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Detroit Anniversaries
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1901 Time Capsule
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- Description:
- This slightly yellowed paper envelope contained a short note that was written by Herbert J. Greville who was the ex President of the Trades and Labor Council. The front of the envelope has a title that is handwritten in black ink, "Sentiment of Labor by Ex President of the Trades of [and] Labor Councle [Council], by Ex Pres. Greville." The return address, "Executive Office, Detroit, Mich., William C. Maybury, Mayor," is printed in black text in the upper left corner of the envelope.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This slightly yellowed paper envelope contained a 1-page letter that was written by William E. Quinby who was the President of the Detroit Free Press. The front of the envelope is entitled in handwritten text, "Progress of Journalism" and is signed by William E. Quinby. The back flap is sealed with three red wax seals that have been impressed with the letter, "Q."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This writing paper was from the personal stationery of Francis L. York who was the organist at Christ Church in Detroit. The paper has a watermark that shows a monogram emblem (unreadable) and the word, "Ledger." It is slightly yellowed and the sender's address, "235 Hancock Avenue West," is printed in black text at the top. The 10-page letter was handwritten in black ink and the text has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit Dec 30 1900 Hon. Wm. C. Maybury. Mayor of Detroit. Dear Sir. Your communication asking for an article on the present conditions of musical matters in Detroit, at hand. I regret that I have only twenty-four hours in which to prepare the article, but will do my best. - The history of music in D. during the earlier part of the century was similar to that of most towns. There were two players and fewer instruments. The "singing school" teacher was in evidence and taught the girls and boys to read the "buckwheat" notes. Isolated attempts at choral work were made and in the Catholic churches some attention was paid to the musical service. Later on as more interest was taken in all kinds of art concerts given by singers and players began to be heard. Beethoven was then writing his greatest works Schumann Chopin Mendelssohn and Liszt either were too young to write or their works were unknown. It is only within fifty years that music can be said to have a history in D. or it is only within that time that music and professional musicians have had any recognized standing. The churches have perhaps had more to do with fostering a love for music than any other influence. With the advent of the pipe organ the better class of music began to be hear Mozart's and Hayden's music and later those of more modern writers were given in the churches. The old Detroit Musical Society under various names did excellent pioneer work giving concerts and producing ovations etc. Mr. Abel Mr. Zelmisky and others directors. Mr. Meakin of the Fort St. Presbyterian church and Mr. Abel of Christ Church were the most prominent organist[s] of, say, thirty-five years ago. The past twenty-five years during which I have been more or less acquainted with musical matters in D., have witnessed a wonderful transformation and growth in all departments of music and in the appreciation and taste for music all over the country, but our advancement in D. has far outstripped that of most places. Music has grown more rapidly than any other department of human interest in the world of art and letters. Twenty five years ago a Sonata by Beethoven would hardly be listened to by a Detroit audience - a Fantasia on some operatic air, full of "runs" and musical fire-works was what appealed to the average taste. And as for Bach! he was caviar to mostly all - unhappily so to too many yet. Twenty-five years ago we had but one organist of any standing. Today we have at least three who are not only known throughout the country but to some extent in Europe. We have a pianist, Mr. Jonas, who, though not in the first rank is at least the equal on many in the second rank. We have Mr. Wm. Yunck one of the finest violinists in the country and an excellent all-armed musician. The coming to D. of Messrs J.C. Batchelder and J.H. Hahn fresh from study with the best teachers of Europe (Richter, Haupt, Plaidy, Loeschhorn etc) is really the starting point of the remarkable progress that has been made during the past twenty-five years. It was due very largely to these two men that music has attained its present position. Both these gentlemen, men of large ideas well equipped and aiming at the highest ideals, have worked and are still working most successfully for the good of music. Where there are so many musicians where work is excellent it is difficult to choose names for mention. Tastes differ and others doubtless would select a different lists. But in addition to those already mentioned I must give a few names of those whose work has had a determining influence on music. Mr. Hofmann the cellist, Mr. Luyler pianist, Mr. N.J. Corey, and I hope the present writer, organists, Mr. Norton Soprano and voice teacher, Mr. Freytag organist Mr. Brueckner violinist, Mr. Marshall Pearl and Mr. J.D. Mechan (now of Pittsburg Pa) are some of those whose work has not only reputation and success to themselves, but has had an immense educational value in diffusing knowledge of music and an appreciation for the best in music. There is no city in the union of the size of Detroit that possesses