davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
RICHARDSON SILK
COMPANY WILL ADD
TO ITS DYE HOUSE
STRUCTURE TO BE SIXTY BY
THIRTY TWO FEET. WORK
WILL BEGIN AT ONCE

Another addition will be built to
the plant of the Richardson Silk COM
pany. 1t will consist of substan-
tial addition to the present dye house
and the enlargement of the present
structure.
The present dye house is wholly be-
low the level of the first floor in the
main factory. The roof will be re-
moved and second story will be
added. Then flush with the south line
of the building an extention to the
plant will be placed to run sixty feet
west toward the river. The addition
will be thirty-two feet wide.
The new building will be construct
ed of brick to conform with the ma
teriaI used in the whole, plant The
location Of the addition will not OBJ
struct the lighting of the present dye
house and will afford an abundance
of light on three sides of the new one.
The nerth light, so advantageous in
all color work, will be an excellent
feature.
A. w. Morgan of Grand Rapids,
who had the contract for the addition
built on the plant last summer, also
has the present one in charge. He
is to have it completed before July
II. Work will begin as soon as ma
terials arrive. The addition is large
ly made necessary because of the in
crease in the cotton part of the busi-
ness.
The general improvements in and
around the plant, which were begun
last year, are now almost completed.
The new office is all complete and the
force is comfortably housed in it. A
retaining wall is built from the
northeast corner of the building out
to the sidewalk, which adds to the
appearance of a carefully graded
front lawn. A concrete drive to the
stock room door turns flush with the
walk to the main Office and incloses
semi-circular plot, of ground that
will either be made into a lawn or
a mammoth flower bed.
An the improvements are splendid
and reflect the aesthetic temperament
of the management of the institution.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
E. A. TH0RNE is
MOVING TO LAPEER

E. A. Thorne is packing up his
household goods and will vacate his
home this week preparatory to NOV
ing to Lapeer.
Mr.. Thorne has decided not to move
on to his farm this year, but will re-
side in the city which was his home
in the early days, and where he has
many acquaintance and old friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thorne and family
came here about ten years ago and
he bought out the city laundry, which,
under his supervision and strict atten-
ton to business, has grown to be one
of the successful and busy enterprises
of the city, and still continues to be
so under the new management.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thorne have been
first-class citizens and number their
friends by the score, who will regret
exceedingly to have them move away
from the city.
After a short visit in Bowel they
will go to their new home in Lapeer.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
CARL MASON VICTIM
OF AUTO ACCIDENT

Carl Mason, aged twenty years, was
quite seriously injured on the Orleans
road near Bert Posts place, being rup
down by an automobile Sunday after
noon. He with three other boys
Lloyd Dean, Charles Wheeler and
Eugene Post were walking along the
road coming to Belding. They were
walking Indian file. Carl, being
ahead. The car came up behind
them and the boys stepped out of the
road, but Mr.. Mason evidently did
not get far enough out and he was
struck a severe blow which knocked
him down on the side of the road and
rendered him unconscious.
The car, it is stated, is owned by
Mr.. Bigler, who resides near Turk
lake, the number being C-9926. The
driver did not seem inclined to stop to
investigate the accident until Mason's
companions went after him. Bigler
claimed he did not know the boy had
been thrown down.
Still unconscious, young Mason was
brought to the city hospital in charge
of DIR. Little. He received injuries
about the head and shoulders and the
shock was a severe one. On regain
ing consciousness he said he could
not remember anything which occur
red after they all left Mr.. Deans for
Belding. His condition is reported
much improved. He is the son of
Will Mason of Chadwick and was en-
ployed on the Hall farm.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
LOCAL MEN HAVE
A PLEASANT FISH
AND OUTING "TRIP
WEATHER WAS COLD BUT
SPECKLED BEAUTIES WERE
ENTICED TO TAKE HOOKS

Henry J. Leonard, John Ames
chas. Madden and Forrest Fish re-
turned last Friday from ten days
trout fishing trip to Baldwin and Pea
cock. The weather was cold but re-
gardless of this fact the men had a
very enjoyable time. They did not
go hungry for fish either. The little
speckled beauties occupied prom
inent place on the table at every
meal. The supply was sufficiently
large when camp was broken, to en-
able each man to bring home his full
quota.
On their return the men were lib
eral in passing some of their catch
among their friends, all of whom will
vouch for the fish being the best ever
eaten. Patriotism was not forgotten
while at camp. Old Glory foated
from the tops of the tents every min
ute. Unfortunately one of the tents
was lost on the road back.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
Business AS UsuaL''
A Plain Talk to the Banner Readers About a Per-
fecty Plain War Time Duty Which 1t Is Plain We
Must Not Shirk or Deny.

