R.;.\“o . '0’ ._ -V-- - - ———————— — . 4.: ..\ , . \ . .. ‘ .v‘ I. . -. ”pa.” ,4. h. I "I ‘. _‘!'."¥".'ol¥g fi,¢~.~<.n. -Q‘.‘ . ' . I ‘- 2A SDCIDLDGICAL STUDY OFTHE NEW 'LOTHBOP' COMMUNITY ‘ ‘A‘ 3,-4‘ .7; ¢ 7. in Liam: 'Jn'fl 1'. ..¢, THESISNB THE DEE-REE OF M. A. Hyel‘ ranklin Idle ‘ I - u ~. ,~\ ‘ __ -. J“ (V. ‘ - . ‘ ~ 41.7"! fi'fifivwWM M‘fi 7/;27/5 Yb ”2x31 “.9? ,. . L';' y.-'_1";' / | .ya-- %, A socmmelcu. STUDY on THE NEW LOTHROP comma! ' By Hyol Franklin Idlc A tho-1| submitted to the graduate Faculty in partial Fulfillment for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS Dopartmont of Sociology Approved But of 11310: Domtmont -Q----Q-~-----..-----o-.-- Doan of Graduate School Michigan out. College 1938 A sociOIOgical Study of the New LothrOp Community. Chapter I. Introduction page 1 Chapter II. Neighborhoods 29 Chapter III. Economic Relationships between Town and Country 43 Chapter 1?. Comparison of new LothrOp with Surrounding Communities 69 Chapter Y. The Schools and the Community 86 Chapter VI. Comparison of New Lothrqp School With Schools in Surrounding Communities 115 Chapter VII. The Church. 144 Chapter VIII. Social Organization and Disorgani- zation in the new LothrOp Community 154 Chapter IX. Other Social Agencies. 168 Chapter X. Leadership. ' 175 Chapter II. Summary and Conclusions. 186 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The.technological development of industry, the increasing depopulation of rural areas, and the decline of the smaller villages are matters of great concern in the building of rural communities. The small village was and still is an im- portant influence in the life of the farmer. he was drawn to the village as his trading center and social center as well as the place where he might sell his produce. It offers various types of services to the farmer, such as economic, educational, social and religious. In turn, most of these villages are dependent upon the farmer and agriculture for their support. For these reasons the rural community came to have certain attributes which have been defined as fol- lows: "A rural community consists of the people in a local area tributary to the center of their common interests."(l) This is a comprehensive definition that Dr. Dwight Sanderson has develOped in his bulletin "Locating the Rural Community." “r. fioffer, in his bulletin, "A Study of Town-Country Rela- tionships", says: "The essential fact about the community is common interests, and the essential fact about community organization is organized effort on the part of th per- ose sons concerned to develop their common interests." The New Lothrop community, the unit in this study, be— longs to the small town—country type. The village center El; Locating the Rural Community, Dwight Sanderson, p. 417 2 KIStudy of TQyn—Country Belationships, Dr. C. R. fioffer, Special Bulletin 181 of the co 1munity is located in th e northeast corner of Easelton township which is in the northeast corner of mi vassee county. (See Map I) New Lothrop has by actual H4 count a population of 272 people and has never been an incor- porated village. The boundary of the community was determined by the use of economic, recreational, and school areas served by New Lothrop as the community center. ‘r. i The composite economic area of the Jew Lothrop community comprising the banking, hardw are, and marketing interests, includes about 7/9 of gaze lton township in addition to about 4 sections in flaple Grove township to the north of Hazelton which is in Saginaw county and about 2 sections to the set in Flushing to‘: nship in Genesee county, constitutin5 in all about 52 square miles. Tye composite economic area .as de— termined by questioning the merchants, the banker, the mar— keting agencies and nterested citizens as to how far frog New Lot.rop thoed PIS cane for tleee economic services. An actual check was then made to determine the regularity and frequency of these visits to New Lothrop. The majority of the persons within the area mentioned go regularly to Nev. Lothrop for the economic services referred to above. These people also think of New Lothrop as their recreational center a"nd for many of them the village has lifelong associations. In Map II the red line indicates he econoaic and recreation- al boundary of the community. There are lO48-people living in the economic and recreational area tributary to New Lothrop. The high school area includes practically all of Map I. Max? of Micknpaw showcmg ’OCQTEOTL at . New Lotlutop Comma ”T, OUOH TON NTONAGON . A ASA . 00501 7" '5 ARM/Eff ,J "l . ALGIR LUCE L.__7JroT- \ CHIPPEW \ I [3-547 01. emu-q I misc/v» . \ l l i—MA-c-IK7NAO ' I ~'~ :1. 2 '- _— J I IOM IN OHEBO YG‘A I 3550 IOLE I ' HART / A/vmm ”“ l LEELdgvAU AL K4670? CfiA w'F'TRb‘ OJCODA "JILCON ' ENZ/f can/w rm vsnce' I - - ' m - AN/s'r'fi 77W x no lax/1U EE wCaMMm.TeE/'W TEE-'1 o " ”I AWE 0mm") CLA E c‘fiB‘ww 351v .-- HURON 3* ' . WE'W'A' 'YZ—‘o fia—ficos Jlmsm; Mo AND ' . I . 73cm. FAN/LA J SAG/NAW "IQ ' cl 7CALM [GRATW | 7x7 APE 2‘ or ZWA I ION/A Will/AW ; w l . 1.7/- I P I ' I K N5 ACOM- - r‘ - r I A70/v rNGHAM-L/V/NGG a t | | I ! "'-"/WFA 6 WA A “WAN :1» I 1 l . f | 57463 '37:.x0 NCH lH/LLSqu LEA/2 WE'— MONPO I a ERR/EN w - — J ’fiL‘-.___- Map 17 ' - r :__.__ A_. L I 7 Tum_ Naplg Cr “"1 .nNmI‘Ifl I ./ — '1 5| ‘l 4 I , _ __} Headtea- Townshp~ "of drawing Ma” Rouffi Area. and compost is Economa‘c Area 77"..“"m ": f ‘ I ‘4 J 7"“— ' I 1 J 17 24. l”' 3 J ,_ — 3 4 3( 3 (a I I (flew (-0 "a“; I I 131? __-fi ~ I c "I I V I , I _,-__ __ ._,.__.____._l I to II 7'“ 33’ Fluskmg 4-- ‘TcWflSéU‘ID M 3? I! 27 25" ' )I 3» H. 3“ 3” 5‘"; Legend. M a!“ Rout €— A was. AM n-0-49 Frflnnn:(‘ Hazelton township and projects out In lightly into the other two townships, Maple Grove on the north and Flushing on the east, constituting in all about 38 square miles. The school boundary was determined from the school records. There are 47 non—residents in the New LothrOp High School this year, the largest number in the history of the school, in a total enrollment of 107 pupils including all the grades in the school. The merchants, it can be said, realize the importance of this increased school area as a factor in the economic development of the community but the merchants as well as the other people of the community have not been able to cooperate enough as yet to realize this goal. If it were possible to expand the economic area equal in extent to the school area, the future of New Lothrop as a self-sufficing local area for the necessities of rural life would be as— sured. Otherwise, it may drop back to the mere status of a neighborhood center. A fair estimate of the total number of people livihg in the school area tributary to hem Lothrop would be about 1850. A glance at Map III will indicate the relative area of the school boundary. The Community Problem The burning of the New Lothrop schoolhouse on March 22, 1932, has tended to bring about a realization of the primary factors in the community problem, namely, satisfafltory town and country relationships leading to an effective local unit for educational, economic, recreational and religious inter— :MQPHIH; Map of Ntw Lo‘lhvop COmMuh'tff Show {mg Enonom'm.( RQCVCQf(.OIal and 5“ ‘0‘ AVQAS 1 x . W 9'?- G’NYE— a i __ T TOW“ 5 ‘1"? 3w 33 Q 3+ 35" " Wfi' l. ; v w i i 6 l f i ‘1‘ '5 ~ 1 i ’ r ‘* x 3 . m.“ ; H “‘1" l i _ i 7 '-' g ; r, j M ; H ,v i S" ; ”42,121,411. TOWiSAI P “as“. E _ '1 h _ I’M—“FM "TI“: . , ' 1/ I7 I If. .1 [3/ , 21‘ ,3 {I Econg mic— and KECVrcatgonat (‘_ l - __ ) ests and activities. The school fire represents a crisis in the life of the community. The school, as the only institution whifih will enable the community to maintain the present status, is clearly perceived by many of the citizens of the conmunity as the result of this disastrous fire. These citizens differ only as to how new adjustments are to be made. A few statements as to how the school has attained its present status in the community are essential. The present building was erected in 1915. Before this date there had been a ten grade school. The first 12th grade class was graduated in 1919. It became evident to the more discern- ing citizens of the community as time went on that the New Lothrop school should be put on the accredited list if any real progress were to be made and if their own children were to enter college without preliminary examinations. Tee former superintendent who was at New Lothrop for nine years and the present superintendent who is now in his fifth yea have between them supervised the instruction of practically the entire 70 graduates of the New Lothrop High School. The former superintendent earned a degree at the Michigan State College during his eencumbrancy at New Lothrop. He realized the needs of the community but his proposals only aroused antagonism. The former superintendent has been characterized as a cautious school man. As some proof of his ability he was given a three year contract in his present position. that the citizens of New Lothrop would not do for the former superintendent they were obliged to do under the supervision of the present superintendent because the community situation demanded it. The result has been a steady and consistent school development. The school situation will be considered at length in the chapter on education. There has been considerable criticism of the present school system among the farmers. But the burning of the school has brought them to an evaluation of the essential merits of the New Lothrop school. As one mother and father state the situation: "We have to pay no added tuition at New Lothrop. The school district pays the $60. Our fihildren need not wear their good clothes. They can go to school in their overalls. There are no railroads to cross. he have something to say about what goes on in the school through the Parent—Teacher Association because we know everyone there." It may be stated then that the crisis in the school situation has become a basis for more conscious and purposeful community planning and activity in terms both of the people of the town and the country. In the past there has been but little conception on the part of either the people of the country or of the town or actually living and working together in friendly concord and on terms of mutual regard. One leader stated the situation from his point of view as follows: "I have lived in the community all my life but have little in common with the majority of men in the township. My interests too often take me in other directions." Yet in the face of the competition of surrounding communities with larger towns as centers, the bringing about of more ef- fective cooperation of the people of the New Lothrop com- munity is the fundamental problem which they must meet in order to support the institutions and organizations essential for satisfactory community life. In the economic area of the community there is a total population of 1320, 272 in the village and 1048 in the coun- try, while in.the high school area there is a population of 1850 in the country or a total for the community of 2122. This number of people with the resources at their command, can, by strong teamwork, build gnd maintain the institutions and organizations necessary for the type of local unit that can cope successfully with the conditions of modern life. Particularly would this be true if the economic area could be extended to coincide with the high school area. The New Lothrop community problem is complicated by a considerable diversity of nationality and religious groups. There has also been an increase of special interest groups to which the people of this as well as other communities tend to ally themselves in increasing numbers. Both of these conditions make the problem of the unification of the community life a difficult one. To add further to the difficulties of keeping any rural community intact and well integrated is the fact that better roads and modern methods of communication make it much easier than formerly for the people of any local area to ally themselves with more dis- tant and larger community centers. It is for reasons such as this that the various factors -10- intering into this community situation have been given rather intensive investigation. This has involved the consideration of such influences as the historical background of the com- munity, the nature and composition of the population, the physical resources, the economic, educational, religious, and recreational insfiitutions and organizations, the kind and degree of interrelation and interaction existing between the people of the town and country and a comparison of the New Lothrop community with the communities surrounding it. It may be asserted as a working principle that to have a strong town-country community the people of both town and country must work together. Only in this way can the welfare of all be attained in the largest possible measure. Unity is secured through cooperation and community planning and not thgough factions and conflict. Method There are three approaches to the problem of understand— ing the community. They are: the historical, the case study, and the statistical methods. First, from a historical point of view, it was necessary to show New Lothrop's ecological and social develOpment. This could best be done by tracing its development from its earliest beginning to the present. Secondly, the case study was used. The writer was able to have countless interviews with a large number of individuals in the community. He was a guest at their homes. He was fortunate enough to have conversations with many of them which oftentimes lasted far into the night. In this way the -11- writer became conscious of the network of patterns which makes it possible for the people in the community to work and act together. Third, the use of the statistical method enabled the writer to use all the objective material available in tables which would define and limit the actual social processes of the community's growth and develOpment. The method used in this thesis is that of the participant— observer. The writer taught in the New Lothrop school sys— tem for two years. As a teacher, he was oftentimes baffled by the evidences of social phenomena which he could not understand. Through a friend he became acquainted with a number of books written by fiontemporary sociologists. The effect of this reading was but that of intriguing the writer to further study. He was unable to return for a third year to New LothrOp but he was able to go to Michigan State College as a fellow in the Department of Sociology of that institution. As a study of sociology, the writer has been slowly at- tempting to analyze the social processes which baffled him for the two years that he was a teacher at New Lothrop. The present thesis is a concrete evidence of whatever success he may have had in that direction. The field work in the New Lothrop community was done under the direction of the Department of Sociology. New Lothrop community is considered in such a way as to describe the existing town and country relationships and to Show the resulting interactions and relationships with -12- surrounding communities. The change which has taken place in the New Lothrop community wihin the last fifty years makes a study of the present organizations in town and coun- try necessary. A few organizations have been proposed with the primary purpose of unifying the community. The school, however, seems to be the one institution which will unify the community and give it local self-sufficiency. 'For this reason it has been treated at considerable length. Purpose of this Study The purpose of this study is to analyze the social con— ditions and processes of a small community with an unincor- porated village as its Benter. The economic, recreational, and school areas have already been indicated. Hence it is the purpose of this study to show how the basic economic, political, religious, and psychological factors prevalent in the community have affected the attitudes of the people toward problems of community development. It is necessary to show how efficiently New Lothrop as a community is func- tioning. As a prominent sociologist and educator has said so well, it is not altogether unlikely that from studies of this kind there may come the realization that "the building of real, local farm communities is perhaps the main task in erecting an adequate rural civilization." Historical Background (a) Hazelton township. The composite economic area of the New Lothrop community comprises about 8/9 of Hazelton township. The school area as the result of this last year's (1951) registration of non-resident tuition pupils for the New Lothrop High E’Jchool now comprises about two square miles in excess of the township. Hazelton township was named in honor of-Porter Hazelton. The 56 square miles of territory was transferred to him in payment for constructing a bridge across the Flint River. This 56 square miles was finally disposed of but continues to bear his name. The New Lothrop community is tied up very closely with the history of the township in which it is located. The first settlers, the Lapham family, located on a farm of 80 acres of woodland in Section 27. They came from Genesee county. A cabin was built, a small clearing made but there were not many improvements. It is of interest to know that the first child of the township was born to this family in 1849, the first death in the township was the child's mother. The first marriage was that of the father to a woman whose name is not known. They were married by the justice of peace of Venice township to the south of Hazelton. This early family gave shelter to the many settlers who followed. Land was purchased in the township as early as 1856 but it was so far removed from the ordinary channels of life that the at- tempt to actually settle it was not made until 18 years later. Hazelton was formerly a part of the tmwnship of New Haven Franklin Ellis, History of Shiawassee county, p. 227 _14- before it was established as an independent township by an act of legislature. This act was approved on March 25, 1850. The first township meeting was held in 1850. Out of a list of 8 voters, the descendants of only one still remain in the township. These early settlers came from nearby counties but their original homes had been in the eastern states, namely New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts. A considerable number also came from Canada. This is true of prafltically all the settlers of the township. A study of the early land purchases is sufficient evidence of this fact. (b) General History of the New Lothrop village. New Lothrop is not on the main traveled thoroughfares. The only approach to the village is over graveled roads with the single exception of the cement road from Flint. It comes to the county line of Geiesee county which is two miles east of New Lothrop. This road passes through Brent Creek, four and a half miles east of New Lothrop, the sole shipping point of the latter village. At one time the possibility of building the railroad through New LothrOp was considered but Flushing was able to provide a greater inducement. Hence the railroad was built through Flushing in spite of the fact that New Lothrop is located on a straight line between Saginaw and Durand. A glance at Map IV will show this fact. The absence of a railroad has had an important bearing on the deve10pment of New Lothrop. Flushing in 1891 represented Mar ”0.114“ “of j/tou’mg telo‘fiot .4 New lineup To \leqtéfi Conmmufiqs 661qua‘g as and (In 15 5 #9 (“gm County .. ,flw‘ _""l >~ I 9*; . 3 l s l i .3 ! o | i s, i : 13 l l - - v 1 l 6° 5 | q. I .2/ L505 0°” 4—4—Mv‘ s,‘ ‘9‘ GEIQSQC. \\Q\\ Covn'f‘)’ :“\ /’-'""‘ 9- // LeanJ 5‘ MMn. Reads --—--—..... RC” 1‘00mi my." .r wig : School Area Compos.of9. Econonfic, AV‘Qo. -16- a little greater financial influence and was able to convince the promoters of the railroad of their need. The road as it was built served the growing communities, Flushing and Montrose, and provided shipping facilities for New Lothrop at Brent Creek. A study of Map III will show New Lothrop to be 18 miles from Flint, 8 miles from Montrose, and 10 miles from Flushing on the east. It is 22 miles from Saginaw on the north. Chesaning is 12 miles distant on the northwest and Owosso is 18 miles away to the routheast. Corunna in the name vicinity is 17 miles away. Vernon and Lennon are 15 and 11 miles re- spectively, almost directly to the south of New Lothrop. Fifty years ago, Vernon drew a considerable amount of trade from the southern part of Hazelton township, its near- est shipping point. As an old resident of the vicinity said recently, "A few miles meant a great deal in those days when you were driving a yoke of oxen over Just trails through the woods." Vernon was only ten miles from Juddhille and 15 miles from what is now New Lothrop. It was nearer than either Corunna or Owosso. Flushing was 7 miles distant from Juddville but had no railroad. At that time there was little or no settle- ment in.New Lothrop but there was a need for a center which was nearer than any of the surrounding trade centers. Hence the village of New Lothrop gradually developed as a natural economic center to fill this need on the part of the farmers. Vernon is now going through a period of retarded growth and perhaps even a decline. It seems possible to compare it with -17- New Lothrop because of the fact that they are both seeking to adapt themselves to a new order. It was not until 1865 that the village of New Lothrop gradually emerged from the wilderness. The early names that are associated with this development are still significant. The tract of land upon which the village of New LothrOp was built was entered on official records in 1856 by James Butler of the State of New York. This includes 80 acres each on Sections 5 and 10. In 1855 this tract was purchased by Mr. A. W. Gillett and a Mr. Luve. In 1858 Nathan and Levi Colby settled by Section 10. In 1865 Nathan Colby purchased the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 5. He built a residence upon this site. Another early settler, Gideon Silverhorn,came in 1871. He erected a new building in this new settlement. Alexander Bailey also came into the township from Oakland county in 1871. He built a store and became the pioneer merchant. Francis Berry, a clergyman, arriged in 1875. He purchased the Gillett property which he improved in many ways. He later sold the property to C. K. Runnels. The hamlet was known as Berryville for a few years. The name was then changed to that of New Lothrop by the order of the post office depart- ment in 1879. The grandson of Nathan Colby is the present post master of New Lothrop. In the year 1878 New Lothrop is spoken of as a rising village in the Michigan Gazeteer, a commercial directory, but never as hating been incorporated. In 1879 Nathan Colby built a hotel. There were at that time three general stores ~18- which carried a large assortment of goods. An Andrew Krobs had a harness shop and a David Krebs, a shoe shop. An E. A. Beam had a wagon shop. A John Sharp was the proprietor of a restaurant and a livery stable. The saw and the grist mill were the most worthy of note, however. It is to be remembered~ that the surrounding country was full of hard timber and that there was a considerable amount of grain under cultivation. In consequence, the flour mill of Runnels and Craig was the most complete in the country. It was constructed in 1877. The mill was prOpelled by an engine of 55 horse power. There were three run of stone and custom work was done on a large scale. The capacity of the plant was 100 bushels of wheat and 200 bushels of éfigfii’in a day. So the most improved machinery for manufacturing flour by a parent process was in- . troduced. Fhe new saw mill which was owned by the same com- pany was propelled by steam. It had an upright saw and an edger. The capacity of the mill was 5,000 feet of hard timber in a day. A market was found in Owosso and East Saginaw for this lumber. It is to be remembered too that at this time it was difficult to travel. There were not many roads and consequent- ly it took a long time for people to communicate with each other. However, the township had a highway commissioner as early as 1850 and many parts of the township were made ac- cessible by the building of roads. There was some difficulty in carrying mail in those days. In fact, the mail of the earliest times was carried on horseback because too often the -19... roads were little more than trails through the woods. An early settler had said that when he cleared his farm the only thing that he was able to see for months was the sky above him. His View was completely hemmed around by trees. Their days were taken.up with hard work and frugal living. But he and his wife still speak of those early pioneer days with great satisfaction. Perhaps