Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-07-30
CORNER STONE.
Fitting Ceremonies.


Saturday. The dedication ceremony,
though brief, was impressively rendered
by M. PollasBy as follows: "In the name
of Almighty Jehovah who so graciously
has permitted us to be present on this
occasion do / deposit these mementos for
the use of future generations. May the
Heavenly Father give us health and
strength TO enable us to enjoy this earthly
possession for time to come"
A tin box was prepared, and the follow
ing deposited therein:
History and record of Pollasky block,
catalogue of Alma college, catalogue of
Sanitarium, purse of rare coins, Mason
ic record, Old Glory, National hymn by
5. Fillmore Bennett, official census of
| Gratt0t COUNTY for tS9f, 6ratiot county
business directory 1897, ALMA RECORD,
July 23, 1891, ALMA RECORD, April p
| 1888, Alma Argus, July 23, 1891, Alma
Argus, June p, 1898, Evening News,
July %, Detroit journal, July %, Detro-
it Tribune, July "a, Detroit Free Press,
July "a, announcement of Remenyi,
following photographs: Michael Pollasky
Celia Pollasky, Max +. Pollasky, f. f.
Pollasky Mrs. S Messenger, Marcus
Pollasky and a group of Pollasky grand
children, Col Ralph @. Ely, A. w.
Wright old Pollasky block, 1879 and
1880, business cards of ALMA RECORD,
Alma Argus, Wright house, Hotel
Arcadia, and various others, last but not
least good luck horse shoe.
The following history of the property
was printed III supplement form and
placed in ALMA RECORD of July 23:
Pollasky block, corner State and Su-
perior streets, Alma, Mich. Erected
1891
Proprietors, Michael and Celia Pol
lasky architects, Haug and Scheeman,
Saginaw, w. 5. contractors and build
ers, Geo. 5. Young general contractor /;
j. w Thomson, mascn work, Bay City {;
Anson Hobson, stone work, Saginaw /;
! j. G. Albright, iron work, Saginaw
Brown Bros, plumbing, Saginaw; Cor
ner stone laid July 24th., 1891
The land on which the Pollasky block
is erected was granted by the United
States to Ralph Ely in the year 1884, and
transferred as follows:
United States to Ralph Ely, patent,
1884.
Ralph Ely anG wife to Armenius Ely,
1850.
Armenius Ely and wife to Mary Ely,
1880.
Mary Ely to Dewitt G. Chaplin, 1866.
Dewitt G. Chaplin and wife to Celia
Pollasky, 1869.
The corner on which the Pollasky
block is erected was a virgin forest until
the year 1862, when the same was clear
ed up for farming purposes, and contin-
ued as farm until 1871, when Michael
Pollasky erected a store building OH the
corner, 24 feet wide, 60 feet long and
two (2) stories high facing the east, and
occupied same as a general store. This
building was the first store in this part
of the town, and the first frame building
with the exception of the old unpainted
school house built in the woods directly
opposite on the present site of the
Wright House. In the year 1874 an adj
dition was built on the south side Of this
store building, which was occupied as a
warehouse TO il until 1878 when il was
finished off with a square front connect.
ing both buildings, and this addition
occupied as the grocery department In
1880 il was remodeled with modern front
show windows, etc, considered then
quite metropolitan in appearance. In
1890 it was again remOdeled with en-
trance on the corner and show windows
on the north side. This block was destroy
ed by fire October 18th, 1898.
The erection of the present block was
first contemplated in the fall of 1894,
but not perfected until the first part Of
the present year, (IS91) The projectors
ard proprietors, Michael Polaslky, and
Celia Pollasky his wife, located in Alma
in the year 1862, coming from Detroit
Mich, when the trip from st. Johns to
Alma consumed from three to four days
by wagon part of the way being obliged
To cut their own road, experiencing all
the hardships of pioneer life in new
country. The first home they occupied
being Il log hut, afterwards removing
into more luxurious quarters, board
shanty containing one room, adjoining
another similar room, l6 by 20 feet,
which was used by them as general
store, where they resided until they
erected their own home in 1864, being
the first two story frame building erect
ed in Alma. This they occupied for
a store and dwelling. On the site of
this building they have lived ever since.
The village of Alma at that time was IL
mere hamlet containing less than 100 in