defeat armies Equally needlessy can
thought 4 i has been pounded home
Sc eutne ao % possession ea @
e m nn eef h a wne N I our emDaed
itself prominent Grand Rapids business paid for ad in
every hand there is recognition of the menace
mn n aqS D 5 I P the our %o 1 S0nre to we SD my aph
with business faith fighting shall be forward
who surrender to hyster na crawl
day s h
@ Ss % @ Ss % baf & a every WN' mu'n 'ker
aS a s tx s sre caea PaDSs P aa S T
@ @ 5 ahead for ss
normal Of buying what they and they would
g R story % 5 wod % wd h tR 1ss % n Sf n %t n my 5 aFSy @
just between penury and prudence.
3 p % n e ] Gs % % @ s"as % dsT % War s But op s sG'a @
o% THsf Rs isT Sss s
senadnce victory
& s accomplish % this result It will
which solely the minds
Eas Are you
tssuHs But this
ID as s f1ay 5
= % n % dS tss net ven ii sS. b s
ean SHr nGr@a @ a w VpV wf Z Hy yg had day G to 5 s w % our %
with MORE
aves the Republic
We do not preach extravaganza preach efficiency
face neghbOr Take brutal
ia g ss s ms's ad HAVE %
FEAR you may to hereafter
PUBLIC @ s YOU sp p make ti % aE5 FEe#T n,s w!5g THE RE-
We the his hghySy % to Victory @ Peace and Prosperity
Sf' Ss ss SP
YOUR wen win Win Win VIM WIN ...,,. s The % above
consideration Of every child this community
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
|. | HUDbELL IS
NAMED CAPTAIN OF 3
HOME GUARD TENT
GEO. w. PELLET is 1ST LIEUT.
ENANT AND WALLIE HEN
2ND LIEUTENANT

Officers of the home guard unit
were named at the organization meet
ing held in the opera house Tuesday
evening. /. l.. Hubbell was named as
captain, George w. Pellet, first lieut.
enant, and Wallie Helm, second lieut.
enant. The other officers will be sell
ected at the time of mastering in Of
the local unit. Twenty-eight men
signed application blanks seeking adj
mission into the unit at the meeting.
The work was in charge of George
G. Blickle, who is at the head of the
home guard movement at Grand Rap
ids. He will probably return within
a few days as mastering officer Mr..
Blickle has mustered in almost all the
home guard units in the cities sur
rounding Grand Rapids.
The local unit affords an excellent
opportunity for boys and men who
wish to get touch of military train
ing. Membership in the unit makes it
compulsory for each man to meet at
least one hour each week for drill.
Almost any man can do this and the
training will be excellent. Every
man and boy within a radius of ten
miles of Belding, who can, should join
the local organization.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
TRAIN TIME IS
CHANGED. EVERY
ONE is EFFECTED
AFTERNOON TRAINS TO AND
FROM GRAND RAPIDS ARE
DISCONTINUED

The time of departure of all trains
out of Belding has been changed. The
afternoon trains to and from Grand
Rapids have been discontinued.
The early morning train from lonia
is due to leave the local station now
at 6:44. The train from Grand Rapids
for Saginaw will leave here at 1855
a. m. The first rain to Grand Rap
ids in the morning will be 10:42 and
the next train in, the one to Ionia will
not leave until 1910 p. m.
In the afternoon the first train to
leave the local station will be the one
to Ionia and Detroit at 4:42. The
train going north to Howard City will
leave at $50 and the one to Saginaw
at 6:5O. The late late night train to
Grand Rapids will go at S:44.
The change in time is not great in
any case but sufficient to cause every
one some concern until the new
schedule is learned The train time
is always in the Banner and is chang
ed each month without fail. Learn
to depend upon it for this informa-
tion.
The change of time of the train also
effects the time of the makeup Of the
mails in the post Office. In each case
he mails for the several trains will be
dispatched from the Office at twenty
minutes before the due time of the
train. That is the mail for the 6:44
train will be closed at 6:24. The mail
for the 10:42 will be closed at 1922
etc.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
SERIES OF RACES
/ ARE BEING PLANNED
FOR, SUMMER SPORT
w C. SPICER EXPECTS TO CON
DUCT EVENTS ON HIS TRACK.
CIRCUIT MAY BE FORMED

