Category Archives: Saginaw History

I have been asked a few times about the smokestack along the river walk, and since I didn’t know the history of it I did some research. It was part of the Mitts & Merrill factory. It was originally started as a foundry by George W. Merrill in 1854 and it built steam engines, mill machinery and stoves. In 1876 the company introduced the key seating machine, which cuts keyways into machine components, and the name changed to Mitts & Merrill. In 1992, Mitts & Merrill was acquired by Maschinenfabrik FRÖMAG and relocated from Saginaw to Harvard, IL.

Eventually the buildings of the Mitts and Merrill factory were razed to build Michigan Cardiovascular Institute but the smoke stack was left standing. Since so much of Saginaw’s manufacturing factories and history are gone, I am thankful this smokestack still stands as a monument to our past.

Reminder: I will be at Zauel Library on Tuesday, November 19th at 7:00pm giving a presentation on why I started Pure Saginaw and Lost In Michigan. I will also be sharing some of my photos and stories. I hope you can join me next week

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I came across this old photo of Draper Chevrolet. I am not sure exactly what year it is but from looking at the cars I am thinking 1967. I wish I could buy that little red Corvette or at least take it for a test drive. I am not sure where this picture was taken at. It does not look like Bay Road to me.

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These three children have been playing in this fountain on Genesee ever since I can remember which would be around 1970. I don’t know when it was built or by who but I do remember the Feige’s building towering over the kids. Downtown has changed over the years but these kids are still watching cars go by on Genesee.

P.S. my grandmother told me years ago kids would put soap in the fountain so it would bubble up

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I was doing some research and I came across this photo of the Children’s Zoo. I instantly flashed back to my childhood. I remember going on the boat and inside the whale. I assume that is the whale tail on the left side of the photo. It is nice that the zoo is going strong and still making memories.

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The first garage in Saginaw to repair and maintain automobiles was started by Alfred W. Norris in 1902 on South Washington.  A few months after starting his business he partnered with the Wicks brothers and Eddy brothers to form the Saginaw Auto Co. They converted a building on the corner of Tilden (which I think is now Water Street) and Genesee. The business was so successful that after a year Mr. Norris bought out the Wicks and Eddy brother’s share of the business.

he sold a variety of automobiles with electric cars being very popular. He had one of the few facilities in Saginaw that could charge an electric car.  Eventually, he sold Ford cars exclusively and retired shortly after. I am thinking that was when it became Hubbell Ford Auto Sales which was in the building that was recently demolished. You can see my post about it HERE

I was visiting my friends in Texas recently and a commercial for a car dealer came on the TV and they bragged about how they were the area’s oldest dealer and had been in business for nearly 50 years. I thought it was rather comical because living in Saginaw I am used to working with dealerships who have been selling cars since the Big 3 have been building cars. In some cases, the dealerships were even around before they started building cars.

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In 1902, The Goodrich Brothers gave away a souvenir book to their clients. The brothers owned a photography studio in Saginaw for decades, and to celebrate their 39th anniversary in business published a small postcard sized book. It is a rare book and the Castle Museum has scanned the pages and printed large format prints of each page and displayed them in a special exhibit. It is interesting to look at the photos and recognize some of the places that still exist today, and remember the places that are gone. The exhibit is open to the public until May 19th, 2019

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I came across this picture of The Halls of Montezuma a few years ago but I did not understand its significance to Saginaw. I have always wondered about it and then I came across the name of Curtis Emerson in a book.

Emerson was born in Norwich, Vermont, on Feb. 4, 1810, and moved to Detroit when he was 26 years old and started a Malt Liquor business, possibly Michigan’s first craft brewery. After ten years in Detroit, he had gained some wealth and moved to Saginaw to try his hand in the booming lumber industry. He purchased Harvey Williams sawmill where City Hall now stands and after updating the machinery it was very profitable for Emerson.

He built a house on Washington Ave and was one of the first settlers on the east side of the river. His house became known as the Halls of Montezuma. I am not sure how it got the moniker but Emerson was known for throwing parties and welcoming visitors to the area. His faithful dog Ceasar was also well liked by the people who visited his home. Emerson’s was well liked but also had some demons, he was known to have a short temper and not afraid to brawl with anyone who opposed him.

In 1851 Michigan organized Buena Vista Township and the first election held in the township was in Emerson’s house. Emerson died on Feb. 11, 1880. Although I am still not exactly sure why his house was called the Halls of Montezuma it was interesting in learning about the strange picture I found. The house is long gone and Saginaw City Hall now stands where the famous house and it’s flamboyant resident once lived.

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