this situation can be placed a little more ac- curately in our minds if the descendants of the single earliest pioneer are mentioned. Otis Burpee was the only one of the 8 voters of the first township meeting who remained in the locality for the rest of his life. It is stated by a reliable authority that in 1884 the two sons of Otis Burpee, George and Louis, cleared 50 acres on Section 8 and also 40 on Section 9. These farms are still in the Burpee family and bear witness to a certain stability on the part of this pioneer family. In 1881 improved land in this vicinity was valued at between $50 and $50 per acre. Unimproved land had an estimated value of between $10 and $20 per acre. The community center, the beginnings of which have just been traced must have had some relations with other centers of trade. Moreover at this period the centers could not be far apart. Flour, feed, and hardwood lumber were shipped. Corunna at this time is spoken of as the banking center for this section with its First National Bank. The stage, how~ ever, went to Flushing three times a week, the fare being $.50. Thus the trade of even these early days was divided -20- between these two towns which were both larger than New Lothrop. In 1887, according to the Michigan Gazeteer, there was a Methodist Protestant Church in New Lothrop. There was a bank in Flushing. The mail stage went to Corunna daily. There were three general stores in New Lothrop, also a saw mill, a grist mill, and a drug store. In 1889, a railroad through Chesaning, twelve miles away on the South- ern division of the M.C.R.R. was New Lothrop's nearest shipping point. The stage still went to Corunna with a fare of $.75 per passenger. In 1891, Brent Creek, a point on the recently constructed R.R.between Saginaw and Durand appeared, reference to which has already been made. It is significant that the population of New Lothrop is given as 305 in 1890 according to the Michigan Gazeteer, although New Lothrop has claimed as many as 450 inhabitants. Accord- ing to the 1930 0.3. Census there were 316 people living in the village. New Lothrop did not have a bank until 1905 but it still continues to exist. It appears to be more stable than those of neighboring communities. In 1905 there were still three general stores in New Lothrop. There were also two meat markéts, a Jeweler, hardware, fruit evaporator, a seller of farm implements and a man whose sole business was that of dealing in bicycles. The high point in the growth of the New Lothrop com- munity seems to have been between the years of 1918 and 1917. There was at that time a furniture store, a bazaar, a grist -21- mill, two physicians, four general stores, a creamery, a photographer, a restaurant and a firm owned by two brothers who sold only groceries. A considerable number of people have said that New Lothrop was the busiest place in the coun- try 20 years ago and that it was almost impossible to find a place to hitch a horse. This growth continued until the latter part of 1923 when Klan activities introduced factions which for a time divided the community and retarded its de- velopment. In more recent years an increasing interest in the high school and a growing realization of its value to the com- munity as a whole has tended to influence the more discerning people and through their leadership a new outlook for a re- newal of the former strength of the community. Population Two fundamental factors of the rural community are the population and the physical resources. The degree of homo- geneity of the population and its age and sex composition are basic in community organization and activity. For a rural cmmmunity the contour and fertility of the land are of special significance. There are no factories in the village, hence most of the people in New Lothrop are engaged in activities which benefit the farmer for their immediate concern is that of providing those services which are con- sonant with the farmer's standard of living. It is necessary to know the extent and characteristics, the sex and constitu- ency and the age groups of the rural population of Hazelton township as compared with that of the state. It is necessary to know something about the farms in the community, the fer- tility of the soil, the kinds of crops raised and the sta- bility of the farmers engaged upon the farms. New Lothrop community is not unique in these character- istics. There are hundreds of communities throughout the country which have very much the same general problems. They have all been affected by a rapid economic and social change in the past fifty years. New Lothrop community may differ in the degree to which it has better and greater resourfies. But the basic characteristiqs of the average rural community are much the same. They vary only to the extent that the com- munity becomes conscious of its needs and makes a consistent effort to secure their fulfillment. Since Hazelton township comprises the greater part of the New Lothrop community its population will be considered in detail. As previously mentioned this township wax estab- lished by an act of the Michigan legislature in 1850. During the next thirty years there was a gradual influx of people from the Eastern states, and from Canada. A few people came directly to the township from European countries. The follow- ing data from the Federal Census show the changes by decades from 1850 to 1950 in the number of people in the township. Year Population 1850 26 1860 No record 1870 822 1880 1820 1890 1801 1900 1747 1910 1595 1920 1461 1950 1487 As the figures indicate, in 1850 there were only 26 people in the township, fourteen of them were men and twelve were women. All the other townships in Shiawassee county had over a hundred inhabitants at that time. No records are available for 1860 but in 1870 a population of 822 people was recorded for the township. In the next decade there was an increase of a thousand people thus making a pepulation of 1820, the largest number that the township had ever had.‘ Since that date the population gradually declined until 1920 when only 1461 people were reported. However, during the decade from 1920 to 1950 the population increased slightly. At the latter date the total number was 1487. The decline in population since 1880 is apparently due to the increase in the use of machinery on farms and to the city-ward migration of a large number of the rural people and to decreases in the average size of families. Fifty years ago the farms of the township were all settled and were under cultivation or were being cleared so that they might be cultivated. The United States Census for 1950 reports that 1171 of the 1487 persons in the township live on.farms. This would leave 516 for the village of New Lothrop. The increase of 26 persons in the township during the past ten years may be due to the fact that automobile workers in Flint, seeking re— lief from the high rents, moved to New Lothrop. There are at least ten men in the village who work in Flint when there is work to do. Five of thenlhave families. Also several other men with families in the village work elsewhere. The Fifteenth Census shows that there are 155 more males than females in the township, 810 of the former and 677 of the latter. This number represents a greater differ- ence than that of any other township in the county. Many circumstances, no doubt, influence the ratio of men to women. For example, many young men have been living at home and working in Flint. This is not so true of the girls because the work that they get outside the community makes it necessary that they live elsewhere. They also tend to marry and establish a residence in some other place. It is quite apparént from the foregoing figures that women in these areas tend to go to the cities in search of greater opportunities. There are 91 dwelling houses in New Lothrop, near enough together so that they may be serviced with the water which has recently been piped into the village from a common supply. The number of persons in these houses is shown by the follow- ing figures: Persons Per House Number of Houses 18 22 21 15 10 4 3 «2030;13me This makes a total of 272 people who actually live in what might be called the village area. The 91 houses average 5.0 members per house. The single persons who inhabit the 18 houses are all over 55 years of age. Three of them are women and 15 of them are men. of the couples who are living in the 22 houses, 20 of them are married, and two are women living together. of the 20 couples, nine have been married less than five years. The remaining 11 couples are retired farmers and men who work in the village, whose children have grown up and left home. The remaining 51 houses are inhabited by families of three or more, none, however have more than seven members. The native white population in 1950 was given as 1255 inhabitants. of this number 785 were of native parents and 468 of foreign or mixed parents. There were 254, or 15 per cent, who were foreign born while the foreign born population of the county is only nine per cent. A prominent citizen stated that 26 farms out of the 229 that he had any knowledge of were owned by foreigners. There are several children of foreign born parents on the New Lothrop High School roll. The foreigners who settled on the farms in the townshpp soon after the war now have children of high school age. They come from the Bohemian, Polish, and Austrian farmers in School Districts 4 and 9 which are within the New Lothrop trade area. Probably also a number of renters are foreign born but since they are more mobile than owners it is difficult to estimate the exact number. A fair estimate would seem to be 14 families. These fami- lies and the 26 owner families constitute 15 per cent of the total number of families in the township. The total number of families reported is 242. The age distribution of the population of Hazelton town- ship as compared with that of the rural population of Michigan is as follows: Hazelton Tanship Rural Michigan Age Group§_ Number Per Cent Per Cent Under 5 145 9.6 10.0 5—14 555 22.5 21.7 15-24 269 18.1 16.4 25-54 159 10.7 2.5 55-44 187 12.6 12.7 45-64 502 20.5 19.2 65 and Over 92 6.2 7.7 1487 100.0 100.0 It will be noted that the age distribution of the popula— tion of Hazelton township does not vary appreciably from that of Rural Michigan. There are 1.7 per cent more people of the 15-24 age group in Hazelton than in the state's rural popula- tion. But Rural Michigan has 1.6 per cent more people than has Fazelton in the 25—54 age group. There are also 1.5 per cent more people in Rural Michigan in the 65 years of age and over group than there are in Hazelton township. There are no striking differences in the other groups. It is apparent that Hazelton township has an average age distribution on the basis of this classification. The population of the Hazelton township is stable rather than mobile. A talk with a prominent citizen who has been in Hazelton township for over 50 years brought out many perti- nent facts in regard to the tenure of ownership of the farms. He had some knowledge of 229 of the 242 farms within the town- ship and it is upon his comments that the following conclusions are based. The chief value is the fact that they show the stability of the population on the 229 farms in the township. The period of time present owners have resided on the 229 farms in the township is shown by the following data. Period of Time Number of farms Per Cent Less than 10 years 56 16 10—19 44 19 20-29 Z5 15 50-59 24 10 40-49 26 2 50 and Over 64 28 229 100 One hundred and forty-nine of the farms or 64 per cent of the 229 farms have been occupied by the present farmers or their sons for over 20 years. Nineteen per cent of the present occupants have been on the farms for from 10 to 19 years. The classification under 10 years which is 16 per cent of the 229 farms is the most uncertain of them all be- cause the changes are apt to be so rapid that they have not come to the notice of the observer and hence there is a great- er range between the one year and then than there is between other years. The average number of acres per farm in the county was 102.5 and in Hazelton township 96.2 acres in 1950. The New Lothrop community is an area of medium sized farms. The activities of the farmer in the vicinity are those of gen— eral farming, thus trending toward moderate—sized farms. The longer the occupant has lived on the farm the more he can be considered a part of the community life, would seem to be a statement of fact. This last statement is borne out in a significant paragraph in the "Movement of Open Country POpulation in Ohio" and tends to confirm the conclusions of the present study. "Since the farmers who possess the large farm businesses are also farmers who have moved least, who have changed occupations least, who participate to a greater O degree in community organization activities, and who have had more than average success as farmers, it follows that the majority of the boys who become farners originate in the families of the most stable and successful farmers, where they had more than average opportunitv to learn the most suc- cessful techniques of agriculture."(5 5) Movement of Open Country Population in Ohio. P. G. Peck nd C. E Iively, Uhio Experiment Ltation, Bulletin 489, p. 46 S CHAPTER II NEIGHBORHOODS The neighborhood group is an intimate face—to—face relationship between people. The neighborhood is the nex largest association of the farmer after the family and it is essential that it have ties of common interest. The neigh- borhood is usually centered around a church, a sfihool, Grange hall or store and frequently two or more of these zay con— stitute the center. The neighborhoods of the New Lothrop community are considered in this sense. One neighborhood is now a part of the New Lothrop community, two were once neighborhoods within the community and two other neighborhoods were once important units in this area. Juddville is now the only one of these neighborhoods whih is entirely within the New Lothrop community. It is five miles to the south of New Lothrop and while on the border of the economic area it is well within the present school area. Layton Corners, five miles to the north of New Lothrop, al- though at one time it was an integral part of the New Lothrop community, now lies outside both the economic area and the school area. The New Lothrop economic area, however, comes to within one mile of Layton Corners. This neighborhood is now a part of the Ehesaning economic area and there is a strong 12 grade public school at the Catholic Church settle- ment, one mile to the south of Layton Corners. Brent Creek, four miles to the east of New Lothrop, is the shipping point of New Lothrop. Its former importance has waned due to the increased use of the motor truck. It is now a part of the economic area of Flushing. Two other neighborhoods, the Epglish settlement and Hazelton both of which lie within the community area were once important units. The English settle— ment is one mile to the west of Brent Creek in Genesee county, a mile from the Shiawassee county line and three miles from the present village of New Lothrop. Its early activity was centered around a church. Hazelton at one time had the beginnings of a community in itself but now there are only a few storm-beaten, unpainted buildings to attest the activity that was once a seal part of the life of the locality. A little history of those neighborhoods will be of value in relation to New Lothrop as the community center and will show the limitations of its present areas, both economic and school. Juddyille Neighborhood Juddville is one mile west and four miles south of New Lothrop. As such it is very near the southern boundary of the New Lothrop economic area and well within the school area of New Lothrop. The people to the south of Juddville tend to go either into Owosso, Corunna, or Flushing for their trading, preferably to Owosso. But it is important to understand the place that this little group of buildings at the four corners had at one time in the development of the township of Hazelton at large. W. W. Warner was one of the first man to come into the township from Potter County in Pennsylvania in the year 1852. He located on Section 54 where he purchased 180 acres. Mr. Warner at first built a small shanty but this was not sufficient for his needs. He hauled boards with an ox team from Flushing. Lbring the first year he was able to clear ten acres of land. He planted a small portion of it and during the next year he was able to build a good frame house with the lumber that he had accumulated. Mr. W. W. Warner's son, a man now 70 years of age, still lives there. It is a remarkable house in many ways, very liveable and attractive. It is interesting to know that Indians visited the house occasionally bringing game and fish in return for other supplies. Another early settler was John Judd who came from Connecticut to Genesee county in 1853. He purchased 400 acres of the Hazelton Brothers on Section 55 and 54 in the township. He also purchased Section 5 in Venice Township. Mr. Judd settled at once, cleared ten acres, and erected a log cabin. The next year 14 acres were added to the former improvement and much of it was sown to wheat. "The exceeding richness of the soil made the crop a poor one, however. Leeks were prolific in their growth. The settlers had to fight them constantly."(l) In 1854 a schoolhodse was erected on Section 34. Miss Jane Judd was the first teacher. The school must have been very near the present school. It was not until many years later, however, that any growth was apparent at the corners. Mr. Warner took a very prominent part in the early development of the Hazelton township. "He manifested much public spirit (1) Franklin Ellis. History of Shiawassee Gounty, p. 229 during an active career. He had been the township supervisor for several successiye years. He also held other minor of- fices efficiently." d The dates 1877 and 1879 are significant in relation to Juddville. New LothrOp was developing into a village center in 1865. Hazelton had its first beginnings in the year 1872. In 1877 a blacksmith shop was opened and a sawmill was built in Juddville. In 1879 a spacious store was erected by Wellington Cameron who put in a general stock of goods. His health is said to have failed afterwards and the business was carried on by John Judd in 1880. In the same year a shoe store was opened. A physician came to live in the neighbor~ hood. The Methodist Episcopal Church was first founded in Juddville in 1858. New Lothrop did not have a church until 1871. A Grange No. 606 was established in Juddville in 1876. At most, it did not live for more than ten years. In 1880, it is recorded to have had 40 members. It no longer exists. New Lothrop, however, is reported to have had a Grange from 1900 to 1918. The Juddville post office was opened in 1879. At this time Juddville was described as being 12 miles north- east of Corunna, its shipping depot. It had steam saw mills, a grist mill, a large creamery, and two stores. Judd- ville had no stream to furnish water power. Large shipments of butter, eggs, and wheat were made from the neighborhood. The population was estimated at 200. There was a stage to Corunna twice a week, the fare being $.50. Mail was brought in on each trip of the stage. One of the residents of New (2) Ibid. p. 229 Lothrop sold agricultural implements at Juddville at this time. There was a hotel, a barber shop, a feed and saw mill and in 1901 a general store. In 1903 it is described as a discontinued post office in Shiawassee county, ten miles from Flushing from which it has rural free delivery. Juddville at present is made up of a few houses beside a graveled road running from Saginaw to Durand, a very much traveled thoroughfare. There are not more than 25 people in the town. The old general store is gone but there is one garage and two filling stations. Both filling stations have small supplies of groceries on hand to take care of the aver- age needs of the people in the immediate neighborhood. The trade area covers about two square miles, the territory from which the school pupils come to the district school in the hamlet. The one filling station has been handicapped by giving too extensive credit, The owner of the other one insists on cash. He has a very meagre stock of groceries which he replenishes twice a week from Owosso. He charges just enough to cover the cost of his trip and a small profit. Nevertheless he has a fair amount of business and is filling a need in the neighborhood that was formerly cared for by a neighborhood store. Layton Cgrners Layton Corners is the geographical center of Maple Grove township on the road between Chesaning and Montrose. Made Grove township lies to the north of Hazelton township and is a part of Saginaw county. "It is one of tharichest and most highly cultivated districts of that county because of the nature of the land, the fertility of the soil and the industry of its inhabitants."(5) It occupies the southern corner of the county, with Genesee county to the east, Shiawassee county to the south, and with Chesaning township to the west. The soil is very similar to that of the Hazelton township to the south. As early as 1856 land speculators had bought land in the Maple Grove township. Few if any of these early land buyers ever settled in the wilderness, however. It was purely a speculation with them. It was 1854 before any attempts were made to settle in the township. The first man to come, a man by the name of John Hammer, squatted on Section 56. According to tradition he was given the land by a speculator on the con— dition that he remain and make some improvements. After sev- eral years in the wilderness, his nearest neighbor was miles away, he was able to clear and cultivate about three acres of land on which he built a rude shanty. This location is only a mile or two froa what became New Lothrop in a few years. In 1865 Nathan Colby settled on Section 5 in the Hazelton township. Section 10 had been settled in 1858 by both Nathan and his brother Levi but this represented a trip of about four or five miles through the forest. At any rate it was still four years after Hammer had settled in the forest. Finally the man became discouraged with the meagre results (5) Franklin Ellis. History_of Shiawassee county, p. 250 that he had accomplished and left. Joseph Voith was the next man to settle in Maple Grove township. Voith and William Northwood are worthy of considerable notice in the study because of their influence on later events. One was a German and the other an EnglishSUflgach man was unique and they expressed in themselves the trends which were taking place in this newly developed county. Joseph Voith came to America from Germany in 1854 and arrived in Maple Grove township on October 22, 1854. He had $500 in his possession. He at once purchased 160 acres of land at $18.50 an acre. He cleared and improved 60 acres. He lived alone in a small hut for 15 years. He was so far from civilization that he was forced to cut a road six miles in length through the timber and swamps in order to reach the outside world. Beer, deer, wolves, and other game were plentiful and furnished the only meat that he could obtain. He killed ten bucks during his first year in the wilderness, the historian tells us. Mr. Voith was a quiet, industrious and honest man. He was very friendly with the Indians. He never married, but a nephew, Frank Voith, lived with him for a number of years. By nature he was generous. For example, he gave the Catholic Church of which he is a member, a fine bell upon the completion of the church in 1865. I William Northwood was born in England. He came to America and located in Section 55 of the Maple Grove township in November 1854, only a few days after Joseph Voith arrived in the tall timber. This is just a mile north of what was eventually to be New Lothrop in 1878. He took 160 acres of land and at once erected a log cabin, 12 by 14 feet in size, wifii a trough roof to afford shelter for his family. This land was in its natural wild state, heavily timbered. He was obliged to cut a path through the forest and underbrush to reach the nearest road to civilization. A large part of the first land pur- chased was cleared by his son, John Northwood. He was also intent on improving the farm. He added to it so that in 50 yeari:he had 280 acres of land, 170 of which were under cul- tivation. John Northwood was prominent both in Maple Grove and later in Hazelton township. During the last years of his life he built a large brick house in New Lothrop and gave the high school a long term lease on the land they now have. He served in the Union army during the Civil War. He was wounded in the Battle of Caines Hill and lost his right arm. He was in business in New Lothrop in 1907. He owned and oper— ated the grist