w. c. Spicer and son, Carroll, are
working out plan to form a race
circuit here with Ionia and Lowell as
the other points. The event will be
started off on May 30, Decoration
Day, with a series of races on the
Spicer tracks. AT least three classes
will be made up and possibly fourth
will be added for the opening meet.
A forty-dollar purse will be offered.
1t is planned to hold races in each
of the three cities bringing a set to
Belding every third week. The sue
cess of the move will depend upon
the interest shown by horsemen in and
around Ionia, Lowell and Greenville.
The barns at the Spicer farm have
been repaired and painted and the
fences surrounding the track are be-
ing replaced. The grandstand is
coming in for its share of the inn
provement and other additions that
will be of value to the management.
Belding has not been favored with
horse races for the last several years.
Hundreds of fellows will welcome a
chance TO attend a series of races and
the events will be good for the pub
licity of the city too. 1t is hoped to
complete the details of the circuit
within the next few days.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
CLARENCE C. BAILEY
WRITES LETTER TO
FAMILY BACK ROME
is MEMBER OF INFANTRY AND
HAS BEEN ORDERED TO
RINGGOLD, TEXAS


The Banner is pleased to publish
the following letter from Clarence
Bailey, recently one of the Banner
force, who became imbued with
spirit of patriotism to such an ex-
tent that he could not resist his coun-
try's call. He wanted to get into the
cavalry, but was rejected on account
of being too heavy. Not to be turned
down entirely he told the recruiting
officer he was there for business and
joined the infantry. Clarence is made
of the right kind of material and will
make good wherever he is placed.
Columbus, Chic,
May IL, 1917.
Dear ones at home:
You no doubt are looking for let
ter from me. You know | am not
much good on that "dope" but>will try.
For the first few days we have done
nothing but write letters and cards,
but believe me there is something
ahead of us before long for | can feel
it in my system. There are boys go
ing to Texas every day from here and
our turn is coming soon. There are
only four of us from Belding and |
am away from them. They are in
the cavalry and / was seven pounds
too heavy for that. (You know how
poor / am.) The. coast guard was
full but / was not so easily discour-
aged so / joined the infantry. The
boys that | am with are from Battle
Creek and are good bunch but
would like to be with my home town
fellows. Don't worry about me for. /
am all right.
/ was walking around the grounds
this morning after the train came in
and who should / run into but "Bill"
Rusher and Burgess. They have join
ed the field artillery so they will not
be with me. The soldiers are coming
in here at about one hundred every
time the train stops. | was down
town last night for the first time and
as much as / saw of the town it was
pretty good but they have poor side
walks. They are made of brick and
by the looks have been laid ever
since the town was started.
The three Belding boys left for
Texas today. We have got our uni
forms and am pretty proud of mine,
you bet. The examinations were pret-
ty hard and we found out it takes
pretty good fellow to be one of
"Uncle Sans boys" / have been vac
cinated three times. Give my friends
my best regards and tell them hello
for me. Will write you when ! know
where they are going to send us. Love
to all at home, your son,
Clarence.
p. S.-We have just got our orders
to move and leave at once for Fort
Ringgold, Texas, so l guess there Is
something doing. You know l said
wanted to go to the border, so good
bye for now until you hear from me
again. | send this verse which are
my sentiments exactly:
Dear flag of our country, whose stars
and whose bars
Call all her sons to defend her;
God help us to be true to the red,
white and blue,
Her principles never surrender.
Yours, Clarence.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
TOM DAWES CAR
SCORCHED BY FIRE

Thos. Dawes is a lucky man to
have taken out an insurance on his
automobile. When he went to the j..
C. Ames barn, which he uses as a
garage Sunday morning, he found
that fire had completely destroyed
the top and the rear seat of his car.
The flames had also burned a hole in
the barn floor and the door to the
barn was smouldering and charred.
Mr.. Dawes ran his car into the barn
Saturday night about nine o'clock and
apparently everything was all right.
He thinks a cigar stub carelessly
thrown into the top when it was down
was the cause and the fire smouldered
and crept along without breaking out
into flames. The auto was insured In
the Wagner agency for $40O.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
JAMES BANKS HAS NEW
POSITION IN SAGINAW