so many well-known and unusually capable musicians as D. Detroit is well supplied with music schools - perhaps too well for it is a question whether the multiplication of small schools is an advantage. The Detroit Conservatory is one of the strongest and best known in the country and under the direction of Mr. J.H. Hahn has wielded a powerful influence for good. Recently it gave its one thousandth recital. The Michigan Conservatory established this year under Mr. Jonas is a worthy rival of the older institutions and has a strong corps of teachers. Many others such as the Detroit Institute (Miss Jacobs) and the Detroit School of Music (Mr. F. Apel) might be mentioned with approval. In the matter of Church Choir, Detroit stands above any city of its size with which I am acquainted. The work of the bested choirs in at least two instances is admirable, comparing favorably with some of the best in England. As yet there are no choir schools and no church requires the daily attendance of the choir. It is hoped something may be done in this direction. The denominational churches are served for the most part by quartettes though chorus work is also heard. The best singers of the city usually have choir positions and such singers as Harold Jarvis and Mr. Frazer Tiners such basses as Sam. Slade, J. Krolik, C.A. Cottors and Dr. Spalding and a long list of excellent sopranos and altos are to be heard each Sunday in the churches. In the matter of church organs there has been great advancement. Where as a few years ago the best organ was a moderate sized two manual, we now have a number of very complete three manual instruments. The best of those are the Roosevelt organ in the Jefferson Ave Presbyterian church and the Johnson organ in the Cass Ave Methodist. There are also several by Farrand and Votey formerly of this city. So in church organs D. is well supplied, but a larger concert organ is greatly needed. An organ if say, four manual with one hundred steps in a large hall, played weekly by a competent organist after the manner of the organ concert, in St Georges Hall Liverpool, would have a most helpful influence in giving the masses an opportunity to hear good music either gratis or at very small expense. D. possesses two large admirably equipped music houses, that of Schwankovsky identified with the Knabe piano, and Grinnell Bros the Steinway agents. The Steinway is the favorite piano but on account of its high price is frequently displaced by other makers. Recently piano playing attachments have been introduced. To what extent they will take the place of individual players and just what position they will occupy in the musical world we leave to the new century to decide. To us it seems that they are likely to occupy a position of their own analogous to that of music boxes and orchestrions etc. The favorite piano composer at present in Chopin whose music has largely come into prominence within the last twenty years. Wagner is the favorite in grand opera though Gounod's Faust is more frequently heard. Comic opera is represented by De Koven's Robin Hood and such operas as the "Geisha" and the Gilbert and Sullivan opera. Among American composers for piano and orchestra Ed. MacDowell is regarded as the best. The better class of music is constantly displaced the cheap popular stuff that was formerly the rule. The "Gospel Hymns" have had their day in the churches though they are still heard. The present rage for "Coon Songs" is doubtless ephemeral. The great need of Detroit numerically is a large music hall, a concert organ, a permanent endowed orchestra and a more efficient chorus. In these very important matters we are deficient. The present writer hopes that whoever may open this in 2001 may see Detroit at the head of all American cities musically. He dreams of a noble hall dedicated to music which is being given a concert, - in which are heard an immense organ much more perfect than those we now have, no doubt with many true colors now unknown, an orchestra of scores of pieces containing instruments of form and effectiveness far beyond our knowledge, a grand chorus of hundreds of voices - all joining in giving the works of composers now unborn. He greets you wish you a Happy New Year, and if at any time it is given to the spirits of the departed to return to earth to be sure it would be such an occasion as just described that would call him back. Nos morituri te salutamus. Francis L. York Organist Christ Church 1896 Teacher of piano and organ and composition Detroit Conservatory of Music and Ypsilanti State Normal College"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 3-page letter is entitled "The American Mother of the Nineteenth Century." It is printed in typewritten text that has been mimeographed onto a thin linen paper that has the watermark, "Invincible." The body of the letter gives a brief discussion of women in the home and then mentions the contributions of famous women such as Lydia Maria Childs, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Julia Ward Howe, and others. The letter is signed on the third page, "Irene Williams Chittenden (Mrs. W. J. Chittenden), 134 W. Fort St., Detroit, Michigan." There are numerous corrections that have been handwritten in black ink throughout the letter.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- 10-page letter written by George T. Moody, President of the Detroit YMCA. It is a blue carbon copy, typewritten onto slightly yellowed, thin paper with a watermark that shows "Roman Bond." The last page is signed in black ink, "George Taylor Moody." All of the pages are bound together in a green folder which has two brass prongs at the top.
