The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1921-07-20
OLD HOME SCENES
WERE REVISITED

The two Mrs. Bignells recently
enjoyed a visit with their rel
atives, near and in Detroit. Some of
said relatives were visiting here and
persuaded the ladies to accompany
them home for visit. Maybe they
didn't need much persuading, for
when the visitors were ready to go
home they too, were ready. Mrs. Eva
E. Bignell went with Mr.. and Mrs.
Alvah Dodds, Of Pennington, Oak
land county, and Mrs. Eva d. Big
nell went with her daughter and SON.
in-law, Mr.. and Mrs. George E. Van
Houten, to their home near Redford,
Wayne county. Right here let US say
those two villages are the oldest and
newest places on the map. We re-
member them way back, more than
fifty years ago, sleepy little villages.
Now, what change! They have had
an awakening. With the advent of
the d. u. R. and the paved roads,
crossing and cris-crossing the coun-
try, and the high rent in the city that
actually drove the people out, these
villages and many others began TO
grow, until now they can put on city
airs and are really part and parcel
of the big city of Detroit. Big build
ings, banks, churches and schools
are being erected, while everywhere,
small or more pretentious homes
spring up like mushrooms in a pas
ture. People live in the country and
work in the city, for if they don't
own an automobile, interurban cars
GO every hour.
Alvah Dodds has good position and
fine office in Pennington, where he
looks. after the interest of the Ed
ison Electric Light and Power
Company of Detroit. George f.
Van Houten is still one of Uncle
Sans postal employees, while An
drew Bignell and Hubert Earle.
whose homes are located midway be-
tween the others mentioned, are en-
ployed in Detroit. Speaking for them
selves, they gave us the most delight
full time of our lives.
We visited Walled lake and
Orchard lake and number of
other lakes, all of which are now
summer resorts for the city peo-
Pile Also great bathing and pic
mic places for everybody. One day
Mr. and Mrs. Dodds motored over to
crippled children which is located near
! II
esting place to see. 1t is new yet,
having been built a couple of years
ago, but in a few years it will be a
beautiful place. Saturday before the
Fourth, Mr.. and Mrs. Hubert Earle
took the writer to Mt Clemens to
visit few days with relatives there
Returned to Redford on Tuesday. Now
began the real sight seeing for the
two Mrs. Bignells. They were taken
by Mr.. and Mrs. Van Houten to Pal
mer park in Detroit, a dear, restful
place where they visited the famous
log cabin. walked through the big
redwood log, and drove about the
park One of the most interesting
sights to us was when George f. Van
Houten had business at the post Of
flee in Detroit and we waited in the
automobile and watched the loading
and unloading of mail and parcel
post packages. Trucks surrounded
by iron cages, securely locked, back
ed up to the doors and were unloaded
by the drivers, who were all armed
with pistols in their belts, and an
armed guard stood just within the
doors. ready to shoot anyone who
is surely awakening to the fact that
there is evil in our fair land. An
other time they enjoyed visit to
beautiful Belle Isle" 1t is truly
named for it is really the most beau
tiful park our eyes ever looked upon.
Here, automobiles must keep on to
the right, which rule lessons acci-
dents. A fine greenhouse filled with
wonderful plants and trees Of the
tropics, ferns and lilies and other
Towering and foliage plants is
great attraction as we'll as the birds
Continued on page five