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The Hastings Banner — Thursday, February 8, 2024 — Page 7

Past Hastings mayors left their mark on town

Esther Walton
Banner Oct. 15, 1987
During the next few weeks, the campaign
for mayor will be taking place in Hastings.
Some mayors left lasting impressions and
improvements on the city. A few of these are
highlighted with their accomplishments.
When Hastings was a village, it had a village
president rather than a mayor. The first presi-
dent was Alvin Bailey, in 1855. Bailey was a
merchant, coming to the new settlement before

1841. The majority of his trade was with the
      Native Americans.
      The second president was John W. Stebbins
      in 1857. Stebbins was a carpenter by trade and
      helped build the Barry County Courthouse. His
      descendants can be traced to Tom Stebbins,
      now retired from Hastings City Bank (now
      Highpoint Community Bank).
      Another City Bank official, David Robin-
      son, was village president in 1858. Following
      Robinson in 1859, was William S. Goodyear, a
      brother to Henry Goodyear. Both of these gen-
      tlemen were pioneer merchants. Henry Good-
      year was village president in 1866 and Hast-
      ings’s first mayor in 1871. William became
      mayor in 1874. David Goodyear, now retired
      from Goodyear’s Hardware, is a descendant of
      this Goodyear family.
      Isaac Holbrook, president in 1860, was a
      lawyer by trade. He held various public offices,
      including county clerk and prosecuting attor-
      ney. Holbrook came to Hastings in 1843. For
      most of the time between 1840 and 1850, he
      was the only lawyer in town.
      Willard Hayes, president in 1863, came to
      Hastings in 1836. He was the first white person
      to marry in Hastings and had the first child
      who grew up in Hastings. Hayes also built the
      first grist mill.
      Daniel Cook was elected president in 1864.
      Nothing was found out about him.
      Dr. A. Philo Drake was a public-spirited
      man, holding offices within the Medical Soci-
      ety, a member of the Hastings Board of Educa-
      tion and president of the village in 1867 and
      again in 1869. Three other gentlemen served as
      president of the village: Dr. J.M. Russell in
      1868, F.N. Galloway in 1869 and A.J. Bowne
      in 1870.
      Russell was a Hastings physician from 1855
      to 1873, while F.N. Galloway and A.J. Bowne
      were owners of mills, which then was the most
      important industry in town. A.J. Bowne and
      Galloway purchased the National Bank from
      Henry Goodyear. (At that time, the banks were
      privately owned).
      In 1871, Hastings became a city and a mayor
      was elected. The first mayor was Henry Good-

year, a pioneer merchant. Following him, as

second mayor, was David R. Cook. Cook

began his career in Hastings at his brother,

Sysvanus Cook’s abstract office.

From that, he formed a partnership with

Philo Sheldon called Cook and Sheldon

Abstract Office. Later, Cook became involved

in railroad, real estate and loan businesses. The

title Mayor Cook is familiar to the present res-

idents (1987), as David’s great-grandson, Wil-

liam R. Cook, now holds the position of mayor.

Nathan Barlow served the 1873-74 term.

Barlow came to Hastings in the early 1840s,

serving as county clerk. Later, he served as

county treasurer. His first residence was on the

northwest corner of State and Church streets

where the hotel now stands (1987). In fact,

Barlow owned a wooden structure hotel on that

site. He associated himself with William Good-

year and for many years they ran a mercantile

business and a large flouring mill. They also

operated an old woolen mill located on Fall

Creek. Barlow was also very instrumental in

getting the railroad to Hastings. Under his

leadership as president of the school board, the

1873 Union School was built.

James W. Bentley was mayor during the

Centennial in 1876 and again in 1887. To

honor the Centennial, he set out a row of Cen-

tennial maple trees in front of his residence on

Green Street. Today, the very large trees in the

800 block of Green can be identified as the

Centennial maples.