mill but only for about two years. In 1917 he was selling real estate in the same lofiality. Many inter— esting stories are told about him as he was a colorful citizen. Layton Corners is described in 1880 as a settlement of 56 families. It was at one time the center of the township. There was a town hall across from the general store which was the meeting place of the prosperous inhabitants so the his- torian reports. But since that time there has been a large influx of German Catholics who have tended to develop a com- munity life around the Catholic church, one mile directly to -57- the south of Layton Corners. There is still a general store at Layton Corners. It is on a four corners, midway between Chesaning and Montrose and in the center of the township. It serves as a convenient trading point for the people living in the neighborhood. It is very Similar to the general store at Brent Creek. Brent Creek Brent Creek in Genesee county is 14 1/2 miles west of Flint, the county seat; 4 1/2 miles east of New Lothrop; 4 from Montrose; and five from Flushing. The three latter places afford banking facilities. There is bus service to New Lothrop. A rural delivery comes from the post office in Flushing. The railroad going through this neighborhood was completed in 1891, over 40 years ago. It is of interest to realize that although Brent Creek had the advantage of a railroad it did not absorb New Lothrop. The New Lothrop economic aeea now comes within a mile and a quarter of Brent Creek. Brent Creek had a post office for thirty years but in 1921 it was discontinued. Rural routes from Flushing bring mail to the neighborhood. In 1921 there were four daily stages to New Lothrop with a fare of $.25. Now there are only three. Recently one train was taken off and a bus from Saginaw put on in its place. There is an elevator in Brent Creek which does a cone siderable business and a general store which carries rather a complete stock. It serves an area of approximately four square miles. It can be compared very favorably with the ~58- neighborhood store in the city. People go there for the things they have forgotten to get in.the larger centers or for the small necessities that they need immediately. The store is a real grocery store and far surpasses the meagre line of goods that the filling station in Juddville has. Brent Creek has the added advantage of being on a hard surface road which runs from Flint and through Flushing to the Shia- wassee county line two miles from New Lothrop. There is a Methodist Protestant Church in Brent Creek which will be considered at some length later on in this study in relation to the Nhthodist Protestant Church in New Lothrop. The two churches are served by the same minister who lives in New Lothrop. Brent Creek has a district school. Many of the students at one time went to New Lothrop to continue their high school work. There is now a tendency, however, for them to go to Flushing. In fact, Brent Creek can be looked upon as a neigh- borhood whihh is within the Flushing economic area. It is the shipping center of New Lothrop but that village can lay no other claim to Brent Creek as a part of its economic area. Flushing township includes Brent Creek and the supervisor of the township lives on his farm which is two miles to the west of Brent Creek on the road toward New Lothrop. The hard surface road into Flushing also tends to take trade that way. Hazelton Hazelton is very near the center of the Hazelton town— ship. If it were but one more mile to the west it would be -39- in the exact center. This is in defiided contrast to New Lothrop which is two miles to the north in the northeast corner of the township. But Hazelton is no longer in existence. New Lothrop is still thought of as the center of the activity of the township; the caucus for the township officers takes place in New Lothrop. Because of the location of New Lothrop in the township there are two precincts, one at New Lothrop and one at Juddville. New Lothrop is the place of residence for many of the retired farmers of the township. Thus it has considerable influence in township affairs. The portion of land upon which the hamlet of Hazelton was located was originally entered by General James Wadsworth of Geneseo, NGW'YOPK State in 1856. The development of the localities, New Lothrop and Hazelton, can almost be compared year by year. Stores and dwelling'houses were being built in each place. In 1872, Enastue Call and B. F. Dunlop each erefited a store in Hazelton. Mr. Call had prefliously built a house and a cooper shop there. In 1874, Almond Kimball erected a saw mill and a grist mill on Misteaugney Creek in Hazelton. The needed power was furnished by the creek. The mill had two run of stone, A good deal of custom work was done. There were two blacksmith shops in the place. By 1876 several homes had been erected. This is the date that New Lothrop is thought of as hating its first beginnings. In 1879 the Dana Brothers built a store which was filled with the stock of goods well adapted to country trade. Two wagon shops were also established in the hamlet. A boot and shoe shop -40- was opehed up also. There was no hotel in the place. Travel- ers were entertained at the home of B. F. Dunlop it is stated. A stage went to Flushing and brought mail semi-weekly. In 1880 the population was estimated as being perhaps 200. There was a district school there at that time. The school is still on the same corner and is one of the ten school districts of the township. In 1885, improved land in this neighborhood was valued at $45 per acre and unimproved land at $12 to $15 per acre. The nearest bank was at Corunna. In 1891, Hazelton is described as being 7 1/2 miles from Flushing, the nearest bank gid shipping point. Hazelton at that time had a Union Church. There was a stage with mail to Corunna daily. The fare was $.65. The population was said to be 150 people. In 1905, Hazelton is described as being a discontinued post office in Shiawassee county. It now has a rural free delivery from New Lothrop. The only aidence of the place is an almost washed out sign on what appears to be a barn, "Dry Goods and Groceries". There is no neighborhood consciousness except as people speak of the place as Ratville. It was called thus because Erastus Call, an early influential inhabitant, and his son were known as "Big Rat" and "Little Rat". Consequently in time the place came to have this vulgar designation. The English Settleient The English Settlement similar to the Irish settlement in Hazelton township is what might be known as a church neighbor- hood. But with this difference, the Catholic Church in the -41- Irish Settlement was moved to Flushing. The Methodist Episcopal Church at the English Settlement was torn down and part of it became the Methodist Episcopal Church at New Lothrop. The English Settlement was made up of a group of English families who settled in Genesee county in 1842, three miles from New Lothrop, to the east of the village. They had come directly from England and were instructed before leaving there not to buy land from speculators. Had it not been for this advice they would undoubtedly have bought land near Detroit. Instead they bought land from the government in Genesee county for about the samé price that they would have had to pay specu- lators. This settlement is still known as the English éettle- ment. Several families still live on the old homesteads and have had a tremendous influence upon the life of the whole community. A descendant of the two families through intermar- riage has been supervisor of the hazelton township eight times during hms life. He commented on the fact that the two fami- lies were still strong and vigorous and had lived in the area now for 90 years. "Even though their ancestors had not settled near Detroit, their homesteads were now on a concrete road from the county line to Flint. The third generation were en— joying all the advantages of our modern rural life." This settlement is not as well integrated, however, as the Irish settlement in the southeastern part of Hazelton township. Several of the families in the English settlement trade in New Lothrop. The majority of them, however, trade in Flushing -42- and send their children there for a high school education. The Irish Settlement is outside the economic area but within the school area. The neighborhoods which have been considered in this chapter were once important social and economic units with strong neighborhood consciousness. But with the coming of the good roads and the automobile these neighborhoods have tended to decline. The result is that what was once a very busy hamlet is now but a few houses and oftentimes empty buildings scattered along the highway. Their former ac- tivity has been superseded by that of a nearby village or even a neighboring city. But even though many of the neighborhoods have lost their former activity there is still some semblance of their former charafiteristics as a primary group. A few groceries and supplies are sold at a gas station or the neighborhood church or school is a meeting place. But there is not the degree of local self sufficiency which once marked the neighborhoods in this area. CHAPTER III. Economic Relationships Between Town and Countgy. Since in the Ne! Lothrop community general farming and the handling of farm products are the predominant economic interest, it may be inferred that the relationships between the town.and country would be such that the townsman would wish to adequately service the farmer in his occupational needs and that the farmer in turn.wcu1d seek a market for his product in the village of New Lothrop. In this chapter an attempt will be made to describe the extent to which this is true as well as to consider the other necessary economic services which the village affords the farmer and the response of the farmer to these services. ”The type of services which are available to the farmer and the character of the agencies which make those services their specialities are matters of great importance'.(1) While farming is the dominant industry of the community, still the village is an essential factor in farmers' activities for even in this day of rapid communication many of the necessities of the farmer can most conveniently be supplied by the small village center near which he lives. Hence there should be a sense of the need of this reciprocal relationship between villagers and farmers in every rural community. Both town and country are essential factors in the deve10pment of the community. The greater the co-Operation'between these two, the greater the efficiency of the whole community. The village is the source for the supply which is subject to the demand of the farmer. If there is a lack of understanding between the farmer and the mer- lIi Service Relations of Town and Country. p 3 J. H. Kolb nnnnnn 1"- 5111 1A+4n R0 '74 flnfinfl'l 44 chant, the community suffers. Agriculture Since only parts of two other townships belong in the New Lothrop community and Hazelton township constitutes the larger part of the land area of the community, this section on Agriculture has been confined to data relating to the last named township. Hazelton township has‘been described.as being in the center of the very fertile Saginaw Valley, one of the best agricultural districts in the State of Michigan. In the northwest is found a clay sub- soil with sand and a gravelly surface. In the south and east, there is a sandy soil of’excellent quality. The surface of the township of Hazelton.is generally level. There are few elevations with the single exception that in the south and east there is some rolling land but no abrupt declivities. Four streams flow through parts of the township and.aid.in.the drainage. In the early days this part of the country was closely wooded with various kinds of timber with the beech, elm, maple and basswood predominating. It is said that in 1873, the township raised 13,815 bushels of wheat on 803 acres and 14,823 bushels of corn on 533 acres. This averages about 17 bushels to the acre of wheat and 28 bushels of corn to the acre. Although Hazelton townShip is a part of Shiawassee County yet the agricultural situation is quite unlike that of the county. Sixty-five percent of the land of the township is under culti- vation which is more than for any of the other townships in the county. Hazelton township has the largest number of farms (842) of any townships in the county and has next to the lowest acreage t? '1! per farm. Hazelton and New Haven townships have farms of the same size, averaging 92.6 and 92.0 acres respectively. The trends inuagricultural development in this township may become more apparent if the,growth.of;farms in Shiawassee County is considered for different census dates. fdéldalzTrend in Size of Farms of Shiawassee County. Hazelton TWp. Size of Farms 1860 1900 1930 1930 in Acres No . Pct. No . ___I_’_c_1_;_._ Np_.___ 1'33}; _l§_9_._ £91; Under 3 24 .6 8 .3 3-9 41 3.0 71 1.9 104 3.4 5 2.2 10-19 101 7.4 125 3.3 111 3.6 7 2.8 20-49 396 29.1 929 24.6 453 14.8 81 33.4 50-99 240 17.7 1413 37.5 1021 33.3 122 50.4 100-174 909 24.1 1006 32.8 23 10.4 175-250 578 42.5 216 5.7 281 9.2 2 .8 260-499 67 1.8 71 2.3 300-999 4 .3 14 .4 8 .3 over 1000 6 .1 1360 100.0 3763 100.0 3063 100.0 842 100.0 In 1860, it will be noted that 42.5 per cent of the farms in Shiawassee County were from 100 to 500 acres in size. Almost 30 per cent were from 20-49 acres. About 18 per cent were from 50 to 99 acres in size. A little over 10 per cent of the farms were from 3 to 20 acres in size. There were 4 farms or less than 1/2 percent of the number of farms in the county Which had from 500 to 999 acres. Thirty-seven and a half percent of the farms in Shiawassee County in 1900 were from 50 to 99 acres. There were nearly 25 46 per cent each in the classifications of from 20 to 49 acres and 100 to 174 acres respectively. About six per cent of the farms were of less than 20 acres. About six per cent were farms of from 175 to 259 acres. There were 2.5 per cent of the farms over 260 acres in size. In 1930, there is a decided trend in the size of the farms of Shiawassee County. The 50 to 99 acre and.the 100 to 174 acre farms have 33 per cent each of the total number of farms in the county. There has been a decrease of nearly 10 per cent in the number of farms of from 20 to 49 acres. There has been an in- crease of one per cent in the number of farms under 20 acres over the number for 1900 but 3 per cent less than there were in 1860. There is an increase of 4.5 per cent in the farms 175 to 259 acres over the figure for 1900 and also an increase of 1/2 per cent in the number of farms of 260 to 499 acres. The number of farms of from 500 to 999 is about the same in 1930 as it was in 1860 and 1900. There were 6 farms of over a thousand.acres in 1900 but none in 1930. There is apparently a trend toward the small farm of under 20 acres and.toward the farms of over 50 acres. In Hazelton township about 85 per cent of the farms are_from 20 to 100 acres in size. This is in contrast to 53 per cent for the county. About 11 per cent of the farms of the township are from 100 to 260 acres in size. Farms of this size in the county comprise about 42 per cent of the total number. Only about one per cent of the farms in the township are of from 175 to 260 acres in contrast to 10 per cent in the county. Five per cent of the farms of the township are under 20 acres as against 6 per cent for the county. Hence the situation in Hazelton township with 43 its 242 farms in 1930 is not quite like that in the county at large. The majority of the farms are of medium size. The average size per farm for the county in 1930 was 102.3; that of the township 96.2 acres. There has been a gradual increase in the average acreage of the farms of the county during these years as the following figures 'will show. Year Average number of acres 1880 85 1900 89 1920 95.4 1930 105.3 In 1930 the farms were on.an.average 20 acres larger than in 1880. In 1920 the average value of 1and.and buildings on the farms of the county was $9,222 and in 1930 it was $7,358, thus showing a difference of $1,864. The average value of land per acre in 1920 was $96.62 and in 1930, $71.91, a decrease of $25.71 in the ten years. The figures for Hazelton township indicate that there are twelve farms under 20 acres. They are not truck farms, however. It has not‘been found entirely profitable to truck farm produce into the city from that distance. The emphasis of the farmer in this community has been on beans, wheat and dairy products. Sheep and.pou1try raising have also been quite extensive. There has been a great diversity of crops as a result. The 203 farms varying in size from 20 to 99 acres is some indication of this fact. The farmer under these conditions is not able to use machinery like a tractor to as great.advantage as the owner of 48 a large farm. It has'been said that there is only one farmer who has'a farm stocked with pure-bred cattle. The dairy cattle in the township are mostly grades, and.average 6 to 8 cows to the farm. The farmers maintain that it is necessary for them to have dollar wheat before they can produce it at a profit. Beans were formerly more profitable than they are now. A number of ‘years ago sugar beets were grown on farms in the township but it is no longer thought of as a profitable industry. The farmers in the community are at this time (1931) realizing little better than two cents a quart fer milk. Milk now sells for ten cents a quart in Flint, There are approximately 150 farmers west of Flint, many of them from the community of this study, who sell milk to Flint dealers. The following facts were gleaned from the information which was given by a prominent citizen in.regard to the farms of the township. There are 11 widows now owning farms in the township; 32 farms are owned by sons and five are owned by sons-in-law of the original owners. The farms still in the possession of the families who settled them 50 years ago indicate a certain pride in the 'old homestead'. A good.many of them, no doubt, are rented out while the owners live in town. This at least is the case in several instances. Then too there have been some unusual prices for farm produce during the war and since, with the exception of course, of the past few years. The farm has always been consid- ered a good investment. This is still true but many people with large farms now feel unable to pay the taxes. They feel the pinch of the present depression. 49 The significant facts about the development of agriculture in Hazelton township are its greater acreage and a larger relative number of farms than any other township in the county. It is interesting to note from the United States report for 1930 on this subject that the average acreage per farm for the township from which crops are harvested was 60.6 acres. It will be re- membered that the acreage of the average farm in the township is 96.2 acres. The value of farm.lands and buildings of the average farm in the township is estimated.at $7,780 in the United States Census. The average on the farm building alone is $3,794 and on the dwelling alone is $1,752. The average per farm spent in the township for farm implements was $925 for the period 1920 to 1930. Although New LothrOp community has excellent farm land, the. farmers are not outstanding. There are no master farmers in the community. There is one farmer who has taken two short courses at Michigan State College in 1905-1006. One other farmer is considered to have a farm well-stocked with good breeds of cattle. The farms are of medium size. There is no great number of very small farms nor is there an excessive number of large farms. There is not so much incentive for the factory employee to own a small farm near New Lothrop and work in Flint or Owosso as there is in.villages nearer those centers. The number of miles it would be necessary to travel to reach these cities makes ex- tensive truck gardening in the community rather unprofitable although there is some truck gardening. There are no large dairy farms but there is a large number of small dairy farms which average 6 to 8 head of cattle. The farmers.are all engaged in general farming. 59 The relation of the farmers of the community area to the village of New Lothrop is a vital one. The two main industries of New Lothrop, the creamery and the elevator, depend almost entirely upon the farmers in this community and in turn, are a real necessity to the farmers and afford them a convenient and efficient service. Most of the farmers of the community patronize the creamery and.elevator and recognize the value of these services which the village provides. Marketing Within the past fifteen years the New Lothrop community has become rather an.extensive dairying district. There are no large dairy farms but a.great number of the farmers have from 6 to 8 dairy cows. The milk from those cows is picked up by trucks which come into the community every day from Flint. The change which took place when it became a milk producing area was due in.a great degree to the sudden.development of the large manufacturing cities which are nearby such as Flint and Detroit. The farmers were at first hesitant about establishing even small dairy farms. A Michigan Milk Producers' Association was formed supposedly to protect the farmers' interests and to see that he had a market for his milk. To make this possible a fund was created by taking three cents per hundred pounds of milk produced from each in- dividual farmer's receipts. Over a period of years this had become a considerable sum. A farmer in the community estimated it as being $2,000,000:for the state. But the farmers who have built up and hepe to maintain a small dairy unit, have no control 51. over thh fund. The farmers claim that they have no voice in the way this money is to be used. It can even be used.against them is their assertion. The farmer has only the promise of the men who conceived of the organizationwand who have carried it on since its inception that he will always be provided with a market for his milk. The New Lothrop Community has had a creamery since 1913. It has been under the present management since 1916. When the nearby cities were booming during and after the war, it was somewhat difficult to buy cream because of the added task to the farm wife of caring for the cream separator. The farmer thought it was more advantageous to have his milk picked up by a truck and to receive in return a check. The milk buyer constantly urged the individual farmer to increase his mdlk supply and to get a better grade of dairy cows as well as better equipment. At the present time (1931) there is a great surplus of milk, the price has dropped below the level at which it can be produced with profit. As a result the farmer is actually suffering a loss and does not know what to do. The result of this drop in prices for their milk has meant that the farmer has returned to the separator and has been taking his cream into the village. The present proprietor said that he had 150 customers who bring him cream from a large area. He remarked that one phase of this sudden activity of the farmer which has an important bearing on the dairy problem is that the farmer is shopping around trying to find the best possible price for his cream. The individual farmer does not realize that the 52 price is set by Chicago quotations. Large buyers of dairy products have stations at Lennon, Flushing, iontrose, and Owosso. New Lothrop is the only one in.the immediate area which actually manufactures its own butter. The present proprietor of the creamery thought that during the year milk wasiat.such a premium that it would be necessary to do as an individual creamery does in Fenton. That is, to pay the farmer enough for his cream to make it an inducement to sell to him rather than to the dairyman and also to insure getting fresh cream. Then the‘butter would be sold from house to house in Flint for a few cents more on the pound because of its fresh- ness. But the proprietor does not need to do that now. He has no difficulty in selling his butter. His chief difficulty is that caused by the farmer not becoming a steady customer. There sill'bc a hundred and fifty customers one week and only 100 the next. However, there is a Flint merchant who will take all the surplus butter. If he has orders to fill and not enough butter it is necessary for him to buy butter to fill his orders. A citizen of the community in speaking of the projects that might be started.to advance the best interests of the New Lothrop Community ventured the idea that since the creamery only churns twice a week, they might put a truck on the road to pick up cream, churn daily at little additional expense and sell the product to the chain store in the town at a small profit. The immediate effect would be to relieve the farmer and.give him an outlet for his milk. His skimmed milk then could be used.to feed hogs for which there was at that time a great dearth on the market. But the manager of the creamery had already mentioned 53 that he had had such an offer made to him but disliked being tied down so closely, particularly to a chain store. However, the proposed plan would seem to offer some relief to the farmer. The proprietor observed further that the best customers came from Maple Grove township. Their cream was always clean, fresh and of good quality. He spoke of them as hard workers and efficient farmers. He expressed it as his ppinion that the three counties, Saginaw, Shiawassee and Clinton had been hardest hit by the dairy problem. He feels that there is a real need for co-Operation among the farmers so that they may be able to control the market rather than allow the market to control them to their own disadvantage. Another agency in the New Lothrop agricultural life is the local elevator. There has always been a grist mill in New Lothrop but not until recent years has there been an elevator. The present Elevator Company which is controlled by three families has been in the community for nine years. a son of one of the owners, believes an elevator can be successful in New Lothrop if anywhere because Newlothrop is in the heart of one of the best agricultural areas in the State. He also said that up to three years ago there had been almost no limit to the amount of grain and produce that could be raised. He spoke of the farmers of Maple Grove township as their best customers. He was not conscious of any particular competition. He stated that they had between 350 and 400 customers actually on their books. He mention- ed the fact that the Co-operative Elevator in Chesaning had 196 members and that a good many New Lothrop customers were in the 5& area they claimed. Although some farmers in the New Lothrop community belonged to the Chesaning Farmers' Co-operative Elevator they did all their business with the New Lothrop elevator because they considered it advantageous to do so. There see an elevator in Brent Creek but it gave the owners of the one in New Lothrop no particular concern. In fact, they had been offered the building at a fair price nine years ago but they were not interested in making the purchase. The distance from a railroad was no particular handicap to the elevator in New Lothrop. All the grain.is transported in motor trucks. 