- Date Issued:
- 1901-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This tan paper envelope contained a 4-page letter written by James E. Scripps, President of the Evening News Association. The front of the envelope is entitled in handwritten text, "A Prophecy for Deetroit as a Metropolis by James E. Scripps." A handwritten note in the lower left corner shows "Not to be opened till Dec. 31 AD 2000."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 7-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by William Carson, president of the Detroit Board of Trade. The paper is printed with light red lines and has the watermark, "The Richmond & Backus Co., Detroit, Mich." It was placed in a white paper envelope and was sealed with red wax that was impressed with the reverse side of a U. S. Quarter Dollar coin. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit, Michigan. Dec. 31st 1900 To the people of Detroit in the year 2001. Greeting. The progress of trade in this city and in the entire country during the century just closing has been unparalleled in the history of the world. One hundred years ago railroads, steam vessels, telegraphs, telephones, electric lights and electric motors were things unknown and undreamed of. The old stage coach, for those who could enjoy that luxury, or the horse and wagon and ox team, for those less prosperous, were the only means of travel by land, while the slow going sailing vessel or the canoe furnished the only means of transportation by water. Mail communication was effected by post-riders, and a month or more was required for communication between Detroit and New York, while from the seaboard it took several months to reach Europe by sailing vessels. Now we communicate with New York by mail in fifteen hours, and with Great Britain and France in six days, while communication by telegraph and cables lines require less than the same number of minutes. The slow going horse cars, instituted in our larger cities over half a century ago, have been replaced by the electric cars of the present time, and the time of transit has been reduced over one half. Every branch of industry has shown marvelous advancement and the grain trade of the country, through the medium of Boards of Trade and other commercial organizations, has kept pace with the march of progress. Fifty years ago such organizations were practically unknown, but today they occupy a most influential position in the commercial world in handling the enormous grain and provision products of the country. Through the influence of its members the large elevator interests of the country have been established, and developed, as the necessity was felt for increased facilities for handling the grain crops. The construction of immense elevators at all the principal railroad terminal points in the country and along the lines of railroads penetrating the vast grain fields of the west, has enabled the grain merchants of the United States to accumulate enormous stocks of grain, of all kinds, at various points in the country, but principally at Chicago, the greatest grain mart, and at Minneapolis, the greatest milling center in the world. These elevators are filled up at a time of the year where the grain crops are moving from farmers hands most freely, just after harvest, and without these facilities for storage the grain would have to be moved forward to the seaboard for export or to milling centers at such prices as it might bring at the time. Whereas by the present system those who buy the grain at country points from first hands, may ship it to their agents or commission men on the different Boards of Trade, who stores [store] the grain in the elevators and look after it until such time as the market price may warrant the owner in selling it. In this way the pressure of wheat, and other cereals, on the market is regulated and holders are not obliged to dispose of their property at a sacrifice at a time when the movement of the crops is the heaviest. Dealing in grain and provisions for future delivery, that is for delivery from one to three months after the time of purchase, is another great innovation made in the commercial world within the past fifty years. By means of this system of trading a buyer of grain may provide for his future requirements without being obliged to tie up large sums of money. For instance, an exporter may want 100,000 bushels of grain to be shipped to Europe one or two months hence, or a miller may wish to provide wheat for this mill for a time when the demand for flour may be the most urgent. In these cases instead of being obliged to invest large sums of money for their future wants, they simply instruct their broker on the Board of Trade to buy the amount of grain they may want for future delivery, and on this they deposit with the