Robert J. Grant, a merchant and elevator

businessman, followed Bentley as mayor. Three

times he held the position. Robert C. Grant, his

son, was mayor in 1896. The Robert J. Grant

house was located high on a hill overlooking

Hastings. Carolyn and James Coleman now

own that house (1987). She is currently chair-

man of the county board of commissioners.

Russell Wightman became mayor in 1880.

Following him was Ed Powers, who was a

cigar manufacturer in Hastings. Powers put

one of the earliest cement sidewalks in front of

his house. Charles Weissert, mayor in 1885,

was the owner, with his brother, John, of Weis-

sert Hardware Store. Brother John held the

same position as mayor in 1908.

Frank Goodyear was the son of William

Goodyear, an early druggist. Frank and his wife,

Kate Parkhurst, built in 1886 what was then

called the “handsomest house in Hastings.” It

was located on South Jefferson Street. Clifford

Beebe, one of the founders of the Hastings City

Bank, became mayor in 1890. He owned sever-

al banks across Michigan. He made his money

to invest in these banks by prospecting for gold

in the 1849 gold rush. Archie McCoy became

mayor in 1891. He is credited with dismantling

the dam on Fall Creek, which had fallen into

disuse and the stagnate water was causing ill-

ness to residents living near the dam. McCoy

also built a fine brick commercial building on

State Street, which still stands.

Dry goods, furnishing goods, clothing,

shoes, boots and grocery store owner, Edgar Y.

Hogle, was the mayor in 1892. He was the

captain of the Knights of Pythias when the

Hastings division won the World Champion-

ship marching contest, from 1892-93.

Daniel Reynolds followed Hogle in 1893.

Reynolds was a dealer in farm implements

with the Messer Brothers and became a princi-

pal for the Hastings City Bank.

Sylvester Greusel became mayor in 1894,

he is best remembered for his leadership in the

famous Carter Lake snake hunt. But for his

employment, he operated a successful factory

that manufactured farm and firefighting

implements.

Alonzo E. Kenaston, a lawyer, held at vari-

ous times the offices of justice of peace, city

attorney and circuit court commissioner. When

he died in 1910, all the businesses in Hastings

closed as a mark of respect to his memory.

Luke Waters became mayor in 1897. He

started a grain elevator business with Barlow

and Goodyear. He later became the sole owner.

Mr. Waters served on the city council for 25

years. He was also a director of the City Bank,

president of the Board of Trade and director of

the Manufacturers’ Club. His son, James,

designed many of the fine commercial build-

ings in Hastings and across the Midwest.

W.E. Powers, born in Barry County in 1844,

served as mayor in 1899. He was the postmas-

ter of Hastings. Daniel W. Rogers was the

founder of the Windstorm Insurance Company,

now known as Hastings Mutual Insurance

Company, and was elected mayor in 1900.

Following Rogers was Archie A. Anderson,

son-in-law of Richard Messer, founder and pro-

moter of many of our present-day manufactur-

ing companies. Anderson was working for the

City Bank when he heard he had become mayor.

He was so excited that he locked the bank’s safe

at the wrong time and the employees of the bank

couldn’t reopen it until the next day.