James Banks will finish his work al
the f. C. Lloyd store Saturday even
ing, and will become a member of the
sales force inf the w. c. Weichman
department store at Saginaw next
week. Mr.. Banks secured the position
Monday after making trip to that
city. He will move his family there
Immediately.
Mr.. Banks win have charge of the
window trimming, card writing and
decorating in the Weichman store just
as he has done in the local store. He
has acquired considerable skill in the
work and the new position and larger
store will acord him an opportunity
to continue the advancement he is
making. Mr.. Banks leaves Lloyd's
after almost wour years work. His
place has not been filed.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
HOWARD MUSSER WILL
TALK HERE ON MAY 23

All the people of Belding and vicin-
ity are invited to come to the Gen.
trail Methodist church Wednesday
evening, May %, at seven-thirty and
hear, DIR. Howard Musser speak on
the conquest of the world for Christ.
The lecture will be illustrated with
pictures. DIR. Musser is a member of
Bishop Henderson's cabinet. He is
one Of the most brilliant men of the
day and comes enthused with the
topic, and with the spirit of Bishop
Henderson.
In the afternoon DR.. Musser will
talk to all ladies Of the city who can
come out at two-thirty. The house
should be filled at both services.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
GEORGE MENKEE
WRITES An INTEREST
Ing LETTER HOME

Mr.. and Mrs Walter Menkee have
received a letter from their son,
George Menkee, written at Columbus,
Ohio, after the arrival of the boys
there. Before sending it they were
ordered to go to Texas and he finish
ed the letter on the train, mailing it
from small town they passed
through in Missouri Saturday.
The letter will be of much interest
to his many friends here:
Columbus, Ohio,
May 10, 1917.
Dear Folks:
Now that | have little time ! will
try and drop you few lines. got
here Tuesday morning about 10:30 a.
m. We left Grand Rapids at 500 p.
m. Monday night and from there
went to Detroit, then from there to
Toledo, Ohio; then to Bellefontaine,
and Springfield. Ringling Bros
circus was there that day, but
we couldn't go. That is very pref
ty city of 10000, but there are lot
of poor people living here. Columbus
is a city of 100000 population and
quite a pretty city. About half of the
people are negroes.
After we arrived at Columbus we
lOOh DdIll anu Ilstu Jul HiSdoui c
ments taken for our uniform apd
shoes. It was awful tiresome work
and took us over two days to go
through all of it. Theexaminations
were pretty stiff. One fellow tainted
and fell right fat on his nose break
ing it. He tainted again when he
was being vaccinated. Out of one
bunch. six fellows tainted. 1t is about
400 miles from Grand Rapids to Col
umbus and on the night which we
passed on the train we were not able
to sleep very much. slept about fif-
teen minutes that night. Tuesday
we slept in the barracks and Wednes-
day night in tents. 1t was pretty
cold. We wersc furnished with two
uniforms, one. u felt and one of
khaki and pair of overalls and a
swankie, six pairs of socks, three
pair of underclothes, a pair of leggins,
two wool shirts, and a hat. My hat
is a seven and one-half and comes way
down over my ears.
couldn't get into the coast guards
so went into the cavalry and they
gave me yellow braid to go around
my hat.
Then they gave us two pair of shoes.
There are only four fellows here from
Belding-Kenneth Moon, Leo Orser,
Clarence Bailey and myself. The
other fellows backed out and joined
the National Guard. There are GER
tainly a lot of fellows coming here
every day. We had to buy laun-
dry bag, tooth brush, towel and
soap. Leo, Kenneth and myself
had our pictures taken and we
are going to send them home so you
can see how we look in our uniforms.
We haven't done anything this
morning, but clean few spittoons,
etc.
We don't know when or where we
will be sent, but all the cavalry is
now going to Vermont. Well, it is
now dinner time. Will write later.
With love,
George.
p. S.-We are on our way to Llano
Grande, Texas. Address is George
Menkee. 10th Cavalry, Llano Grande,
Texas. We are now travelling through
Missouri. / am writing on the train
and it don't work. Will try again
later. George.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16