1 car load of fertilizer can be unloaded in 1/2 a day and an entire earload can‘be distributed to the farmers in one day. They were able to buy any grain offered throughout the community and.would call for it immediately. The son of one of the owners mentioned the fact that the farmer did not have as much.money as he had three years ago. They had become used to extensive credit. On June 2nd, 1930 a number of elevators throughout the whole territory under dis- cussion had put their business on a cash basis. He said.that it was absolutely necessary for them to do this or otherwise they would have failed. At that time they actually had 340,000 on the books in unpaid bills. Business was very much better now (1931) and it was his opinion that the cash system was working no particular hardship to the farmer. When his crop was raised, no one had.a claim on it. It was his. Then too when the farmer paid cash he did.not buy more than he was sure that he would need. In incident’from his father's experience is not without signifi- cance in this relation. His father had purchased and paid for 55 three farms during Cleveland's administration. He stated it as his father's belief that the same thing‘could not be done today due to excessive taxation.and.improved machinery, the price of which is held up by the manufacturers. His comments on co- operative organizations also have value because they give an idea of the sentiment of the community in this regard. There have‘been co-operative elevators formed in both Flushing and Brent Creek. The one in Flushing failed at a loss of $16,000 and the one in Brent Creek at $14,000. 1 number of New'Lothrop people lost money in the latter venture. In the one case failure was due to dishonest methods of doing business, in the latter to mismanagement. The New Lothrop Elevator Company also handles the bulk of the coal used in the community; A former member of the school board who has now left the village used to sell coal but not in great amounts. He was also the Farm Bureau agent. He handled the certified grains, and other Farm Bureau.products. Since the New'Lothrop shipping center is Brent Creek it is necessary to haul the coal by truck from there. This means that if anyane buys the coal direct from the car the price is fifty cents less per ton than it would be otherwise. The elevator is thus saved the labor of unloading the coal and loading it again from their own coal bins. There is also an elevator and coal yard in Brent Creek.which doesta good business. There are excellent elevators in both Flushing and Lennon. Flushing is ten miles from New Lothrop and Lennon is eleven miles distant. 56 The last agency to be considered is that of wool buying. This merchant has carried on this activity in connection with his meat market since 1919. He has recently turned the meat market over to his son who carried on an extensive trade in poultry with the farmers.of the community. It is said that the merchant has bought so much wool during the past year or two which he has stored waiting for the price to rise, that he is nearly'bankrupt. But others maintain that he is well able to buy and.wait for the wool market to return to its former price level. Retail Stores . It must be remembered that the'boundary line of the New Lothrop trade area cannot be determined exactly. For instance, there are people within the economic boundary who do much of their trading at other centers. One family whose children attend the New Lothrop school does little trading there. As a result Flushing and Flint draw their trade. But the majority of the people within the economic area discussed do their trading at New Lothrop. The hardware store of New Lothrop is exceptionally large for a community of this size. Also the chain store draws some trade from outside the community. The following table will show the number of retail stores there have been in the community by decades since 1881. 5? Table I: Number of retail stores in New Lothrop by Decades from 1881 to 1931. (2) Drug General Meat Restau- Year Hardware Store Store Market Hotel rant Grocegy 1881 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1891 O 0 2 0 1 1 0 1901 1 1 4 l l 0 0 1913 1 l 3 l 1 l 1 1921 1 l 1 1 l 0 2 1931 1 l 2 1 l l 1 The high point in the development of retail stores in New Lothrop was between the years of 1913 and 1917. There were five general stores during this period in addition to the other retail stores. The importance of this table will be developed in ensuring paragraphs. The most interesting phase of a study of this kind is how certain people in a community appear to contradict each other and yet how they confirm the social principles which we see working themselves out in the selfsame community. For instance, a talk with the chain store manager brought out several obvious conclusions. Many of the merchants.and.citizens of the village claimed that the chain store is not one of the main drawing cards to bring business to the town. But the people around the boundary asserted.constantly that the chain store was the sole reason for their ever going to New Lothrop. The hardware store of course shares in this interest. The chain store manager made one significant remark to the effect that the general credit store across the road should make some attempt to stock up with a more (2} fiEterial for the table was gathered from the Michigan Gazetteer. extensive line of the actual necessities of the farmer. A woman from within the trade area.said She often started for New Lothrop but that she was rather disgusted with the place. They never had what she wanted and so often before she got there she decided to go to Flushing. The owner of the general store was questioned in regard to the statement of the manager of the chain store. There is every reason to believe that he has hard work to stay in business. A year and a half ago he made the remark that there was not a man in New Lothrop who had.not done better than he during the past winter. The merchant's reply to the question as to whether he should.attempt to stock'up with what he conceived to be a farmer's needs, was significant. The inquiry had been made but before he had time to answer it a farmer came in and asked if the merchant had a large crock for sale. He replied that he had not. He continued by saying "that is exactly what I mean. Ten or fifteen years ago, I could count almost to the day on a certain farmer coming in to buy a particular article I had for him. Now I am not sure that he will patronize my store at all. He can go to so many towns around on other business because of his car and while he is there, pick up the needed article". He added, "where would I be if I attempted to carry a complete stock of dry goods and the necessities of the farmert'. The merchant has lived in the community for six years and is always well spoken of. This leads to the obvious conclusion that the chain store's success is determined by the fact that they carry staple products for which there is an universal demand. Another obvious conclusion is the realization on their part that other stores in the com- munity help to bring them business. The proprietor of the third.store, the general cash store was formerly the veterinary surgeon in the New Lothrop community. About 1915 he gave up the practise of a veterinary surgeon and Opened up a cash general store in New Lothrop. This merchant was very frank in discussing his grocery area. He said that it extended two miles to the north, two miles to the east, four miles to the south, and not more than four miles to the west. He remarked that there‘were a.1arge number of people inside the area who went outside the community to fill their needs. He thought that there was some transient trade. The general opinion throughout the community is that the prices are a little higher at this store than.at the others. This merchant is always censured because of his refusal to co-Operate in community enter- prises. The people in the south eastern.part of Hazelton township used to trade at New Lothrop more than they do now. This section of the township is known as the Irish Settlement. There was at one time a catholic church on the county line but within the township. The congregation recently constructed a church in Flushing. As a result the maJority of the people now trade there. It seems that they are able to trade in certain of the stores on Sunday morning. The woman interviewed said that although she was not a Catholic she traded there herself and thought of this arrangement as a distinct adyantage to the farmer as well as to the merchant. A thorough understanding of the hardware situation is 60 essential to an understanding of the community. For instance, one woman.remarked that she could not see why the former owners had not been able to make a success of the hardware business when they had been in New Lothrop. The only reason that she could conceive of was that they had.carried too large a stock. A citizen of the town later in the day gave it as his opinion that it was because of their Klan activities. One of the German in- habitants of the Maple Grove district had remarked that before the "hardware boys" went into the business at New Lothrop, all the business men there had.failed. The "hardlase boys' as they are called are certainly conceded by the community to have made a success of the business. They themselves come from the Maple Grove township and are both members of the Catholic Church there. Theirs is a stock company and a number of the influential Mhple Grove citizens are stock holders. The "hardware boys' claim for their trading area the whole of Maple Grove township and extending out around Hazelton town- ship to the south. They do have an extensive trade but Just what its boundaries are is difficult to determine. It is diffidult to conceive of its being very much larger, if any, than the compositemigzggfiarea. It is common knowledge that they have made trips with their trucks delivering hardware up into Albee township in Saginaw County but this can by no means be looked upon as their northern boundary. It is too near the Saginaw trade area. One of the boys is the nephew of the local banker and there is said to be a close relationship between the two. It is said that one can always get hardware if his credit is good.at the 61 bank. This statement is not altogether true. A local man went to an auction near Chesaning. He was not able to pay for the things that he wanted that day. He stopped.at the bank in Chesan- ing and asked for credit. They called up the New Lothrop bank. The banker in New LothrOp said that the man was not good for that amount. One of the hardware boys said that he would stand behind the account and was somewhat incensed at the whole incident. So much so that he took occasion to call on the Chesaning firm who were handling the.auetion.and.asked for the reason for such action. He said that they had done their customers favors and saw no reason why the favor should not be returned. A drug store has been rather intermittent in New Lothrop. Washington Snyder had a store there from 1907 to 1917. Then in 1919 the Cooper Brothers had a store for two years in which they sold clothing and drugs. The present druggist has had a store in New Bothrop for four years. He has a fair amount of business. He claims to cover as large an area as the chain growery store. However the local doctor fills his own prescriptions. The druggist has'been criticized because he is not around to fill the few prescriptions that he might fill. He had the only soda fountain in the village until a few months ago: He appears to enJoy a good trade in the ordinary prepared medicines and access- ories. His wife and his wife's sister, a girl in high school who lives with them, are in the store a great deal. The druggist drives to Owosso daily for the supplies he needs. One man in the country remarked that it was hard for one to find what he wanted at the drug store as they were always Just out, or were going to 62 get the desired.article tomorrow. This was a rather general criticism. New Lothrop has a well equipped modern restaurant. It is remarkedly clean, thoroughly presentable and seemingly represents a considerable outlay of capital. There is an electric refrigera- tor within sight of the front window, also a granite topped counter and tables distributed about the room, It would be éeecided asset to a town ten times or more the size of New Lothrop. The pro- prietor, a:foreigner, came from Flint. He was encouraged in his venture by representative citizens who appreciated.a need but%dd not realize the difficulty he would have in actually securing enough patronage to pay the running expenses. The school authorities were most in favor of it because there is now no place for the rural students to eat except at one of the two pool rooms and the drug store where light lunches are sold. Neither place, however, is regarded as a favorable meeting place for the students. The restaurant has appealed to the youngsters because they serve twice the amount of ice cream that the drug store offers. Fbr this reason the restaurant has been able to cut in on the trade of the drug store. Although the druggist realizes something from the collection of electric light bills for the Consumers' Power Company there hardly seems to be enough business to warrant two establishments of this nature. The hotel which has been running intermittently for the past two years had had the same difficulty. Meals were to be had there. There were one or two regular boarders but it was not a paying proposition. The general credit merchant remarked in answer to an inquiry as to how the restaurant was progressing that "it was too bad”. 63 A woman remarked on a Wednesday that there was to be a church dinner in the village, that she really believed the poor fellow ‘ in the restaurant deserved the quarter of a dollar more. Other Business Agencieg The economic relationships of New Lothrop have been described already to some degree. The community is still rural. The ser- vices that are rendered are those demanded by farmers. But the needs of the farmer have become so extensive that there is some question whether such a small center as New Lothrop can fill them. The situation in New Lothrop at the present time would appear at first hand to be chaotic so far’as the business agencies are concerned. But there is a certain order running through it all and a certain consonance with the conomic law of supply and demand. The following table will show'the number of business agencies there have been in the community since 1881. These agencies are in addition to the retail services which have already been on- umerated. Table 11‘ Number of business agencies in New Lothrop by Decades from 1881 to 1931. (3) Year Bank Furniture- Farm Im- 5 & 10 Plumber Under- News- plements taker pager 1881 O O 0 O 1891 O 1 1 O O O O 1901 O 1 1 1 O O O 1913 1 0 1 1 O O O 1981 1 1 1 1 1 O 1 1931 l 0 O 0 1 1 O Farm.implements are now sold by the local hardware store. it one (3) material for this table was gathered from the Michigan Gazetteer. time this was a distinct agency in New Lothrop. It is interesting to note that in 1931 every agency listed except that of the under- taker was present in New Lothrop. There was a clothing store and a newspaper for the first time. There had been a furniture store in 1891 and in 1901. There was again a furniture store in 1921. This tendency would seem to indicate that New Lothrop was looked upon as a growing town. The bank has been to a certain.extent a measure of the growth of the community. Corunna used to be the banking center for New Lothrop residents, then Flushing. In 1905 a bank was established at New Lothrop with the same cashier as at present. The banker has already'been engaged in the sale of agricultural implements in the community and had practised law to some extent. He has always. been a man of some wealth. In 1905 he went into the banking business with certain other men. They have another bank at Owosso and they are still together after a period of 26 years. The banker claims the whole of Hazelton township for a banking area as well as the bulk of the Maple Grove township and even a part of Venice township because the old home of the banker is in the last named township. The bank is of service because there is a real need for it in the community. It has been changed from a private to a state bank. The same men, however, are stockholders. It can be said with Justice that the bank does a considerable business. The banker also has a farm within the school.district upon which he spends all of his spare time. He has rented the fields out to a Maple Grove farmer but uses the barn—yards, Open spaces in the barns and in the pastures to raise chickens, hegs and sheep. He and his 65 wife realize a good living from this aside from the salary at the bank. It is interesting to note that there are four garages and six filling stations in this small village of 272 people serving a community of 1320 people. There are few tourists. During the past few weeks (summer 1951) one garage has gone practically out of business. The Operator does no more now than to Operate a filling station. They have had the agency for the Chevrolet ear for the past two years but was unable to sell the stipulated number of cars. One of the competitors who has the best garage in town is planning to take over the agency if he can make his initial payment on the one car that he must have before he can qualify as a dealer. another garage man has little business. He is living a hand to mouth existence, taking work at far below the usual price in the vain hope of making something. The last garage man owns his own garage. He has been in the garage busi- ness in New Lothrop since 1923. Three of the filling stations are in garages while the other three are operated separately. One was owned by a former school board member who sold out however, and went back to the farm. Another is owned by the Flushing Oil and Gas Company. They now have a new station.across the road on the opposite corner from their old site (January 1988). They had had a man in charge of this station for years. They thought him too old so they let him go. The man needed work and had some money or was able to borrow it so he built a station and has gone into business for himself. Many of his old customers still stick to him but there is some question.as to whether either of the two new stations is a paying proposition. I The harness-maker in the village has been in New Lothrop for twenty-five years. He has.a complete stock of harnesses in this shop but commented on the fact that there was little sale. "Farmers do not buy new harnesses any more. They repair the old ones with rope, wire, anything as long as the harness will hold together. 1 farmer used to take pride in his team.and wanted it to look the best on the road. All this ha. changed. His pride is now in his car". The major part of the harness-maker's work is that of repairing harnesses. He is rarely called upon to build a new set. He does an extensive credit business. He doubted whether he had made more than $400 during the past year after all expenses were paid. "It was a wonderful business 25 years ago when I first came here', was his final comment. The blacksmith, a man of some 60 years of age, is the son of one of the first blacksmiths of the'village. He has a good business but it is now confined solely to the shoeing of horses. He has a steel drill and he does considerable work with iron and steel. He is also a.wood-worker. The farmer can go to him with the confidence that he will be able to service him. In this re- gard the blacksmith 1811 decided asset to the village. New Lothrop has had a Master Plumber for years. He formerly had.a wind-mill behind his own home which pumped water from his well to the homes of several New Lothrop residents. He had recently dug a well on what is known as the "flats” and is using electricity to pump water to any house in the village. The 67 estimated cost of this project is $7,000. Several families in the village have their own electric water pumps which pump water from their own wells. Consequently they do not need his service. The plumber mentioned this project as the greatest single venture of any one man in Michigan. New Lothrop also has a very efficient undertaker who serves a large area. He is well thought of. His*wife takes a very active interest in the business. The undertaker has excellent equipment and raises his own flowers. He takes an active part in all the community enterprises. There are about 120 telephone subscribdrs in the New Lothrop Community. The company is a private concern with its main.office st Lennon, a small unincorporated village to the south of New Lothrop. It is connected with the Bell Telephone system and is in a sense under the general supervision of this company. The equipment is of the old type but the service is fairly efficient. The Edint manager said.recent1y that the people in the area were getting day and night service at a lower rate than anywhere else in'Michigan. This fact might be remarked upon were it not for the additional fact that a number of the subscribers are the original stock-holders and.have never received a single dividend. The company recently cut the salaries of their employees 35 per cent. This was thought a necessary move because a number of the farmers had discontinued their phone service. There is little doubt that if the villagers and the farmers in the New Lothrop Community once realized.how much they have in common, if they once realized the reciprocal relationship that is 66 such a necessary asset to satisfactory and contented rural life, then both villagers and farmers would.at once engage in round table discussions to remedy the local situation. New Lothrop as has been indicated has enough economic services to care for the trade from the tributary area. The stores are such that they might be furnished adequately with the stock that the farmer demands. If the farmer felt that his needs were the merchant's chief concern, if he thought that the merchant conceived their mutual welfare to be in relation to the community unit, there would be at once a change in viewpoint and a readiness to work together for the welfare of the whole group would.be apparent. All the farmers working collectively with the merchants would tend to develop a very real community conscious- ness. It is no longer possible for either the farmer or the merchant to think of themselves as alone to themselves. They depend on each other. Chcp tor 1?. Comparison of New Lothrop with Surrounding Communities. --- -----——----------- —----—------~--------‘--------H - ----- This study would not be complete unless some attempt were made to compare the New Lothr0p Community with the communities surrounding it and to discover its relation to these communities and their influence upon it. Saginaw, Flint and Owosso are some- what remote but they influence the whole section. The three cities are fully serviced, that is, they contain all the necess- ary services for the whole area. Saginaw used to be one of the trading centers for the New Lothrcp community after the construct ion of the railroad in hs9l made the passenger service at Brent Creek possible. A has met all trains at Brent Creek and it was possible to spend the entire day in Saginaw. It is significant in this relation that in finding the boundry of New LothrOp's economic area for the present study, not one of the farmers in the section north of New Lothrcp mentioned Saginaw as a possible trading center. Instead they are drawn to Chesaning, Mbntrose and even to Flint depending upon the nature of their needs. The few additional miles to he traveled to reach Saginaw act as an effective barrier to any sustained trading there. Flint and Owosso seem.to be the two centers which draw the greatest trade from.the New Lothrcp community. The automobile and good roads have made this possible. The too a considerable number of the residents of this section have worked in Flint and this has meant an increased trade in that direction. Saginaw which is 22 miles from.New LothrOp on the north was once a great lumbering center and fit was through that city that a . 