broker, or with the secretary of the Board, a margin of five cents per bushel to be kept good against any decline in the market until such time as their contracts mature, when the grain is delivered to them and paid for in full. The seller of the grain is also required to deposit a like sum of five cents in like manner to protect the buyer against any advance in the market, and in this way both interests are protected against any market fluctuations in price. The broker in these cases receives a commission of from 1/8 to 1/2 cwt per bushel for his services. The grain to provide for these contracts is bought and stored in the elevators by grain merchants who have large capital to employ for this purpose, and what they may not have of their own can always be obtained from the banks, as grain collateral with insurance policies attached as accepted are recognized by the banks as the most desirable security. The grain merchants of Detroit and the Eastern country stand as a rule, very high in the Commercial world, and the amount of capital employed in the business runs into hundreds of millions of dollars. The very nature of their trading places them on their honor and a man who is found to be tricky at this looses [loses] caste among his fellow members on the Board of which he may be operating. Heavy transactions are made and recorded by a simple memorandum made at the time of sale or purchase and in not one case in a thousand does a dispute arise as to their correctness. A grain merchant who cannot meet his obligations with his fellow members or who fails to deposit proper margins on his trades, whose called upon, is at once debarred from the priveleges of the Board on which he is trading, and all open transactions for his account are closed at once. Many attempts have been made by speculators to "Corner the Market," on certain commodities, that is, to buy up all offerings of grain, provisions or other articles of produce that might be made by reckless operators who sell for future delivery what they do not possess, hoping that a turn in the market, in their favor, may enable them to buy back what they have sold with a profit, but in only a few instances during the past fifty years have any such attempts proved successful. The last attempt of this kind of any magnitude was made in Chicago a few years ago by a reckless operator named Joseph Seiter, but unlike the historic corner in corn by Joseph in Egypt, his attempt proved a disastrous failure and resulted in a loss to him of about ten millions of dollars, but all his creditors were paid in full. The drift of the grain and provision trade, like that of many other branches of business, shows a slow but steady tendency towards centralization in a few hands, and it will not be surprising if the next decade or two shows that the grain and provisions products of the country have like the iron, coal, petroleum, copper, manufacturing, navigation and many other large industries, passed into the hands of gigantic monopolies or trusts similar to that which now control the fresh meat products of the country. Railroad property during the past fifty years has been concentrated in the hands of a few multi-millionaires whose enormous wealth defies competition by men of equal energy, but smaller means; and it is safe to predict that unless the Congress of the United States is forced by public sentiment to take control of all the railroads, telegraphs, telephones and other necessary adjuncts of trade, as they have the mail service, that there will result a strife between capital and labor that may shake the fabric of our republic to its very foundation, if not change our entire system of government. Labor organizations have grown very rapidly during the past fifty years and they have developed astonishing strength both numerically and financially by their close organization, and have reached a point, even now, when their financial backing and shrewd management is a source of uneasiness to the manufacturers, builders and corporate institutions of the country, such as ruining companies and railroads, and it may depend very much on the class of men who obtain control of these labor organizations whether a prolonged strife for supremacy between capital and labor can be averted, but it must be our fervent hope that our Heavenly Father, the Supreme Architect of the Universe will watch over the destinies of our beloved nation as He has in the past, protect us from strife among ourselves or with other nations, and that when the glorious sun of the Twenty first century breaks forth it may shine on "Old Glory," resplendent as of old, floating over a nation of contented people, never conquered, and with its union enlarged by the addition of twenty-five stars representing that number of new additions to the glorious sisterhood of states. The Detroit Board of Trade is one of the oldest commercial institutions in the west having been incorporated in 1856. The business transacted by its members is very large considering the small limits from which supplies are drained. Receipts of flour for the past four years were 1,086,805 bbls [barrels] valued at $5,034,020. 