The true northerner., 1897-07-21
WHOLE NUMBER 22O9.

| ne Hre extlngulSnerS scattered
throughout the village are not pleasant
things to monkey" with Curiosity
led passer.by TO investigate the one
at l.. q. Ocobock's, Sunday. IL was
loaded; il exploded, and Lynn's door
steps and screen doors looked as though
they belonged TO an ice cream factory.
Alva Norwood met with a painful ac-
cident the other day. Riding along the
street on his wheel quite rapidly, as is
his wont, he stopped over TO adjust his
cyclometer and got his fingers entan-
| gled in the'spokes. His wheel turned,
smashing the rim, breaking out several
spokes and Alva went over the handle
bar. He was considerably bruised, one
hand badly skinned and the breath eff
fectually Knocked out of his body. He
says the accident was due purely to
carelessness on his part and thinks he
will be more careful in the future.
1t wasn't so very many years ago that
Paw Paw lake was situate in the midst of
an unbroken forest. The writer has taken
many a noble pickerel out of its pelIucid
depths, but that was before the days of
modern resortism. The following item
| from the South Haven Sentinel shows
how great a change has taken place in
recent years: Give years ago Paw
Paw lake as resort was comparatively
unknown Now there are on the lake
shore six hundred cottages, represent
ing value of $500, ,000 or an average of
$500 each. State Item The above fig
ures may be trifle high, but Paw Paw
lake Is very important summer re-
sort point, and ought to be connected
with the port of South Haven by rail
road. We are happy to think such a
state of affairs will soon exist" We
trust that the anticipations of the
Sentinel may be fulfilled. A railroad
connecting this noted resort with South
Haven must necessarily connect it with
| Paw Paw.
Last Sunday, July IS, was the 10th
anniversary of the birthday of Mr. De-
catur Downing of Almena. In accord
ance with a time-honored custom, the
children and grandchildren and the
sisters came home to celebrate the
event. When all were assembled, an
additional incident occurred which
made the day of more than ordinary
interest 1t seems that some who were
not strictly members of the Downing
family had dropped in to help honor
the occasion. Among these were Rev.
II. w. Harvey and wife and Mr. Charles
e.. Thurston of Paw Paw. When the
dinner was announced, Mr.. Thurston
came into the room with Mrs. Anna
Millington and, in brief and simple
marriage service, they were pronounc-
ed husband and wife. For a short
time the birthday had to give place to
the wedding day, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Thurston took rank with Father
Downing himself as heroes of the hour
This wedding incident gave spice to
the dinner and conversation that fol-
lowed and rendered the hour one very
pleasant to remember. Mr. and Mrs.
Thurston will remain in the old home
with Father Downing, where they will
be happy to receive their friends.
Railroad matters are looking bright
for Paw Paw. The Northerner is as
sured on competent authority that the
road will be at once made standard
gauge from Lawton to Hartford; the
widening from Hartford to South Haven
is yet in the future, on account OF the
large amount OF work necessary TO put
that part of the line into passably good
shape. Several boat loads of ties have
come into South Haven harbor and are
now being distributed along the road
1t is needless to add that these are full
length ties. Some changes in the line
are contemplated in order to straighten
some sharp curves and avoid some hard
grades. Surveyors are now at work
with this end in view, and the putting
in of ties will commence very soon.
Fourteen carloads of steel rails have
already arrived at Lawton, and enough
rails have been purchased to build 20
miles Of road. Tie fact that the new
rails are So pound steel, while the
heaviest now in the track are but 40
pound, does not look at all like third
rail between this place and Lawton
In fact, the broadening to full standard
gauge from Lawton to Hartford is as
sured. What extensions or connec-
tions are to be made cannot now be as
certained. AS is remarked elsewhere
in this paper, however, we would say
in this connection that we think it wise
to watch the &. j. & M. lake extension.
AS to road coming across the river to
the old depot grounds, we do not think
it likely, although it is yet possible
The distance of the depot from Main
street, however, is very minor objec-
ton to our past and present railroad
facilities.