4- e n a.“ _o————~-—‘~—-‘ . I Q - Q n . e d l . v'.\ ' u e ,. o e u e _v - , . . .’ , —“—>~._—~" .N—~——.~—H—e—¢—._H—~ .'—.—.-n _ .. . - ‘ A o .I a \- n I \ I _ ’ 1 . . - n . o . . . ~ 3 ‘ , . . ,- . . -\ e ’ I ' . o r- . ‘ . . . . - . . .- . . _ ~ ‘ a ‘ a e r s . - — I . A ‘ . . \ . - ‘ . . c a 1 . . . \ e » ' ' - .. .. . V ‘ C I - ' . L - -- . it -1 . d . — ~‘ 70 the area immediately to the north of New Lothrop was cpened up. Saginaw now, however, is a manufacturing center and a comeroial enter as well as the county seat of Saginaw County. A diversi- fied line of mnufaotured articles are produced there. The fol- lowing census figures will show that the growth of Saginaw has been relatively steady and consistent. Year Pcpulation 18w-fl--~H---fl-—-C—--- ....... -'--1o ’ 525 1930--------------------------—--80,715 There was a decline in the population between the years 1890 and 1900. This is explained by the fact that by 1900 the hardwood timber that had made Iagimw so famous was by this time very scarce. It was necessary for the people of the city to turn their energies: to other activities. Saginaw ltd its first beginnings in the year 1811. This was 37 years before the first settler came to Hazelton township. sagi mw is described as the mrket for much of the hard timber of Hazelton township in the early develOpment of the township from 1850 to 1880. In 1930, according to the United States Census Sac- inaw had a population of 80,715. The economic area tributary to Saginaw has been estimted at 210 square miles with a pcpulation of 17,000 people. This would who a total pepulstion of 97,715 which is served by Saginaw as an economic center. Flint which is 18 miles east of New Lothrop is the county seat of Genesee County. It is one of the most important centers in the United States in the manufacture of automobiles. The 4 p~q>1 -—< In '71 automobile industry in particular has had a remarkable growth in Flint for the past fifteen years. As a result Flint has boa: subject to tremendous social oranges. These changes affected the whole surrounding country side. The following figures will indicate the rate at which.this city has grown. Year Population 1.890 _ __,_::*_:-—-.-ce--—oseu---aeo--9 ’ 805 19 oo---.----.-~ noun-o--.- - mun--013 . 103 lglOQ-u-n-IQOO-D-D-OuQ-Cn ...... D38 ’ 65o ”mama-Cououuuuoo--- ooooo nu-DI-o-gl . 599 1930-—-—--—---------------—--1ce.492 flint was settled in 1880. It was incorporated as a village in 1831 and as a city in 1885. It is new the third city in Michi- gen with s pcpulation in 1950 of 156,492. The tributary area of Flint is estimated at 250 square miles with a population of 23,000. This would man a total pcpulation of 179,498 for the Flint Comunity. New LothrOp is on the western border of this ENG e Onsso, the third city, is 18 miles to the southeast of New Lothrop and one mile from Ccrunna, the county seat. It would now, no doubt, be the county seat were it not for the fact that the Shiawssee County Seat Company had platted out the village of Ccrunna in almost the exact center of the county as the logical place for the county seat. This was before Owosso became an im- portant trade center. Owosso was platted in 1835 and Corunna in 1856. Owosso was incorporated as a city in 1859 and its growth has been consistent over a period of five decades as is shown by the following figures. a . . . ‘ - \ . . —_--I".—‘~~—Q—._._‘.—-‘~p—a _._.__._._._..._._...___._..__.__ r—u—de-‘oH—Q—a ~uq—.o—..-—‘ _.--._.._._.___..._.__.,._._... t " -—.—~—4-—‘_-—_—.——‘—-- ._._._..........—._--—~—-—-—-__. .. -, —. - I u ‘. v . I O . .. . \ Q ' ~ ' d ‘ I , ' - I o O I 7 . I V e I u ,. 7 J 1-. ‘s V - a Q , - — - - o .‘ ‘ ’ ’ ' a . - _ - e i, A- . - ; _ _ a ' ’ , - I - . ' u . a . v e - H ' . _ . . ,u _ l - v . A w I ‘ v , . a a , . ' . A e . .. . . I ' ‘ -—." “u... '72 Year repulation lawn-“nounwouuunu --~--------—2 ’ m 1 1900----------—-----------........-8 ’ 69 6 l930--—-—---- ----- -—--—------14,496 Owosso has a tributary area of 809 square miles containing 6,620 pecple. The pcpulation cerved.by the trade area including both the city and the surrounding territory is 31,116. New Lothrop is on the northern border of the Owosso trade area. The ccmunitiec Chesaning, Ccrunne and Flushing are all about the same size. Chesaning will be considered first because it he the highest assessed school district valuation of the three. It is the second town in size next'to Saginaw in the County of Saginaw. Chesaning has an extensive trade from the surrounding country, its trade area being estimted at 66 square miles with a population of 4,094. The town has had a steady growth for a pori od of fifty years as shown by the following data from the United States Census. Year Pepuletion leaomeou-OC-nce— o..- uo-se-a-e-uee- nun-”889 1890man-”-moun—uuuunmnuonm-l . 0% 1910..--..” ... ___——‘-“-e----ueeoue1 .563 19m~~--nw-.dnw _—::—“‘:: —- _==“‘ 3 _1.387 19 mun-cannon---- use- nun-e- cho-e weep—Hm]. . 594 Chesaning was incorporated as a village in 1869. It*is definit- ely an agricultural ccmmity. There are two produce dealers, one of which is a farmer's cc-operative with 197 members. There are 4 hardware stores. One of which has a Ford Agency and also sells agricultural implements. All the hardware stores carry fairly complete lines of mrdwaro. There are 5 grocery stores and two .._--_..___..__. _. _,._.... -...._ —-—.-Q ' ‘fl—‘F‘ M_._.--_._-.. ‘ . a" ' ' J ., . _ . . ’Q—qpi—‘H.-—Q flw—fl~~— ...l-,_ _....... .——.._—o—-._....o-—-—q._—-¢ —- ———-—-....-~-—‘-1—-s —.—._‘--‘—“‘.-q~.‘« -.H—u--¢——¢ .ud..—<_- ~._....._._.___.‘— -— ___. --—-»<-—o..._.¢.—-oc_._.__ f I - l x‘ ) C n A e e I . w c t I ~~__ .—_..—'-g—.u.‘— ~———-—-." ———".—.——-~‘ ~———~-¢—-n———-.—- «a... >¢—_—o~—<—w—i——H—I _- ___..--g-I ...._.-—¢ ' i e . , I l — I ~—-~‘<—-. v—I—a—bqq —-w—-.“-|-—c u—‘I—‘pq—‘-‘ —-~—.._‘ l 1 73 general stores which would bear out the fact that they have a large area to serve. There is but one bank. There is, however, a certain consciousness that the bank is there to serve them. Chesaning makes a Very definite attempt to draw trade through band concerts, baseball games etc. A farmer only a mile away from New Lothrop cemented en the fact that he and his family enjoyed going to Chesaning because of the band concerts there. The band draws on the whole country side for its person- nel; a saxophone player from New Lothrop sakes two or three trips a week to Chesaning to play in this band. Chesaning also has an excellent mateur ball team which is a real drawing card. This team (Sumner 1931) is now in the second place in the league which is made up of teams from surrounding towns. The players realize a share in the gate receipts. The interest in the league is strong, so there is some incentive for good baseball. Chesan- ing's second team played the new LothrOp team early in the season and defeated them by a score of 13 to l. The New Lothrop team was latcrnfiorganised under a new name with a different personnel and was able to defeat the same team. The first team, however, is con sidered out of new LothrOp's class and as such has never been challenged. Chesaning has two meat mrkets. A butcher formerly at New Lothrop hasrnow returned to Chesaning and has opened a nnrket. He said that he was doing no better in Chesaning than he had done in New Lothrop because of a higher overhead. The other meat unr- ket represents real competition because it is the retail mrket of the wholesale meat packing company known as Poet's Heats and sausages. They have been in Chesaning for years and have trucks 74 which go as far as Lansing, Flint and nearby centers with their products. Chesanim's undertaker has been established in the village for a considerable number of years. The funeral director has also an office in Hontrose so in effect he covers very well the whole area directly to the north of new LothrOp, so much so that it is difficult for any other undertaker to secure an opening. The undertaker at New Lothrop has a very complete undertaking outfit but his activities are confined very closely to Bassltcn township with Flushing's two undertakers on the east and Owosso on the west. Corunna has no undertaker. flushing, in Genesee County, the second town to be considered. in this category, is an incorporated village which according to the United Stat es Census new has 1,723 inhabitants. It is esti- mated that the total population for the entire comnity area, of 53 square miles is 3,723. This is not as large an area as Chesan- ing, but it is necessary to realize that Plushing's proximity to Plint is a real factor in its growth and stability. A study of its pcpulation over the period of years bwtwun 1880 and 1930 is some index of the oranges which have taken place in the comunity. They are especially pertinent when considered in relation to new Lothrop as aspect of the study which has already been discussed in part. Year Pepulation 1880----------—--------—---------—690 1590---------—----~--—----—-----9as 19oo--------------------—-------9oo 191ci _ i i _~, :in— ——__.....--933 19m:_:‘v _._._...: 2:: : =—se-e--eeqe1.169 19%: :‘t- :‘i‘+“—---.-—-—-—-—--D1.725 I-I-D‘ ~~—‘- com—4 .——¢- nun. —. Dy ,—4 & a..- a «.— u- —. .- ~ .. . ~— e —4 gull-4 ~ —. «II—4”“ —‘-—e-—-—-e fleas—Q“ 75 Its growth has not been as steady and consistent as that of Chesaning. During the first decade Flushing was a real factor in the development of the whole area under study. The railroads were built in 1891 but instead of a gain a decrease in the‘jwpn- latien occurred in the decade from 1890 to 1900. It was during the next 25 years that citizens of new LothrOp maintain that New Lothrop was a better town than Flushing and as proof of the statment they assert that there were a good any empty hmscs in Flushing at this time. Since then, however, there Ins been a gain 'in the pcpulation of Flushing especially during the last decade. This gain has probably been due to the fact that it is near enough to Mint to rate it possible for people to live in rlushing and to work in Flint. As a result there is a consider- able amount of traffic between the two towns over the two hard surface roads, one of which has been built very recently. flushing has five garages. The Flushing Oil and Gas Company which has a station at new Lothrop is a local firm. There is also another local Oil company which has stations in the outlying country territory. There are four drug stores which is an evi- dence of eonsiderable trade. There are two banks, the First State and Savings Bank-tend the People's state Bank. There are two hard- ware stores. Flushing has one elevator which is giving effecient service. The farmers all speak of flushing as a good town in which to trade and they like to go there. It has one picture show a new high school, good churches and a weekly newspaper. This town is Just far enough from Flint to mintain an independent on- tity. It has a highly developed comunity consciousness. It will '76 probably never become a part of Flint corporate develOpment and hence can deveIOp‘its own civic organizations thruugh equitable relations between town and country. Blushing draws a considerable trade from what is known as the Irish Settlement in the southeast corner of the Hazelton township. The people of the Irish Settlement have also built a catholic church in Flushing. Several children from the school districts ill the southern part of the township go to Flushing. A number of families who formerly attended the Juddville neth- odist EpiscOpad Church now attend the Flushing Methodist Epis- copal Church. Blushing has a good golf course. Hard surface roads to the Shiawasee County line makes it possible to go to rlushing very easily. Hence this has increased their trade, the school enrollment and the recreational interests from within the present boundry of the new LothrOp Comunity. Ccrunna, the county seat of Shiawasee County, is a small city of 1936 people. It was incorporated in 1858 as a village and in 1869 as accity. Corunna can be considered as little more than the legal center of the county. During its first years, howwvcr, it had a tremendous trade. This fact has been brought out earlier in this study of the new Lothrop Comnunity. The pcpulation for each decade during. the last 50 years should prove of value in understanding the situation. Year Population lewouC-oee—Cu-e-e-u-o-u—al-us-e-nu-u-se nnnnnn 1 ’ 501 18gouum-OF-p-u-nnn-F—u-u-end--III-u— -.1 .382 1900-.n-n—n-u-o ——————— ee ------------- suns—1 ’ 510 1910—---- ————————— - --------------- ---1,sse 1930-unuqn—n-o ------ u...-—---.------. 1 ’ 93 6 o \ e I o e I o O l e. .—.. ~— Although Corunna is a small city it can be considered a suburb of Owosso. Corunna differd from Flushing in that it is only one mile distant from Owosso whereas 10 miles intervene befieen Flint and Flushing. The eel-lent has been ads that far. mere drive through Corunna to go to Owosso to trade. The result is that Corunna is not nearly as well serviced to care for its rural trade as it would be if it were farther away from a lar- ger center. Corunna has no hardware store but it does have a farm imple- ment store. There should be some store which handles the hardware needs of Corunna Just as stores do in the larger cities. no doubt the fact that Corunna has two 5 and 10 cent stores is a partial compensation for this lack of service. There are two lumber dealers in Corunna while Chesaning has but one and flushing has none at all. There is but one bakery in Corunna but the city does have three meat narkcts, two of which are in chin stores. There are two restaurants where excellent meals can be had at a reason- able rate. There is the one newspaper which will be considered at length later on. There is a single dry goods store in the town. It also has a creamery. It :is quite evident from the detailed informtion which has been presented that Corunna does service the farmer as a complete service center. He nan buy farm implements, groceries, shoes, clothing, drugs, dry goods and meat in Corunna. But not to the same advantage that he can in Owosso. There is an elevator, a creamery and a bank at Corunna which would tend to bring the far- mer there. But the proximity of Owosso makes it possible for him to journey the extra mile or two to secure what he needs from a D c . \ a n n . . r L - \er . .- . e . e . .. a O _ § “ . § . r 7 . c . . .._ .. . I . D t .r e . I p . . .r . x . . w u . , a _ . a . , . I; - t 9. _ A . . a . n A. ’ a u . . A , . a I . I O a v I . , e i L e . x . ‘1 .e. l . . . .. ( . c . . . . . . _ . , . I: I _ a - . . . . \' D I . . . A e i r‘ . o I} . h. 0 . A v . _ , . . 4 e a . _ . ‘1 v . . D p e a o 5 g . a . . J . . , A. . . . . a . . ' w r l w V i C . . a . i r A A a e L. . _ , . i . . Os 0 u 4 v . . . x , . I . . . . . e . e a a . v . . Q 0 . . A . . n - e . , I . . ‘ \Il . . . . . . i _ _ J . . s . a It a . . a i e . . . . ll. . . . .J a v r I r . i . . . l . . . . Q 4 . . \I’ II, Q , _ . . . Q . _ 78 Hope completely serviced trading centers. The rain distinction between the three towns Chesaning, Flushing and Corunna would some to be that the first named two have more services than the third. Hence the farmer is more dependent on them than he is in Corunna. This statement is further borne out by the fact that Ccrunna is shown to have an estimated area of only 17 square miles with a pcpulation of approximtely 2,676 while Chesaning has an estimtdd area of 66 square miles with an approximate population of 4,094. Flushing has an estimated area of 53 square miles with an estimtcd pcpulation of 3,723. The services that can be given by the community depend on its proximity to other trade centers. Corunna claims to have one of the best recreational parks in the country. 'The city has expended several thouland dollars upon it and upon the Casino which was completed in 1901. Agi- tation as to whether they should spend more money on it was the occasion for a stormy election for the office of mayor recently. A discussion on this point will be fully worked out in the chap- ter on the school. ”The licCurdy park is an important asset to the city. Every week and during the warm months many pecple came to Corunm for picnics, family reunions and social affairs, both private and public. Mr houses were also built throughout the park and canals were dug to form a beautiful island. Pens and cages for animls were well filled but in later years they were empty. A stone fountain was erected with funds raised by the various organizations in the city. Different kinds of fish were placed in the basil: but at the present time the fish have dis— K) .d‘ 79 1 appeared and the fountain is no longer running". Corunna does not draw to any extent on the New LothrOp Com- sanity. It is too near the larger city of Owosso to attract trade. As the legal center of the county corunna attracts those who lave business of allegal nature to transact. The Corunna school equipment is old and does not have the appeal that Plush- ing and Owosso have with modern educational equipment. Corunna is a mscnic center and the manna from how Lothrop attend may meetings there. The athletic trans of the two high schools some- times play games in either of the two towns. There is not very successful competition, however, because the Corunna school is a class C competitor and new Lothrop a class D. Hontrose and Vernon can be contrasted in much the same way as the larger centers, Chesaning, Flushing and Corunna. It may be that they can be. contrasted to better advantage because the con- tracts between them is sharper and more finely drawn. The former superintendent of Schools at Isrnon who has lived the greater part of his early life in Sew Lothrop nde some interesting com- ments on the three towns. He had taught in nontrose for five years and had been superintendent of schools in Vernon for the last four years. He thought that nontrose was the best place to live in of the three towns. Hontrose as a good town is the gen- eral comment that is heard on all sides throughout the area. The conservative and progressive elements are thought of as being evenly divided. As a result there is little reason for conflict and life flows along rather easily and harmoniously. hontrose u- -—---- -I- ---—---~--- ------ -“--—-------‘--’--- ---~---------* 1 From a Survey of Corunna-Published by the Sociology class of the Con-unna High School. O J , - { x w - ' , I. ‘ - w v I - . I I . .4 _ - - - a , I k , . ‘ _. . .- . . . a - . ‘ , s , a. - I - . l I . . . ‘ . - . .. . _ . . i . - \ . . ‘ . , v- . ._ s ' l s , ; .... ‘ ' . If I ’ u r v C - s ‘ . ’ | ‘ ' ( V -4 . - . O L I _ _ ' - i . _ ‘ _ r- n . ‘ ' - \ . s I ' , t . : I u} j - . r ‘ ‘— ._ ~ ‘ .. ’ . s . . . I. 'Q -- s ‘s . ‘ 4 _ - I _ L, .’ ‘ 3 ’ ‘.. s a .. - ‘ . , - v I C C W - a - ' . -. . . - . - - . . J . b , ‘ - e - . , -- . a > e u . - . J —-- ) - . A , . . ’ 0 - ' - ' ., 'ar —- - i v . ‘ . > ‘ _ _ e A O l _ g ‘ . - ‘ _- J. I I . y . ' ~ . , - . k . v. . - - . . . - . . e . ’ - d O . V Q - - ~ - . rm . ‘ - _ . - ' . . - w , . . I , . - .. _ O , » , 7 . . i . w , ' ' ' _ ‘ e . g i . - 7 . d e - w . - 7 , . ‘ ‘ Dd . e ' ‘ . ~ . f» ' _ o , . . - . - a - o . ) w ‘ w r ' ~ ,1 ‘ . .L - h n- ' -— - a e u 7 _ a e t \J a | I a 1 . a- C - 4 w a ' Q U ' . 3 u u ‘ s ' .’ 0 , . . u . ’ . a u t . ‘ e "’ -- v . _ , r. . - _‘ x ‘ . J a . , , - J J .. , ’ . \ b - a- . \ ‘5. 0 w i r- O -‘ . . J _ . . , . 7 . ‘ _ ~ } I . - . - . - , , . . ' ' e . ) 5 . 1 . ' _- I 1" _ — . - ‘ _ .. , a L A _ . _ , . . . . —‘ e - . , - ‘ . . . .. f" . .9 . . —. ——‘M'—~_.—_ __ __.. .H—vsa—Iwr-w——H—4 — .—-~---~p—a————-——a——~—_A———-‘.——n-—».—-—«.—.~—4—“Hm—wi. e-n. .l. ,4 “dire-e“ 80 will be taken up at some length in the chapter on the school. Iflontrose is the trade area of’approximately 60 square miles. Within this area of 2,321 pecple who look upon themselves as being a very real part of the uwntrose Community. A common remark of the farmer’wives was that they liked to go therettc chap be- cause they saw so may of their friends. nontrose village has a population of 621 pecple according to the 1930 United States Census. Vernon on the other hand has a village population of 496, a differenla of 125 inhabitants. The most striking difference is that of’the trade area. Vernon has an estimated area of 14 sqmre miles vhile liontrcse has 50 square miles. Vernon's popu- lation as estimated for their entire area is 973. The estimated population of.uontrose is 2,321. uhntrose was not incppporated as a village until 1899 while Vernon had been a village in 1871, 28 years before. As a result the first united States Census pcpulation report on nontrcse was that of 1900. The following list of pcpulation figures will indi- cate a steady and consistent growth. Year* repulation lam.--- :::::_—:i ___,_ .._ _:——:w:.348 1910 - r - ——v— _ r==— 2~==--—-443 Vernon's best years are shown to have been before 1900 as the following united States figures will indicate. Year repulation 18ww ~ —== “““““““ ~-== ----- eta-554 1.10-,__ z:— _. “Inn-en--- a”--—~-~---.435 There were 79 more pecple in Vernon in 1930 than there were a. -a ——.‘-‘ e e _ 7 . r u u a .- _ ' 0 e e . x . - b I . I‘ \e e a O ‘ ‘ ' - - I . w—«u—a—‘hq‘nn‘o—o _.—.a—-——-———-—-‘_ —.—‘—<~-——v—n.~-_4-~_. —. —‘ \o’ ——n -"—4~-- _——-.—‘—q ~—.w~.—‘_--‘ H—-—.——‘ H -4 — -< deg—4 —1—‘-—q an...— .4. ‘\ c . 