History Column 304
Oceana County part 3 of 4
Dave Petersen
We continue this week with part 3 of 4 columns related to Oceana County. This
week the pictures are again courtesy of the Oceana Historical Society. If you
have photographs or stories you would like to share with our readers please feel
free to contact me at 757-3240, email atdavep@blackcreekpress.com
[mailto:davep@blackcreekpress.com] or mail in care of Ludington Daily News PO
Box 340 Ludington Mi 49431.
Pic1
This is an early Birdseye view of Ferry which is named after Senator Thomas
White Ferry. His father was a Presbyterian Pastor who among other
accomplishments had platted the Village of Ferrysburg near Spring Lake.
Pic2
Taking your peaches to market a hundred years ago was a little more difficult
than it is today. Some of the same concerns such as bruising the fruit in
transit exist but can you imagine moving over 200 bushels of ripe peaches by
horse and carriage across roads (loosely termed) that resemble a washboard.
Pic3
This year we have seen some great weather for many crops, especially corn. It
does happen on occasion though as evidenced by this early 1900 view of a
cornfield that was more than knee high by the 4thof July.
Pic4
It is difficult to talk about Oceana County without making reference to Swift
Lathers who was known world wide as the editor of the Mears Newz, the world's
smallest newspaper that he published out of his home (currently a museum) in
"The Land of Mears" He was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of fame in
1986.
Pic5
Walkerville was platted by Fayette Walker in 1883. By all accounts it was a leap
of faith as there were two existing country stores a short distance away. The
site lacked water for powering mills, and it was near a swamp. Yet once the
village was laid out settlers came and established homes and businesses and in
1888 the Mason & Oceana railroad came to Walkerville.
Pic6
This is an early circa 1880 view of Hart Michigan. Hart started as the site of a
trading post on Russell Creek established in 1857 by a man by the name of Hart.
By 1864 Hart had become the County Seat, a one room courthouse was built and the
Oceana Times was first published. In 1880 at the time of this picture the
population was 464.
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