William Hams, a grocer, won the election

for mayor in 1903. The Hams family was one

of the earliest families in Hastings and had a

home on West Green Street. Following Hams

was Fred L. Heath. Heath owned a drug store

on State Street when he became mayor in

1904. He sold the store to Carveth and Steb-
      bins in 1891.
      A mayor fondly remembered by the automo-
      bile owners was G.W. Lowry. Dr. Lowry
      owned the first automobile, and when he was
      mayor in 1907, he had the downtown streets
      paved with brick. This was the first set of pave-
      ment in town.
      Charles H. Osborn brought a corset factory
      from the McOmbers, which he sold while he
      was mayor in 1910. William R. Jamieson,
      manager of the Starr Bakery, was mayor when
      the Consolidated Press opened in Hastings. He
      was nominated for reelection in 1916 when it
      was said: “(his) heart and soul has been in his
      work and who has labored unceasingly for the
      good of Hastings.” He lost to Frank Horton.
      At this time, the city officials ran in a spring
      election and on a Republican or Democratic
      ticket. Today, the race is non-partisan. The
      Republican Banner reported only the 1916
      votes, reserving comment on the new Demo-
      cratic mayor. Frank Horton owned a dry goods
      and grocery store on State Street.
      Gilbert Fox won the 1918 election for
      mayor, according to the city directory. He was
      in a then new profession: working on automo-
      biles. Fox also was the first mayor to receive a
      pay raise in many years. The 1918 election had
      set the salary for mayor at $100 a year. It had
      been $50.
      Dr. James Wooten, a dentist, won the 1920
      election for mayor. He was a Democrat and
      women were allowed to vote for the first time.
      A mail clerk on the Grand Trunk Railroad

for 25 years, Henry S. Gaskill, served the city

of Hastings as mayor from 1921 to 1922.

Burton Perry, a veterinarian, held the post

from 1924 to 1930.

In 1930, Charles Leonard became mayor.

Leonard was an undertaker and funeral director.

He held the office until 1938, and became

mayor again in 1942-1950. He served the lon-

gest term for mayor, 16 years in all. W.A.

Schadr was nominated for mayor in 1938, on

the Republican ticket. The Democratic city cau-

cus earlier in that week had passed an endorse-

ment that William Schader be nominated by the

Republicans. Schader, a Grand Rapids Book-

case and Chair Company employee, being the

only nomination for mayor, served two years

before giving the reigns back to Leonard.

In 1950, Leonard would not run again for

mayor and endorsed John Hewitt. Hewitt, plant

manager of the E.W. Bliss Co., served as Second

Ward alderman 12 years before becoming mayor

in 1950. He held the mayoralty until 1961. His

daughter, Joan, is married to Don Haywood.

They founded River Bend Golf Course.

Franklin Beckwith, city clerk for eight years,

1946-1955, ran and became the Fourth Ward

city alderman in 1956. He was assistant cashier

at the Hastings National Bank. In 1962, Beck-

with was elected mayor and served until 1971.

Cedric Morey accepted the gavel from

Beckwith in 1971 and ran for election in 1973.

Morey, director of purchasing for the Hastings

Manufacturing Company, had served seven

terms as alderman before becoming mayor. He

resigned as mayor in 1974 and Mayor Pro-Tem

Ivan Snyder took over.

Snyder, owner agent of the Local Standard

Oil Company, served as alderman for nearly 20

years. After his retirement from Standard Oil,

he was elected to the office of mayor in 1975

and served until 1982. Counting his time as

chief of police, he served for over 30 years in

the Hastings city government. Ken Howe was

elected mayor in 1981 and took office in 1982.

He held a job outside of Hastings while

maintaining a home on Green Street. Howe

resigned in 1983, to be succeeded by Mayor

Pro-Tem William R. Cook.

Cook, owner of the Hastings Press, was

elected to city council in 1973. He served in

that position until 1983 when he assumed lead-

ership of the council. In 1987, he declined to

serve another term and the office of mayor is

presently being sought by Mary Lou Gray and

V. Harry Adrounie.

Thursday, Feb. 8 – Friends of the Library

Book Sale, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 9 – Friday Story Time, 10:

a.m.; Friends of the Library Book Sale, 10

a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10 – Friends of the Library

Book Sale, 9 a.m.-noon. Bag sale.

Monday, Feb. 12 – Crafting Passions, 10

a.m.; Lift Every Voice: Life Stories Celebrate

all Barry County Voices, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 13 – Baby Cafe, 10 a.m.;

mahjong, 2 p.m.; chess, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Itsy Bitsy Book

Club, 10:30 a.m.; Friends of the Hastings

Public Library luncheon, noon; Valentine’s

Alternative: Mystery & Jigsaw Puzzles with

Friends, 6 p.m.