5 '—- ‘n “- .45— "awn—H fl—“b‘ “i-‘fl— Le 81 in 1920 but this is due to the fact that good roads and the auto- .mobile make it possible for pecple to live in the small centers and work elsewhere. nontrose has a large trade area which is de- pendent on‘hcr merchants for the bulk of its trade. Vernon on the other hand is only three miles from Ccrunna, 5 from Owosso and 4 from Durand. All three of’thssc centers are larger than Vernon. thtrose on the othcr’hand is 20 miles from Flint, the same dis» tones from Saginaw, 10 miles from.Flushing and 12 miles from Chesaning. In 1880, HMntrose was known solely as a post village but in 1891 when the railroad.was built through the village its future was assured. New Lothrop, 20 miles away might under other conditions have out in on the trade area but now there seems to be little need to worry on that score. The New Lothrop postmaster said that 6 years ago thtrosc really succeeded in getting the post-office route which goes into maple Grove township away from now LothrOp. But the new LothrOp postmaster’had enough political influence to secure its return. ‘Ehntrose hasfione hardware store, 3 groceries, two of which are chain stores, one bank, one drug store and two garages. There is one dealer in lumber, one meat market, and one dealer in farm implements, managed separately from the hardware. Hontrose 12s a furniture store but no clothing store. The clothing merchant in Flushing attempted to Operate one there but it was unsuccessful. The Byerly manager at new LothrOp was absolutely convinced that it would have been a success in his community. He thought of additional stores as necessary because he has come to realize that the better equipped the town is to completely serve the 1 ”1 f‘ _,-v 4 needs of the farmer, the better his store trade will be. He thought that new LothIOp could support this service where mont- rose could not. He was not able to convince the merchant himself of’this fact, however. Uhntrosc as has already been stated has an office maintained by'thc undertaker in Chesaning. There is one hhevator, a restaurant and a newspaper which we have consid- ered in the section on the newspaper. umntrose has no dry goods store whereas Vernon did.have one. But Montrose does have a creamery, also a jewelry store. Vernon has neither one. Vernon has one hardware store, 4 grocery stores, one bank, one garage, one meat market, one grain elevator and the dry goods store already mentioned. This completes their claim to their ability to extend service to the farmer. Iiontrose is thought of in the New Lothrop Conmunity, parti- cularly around the village center as a 'gocd' town. Many cements are to the effect that there is little bickering there. The people in Hontrose are credited with knowing how to work together. Sever— al farmers along the northern new Lothrop Comunity boundry said that they enjoyed trading inlnonthoshrcphe thtrose school has the loyal support of’the village's tributary area. Vernon, however, due to the position it has between the larger’towns, Durand and Corunna does not draw on the New LOthIOp Community. Vernon is said to be hardly holding its own trade area which is of very small extent. The New LothrOp and Vernon High Schools are very keen rivals for the reason that they are both class D schools, although one village center is unincorporated and the other is an incorporated village. Several of the profes- sional people who were formerly at New Lothrop me removed to L) L- 8'3 new Lothrep or secured a position there. Instances of this are a former minister at New LothrOp and a school teacher who was unable to secure herrposit ion at new Lothr0p for another year but did secure a position at Vernon. The last two committee to be compared are small unincor- porated villages. One comunity, Lennon, has an estimted pcpu- lation c! 865 inhabitants in its village center while New LothrOp has 2.78 pecple within its actual village area. Lennon is m a min Michigan trunk highway and is also on the Grand Trunk rail- road which runs north through Durand and curves nsrtheast through Flushing and Hontrcse dnto Saginaw. Lennon is a very good farm— ing country. In 1880, there was only a post—cities here but the historian stated that it was an unusual situation for a general store. Lennon has never develeped to the size where it would prove practical for its residents to be incorporated. The village is actually shown however to have an activated comunity area oi 86 square miles and to have within that area 1125 people. LennOnLc, develcpment as a rural ccmunity had its first beginnihgs with the building of the railroad in 1891. Lennon is midway between the two railroad towns of Flushing and Durand. As a result it filled the needs of the tarmer within that area which it now serves. Conditions have changed radically within the last two decades but Lennon still gives every evidence of holding its own. The trunk highway has undo it possible for merchandise to come in by truck rather than by train. The important fact needs to be emphasised that Lennon is on a min highway and as a result is habituated to an average comuhity lite. v}. New Lothrop has already been discussed at length. It is slightly larger than Lennon. Its trade area is 82 square miles and it has a pcpulation of 1320 pecple. But in sharp contrast to Lennon, Bow LothrOp is off the main traveled highways and has never been on a railroad. new LothrOp had its beginnings before Lennon, it was conscious of itshlf as a comunity, an economic area at least 10 years before. But in the New Lothrop Comunity Just as in Lennon, the farmer is able because of his automobile and good roads to secure the additional services that he needs from the larger centers. Lennon is well integrated. The comunity has two hardware stores which also handle farm implements. There is but one gro- cery, one bani: and a single drug store. Lennon has one most mar- hot, 3 garages, 2 lumber dealers, an elevator and a restaurant. In addition to these services Lennon has a dry goods store, a creamery and a Jeweler. . The nail route of Lennon extends to within two miles of new Lothrop on the south, two miles within the township line. Lennon does not draw from the center of the township but does draw from the outlying beundry along the Genesee County line. In this tor- ritory Lennon is described as having a good elevator, hardware store and bank. The pecple who live here are able to reach Lennon by a good graveled road which is soon to be paved. The three cities can be said to be fully serviced communities. Hence there is no need to make any additional comments on them. The three such smller comunities Chesaning, Plushing and Corunna provide very much the same service to the farmer with the exception that the one nearest a larger center is not as well 85 integrated. The distance of 10 miles between Flushing and Flint is no particular handicap but is in fact an asset. But the mile or two which separates Corunna from Owosso means that the farmer can go to the larger center with the result that Cerunna and Vernon which is 4 miles from Corunna have lost the business that they would otherwise have. As a result, the communities are be— coming disintegrated. Lennon which is on the main trunk highway is well integrated. This cannot be said of new LothrOp, however, which is nine miles off I traveled highway on graveled roads. This has want that the people in new LothrOp have become pyo- vincial in their general outlook upon life. Comunities cah be too close to each other or they can be so far away from each other so that there is not the necessary interaction between the comunities which will enable them to progress and function as well integrated and self-conscious communities. new Lothrop is the average country village and its relation to the surrounding towns and villages is by no means unique or different from that of villages in a similiar relationship. It is located in an excellent agricultural district and the mrhetine agencies and the activities of the village are those of the anal]. village, namely that of adequately servicing the farmer with the most absolute necessities. The difficulties of both the merchant and the farmer have been considered in view of the changing soc- ial situation which has been brought about by the modern inven- tions and quicher modes of transportation. It is quite evident that because of New Lothrop Community's position in relation to these other communities and because of the competition the village center receives from these other oomunities, both village and towns, it oan'Ab strong co-operative effort and an awakened oomunity consciousness continue as a community unit. -86- CHAPTER V THE SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY In.the discussion of the boundary of the community in Chapter I it was shown.that the school area is the largest one. This area was based upon the most distant counfi? school districts from.which pupils go to New Lothrop to High School. This relationship between town and country is probably more basic and far reaching in the building of a strong com- munity than any of the other relationships since it is con- cerned primarily with the youth of the community. Through the acquaintance and friendships formed between town and country boys and girls in the high school)the foundation is laid for a stronger community than.when.they did not associate in this way. Also this constant and close association of town and country youth from generation to generation is a basis for the continuity of the life of the community. There- fore this chapter on the schools of the community gives a good opportunity for a further consideration of the interrela- tionships and interactions of the village and country people upon which the strength of the community is dependent. The school can go a long way toward creating and streng- thening the desirable social attitudes. The school not only helps to build the community but also through it many con- tacts are made with the world outside the immediate community and these contacts help to mold the plastic minds of youth. The other institutions of the community also do this to a degree but not to the extent that the school does. The school -37- is under state control. The state is in a sense able to stimulate and regulate the school system even though there is a certain measure of local control involved. It is largely in the school that a gradual transfer-etion of the prevailing ideas and customs of the people is secured. .People as a whole tend to look upon this institution as their province, and strenuously maintain.their right to criticize the school, the school board, and the teachers because their support makes the school possible. This interest in itself is commendable and perhaps because it exixts there is a possi- bility of doing very constructive work in the school. A teach- er who is able to secure the support of the pupils can usually wield a tremendous influence over the parents. The school tends to become a focal point of interest and a clearing house in many ways for the difficulties which arise in the community. This situation is calleddable if citizens use the school as an open forum. But the forum must seek constructive ends rather than destructive ones. The "learning process" fostered by the school should affect the parent as well as the child. There is an increasing need for stressing the "predominating influence of association with fellow beings in the formation of mental and moral disposition."(1) The relationship of the schools to the community will be considered in its three main aspects - the village school system, the rural public schools or the one-room schools, and (1) John.Dewey. Democracy and Education, p. 45 -—.A ~88- the parochial school of the Layton Corners neighborhood in Maple Grove township. The 0pm Room Schools There are eleven.one—room schools within the community -area. Their inclusion within this area is determined by the fact that eighth grade graduates from these districts . attend the high school in New Lothrop and that this village high school reciprocates by accepting these students on conditions satisfactory to both groups. This includes all of the county schools in.Hazelton township, nine in number; one district in Maple Grove township; and one in Flushing township. That these students constitute an important factor in the high school situation for the community is seen in the fact that in the high school enrollment of 67 students in 1951, 47 or 70 per cent were from these rural schools. Material relating to the history of the schools in the community is rather limited. Soon after the organization.of Hazelton township it was divided into districts and boundaries were enlarged or diminished as circumstances demanded. The earliest school in the township known as the first district was established on Section 21 in 1851. The building was a log cabin. The earliest school in the Juddville neighborhood was established in.1884. A schoolhouse was built in the same year on Section 34. In 1880, the number of school children in the township was 448, of whom 28 lived outside the town- ship. The value of the property was $4800. There were 8 frame buildings and one log house. -39- An interesting fact in this connection is the regularity of the school areas of the township as they now exist. In no other township of the county or possibly in the state is this regularity found. Every two miles there is a schoolhouwe. It is possible for any pupil in the township to go to a school without having to go more than the distance of a mile and a half. There are 36 square miles in the township and there are nine rural school districts or one to every four square miles according to the 1880 classification. In an unpublished study of the 59 communities in the Lansing area, the Department of Sociology of Michigan.State College collected data for 585 schools covering a period of 15 years, 1915 to 1929 inclusive. Maps were also made of all the school districts in.the area. As this study included Shiawassee county, data collected by the Department of Sociology relating to number of children of school age, eighth grade graduates, and number of eighth grade graduates from the country schools who attended high school have been included in this chapter; also data relating to children of school age, and eighth grade and high school graduates for New Lothrop. The first table gives the number of children of school age for the rural schools of Hazelton township for the fif- teen year period mentioned above. Data for the other two rural districts within the community, the one in Maple Grove township and the other in.F1ushing township, were not se- cured but would be similar to that which haee been given for the rural schools of Hazelton township. From this table and -90- those which follow a very good idea can be gained not only of the number of children in the rural areas of school age for this period of 15 years but also the proportion of them who have received eighth grade diplomas and the per cent who have gone to high school. It, therefore, gives a basis for discussion of the rural portion of the community so far as education is concerned and also the relation of this part of the community to the village. TABLE IV. NUMBER OF CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE IN RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS or HAZELTON TOWNSHIP, 1915 to 1929 (1) No. of: OYEari, Afi~v‘—— Dis- : gictg'293'2§;'27§'26"25°'24°'25°'22"21"2Q;';2§'18:'17.'16:'15 54 55 54 46 51 46 45 59 38 4O 41 44 42 44 52 5O 4O 54 46 48 47 43 57 55 38 44 46 44 41 59 44 45 50 28 53 42 43 35 4e 42 3a 23 39 3a 41 59 55 32 58 51 44 43 46 44 47 31 36 36 25 29 35 34 25 32 34 40‘ 35 as 31 32 33 4o 42 39 3o 37 33 -34- 36 42 32 42 37 42 41~ 41 39 37 3a 43 4a 51--36~ 32 34 31 4o 35 39 56" 34 3o 34 29 29 34 3o 32 44 43 36 27 31 25 23 51 54 60 49 55 67 71 65 56 51 59 55 46 47 48 TOTAL ‘"* 5" 9* A A; ‘_ " _~_ 40 9 1; -5 .73 415 ‘0 ,;5 '° 3.5 60 is: 1 559 65 52 60 46 COCD'SlfibtfllhtfllOI-J $1) ‘Unpublished data, Department of Public Instruction of ichigan, obtained by Department of Sociology, MichignnState Cn11_ece M“? ‘1 “Helm. Tau/MIN}, 5150.! Dish-(ch ,____ _1_ m,“ a (930 ,_______- I § ‘ 5' l ‘ 2 I ; (o NQW ! y : 5 "fifif"? . g, _ _ - - Gwen: _ 1.4—— -mt‘ " -' I147; I ' I l 7 I _,; l | I . . | I 1 i ' l‘ ‘V __-— --Cerdeo-. |_ — -4 - E0:fl-. .- i i ! 3 ‘ 6 juJJSCovnew‘s ' ’Rhades I‘c‘l 'icl.‘ s I 1 ,; . !. Black };9u¢25:avei‘a?€ annual numéev‘ of- ‘td‘ttlcn pup(.l3 P29 ’00 Ch|.l€‘\‘en o} 5(‘001 age vial?) 4911/5 [71? (fields iua Legend I SChoclhOose - Gravelecl Km: (‘3 -- — — _ -91- From Table IV it will be seen that there has been a slight variation from year to year in the total number of children of school age in the rural districts of Hazelton town- ship. The highest number was 415 in 1924 and the lowest was 345 in 1926. Just why the number should have been lowest as late as 1926 is not apparent. Howeber, taking this period as a whole it would seem to indicate that the rural school population was fairly well stabilized and that changes in the rural phase of the educational situation would henceforth depend upon other factors, such economic conditions, nature of roads, school standards and interest in education. The next table which gives the number of pupils in each of the rural schools of Hazelton township who received eighth grade diplomas for each year of the period 1915 to 1929 is a better index of the effectiveness of the rural schools and the interest of the rural people of this townShip in education than Table IV. It also gives the basis upon which high school attendance rests and, therefore, the foundation fhr the extent of relationship between town and country in high school activi- ties. ;‘ -92.. mmmHHoo opmpmnnmmHnoHs «thHowoom no psoapnmnmo he omofimpno .qmmHsoH: no qofiposnumoH oHHnom Housemancooa mvmo noanHnsgnD Auv m4. imam Ad 3 33% a .292. 114‘ ‘1 ‘l‘ H.m mm m m m H m H H H m H m N o n H m H.» mH H o o o H m H m o m o H H m o m m.n _ Hm .o m H N m o m o. o H m m m o m b m.m om H m o o w H 0 ..m H o o w H m m m $.m mm o o o o H H ¢ 0 m m o m m m m m m.m mm m o H H m H m H m m m o w m m 9 m.m H& o o m o m ¢ 0 m m o H m m m m m v.4 a» m. m. m o a o n m a 4 H m- m m m m m.¢ m mm m m H H m m H o N m n m m m n H IMInwoomomm . u . u u 12‘ u u m u «1 u a! 1a u 1.2 no aohHmpoa. mH-.@H..bH-umH.. .:H.u :«Hm.umw.“mu-umm-umm.nmm-ubm.umm ”mm..»0HHu :caano no. . u n u a a n u u u u a u than poop pom. "w, .ib Immwmnql 1: ”Mo.oz Amv mama op mama .mawoafia mam-o mama-Hm ems-2mm mam-Soy 203% so man-Egan goo-mom imam E war-E mo mama-E .> Sm: -93.. From this table it will be obserged that the rural dis- tricts in this fifteen.year period vary in.the average per cent of children of school age who complete the eighth grade and receive a diploma from 5.1 to 5.4 per cent. This is a significant difference and indicates that most of the rural schools in this township have not yet succeeded in getting a very good per cent of the children to complete the eighth grade work. This may be due to several different causes, such as the level of educational interest among the parents of a district, the nature of the leadership and organization of the parents in the district and the efficiency of the school. To whatever causes due it is worthy of much con, sideration in the analysis of neighborhood and community life and in any efforts that may be made to strengthen the community. The next table gives the annual number of students in each district for whom the district paid tuition to a high school. In this instance most of the students went to the New Lothrop high school. The rural districts are required by the laws of Michigan to pay sixty dollars annually for four years toward the tuition of any eighth grade graduate who wants to attend high school. The numbers in this table are higher than those in Table V because the same student may be counted as many as four times. However, the data given in the table is highly significant not only in relation to the educational status of the district but also in relation to strength and progressivenss of the community. omoHHoo mpmvm nme£OH2 .hMOHoHoom no pdmfipamooa ho oqumpno «:mmHnoHs no GOHposnpmsH oHHnsm no Homspnmacn «sumo coanHpomsD Amv 4.3 Ham mH 3H 4H mm mH mm mm 4mklmw on an mmyymm lam, nun.maaoa 1 H.n mm H m H H o H H H H m n 4 w H m m 3.3 Hm H o o H H H 4 4 _m 4 m H m H m m 4.4 on ..o H m m m w m m 4 m m m m m n s m.m ..m47.;4 4 w 4 m m w m. m m m H m m 4 w M... mé mm H H m H o m n m m m m m m. n m - m.4 mm H o o m m 4 m m H m m m m o 4 4 m.m mm o N H m m H m m w m m m m 4 w m was on m 4 4 m n w H H m m m m m 4 4 m m.wm4 on H m m m m m 4 4 m n m m n 4 m H .oonnunuoqun. - . . u u .M‘ ‘4- w “I: u a»: n u u . » ammo 00H mmn.Hmpoam mH-.mH-mbH- umH- «oH-uom-«Hm-”mm.«mm-4m-nmm-umm-«vm- um mm-mmm-«poan mHHenm no. oz. . u u u u n u u u u u u u umHQ Hmnmmu.no>4. q.” ‘I‘ ‘4 .I “MMWM11 v, .14“ ”mo.oz any mmmH on mHmH .oneHsa QHHm mHmmzsoa zoaHmwem so maonamHo Hoomom H4mpm_zoma mos mazmapam so mamas: .H> mHmca u. . 'n C’ 0' U. Q- , ' .0 e l -. V I- 'o l O . u o. u _» ad ,4 a Q . o a. 9! V . .' ~. 0. . . It I. In A , ‘ I a I Q. | '. u I‘ .0 -95- It will be noted that the range among districts in the average annual number of pupils per 100 children of school age is from 8.1 to 8.2. This again is of great significance not only when considering the districts separately but also for the whole community. In the long run.the outlook for community development must depend largely upontthe degree of education of its citizens and if the high school attendance falls considerably below the possible achievement it means ‘ that the community will be much weakened thereby. In.the study of the 585 school districts made by the Department of Sociology, Hazelton township had no districts ranking among the 146 which rated highest but had three gmong the lowest 146 districts The_§§w Lothrop School District In 1893 the New Lothrop school district was organized and is known as District Number 10. The present physician of New Lothrop was then the school director. The school dis- trict report has the following pertinent sentence which ex- plains what actually took place in this situation. "Pupils in District Number 10 received 6 months schooling in other districts before they were drawn on division and formed a new district, Number 10."(4) Tne New Lothrop school district was formed from a part of each of the two districts, Number 5 and 8. One mile was taken from each of these districts to form this new one. As a result, Districts 5, 8, and 10 do not comprise four square miles as the other seven districts — (4) History of §hiawassee Cguntx, Franklin Ellis t" in the township do. . A striking fact in this situation.then is that the school district of New Lothrop is in reality only half as large as the standard district. ;t is actually one mile wide and two miles long so that the avers is only two square miles instead of four. This means that it has the lowest assessed valuation of any of the surrounding ten villages and citydistricts. It has the highest assessed valuation of any district in the Hazelton township, namely $258,000. Districts 5 and 8 of Hazelton township have the lowest assessed valuation, $127,150 and $125,475 respectively, - the average for the nine other districts.in 1950 was a few thousand in excess of $150,000. The New “othrop School Tax is correspondingly high, $18.85 per one thousand dollars. In the New Lothrop district in 1693, 59% of the total number of children between the ages of over 5 and 20 attended school. In 1900 the percentage had increased to 85. After this date, the percentage remained nearly constant. In 1910, it was 98% of the school census figure; in 1920 it was 94% and in 1930, 91%. The ninth and tenth grades were not added until 1910. The trend toward high school education would seem to explain in part the difference between the ratio of children of school age who attended school during the past thirty years and the years before that time. In 1900, there were 15 non-resident pupils in the district. By 1910 the number was 18. In 1920, twenty-one non-resident pupils came to the dis- trict and in 1950, 55. The total expenditures of the district indicated by the following figures for each decade are some index of the continued growth of the school: 125;. 45225; 1895 5 1,125.00 1900 1,345.55 1910 1,904.17 1920 . 8,595.12 1930 11,421.89 In 1915, the ten school districts paid tuition for 14 pupils. In 1929, nine school districts paid for 55. This represents an increase of 45 per cent. After 1916 New LothrOp paid no tuition for their pupils to other schools because this district established a four-year high school course of its own. Previous to this time, New Lothrop had no eleventh and twelfth grades. The ninth and tenth grades had been taught since 1910. The high school records show that a tenth grade had been graduated during the year. There were three 11th grade graduates in 1917. The first 12th grade to he graduated was in 1919. The New Lothrop high school graduates are listed by years as follows: 1.; CO 5...: (D 2 (D New Lothrop has had only seventy high school graduates in the twelve years from.1919 to 1951 inclusive. This is only -98- 21 per cent of the total number of 552 who graduated from the district schools of the township. This fact will be significant in relation to consolidation and the township unit plan.which.have been subjects of discussionfor many years. The only high school in Hazelton township is in New l‘othrop, and, as has been shown, this township compnises most of the school area of the community. It is becoming evident that the New Lothrop community does need the high school at New Lothrop. It is handicapped, however, in that the school district is small and the assessed valuation rela- tively how. The support and success of the high school is largely dependent upon the non-resident pupils who come from the other districts of Hazelton township and from some of the districts in Maple Grove and Flushing townships. The following table will indicate the number of teachers in the New Lothrop school system, the academic credits that they have, the number of years experience, the years in the New Lothrop system, the salary paid and the subjects taught for the year 1950-1951. HpsmHHmmM Boom 4-H messes ohoH H Hm em .eeHH aseeHea oompm Hmnpnoo aoom mum moomnw oomH m mH mm .oMHH Hosanna seHHmsm hAopmHm hnposooo opmpm Hmnpomo nonommp seeemHH 065H 6 m mmH .eeHH seamen mmoHOHm mmHHmsm mpmpm Hampsoo sHesH ommH m m\H m 50H .eeHH HseHeeHed mcHGHme Humans oHumsepHnd xnozuoos mumpm Hampsmo Romanov hnpmHamao oomH a m HH omH .ouHH ianoosw . .8 mm. o Hog” J u 4 II J mowaHmoN u u 502-" mono-pHoonou oopmsomno” - u « sHuanonxmu mnsomu nOHns noun“ 3 u endow" hummus Ho.ozun0HpspHpmsH» :1 u - .mo.ozu uo.onu « « Emamwm Hoomom mommaon man may 2H mmmmodma may 02Hzmmuzoo ZOHHHEmthH H mnm4a ~100- The New Lothrop School was first put on the accredited list of the Michigan University in 1928. New Lothrop has been able to keep Just within.the minimum.requirements since that time. Several changes in.the teaching staff took place in the year 1951. New Lothrop was advised by the University Inspector to hire another teacher with a degree because the academic sections taught by the degree teacher in the school Just equalled the academic sections taught by non—degree teachers, there being six of each. A further comment was to the effect that this matter should receive serious atten- tion because the school was no. meeting Just the minimum standards. As a result they refused the Latin teacher a contract for the coming year.