14,763,142 bushels of wheat, valued at $15,000,000. 11,836,731 bu of corn valued at $4,730,692. 8,107,505 bu of oats, valued at $2,432,131. 2,478,473 bu of rye, valued at $1,336,160 and 3,990,000 bu of barley valued at $2,593,544, a total of $31,130,552, while the speculative business done on the Board aggregates fully $25,000,000 per annum. The milling interests of Detroit is quite large for a city depending on a circumscribed area for its supplies. The mills of David Stott does a business of $1,500,000 per annum. The Commercial mills owned by Robert Henkel does a business closely following this, while the oat meal and feed mills of Jacob Buck and Son does a business of over $500,000 per year. These institutions are closely indentified with the Board of Trade and look to it for their supplies. The Elevators of Detroit consist of Elevators, A & B, the Detroit Rail Road Elevator, and the Union Elevator, in all comprising a capacity of 3,750,000 bushels, and during seasons of large crops they are often taxed to their fullest capacity, but owing to the very light corps in Michigan and adjoining states during the past two years, stocks of grain are now very light, these bring only 480,000 bu of wheat, 208,000 bu of corn, 34,800 bu oats, 45,000 bu rye and 16,000 bu barley, representing a value of $525,000 which is carried by the members of the Board of Trade. William Carson President Detroit Board of Trade."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 5-page letter was typewritten in blue text on a slightly yellowed paper by Annie M. Knott, C.S.D. [Christian Science, Doctor of], who introduced Christian Science Mind Healing to Detroit in 1885. The letter is addressed "To the Mayor and Citizens of Detroit, In the Year 2001, - Greeting," and gives some early history about the First Church of Christ Scientist of Detroit as well as some background on the teachings of Christian Science. The letter is signed in black ink, "Annie M. Knott, C.S.D." and is dated "December 31st 1900."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This stained and slightly yellowed paper envelope contained a 1-page letter that was written by Clarence A. Cotton who was the Mayor's secretary. The upper left corner of the envelope shows the return address, "Executive Office, Detroit, Mich., William C. Maybury, Mayor." The center area of the envelope shows the handwritten title, "Denominational Churches in Detroit, Clarence A. Cotton, Mayor's Secretary."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 1-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by the Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police Commission. The letterhead of the Commission is printed in black ink across the top of the page which also has the watermark, "Calvert Bond." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Dec. 31st 1900 To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of the City of Detroit for the year 2001 Greeting, While the Mayor of the City of Detroit, William C. Maybury, Police Commissioners of Detroit, George W. Fowle, Ralph Phelps, Jr., Marvin M. Stanton, Homer Warren, and J. Edward Dupont, Secretary, together with Captain D. B. Hogsdon (one of the heroes of the battle of Manila, who was in command of the ship, 'McCulloch,' at Manila) were at lunch in what is known as the 'Russell House Cafe' situated at the southeast corner of Woodward Avenue and Cadillac Square, at 2 o'clock P.M. December 31st 1900, they prophesied as follows: That the business center of Detroit will be at what is now known as 'The Grand Circus Park.' Mayor Maybury and Commissioner Stanton prophesied that Detroit will have a population of 1,500,000 and Commissioners Phelps and Fowle prophesied that the population will be 2,500,000 and all agreed that Canada would be annexed and become a part of the United States and that Detroit would be known as 'Greater Detroit.' The Mayor William C. Maybury proposed the toast: "The health and prosperity of the Mayor and the Citizens of Detroit of the 21st Century.' the toast was pledged with 'High Balls' which consisted of a fluid composed of what is known as whisky and a fluid known as water, the latter but little used except for bathing purposes and navigation; a little ice being added to make the High ball a trifle more palatable. Very courteously and respectfully yours, W. C. Maybury Geo. W. Fowle Ralph Phelps, Jr. Marvin M. Stanton J. Edward Dupont D. B. Hodgsdon"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries