Kinds and the other by
John Bail snd Bernard Courtney.
Nr. Htad~ Dfseevery.
Tie manner in which Mr.. Hinds 10
Gated the gypsum acposit. isx worthy OF
note. While a mere BOY he assisted IN
sinking . salt well above Bridge street
and the talk OF the dip OF the strata
led hfp % make a search upon bis
farm lstsr ia e.. resulting IN TO ind
ing OF thirteen foot stratum.
Huvey 4 Co. organized IA 1885 and
buit a. mil year later. They mined
about , 900 tons ths fiFst year and ths
business steadily increased until lss0
when the Grand Rapids Plaster com
psny va organized and the Eagle
mills were erected. The firm COM
prisad Fransls Flsner, James W. Goa
verse and Francis X. + sher. ali % Bos-
ton; Charles ~. stewart OF New York
and William A. HoSey. The officers
we're. ". Cony~rs. president. \. E.
Whitney, wee president. g. &. Converse.
secretary. William H0vey treasurer
and general agent.
The plaster ruck accessible ny the
Esgie mills hes under The drift. and
some fhirty feet ~ rock. sonipo-ed OF
alternating ayers % wsteV lime, clay.
slate and gypsum. There srs -four
LAYERS Of gypsum. tne first one being
ouly eighs inches deep. The second
layer a very ttin. the third stratum :
seven feet deep, and the fourth stratum
hss depth q thirteen feet BY the
snkinQ ~ wells several strata % gvp-
sunl have been found h-i0s this. msk
ins IA al seout hftv fees 0f the rock
TnuaeHag ard mining hss been carried
en- axten.ively sna the nlines nov sx
tend for several miles beneath the
saili. Gypsum rock b@satifui
sao~fsncs. showing evsry pp-- BE shade
frur, ~hite - deep "a mon esltoF, sod
vist D. sac cave q fail 81 lntsrest
"a, shA left hsHk ~ th- river he
yia.t.F rocz las hut a fs~ feet helas