Alma record., 1914-01-29
Uiews From GIWeN Che stsi S%i'ss 1s@"1Sr %1set II"

The X. O. T. NJ. hall at Elwell, one of
the most convenient of their public build
ingS, was formerly Grange Hall located
one and a half miles south west of the
village. When the Maccabees numbered
over a hundred men about fifteen years
ago, they purchased the building and
moved it TO its present location. There
are now only few Sir Knights left and
the officers representing the lodge are:
Commander-J X. Miller.
Lieutenant Commander-Marlie Sling
luff.
Record Keeper-B. Worthing.
The Lady Maccabees have flourish
ing order of 81 members. They were
organized Feb. "a, 1898 and have four
charter members still living: Mrs Olive
l.. Lathrop, Mrs. Sarah MacLachlan and
Mrs. Lille +. Miller of Elwell, and Mrs
Effie Medler of Alma.
+. \. Owens, the general black
smith and wagon maker, came from
Harbor Springs and has established
good trade which is steadily inn
proving.
Mr.. X. J. Lathrop is one of the
oldest and best known residents of
Elwell, having settled there in 1861.
For twenty-five years he followed the
lumber business as foreman or SUI
perintendent of logging camps along
Pine river, Cedar, Black and Sturgeon
rivers, in the Upper peninsula, Wis
consin and Minnesota He was
placed in charge of the Michigan
Forestry exhibit of the Worlds Fair
at Chicago in 1898, and won nation
al reputation by his reproduction of a
logging camp for the "White City
Mr. George W. Childs of Philadel-
phia was SO pleased with the camp
that he purshas sed it entire from the
| Fair trustees and engaged Mr.. La
throp to move it to his private estate
"Bryn Mawr," and erect it as an in
teresting historical relic of the ole
timber period Mr. Lathrop is now
interested in farming and real estate
and living a quiet life in the little vii
lage where SO many friends surround
! him.
Marlie Slingluff, who has served
! Elwell as postmaster for the past ter
years, is the prosperous proprietor
of a large general store with ar
annual trade of about $17,0OOO0 il
the cement block building erected il
1900 by K. J. Lathrop. The post
office maintains two rural carriers
and their total November report
shows a total of 1884 pieces carried
weighing ,4o2 pounds 7 ounces.
Elwell has a telephone company
all their own, duly incorporated, and
using ninety-two phones. a new
switchboard is now being installed
in their new office in the Sweet resi-
dence, which will accommodate one
hundred and sixty subscribers Mr..
John Morton, an enterprising farmer,
one and a half miles from town has
been an efficient manager Of this
company for some time.
Elwell has a photographer in the
person of Mr.. John L. Freed, the pro-
prietor of the Commercial Studio.
After spending some time in the west
Mr.. Freed returned to locate in his
home town two years ago. Last
year he erected studio and is now
prepared to do all kinds of work in
his line and reports a splendid in
crease in his business during the past
season.
The public school at Elwell is To-
Gated a half mile north of the village
and known as District number Four
fractional Of Seville and Pine River
townships. This school was estab-
lished in 1868, gives instruction in
eight grades and employs one teacher,
at present Mrs. Leah L. Peterman.
There are sixty-one pupils in the dis
trict of whom about fifty attend
school. Last year three pupils grad
uated from the eighth grade. The
building of new two-room school
house in the village is being seriously
considered
The building now serving as a
Methodist church was built in 1881
as a blacksmith shop. A few years
later it was used for a dance hall, but
in 1889 was secured by the church
people and fitted up for worship. The
present board of tructees are Lafay-
ette Peters, Leland Youngs, Walter
Ferris, w. c. Pugsley and NJ. T. Rice.
The building has been recently re-
shingled, the shed repaired and ce-
ment walk laid. The officers of the
Sunday school are as follows
The Cleaners have had a strong or
ganization at Elwell for about fourteen
years and number now one hundred
members. They meet regularly every
two weeks in their own hall near the
north side of the village and last Satur-
day evening installed the following Off
GERS:
Chief Gleaner-Joshua Philips,