More information about these and other

events is available by calling the library, 269-

945-4263.

Finding the time

Why do we have to go to sleep at night,

but the other side of the world is having

morning?

Braelyn, 12, Ohio

Dear Braelyn,

If I drew a straight line through the Earth

to the opposite side of the planet from me,

I’d hit a place called Port-aux-Fran?ais.

That’s an island near Antarctica. Mostly

scientists live there.

Right now, it’s 12 p.m., or noon, on Fri-

day for me. But those scientists are proba-

bly snoozing in their beds. For them, it’s

after 12 a.m., or midnight, on Saturday.

They’re already living in my tomorrow.

Weird!

I talked about why that is with my friend

David Luftig. He’s a science librarian at

Washington State University. Science

librarians are experts in two things: science

and helping people find information for

research and learning.

He told me it’s all because of Earth’s

rotation. As the Earth rotates, or spins, the

sun shines on one part of the Earth at a

time.

“Billions of years ago, there was just a

bunch of dust and gas in what is now our

solar system,” Luftig said. “All this dust

and gas was moving in a counter clockwise

direction. Under the weight of gravity, the

dust started to clump together to form the

sun, the planets and other objects. That’s

why the planets revolve around the sun in

the same direction and most planets rotate

in the same direction. It’s because we all

formed from the same stuff.”

Imagine you could poke a giant needle

through the north pole and out the south

pole. The imaginary line made by your

imaginary needle is Earth’s axis. Earth spins

on its axis–like a fidget spinner or top.

The Earth completes one full spin on its

axis about every 24 hours. So, one day is 24

hours long.

As Earth slowly spins on its axis, different

parts of the planet face the sun. So, it’s day-

time for me because my side of the planet is

facing the sun. But my scientist friends on

Port-aux-Fran?ais are having nighttime

because they’re facing away from the sun.

So, how do we work out how to call each

other if our days and nights are opposite?

Humans used to be pretty loosey-goosey

about marking time. An early human might

have told their early cat, “I’m off to forage,

but I’ll be back before it’s dark.”

That worked just fine because they were

living in the same place so light and dark

happened at the same time. But once

humans started connecting with people far

away, thanks to technology like telephones

and trains, it got more complicated.

So, humans divided the Earth into 24

time zones–one for each hour of the day.

The zones are marked by evenly spaced,

imaginary lines that run up and down the

globe. We can look at maps of those time

zones to figure out what time it is all over

the world.

But get this: Luftig told me that a day on

Earth hasn’t always lasted 24 hours. Because

of the way the Earth and the moon pull on

each other, it takes the Earth a fraction of a

second longer to make a full spin on its axis

every year. When the dinosaurs dominated

the planet, a day was only about 23 and a

half hours.

I guess time really dino-soared back then.

Dr. Universe

Do you have a question? Ask Dr. Uni-

verse. Send an email to Washington State

University’s resident scientist and writer at

[email protected] or visit her website,

askdruniverse.com.

HASTINGS PUBLIC

LIBRARY SCHEDULE

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

events for Feb. 9-

Feb. 1-28 – February Storybook Walk:

“The Birdwatchers” by Simon James. Go

on a birdwatching adventure with a grand-

father and his grandchild. After your story-

book adventure, stop by the south side of

the Visitor Center and discover common

Michigan backyard birds. This Storybook

Walk is thanks to the generosity of Joel and

Barbara Vandyken. The Storybook Walk is

free and self-guided.

Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day

dinner and artist reception. To-go dinner

pickup time: 5:15-5:45 p.m. Music: 5:30-

7:30 p.m. The plated dinner will be served

at 6 p.m. The artist reception will take

place between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. The art-

ist reception and music are free; there is no

need to attend the dinner to enjoy the

reception.