* The degree teacher became the Principal and a young lady from the Central StataNormal was hired to teach Latin and English. She had had little training in.these subJects but she did have the degrees. She maJored in music at college and as a result she is planning to develop an orchestra in New Lothrop. A friend of hers who is teaching at Vernon.this year has said that she made every effort possible to secure a position elseWhere but was unable to do so. Hence she had no recourse but to go to New Lothrop. Another change was made in the facilities for teaching. The comment had been made by the university inspector that perhaps the greatest obstruction to good teaching in the school was the serious overcrowding in the building. It was most undesirable for the teacher to be obliged to hear classes 101 recite in the study hall where other students were preparing their lessons. It was recommended that the basement room be partitioned of, it had been in use for a manual training room, so that part of it might be used fer a.o1ass room. This made ‘uecessary a provision of natural slate blackboards and also the putting in of a wooden floor. The partition was to be made sound proof so that both rooms could be used simultan- ewusly'twithout mutual disturbance. The present superintendent has always had e.balief'that ‘3hs students fromithe country schools were poorlp instructed in arithmesiecand, because d! this, he had given the twelfth gaade a course in that subject. The inspector suggested that arithmetic should be replaced by solid geometry and advanced algebra or some other subJect found in Bulletin 12 of their department. As a result of this requirement two graduates of ~ the class of 1951 have expressed themselves as desirous of taking up post-graduate work in these subjects this year. Because the grammar room teacher was the wife of the sup- erintendent she was refused a contract this year (1931). A last year's student of the Nichigan State College was given the position. He had taught On one of the district school. in the township previous to this time. He graduated from the New Lothrop High School in 1926. It has been questioned whether he -was wise in choosing to teach inhis own home town. He is a good athlete, a fine fellow in every way and has been spoken of with the highest regard. Another teacther, previously in the primary room was not asked to return. It was thought that she was too old. She has 21 years experience but it was not thought that she It! 101v cognizant of the modern methods of teaching. The present teacher is very young, Just out of norml school with very little actual teaching experience. The inspector had comcnted on the fact that the enrollment in the grades was stall but that it put an undue burden on the grade teacher to expect her to teach more than the four grades, and as in the case of the kindergarten teacher, five grades. He thought that some plan should be worked out to relieve the situation. As a result the present teacher has no kindergarten Thwre are but the four grades. The New LothrOp High School has a good manual training depart-' ment which has been installed under the guidance of the present superintendent. He was able to interest the pecple of the commu- ity in its development with the result that the equipment is now fairly complete and it is looked upon as a real part of the schooP curriculum. Agriculture has also been taught by the preseht superintend— ent. The superintendent said, however, that he did not think he would take Smith-Hughes work at the Iiichigan State College be- cause it would be too much of a burden in addition to the admin- istsative work as a superintendent. Every nay an exhibit is held ib which the work of the stu- dents of all the classes is put on exhibition. There are a large number of articles made by the annual training classes, work done by the grades and the high school such as themes, art exercises and handicraft of various kinds; These projects nade by the stun- dents are of great interest to the parents because they are a con, crete evidence of the prOgress they are making. They were not able to put on as good an exhibit in 1931 as in previous years 10% because they were hampered for space in the building. The School Board. as.- “fl------.----- can The school board is made up of the usual number of five members. The occupation of the president is that of farmer and trader in wool, meat etc. He has a considerable amount of native intelligence but little formal education. Two grades is all that is reported of him. The secretary of the school board is a poul- tryman and in addition does any odd Jobs that he can find. The extent of his education was a country school. His family use a whole is very industrious. His oldest daughter is now the teacher at the Gillett schoolhouse, district number 5, a mile west of How LothrOp. Another member of the school board is a garagoman. He is a graduate of the Chesaning High.dchool and he is the one member of the school board who has a high school education. He has three children in the first eight grades of the school. The other farH nor on the board has a large family. It is because of his large family that he was thought of as a board member. He is a respon- sible nan and well thought of in the community. The newly elected member of’the school bpard he the July elections of 1931 is the home membhmmt who extends credit. He has a daughter in school. When the board of the previous year refused to consider'the former latin teacher fer the coming year, the pupils in the school cir- culated a petition asking that her case be reconsidered. The msr- chant would not allow his daughter to sign it. He said he did not believe in petitions. He did not favor them.even for a minister. She had to go through a little hardship because of this but he was cbdurant. e, _,3 -.-.— ‘fi—«qu——-.~H-fl‘ . Q . _ ' c . e _ - ‘- ‘ ‘ - e 5 .-.. - g- I , -v'. v . _. m ‘ . w 9 y 4- .- am...“ ..—-._. . m - a e s I _ i e s e - f I a _. ._ ,_ . . i - - _ ' , .- — w . , \ - ‘ 4-\ ' J I O U \l 109! The Parent-Teacher Association. D. O'D-n-GU-’-—----- -----u—w- as -w- The new Lothrep Parent-Teacher Association had its first be- ginnings in march 1927. The former superinten who had taught in the community for nine years took the first steps in its organi- zation. There were a very few interested members at that time. The next fall under the present superintendent the Parent-Teacher Association began tb have monthly meetings. An increased members}: ship was solicited. The present superintendent is very much in favor of a question box but the idea is not a popular one at New Lothrop. The pecple thoroughly enjoy entertainment and some refreshments. During the past year they have put on a play with the purpose in mind of buying some additional school seats. The schoolroom where the meetings are held id often filled to its fullest capacity. The present secretary, a member of the school board, express- ed himself’as being of the Opinion that the association would be able to out across the lines of faction and discord in the com- munity and be actually able to build and maintain a community house which would be non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-exclur sise. It is his thought that in this organization comunity consciousness could best be expressed because only the most pro» greesive people belonthhat is,those who have children in school and who are interested in their welfare and advancement. There are now 68 members in the organization and the average attendance is stated as being 55 members. Three fourths are from the country. The president is the local undertaker who is also the past comander of the local Masonic body. The country members L/ ——~-————._.. —‘.~—-H 7‘_.__._‘ 'O"—‘fi ~¢—4—‘.—‘—-«.-.-—-4 _..._. kw 106” are with few exceptions the parents of non—resident pupils. It is the hepe of the officers of the organization who live in the town that those who come to these memtings will become familiar with school problems and hence will come to appreciate the value to than of consolidation or the township unit plan. It is also necessary to realize that there are always a number present who have not as yet become members of the association. ‘The Parent-Teacher Association has promise of being a co- operative factor. It was Just manageing to survive in 1929. The present secretary was then the president. He was in favor of entertainment and food. He thought that that should cover the range of activities very well. The superintendent; as has already been stated, was more than insisttat on having a 'question box'. His idea was that grievances and misunderstandings could be aired in an open forum without names and that a solution of comon pro- blues could be worked out in this way. But the pecple did not write out any questions. The meetingd were not well attended. The Eighth Grade Banquet. 0---—-b-----e—----------“-” Examinations are held each year for the children of the couno try schools at the local high school. They are known as eighth grade examinations because it is necessary to pass them before the studast can go on to high school. Seventh grade examinations are also taken at this time. The present superintendent realized these evacts as an excellent means to acquaint the student with the new LothrOp High School with the sole hepe that he might be encouraged to enter the next year's freshmn class. His wife, however, do- serves a major part of the credit for the way she has worked to nuke them a success. The banqueflts have always been very enjoyable. L O ,-_q_._.«—.—__———-..—q——n——_-—— “«—~ 106 and have gone a long way to make the pupil feel at home in the community. They'are held in the evening after the examination, speeches are made and toasts are given. members of the ninth grade are the speakers while the members of the eighth grade serve. It has always created a goodfdeal of favorable comment and.is fast becoming considered as an annual etent. The schools which.are generally represented by eighth grade pupils and their teachers are the district schools of the townéhip. The Children's Foundation. It is the belief of the most thoughtful pecple in the area that the county nurse could be of real service in educating the children in taking care of their health. It was the hepe of the Children's Foundation that this would actually be the result of the county nurse plan. The response of the people in the sommunezj to the werhzof the nurse, however, was not as favorthle as it was hoped that it would be. The New Lothrop school went further with the movement than the other schools in the township since it is the larger school. A.pair of scales were bought byythe Parent-Teacher Association. the weights of the children were kept and a check made so that those who were underweight might be brought up to the required standard. It will take some time for the pecple of the township to appreciate the value to them of a careful check on the health.and general wellubeing of their child. ran. Extra-Curricular Activities. ”..--.---.'~-—-— a-----”—----- HGW’LOthrOp High School is a small school hence there are . ' ‘ ,3 ‘mflq... -_.—_—_—.__-~——4-—-—-—.‘.-—_‘-—-—q._.—~._q ‘ v Q i I 0 , Q _ ' . O . .. . i- _ , I- i t . - § , ' ‘ e ._._ 7 _‘ _) ~ -—-'-—_.—4—u.——~o—Q—Q—o—a——.~q—-._.._4——a-—¢>-—c~_—_‘ “~D—O-—¢—‘ *4 ”Y 10? he? aremmany extra~ourricular activities. Nevertheless an attempt in ‘ this direction is made. Under the present superintendent whose . last year'was 1927, New LothrOp had excellent athletic teams. . They had a number of real athletese the spirit was good and they 'won the majority of their games. But for the past four years with the present superintendent as coach they have been unalbe to win games. There are always evidences of keen competition between the New Lothrop and Vernon teams. The attempt has been made to defeat them on the basketball floor and oh the baseball fdeld but How Lothrop has always been defeated and often very badly. This past year’with a new coach they were determined to win. Theymanaged to do it but with some trouble. The result was some friction between the coaches, resulting from an adverse decision of the umpire'e. The‘Verncn caoch and.the fowmer superintendent of’Verncn are both graduates of the new Lothrop High School. The superintendent graduated in 1920, the Vernon coach in 1924. The Vernon superin- tendent always thoraughly enjoyed himself’at the games. laughing and Joshing bothhis own team and those on the How LothrOp team be-v cause he knew thwm all so well. The result was that as far as new LothrOp was concerned, a successful season meant the defeat of Vernon. new Lothrop had teams only in basketball and baseball. They have never been able to finance a football team. Vernon has sur- passed them in this field having had a team.for two years. Sever- al of the Bow LothrOp students have at times expressed a wish for a good football team. Prehaps the one who desires the football team the most is the Methodist EpiscOpal minister's son, a real athlete, who is the occasion of great despair on the part of his '1 all" illll... parents because they wish him to be a student. However, his int- erests at present do not lie in that direction. He was the catcher .on the team that defeated Vernon. New Lothrop's basketball and baseball teams were members of the Shiawasee County High School "D" league. Horris, Byron and Vernon were the other members. During the state competition to determine the state champion of the "1)" schools, How LothrOp was able to defeat Horrice. This was their first victory for the season. How Lothrop High School has had an orchestra for 'the past two years. It has not been under competent supervision, however. The superintendent promised the manbers that he would allow them scholastic credit for their endeavors in this field only to refuse if at the end of the year. The new teacher has a degree in music and it is heped that she will fill this need. She claims no know- ledge of Latin and thlish. It would seem that they have sacriéic ficed a good teacher in these subjects for a teacher in music and to meet the requirements for an accredited school. New LothrOp has been very fortunate during the past four years in having a good Latin teacher, good in the sense that she has 2: undo her subjects of interest to the pupils. She early organised a Latin Club which had meetings each week. The students of her classes were responsible members and elected committees and plan— ned the programs for their meetings and whatever entertainments they had for the general public. The result has been that she has had few disciplinary troubles and was actually able to inspire her pupils to a degree that would otherwise have been impossible. Although she was herself not a graduate of a college she was a definite asset to the community because of her real interest in 109 young people. She was firmly convinced of the need of small parties and 'get-togethers' for the student body and never spared herself in her endeavors to make them possible. The total membership of the Latin Club was 28. The average member- ship was 17. It is questionable as to how long the club will continue without her influence. Beasuce of her influence it has become a precedent for each class in the high school to have at least two partiessa years The superintendent thought that there would be a tendency to everdo this form of activity so made a rule that each class should have but the two parties which should be known definitely as school parties and it was necessary that they be planned in advance. This arrangement would make it possi- ble to regulate the activiti es of school children during their evenings. The Latin teacher was able to interest a number of the stu- dents in the State Debating Contest and considerable enthusiasm was aroused by the townspeople throughthis form of activity. This was evidenced by the number of pecple who turned out when an Opposing debating team came to New Lothrop. The contests were al- ways held in one of the two churches because the school room at the high school was too small. A seminal fee of 25 cents was charged for admission to cover the small expenses that were in- curred. The High School Alumni Association. The High School Alumni Association was organized this past year» A list of the alumni was assembled with some difficulty and efferts were made to find out just where the graduates were. A banquet was held at which. there were 35 present besides the —.—__—~——_.—g‘.——~—N—«_—g——4 c 1 . , o - I _, O- . ‘ . I. I .r( v ..._ a ~ ~ . b a u . 1 ~--uuc—-——~_‘—-_._.Hn—._u—H 111) graduating class, the faculty and the school board. It was not .as large a number as they had heped for but it was looked upon as favorable. Plans are already being made for a better banquet next year. The first 12th grade was graduated in 1919. There were five members tn the first sales as has already been said. The significant fact at this point is that there are but 70 graduates from.the local school ever a period of 12xyears. Out of this num- ber nine are teaching school, only two, however, have degrees. Both of these are new in college, one is working for his master's degree at Michigan University, the other is a graduate assistant at Duchigan State College. Three girls are in training for nurses two at the Hurley Hospital in Flint and one ih a hospital ih Saginaw. One of last year's graduates is away at college, another who went three years to the new Lothrop school but finished her high.scheol course at Flushing is also attending college. The Role of the School in the new Lothrop Community. -‘u---’-------——----" ——————————— pun-p-cn-e—un—un ------- u.— What is the role of the school in the new LethrOp Community is a question that might well be asked here. It is quite evident that the one element that draws New Lothrop students to New LothIOp is that of economy. The amount of tuition that the rural districts allow Just pays the amount of tuition that the New Lethrep school demands. The preblem.which the school district and in fact the problem of the community which would seem to be omni— present il.that of keeping the tax.rates down. In view of the fact that the school district is small and that the requirements for this type of school are constantly becoming greater in addi- tion to the fact that the present school building is hardly ade- quote for the number of students they have, the prdblem.is a H—a—g —- -...__ ~‘w __._- -_-—.—. _~._..~_.w-c r. Q . a -.—e—._.H~_._. ’ f I . - . v as -. \ i 5 n 7 - x r- - e ' o . , . c . ‘ . I - _ . { >—a_.4—--_.. ..—-o--——r-—u—._..———-—4 - o v a . \ - 1‘ . ’ e . .- s \ \ e e . . N r ll. real one. Vernon, Lennon and New LothrOp each require the pay- ment of $60.00 tuition for each non-resident student. The range of the other schools in surrounding communities is from $75.00 to $100.00, these are Flint, Saginaw and Owosso, the smaller city of Corunna, the villages of Chesaning, Flushing and umntrose. lennon has a ton grade school. The comment was made by a citizen of the Venice township that "Lennon having only a ten grade echoes is a dttriment to the children who go there because they don't like to start in another school and consequently step there". Vernon and New LothrOp feel that they cannot justify a raise in their tuition without the loss of a considerable number of pupils from the community. The former superintendent of Vernon was grad- uated from the new Lothrop school in 1920. He finished his fourth year'as superintendent in the Vernon High School in June 193d. It was his thought that new Lothrep could raise its tuition where Vernon could not because of the fact that the distances that some of the pupils would have to go in the new LothrOp area If they went to other schools would make the increased mileage of enough importance so that the student would not be drawn elsewhere. How- ever the memberd of the school board when approached.ofi the matter did not agree with.his position. members of the school board thought that the possible loss of a few was an important matter and.they were very definately of the opinion that further con— dessicns should be made in order to increase the attendance of non-resident pupils. For instance, two years ago two pupils who had not as yet passed the eighth grade aritmetie examinations were allowed to go on with their ninth grade work at the New Lothrcp High School. The one boy was forced by his very poor marks 113— to drop out ih the middle of the second term.and as a result did not return to school the next year. His twin sister finished the year, with.the arithmetic completed and a meagre mark in algebra. She did not return the next year but instead married a young man in her immediate neighborhood. Other examples might be given but they are hardly necessary. It is enough to say that at the end of the term.many students had their marks increased a little often- times so that btth they and their parents might not become dis- Couraged with the progress of the year or the lack of it. It should be quite evident that if concessions of this kind are made there will be a tendency to lower the general effeciency of the school. This igthe effect that actually took place. The ens teacher Who insisted on a certain level being attained in her classes was htle to do it through the use of standarized tests. Her success in this direction was marked enough so that the other teachers fell into line. In this way there was some approach to a norm established even though there was a certain hesitancy on the part of the teachers at times to accept the results of these tests in comparison with those of other schools. The pupils who are above the average are not conscious of any particular competition because of the fact that the poorer students hold the group back. This remark has been made by several of the parents but they have little recourse because their reasons for keeping their children in the New LothrOp school are primarily economic. There is a ten- dency for the exceptional students not to be content with the facilities of the small school center. They wish to go to a lar~ gar school with its improved.equipmcnt, opportunities for a fuller life and prehaps in a sense more freedom. It is to be remmnbered that the students in the small school under study are supposed to 113 have no knowledge of cards or dancing. In this sense their social life as they see it is restricted. The final report of the University inspector is some index of the real worth of the school. It may be looked upon at ftrst sight as more subjective than otherwise but it is necessary to remanber‘that it is really on a comparative basis because the inspeactor is bot consciously and unconseibusly comparing schools 'with one another. It is for this reason that schools can be com? pared, both city and village. Estimate of new Lothrcp's school plant and equipment poor Administration and supervision good Trogressiveness of teachihg'staff' fair School spirit good Community interest and support fair The Parochial School. umpu-_fi-- --------- ----- There seems to be good reason for the assertion that there 'would be no necessity for building the $75,000 parochial school structure at maple Grove if there has been the tight kin‘.of co-Operation within the natural economic area of New Lothrop. The school is not yet fully completed but it is now possible to have classes and to carry on the regular procedure of school work. Npple Grove is the popular name for a church settlement one mile south of Layton Corners which is the exact center of Haplfidrove township. I This parochial school has now become a public schacl in con? sonanoe with the advice of the state superintendent of schools. This has also been done at Frankenmuth but with the differanee :2 that St. Michael's is a catholic while the school at Frankenmuth is Lutheran. St Hiehael's is now able to use the primary fund "_” ,__.... "“H— " ‘“.—‘_H"‘.