Because of the interest in Mr..
jerks locally we are pleased to print
his letter herewith:
Fort Screven, Georgia,
May 3, 1917.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. A. jerks and All,
Greenville, Michigan.
Dear ones all:
Will write a few lines to let you
know / am in the army now. l am
liking it fine | left Eustis on the
seventeenth Of April on my way home,
and the day | left there were four
fellows on the train from Eustis who
were going to Jacksonville to be re-
cruits. So when got to Jacksonville
| enlisted with them and stayed all
night in Jacksonville.
When we left Jacksonville there
were forty-two of us and when we
got to Savannah, Ca, we were joined
by over thirty more, and when we
were examined there were eighty
three in all with some who came In
that morning. Five were turned down
and seventy-eight took the oath after
that. The next day we were vacci-
mated for smallpox and inoculated for
typhoid fever and other fevers. We
get the vaccination just once, but we
get the incubation once week Tor
three weeks.
CONTINUED on Page Five)
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
MARK JENKS WRITES i
LETTER TO HIS UNCLE
ENLISTED IN ARMY WHILE AT
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. FORM
ERLY LIVED NEAR HERE

Mr.. and Mrs. A. A. jerks received
a nice letter from their nephew, Mark
jerks, who is in the army at Fort
Screven, Georgia, last week. He
tells many things of interest to peo-
pie here. Young jerks was the son
of L. r. jerks of Fairplains. He
has half sister, Mrs. Stella Craw-
ford of Greenville, and another, Mrs.
Celia Karn, who lives in Oregon. He
is related to the Wheelers, who live
around Belding and is well-known
here. jerks left here four years ago
last fall and has been employed on
the orange farms of Georgia and
Florida since that time. He has at
different times sent oranges home to
his relatives.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
KELLEY STOCK COMPANY
ATTRACTION WAS GOOD

The Kelley Stock company had a
cold week i'm Belding last week. The
company presented some nice clean
shows that would have pleased large
crowds. The weather, however, pre-
vented the people getting out.
One of the good plays given by the
company while here was "The Call
ing of Dan Mathews" The charac-
ters were well portrayed by the ac-
tors and the theme of the book was
closely adhered to. The work of the
company all through the week receiv-
ed the commentator of the people
who attended.
Next year when the company comes
to Belding it should have better
weather conditions and will deserve
larger patronage.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
BRASS COMPANY CLOSE
DOWN TEMPORARILY

On account of the shortage Of metal
and the inability to get the necessary
material for use in the manufacture
of products which the branch of the
Grand Rapids Brass company have
been manufacturing here the COM
pany closed down their plant tenn
porarily last Saturday. A portion of
the patterns used in the foundry and
one or two of the machines are being
shipped to their plant in Grand Rap
ids.
The company intends later as soon
as conditions change to. again resume
work here.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
Taken to Soldeirs, Home

Mr.. and Mrs. Ed. Butler were TAX
en- to the Soldiers Home last Thurs
day. They were accompanied there
by Mrs. Lena McCoubrey, Supervisor
B. c. Curtis and James Meginley. Mr..
and Mrs. Butler have been residents
here for the past fifteen years or
more. He served as a private in the
Civil war in a New York regiment.
Old age and ill-health rendered them
practically helpless and it was de-
cided by the city officials that the
home would be the proper place for
them.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
MURRAY & COMPANY
GARAGE Is ENLARGED

Murray & Company's garage is be-
ing enlarged The blacksmith shop
belonging to Mr.. Murray and adj
joining the former garage has been
dismantled and is now being placed in
condition to serve as portion of the
garage. The building has a new
front, with large doors. The portion
Of the front not taken up by the door
is large window.
The floor, formerly used in the
blacksmith shop has been replaced by
concrete floor. A workshop is be-
ing constructed in the rear with open
ing through to the other section of
the building.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
TWENTY FIVE NAMES
NEEDED FOR SINGER

Pledges to date for tickets to hear
Harold Jarvis, the noted tenor singer
of Detroit, on June IA, are almost
enough to bring him to the city. Only
twenty-five more people to take two
tickets each are needed to the pledges
to assure the attraction. Everyone
solicited has s9ladly added their names
to the lists. Four lists are in cir
culation, with Wallie Helm, Julia
Travis, Mrs. Olive Insley and Harry
Conant. See one Of these four or
Tison Hale and place your name on
as a booster for the attraction.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-05-16
VISIT AND
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Adams have
gone TO Sumner and moved on to a
farm near there.
Mrs. Adams is the daughter of
Mrs. Emma Fuller and the neighbors
and friends gave them farewell visit
and miscellaneous shower Friday
night. There was house full OF
guests and the occasion was a very
pleasant one for all.
In the shower that fell on the late
bride and groom were a lot of house
hold articles, needful in the setting
up housekeeping, which included
china, linen and tinware, and Mrs
Fuller presented her daughter and
son-in-law with a fine Bible. The cou-
pie have large circle of friends who
wish them success in their new home