Remembering Our Ancestors Through Genealogy

A History of Iron County Michigan by Jack Hill Published in 1955, "A History of Iron County Michgan" gives the history and other interesting facts about this Upper Peninsula county. The book was originally printed in two columns. In order to improve the readability of the pages on a web browser it was converted to single column by combining every two original lines. With this exception the transcription was done without changes or corrections. Chapter 25 - Alpha Village

126     HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY, MICHIGAN     Chapter XXV   ALPHA VILLAGE      The boom created by the announcement that the Pickands, Mather Company was about to develope one of the largest mines in the area brought an influx of potential labor from far and wide and a village was platted some one-half mile north and over- looking the workings. The new community grew rapidly and the need of organized government was soon felt. The groundwork in this direction was laid on June 26, 1914 when an electon was held for the purpose of selecting a charter commission. A total of eighty-one ballots was cast at this election and the commissioners chosen were Paul Anderson, Edward J. Pearce, S. E. Bracegirdle, William Holman and Ben Silverwood.    The commission held its first meeting in the Judson Mine office on the third day of July and Attorney Charles H. Watson was engaged to assist in drawing up the charter. No time appears to have been lost in getting action for the new charter received the approval of Governor W. N. Ferris on July 18.    A special election was called for the 17th day of August for the purpose of charter ratification and election of village officers. Of the total of 61 ballots cast, 59 favored adoption and the follow- ing officers were elected: President, E. J. Pearce; trustee one year term, Levi Collette, T. A. Heaton and Paul Anderson; trus- tee two year term, John Hubbard, John Landrigan and James Mat- thews; clerk A. F. Rogers; treasurer, William Holman and Asses- sor, L. A. Flagler.    The first meeting of the council was held on the 21st day of August. At the third regular meeting held on September 23, the purchase of two hand pumps was authorized to provide the villagers with water from the springs at the townsite. Action was also taken to provide lighting facilities by the granting of a franchise to Lewis T. Ster- ling and associates of Iron Mountain, the new firm to be known as the Alpha Light & Power Company. The issue was placed before the electorate at a special election held on October 22 when the mat- ters of bonding the village for $12,000 for street improvements were placed for ratification.    Protection against fire was inaugurated on October 23 when equipment consisting of one hose cart, 500 feet of hose and one hook and ladder truck with chemical tank and runners and equipped with team tongue was purchased at a cost of $1,525. At this meet- ing, Thomas Lawry was appointed the first village marshall at a sal- ary of $65 per month.    The first concrete sidewalks were laid in the fall of 1915, the contract being awarded to Paul Manke. Lengthy regulations gov- erning the use of automobiles in the village were passed in July 1917. Wages of village workmen   HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY, MICHIGAN     127   for this year were set at $2.90 per day and $6 for man and team.    During this period most of the villagers still maintained their family cow and often other farm animals. In May 1920 however, a resolution was adopted to engage a poundmaster whose duties dur- ing the day would be to clean streets, cut grass and to keep the main street free of cows and to impound all cattle running at large between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a. m. For this service, the first appointee, Mr. Dave Leonard was to receive the sum of $80 per month and fifty cents per month from each cow owner.    With the closing of the Judson and Balkan properties, automo- bile transportation to more outlying jobs had become available and the residents have to a large extent continued to make their homes in the village.