Thursday, Feb. 15 – What’s in Your Back-

yard Series: It’s Never Too Early to Dream

of Spring, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (in-person and on

Zoom). This event is open to those 15 and

older. Children under 18 must be accompa-

nied by an adult. Join Stewardship Manager

Mary Parr as she helps prep your minds and

yards for spring. To sign up for additional

programs in this series, go to CedarCreekIn-

stitute.org. Institute members can attend the

What’s in Your Backyard Series at no cost.

Non-members must pay $8 for each pro-

gram or $24 for the entire series.

Friday, Feb. 23 – Conservation in a

Changing World Lecture Series: Capturing

Conservation through Storytelling (in-per-

son and on Zoom). Program: 11 a.m.-noon.

Lunch: Noon-1 p.m. If nature could speak,

what would it say? Join Jason Whalen of

Fauna Creative as he shares his process and

passion for giving nature a “voice” by

bringing conservation stories to life through

photography, videography and storytelling.

A recording of the program will be avail-

able to all registered participants on the

Institute’s YouTube channel. Register by

Thursday, Feb. 15, to reserve a lunch. Insti-

tute members can attend the just the pro-

gram for free. Non-members must pay $

for the program. Institute members will

pay $15 for the program and lunch, while

non-members will pay $21.

Those interested can register for these

events and find more information at cedar-

creekinstitute.org/events/.

Elaine Garlock

The groundhog did not see his shadow

last week on his special day. Does this mean

six more weeks of winter? Instead, we have

had several days of unseasonable tempera-

tures above the freezing mark. Are we hav-

ing global warming? It would appear that

this is the case. At least our piles of snow

have gradually shrunk in height.

Sharp-eyed adherents of Facebook may

have seen last week the picture of an unusu-

al barn north of Grant. It seemed to have

been built on traditional methods but at

some time an addition had been made to the

entire length of the ridge with an elevated

section, probably to provide ventilation to

some crop being dried inside. A Facebook

watcher spotted the picture and recognized

it as the barn on the Eckstrom farm, which

had been the home farm of former Lake-

wood Superintendent William Eckstrom.

He had often told stories of his years help-

ing his father on their onion farm. The Face-

book man acknowledged that there were

many muck fields nearby. Word of this

image on Facebook reached Florida to Bill

himself who marveled that somebody had

posted a picture of his family’s former barn.

He had often told stories of working on his

hands and knees weeding onions, toiling

under the hot sun with heat reflecting from

the black soil, intensifying it.

Central United Methodist Church will

observe Fat Tuesday on Sunday instead

with members advised to bring a favorite

dessert for sharing following the 10:30 a.m.

worship hour during coffee hour. This has

been a tradition for several recent years

with people voting on their favorite des-

serts. Now, it is simply a time of sharing

desserts on this Sunday. The sermon series

for the month centers on the life and times

of founder John Wesley.

Work continues on the Stuart condos but

with no major change in the general

appearance of the long building which will

contain five units.

Funeral services are to be held on Friday

at St. Isador Church on Diamond Avenue

in Grand Rapids for Fr. James Bozung,

who died Feb. 1. He had been pastor of St.

Edward Church here in Lake Odessa.

Burial will be in Hubbardston at 3:30 p.m.

on Friday where members of his birth fam-

ily are interred. His mother died when he

was at an early age, followed by the death

of his two sisters, who were victims of a

car/train crash in Pewamo during World

War II. He had been born and had his early

schooling in Hubbardston, where his father

plied his trade of stone masonry. He had

built shrines and gardens using skills

learned from his father.

The maple season is soon to come. What

will happen with abnormally high tempera-

tures when maple trees need freezing

nights and thawing days to produce the sap

needed for syrup production? This is the

time of year when it is best to have the

ground covered with snow. We also like

our roads bare, though.

Charles H. Leonard was the

longest-serving mayor of Hastings.