“‘" liq! from.two school districts. The state superintendent of schools ‘wished them to have a consolidated school made up of four school districts, the pcpulation of which is entirely catholic. But it was not thought advisable to do this. It is interesting to note that the church is on two mail routes, one from Chesaning and the other from New LothrOp. However the bulk of the mail comes in from Chesaning and this place is considered as their post-oifdce. They have had eleven grades this past year in the school. Their one sender graduated fromnthe Chesaning High.Sehool last June 1931. This student had the highs est marks in the school, but because she had not been there for four years she did not receive the highest honors. Second place was given to her. She was the salutatorian. There were 231 pupils enrolled in the parochial school in 1930. There were 17 in the let grade; 32 in the second; 18 in the third; 24min the 4th; 30 in the fifth; 29 in the 6th; 26 in the 7th; 28 in the 8th; 14 in the 9th; 7 in the 10th; 6 in the 11th and none in the 12th. This year there will be a 18th grade. It is heped that they will be able to get on the accredited list very soon. . The parochial school draws oh the districts of maple Grove townships directly to the north of new Lothrep. For this reason the parochial school restricts the school area of the New Lothrep Community. For many of the pecple immediately to the south of the school new Lothrep is still the economic center. Consequently a , short account of this school is necessary to show how new LothrOp Community is limited in the northern part of its econlmic area. !he school baoundry will not expand to meet the economic beundry here because the liaple Grove Wed is too well integrated. \4 L4 .-_ -. .it V' r-o- ~-»- . r . I - K . . -. , ‘ o ‘ l o o ' o x Q 7 - f ‘ ' - I . C l ‘1 t n V c , - 'n , . O I - - \ . u ’ ' o . f ' o I' (a P ‘ . . _ I J . . . - A ‘ J . r h J 4 Chapter VI. Comparison of New Lothrop School with Schools ‘1n Surroundingjtbmmunities In this chapter the school systems of the towns and cities surrounding New Lothrop are described and comparisons made with the New Lothrop school system. 1 comparison of this kind is necessary in order to more fully determine the nature of the educational problem for the New Lothrop community. Since, to a certain extent, it is in competition with these surrounding schools and particularly for the non-resident students. As such a large part of the New Lothrop high school enrollment is non- resident it is absolutely essential for New Lothrop to hold the rural school territory it now has if it is to maintain an accredited school. The three city schools, Flint, Saginaw and Owosso will not be treated with the same care and detail as the outlying com- munities such as Chesaning, Flushing, Corunna, Montrose, Vernon and Lennon. They represent e.different school situation. The problem of these latter school systems is very much the same as New LothrOp. There are individual differences which are important in showing the limitations of the New Lothrop system. The position of the New ‘Lothrep High school in the community will thus become evident. The City Schools Both Flint and Owosso have‘what are known as excellent school systems. These schools have thoroughly modern equipment, competent teaching staffs and well planned curriculi. The statis- tical information in the following table will clearly indicate the status of these two schools. Pupils from the New Lothrop Community have at certain periods been students in these schools. Some have 'been.able to do satisfactory work but others not. These schools are thought of by the people in the community as being the very best. The Saginaw school.does not havezas modern equipment as the ZElint and.0wosso schools. It like them, however, is a Nerth Central school. Saginaw has a much lower tax rate than the other two schools. no pupils from the New Lothrop Community have gone to Saginaw. As has been indicated before, Saginaw is too far from INew'Lothrop for it to be considered.from this point of view. The Chesaning School System Chesaning has the largest assessed valuation of the smaller towns and villages. The assessed valuation of Chesaning in 1930 'was $1,565,000. The tax rate was $14.00 per thousand or $4.83 less than that of New Lothrop. The school census was 587 and the total population of the school district is stated as being approx- imately‘1675 people. The per capita cost of education in the high school is estimated at $102 as against $104 for New Lothrop! The number of non-resident pupils in Chesaning in 1881 was 8; in 1891 the number was 6; in 1901 it had increased to 28; in 1911 still more to 43; in 1921 it had increased by six more to 49 and in 1930 it had almost doubled, the number of non-resident pupils was 84. The school district of Chesaning has never been very much in debt as is evident from a study of the following table. (I) Chesaning Accredited School Report of March 15, 1930. [.4 H --J Tablelil. Statistical information in regard to the Chesaning School System for the Years 1881 to 1930 by decades. Total Total enroll- Indebt- Total ex- Expenditure Year ment edness enditure or on 11 IB'B‘I 326 $7,006 * , . a . 1891 310 . 2,500 5,847.21 18.86 1901 302 none recorded 6,648.85 22.02 1911 288 none recorded 13,020.60 45.21 1921 295 35,000 40,463.73 136.82 1930 431 5,000 54,336.63 126.07 In 1881 there was but $7,000 indebtedness; in 1891 it had de- creased to $2,500; for the next two decades there was no indebted- ness recorded; 1n 1921 there*was an.indebtedness of $35,000 but in 1930 it had been decreased to $5,000. It is thought the that the total expenditures for each of these decades will be some index of the growth of the school in the community. In 1881, $3,916.83 was spent; in 1891, $5,847.21; in 1901, $6,648.85; in 1911, $13,020.60; in 1921 it had increased to $40,463.73 and in 1930 the total expenditures were $54,336.63. Chesaning is at present in need of a new school building. The building is seriously crowded.according to the inspector's report and there is a real need at the present time for additional room. It was his thought that this matter should be taken care of as soon as the community feels able to do so. The school is doing good work‘because it is efficiently staffed.and well equipped. It is interesting to know that although Chesaning is the center of a typical agricultural area, there is as yet no Smith-Hughes teacher in the school. This is particularly noticeablewhen it is realized that there is no Smith-Hughes Agricultural teacher in the county. Saginaw, the capital of Saginaw County is the only city and Chesaning is the next largest 118 town even though it is a village. The inspector has made no report on this school but the note that he made on their plant is worthy of comment. "The employment of a good staff of teachers, all with degrees, the order and industry of the school, the school interest shown by pupils and teachers, the splendid interest in the school by the ccmx’nunity and many other items are deserving of special mention". Chesaning is fourteen miles from Cornnna and 13 miles from New Lothrop. The Flushing School SM Flushing, a village ten miles from New LothrOp is next to be considered. It has an assessed valuation of $1,506,000. The tax rate per thousand dollars on this valuation is $20.00. The school census for Flushing is 525 and the population for the school district is 2,300. There is no record of the cost of the estimated per capita. of education in the high school. Flushing has already been described as a suburb of Flint. This will seem a more plausible claim as the school situation is described. Flushing has very recently completed the construction of their present school building but it is already overcrowded. There were 46 non-resident pupils in 1881; 24 in 1891; 30 in 1901 but in 1911 the number of non-resident pupils had increased to 57; there was a drop in 1921 to 52, although by 1930 the number was almost doubled, that of 94. The following facts in Table 7"" in regard to the Flushing school situation are significant. 3‘10 ”Jo. Total Total enroll- indebt-V Total ex- Expenditure Year ment edness oenditure or u 11 m 22; non; ‘ , e e 1891 224 none 2,673.68 11.94 1991 162 none 3 , 302. 16 2O . 38 1911 170 $6,500 14,298.04 84.11 1921 328 2,794.48 22,493.31 68.56 1930 525 157,500.00 58,358.82 111.15 The school district has no record of indebtedness until 1911 and than the debt was $6,500; in 1921 the debt had diminished to $2,795.48 but in 1930 due to the added expense of building a new school it was $157,500. In 1881, the total expenditures for that year were $2,131.25; in 1891,. they were $2,673.68; $3,302.16 in 1911; and in 1921 the total expenditures were $14,298.04, and in 1930 they were $58,358.82 or four times as much. The inspector reports the Flushing High School as follows: "Crowded condition of school a serious situation. The use of temporary building under such circumstances permits relief of this condition. So long as it is necessary to use this building would suggest that both rooms be used so that classes may be taken out of the gymnasium. Then it will bd possible to use that room for its original purpose. The good gymnasium at Flushing should be put to better use. Adequate program of physical education should be provided. This requires more particularly supervised games and sports with perhaps certain gymnasium work in the hands of a trained physical director". It was his belief, however, that under the conditions the teachers are doing fine work and that upon the whole as good results as could be eXpeeted are being obtained. i-J .7 O The inspector's report is as follows: Estimate of school plant and equipment - good but crowded administration and supervision - very good progressiveness of teaching staff - good quality of instruction - fair to excellent school spirit - good community interest and support - good Flushing has nine high school teachers, four of them grad- 'uates of the University of Michigan. The teacher in agriculture, a Smith-Hughes teacher, is a Michigan.State College graduate. The other teachers.are graduates of small colleges in the state. Six of the nine teachers have degrees. This is not as good a situation.as is found in Chesaning with its eight degree teachers. Only one of the Chesaning teachers, however, is an University of Michigan graduate and as has been said before Chesaning does not have the Smith-Hughes agricultural work. Flushing has an excellent school equipment but they are under*a severe handicap in that it is so overcrowded. The Corunna School Sggtg! Corunna, the county seat of Shiawassee County, is 17 miles from New Lothrop, and has been described already in another chapter of this study. There is some proof that this small city is also undergoing disintegration in certain.respects. As an economic unit it is so close to the larger city of Owosso. Corunna is, however the legal center of the county. It has an excellent school as will.be borne out by the figures<3ited in the following table. Table ”i1. Statistical information in regard to the Corunna School System for the years 1881 to 1930 by Decades. Total Total - enroll- indebt- Total ex- Ex‘pendi ture Year ment edness penditure per pupil 1881 350 $18,500 $7,658.32 $21.88 1891 380 2,000 8,715.52 22.93 1901 284 500 7,810.93 27.50 1911 380 14,000 15,632.78 41.13 1921 520 14,500 28,094.60 54.02 1930 577 12,000 43,504.00 75.38 Corunna has the lowest tax rate of any of the school systems in the territory of our study with the exception of Lennon Which is a ten grade school. The per'capitai cost of education for the high school students is estimated to be $74.25.(2) In 1881, the number of non-resident pupils was 44; in 1891 it was less than half that number, that of 18; in 1901 it was again up to 43 non-resident pupils; in 1911 it had drOpped again to 26; in 1921 it was back to 46, two less than that of any of the previous years mentioned. In 1930 the number had increased to 61. Again in 1881, Corunna had an indebtedness of $13,500; in 1891, it was only $2,000 and in 1901 it had dropped to $500; in 1911 it had increased to $14,000. The total figure in 1930 was $12,000, a drop of $2,000 from the previous indebtedness. The sum of $7,658.32 was Spent in 1881; $8,715.52 in 1891; in 1901, the total expenditureS'were $15,632.78; in 1921 they were $28,094.60 and in 1930 they were $43,504.00. [2] Corunna accredited school report, October 15, 1930. *4 5') N There is no desire on the part of the school board for more non-resident pupils because the school.is now filled to capacity. There is a tendency for many of the non-resident pupils to be drawn to either Owosso or Flushing because of the fact that both towns have new schools. Corunna could use a new school building but due to Opposition in the town it will probably not have one for some time to come. The town now appears to be dominated by s conservative element. Fbr example, the school board wished to discontinue the athletics of the school because of the expense. Corunna has had two championship'basketball teams during.the past two years. It was even suggested that the coach give up his con- tract. The coach had.already agreed to a $200 reduction in salary. A lawyer in town, however, informed the board that the coach could hold it for the full amount of the salary stated in the contract if he wished. It costs the school.$600 a year to rent the Goss Community House in the city for their basketball games. It is hard to say Just what will happen. It is thought that the people will demand that the games be played because of their interest in them. The superintendent has been in the community for eleven years. He stated that if the school did not have the non-resident pupils they would be unable to enploy their present number of teachers. But more pupils from the outlying territory cannot be accommodated. There are teachers in commercial subjects, domestic science, and manual training. Only three of the seven teachers in Gorunna have degrees. The main forte of the Corunna superintendent is that of working with his personnel. He has had.good success in this field as the 'IC .564 following remarks of the inspector will indicate. I'I was very much pleased with the attitude of your teachers, the quality of their instruction and the way in which they handled their students. I believe that you are making progress with your teachers in developing the attitude of leading students out rather than to cram in school work. This is a problem in Which I am greatly interested'. The inspector says further that he believes the superintendent is in a good position to do this type of work. He has seen so much of it attempted by Iyoung unex- perienced people who do not have the background to know where they are at. It is an excellent thing, however, when people do it who have some experience'back of them. There is then no danger of its being overdone. His final comment was to the effect that 'your folks are making very sensible program in trying to apply'this child freedom attitude". The inspector's report is as:follows: Estimate of school plant and equipment - plant fair equipment poor in grades administration and supervision - good progressiveness of teaching staff - good quality of instruction - very good school spirit - very good community interest and support - no remark The Montrose School System Montrose, s small village 8 miles from New Lothrop is generally considered to be a ”good town". It has not been estab- lished.as long as the other towns in the locality. Montrose was not incorporated.as a village until 1899. Its development, however, 124 has been.rather steady and consistent. It owes its existence primarily to the railroad having been built thru the countryside. In 1901, there was no school in Montrose. The village high school can be considered in this study only for the past two decades. New Lothrop did not have a high school until 1919 it is remembered. In 1911, there were 129 children 5 to 19 years of age in the ‘Montrose school district. There were 130 pupils in the school at this time. In 1921 there‘were 142 children in the district accord- ing to the school census of that year but there were 205 children attending school. In 1921 according to the township report district number two in the Montrose township paid tuition and transporta- tion for 11 children for ten months. District number five paid tuition for 41 children:for ten.months. This information explains in part why there were so many children in the Montrose school. In 1930, the number of school children who were between five to 19 years was 195 and the number who attended school was 269 which would seem to indicate that a considerable number came from other school districts. In 1911 there were 25 non-resident pupils in the high school, in 1921, the number had increased to 63 and in 1930, the number had almost doubled to 101. The amount of in- debtedness and total expenditures will be shown in the following table. Table 131 Statistical information in regard to the Montrose School System for the years 1911 to 1930 by Decades. Total en- Total indebt- Total ex- Expenditure 2322. rollment edness penditure per pupil 1911 130' $4,200.00 ' $4,357.18 $53.51 1921 205 1,600.00 9,217.84 44.96 1930 869 43,000.00 20,597.45 76.57 125 The total indebtedness of the school district in 1911 was $4,200; . in 1921 it was $1,600 and in 1930 it was 43,000. 1 new schoolhouse had been built in 1925. In 1911, the total expenditures for that year were $4,357.18; in 1921, they were $9,217.84 and in 1930 they were $20,597.45. It is quite evident that Montrose has much in common with New Lothrop. Montrose has a school census of 217 in 1930 while New Lothrop had 87 for the same year. The population of Montrose's school district is 825 and that of New Lothrop is 320 for the same year. The assessed valuation of the Montrose school district is $327,285 or $88,405 more than that of New Lothrop. On this accord- ing to the 1930 figures there was a tax of $26.00 per thousand plus a mill tax. The school tax of New Lothrop was $18.83 for the same year. But New Lothrop has no new school. The New Lothrop school was built in 1915 and hence has no bonded indebtedness of any consequence. There are 630 books in the Montrose school library whereas in the New Lothrop school library there are 417 books. There is no public library in either town. New Lothrop charges $60.00 tuition for the non-resident pupil, Montrose $75.00. Montrose has one more high.school teacher than New Lothrop. The following table will indicate the institution from which each teacher has received his degree or from which he has graduated, the number of hours credit, the number of years in the community, the salary paid and the subjects taught by each. This for the year 1930 and 1931. Table 33: Statistical information concerning the Teachers in the Montrose School System, Institu- No.0f No.0f tion from No.of years years which grad- hours exper- in Hont- Subjects 1Positionr uated ‘fi' credit. ience rose fi_ Salary taughtnfiw Superin- Life 132 3 3 $1,800 History tendent Central Economies State Principal Life-B.S. 192 l 1 1,500 Physics Western Chemistry State Biology dathe- 170 3 0 1,500 Algebra matics Life Geometry Western Geography State Comuercial Law Langu- 192 2 2 1,250 English age Life-1.3. Latin Michigan State College The range of salaries for their teachers is about the same in ZMontrose as in New Lothrop. Montrose has no manual training or agriculture in their school curriculum. Montrose has always had an excellent Parent-Teacher Association. A survey of the account of their meetings in the weekly local newspaper will be ample proof of this statement. The inspector's report is also of value as a final Judgment of the Montrose school system. Estimate of school plant and equipment ~ administration and supervision - very-good good progressiveness of teaching staff - good quality of instruction - very good school spirit - very good community interest and support - very good The Vernon School System The Vernon school situation is of particular interest in this study because of attempts pecple in the district have made to have consolidation. Vernon, which is 12 miles from New Lothrop, like Montrose can be compared to New Lothrop. Corunna, Vernon and New Lothrop are towns which.are undergoing disintegration. The truth of this statement has no doubt become evidlnt to the reader. The analysis of the Vernon school situation will amplify and strengthen this conclusion. Consolidation in Vernon is considered to be entirely feasible. The superintendent who sponsored the plan for four years, with the result that the school board.failed to give him a contract the following year, said that a consolidated school was practical. He stated that a member of the Michigan Department of Public Instruction had the same Opinion. The superintendent believed there was a need for a new school building anyway. The assessed valuation of the school district was only $318,820 in 1930. If 13 school dis- tricts with.a total assessed valuation of $2,500,000 had been included the assessed valuation would be about $14.00 per thousand. The superintendent remarked.further that the farmers about Vernon differed from farmers in other sections in that they were more progressive. They were in farming because they looked upon it as a business. He was firmly convinced that an appeal could be made to them on the basis of what a consolidated school would mean to the farmer in a practical way. It would be a Smith-Hughes school. There would.also be a man in charge of a department where the boys would be instructed in motor repair work. The motors and tractors would be actually brought into thelaboratory from the farm and then be taken back when repaired. There would be a school pcpulation of 900 pupils, with about 200 in the high school. A school building costing $125,000 would be necessary. The superintendent felt that there was a number of people in Vernon who favored consolidation because it would mean a lower tax rate for them. His program as he outlined it was not to be a matter of a short time. He planned to educate the people thruout these 13 districts slowly as to their needs. He had sent the children in these school districts tickets to their games. Tsack meets, entertainments and other attractions were given for them. His plan was to work slowly and not to be content until the entire 13 school districts were a consolidated district. Under these conditions, the school area would extend far beyond the community's composite trade area which has been estimated to be 14 square miles. The superintendent himself remarked that the village was no longer a trading center. On a Saturday night there were but two cars parked on the streets, the one in front of the grocery store, that owned by the grocer and the one in front of the barber shep, that was owned by the barber. The composite area of Vernon is about 1/2 of the proposed 13 school districts. The following comments from a letter written by a teacher st Vernon who formerly taught at New Lothrop are significant. 'Our superintendent is a stirring, kindly one so far. We all like him very much. He seems very fair and considerate of your feelings and rights. They never began their addition to the schoolhouse until a day or two before school began. They have part of the building torn to pieces, plaster and dirt all around, and the men [.1 1'0 '0 pounding and banging away while we are teaching. Just think, one of the teachers told me the other day that the board had $4,000 laid away drawing interest. I suppose they have been trying to decide whether they would build a new schoolhouse or repair the old one. So they have decided to repair the old one, build a one story room on the back, then put another story on top of that next year, put in a new heating plant and fix it up for time to come". The Vernon High School building was built in 1899. Before that time there was no school in Vernon. The children went to the district schools according to the 1880 classification. There is a very real need for a new school in Vernon. The present building is overcrowded. There.are no sanitary toilets in the building. Something is being done to reltwe the situation and temporary additions to the old building have‘been built. Vernon is clearly at a loss as to what should be done next. The assessed valuation is $318,820 or $8,465 less than that of Montrose. Their tax rate is $28.23 on this amount where that of Montrose is $26 plus a mill tax. But Montrose has an adequate school building, well equipped and.giving efficient service. New Lothrop's assessed valuation is $238,880 or $79,940 less than that of Vernon. The tax rate of the New Lothrop school district number ten is $18.83 or $9.40 per thousand less than that of Vernon. New Lothrop also needs a new school. Whether their need is as great as that of Vernon is debateable. Vernon is now doing just enough necessary construction work to remain on the Michigan University accredited list. The following table will show what the total indebtedness and the total expenditure of the school has been for each decade. 'J ()3 O Table’iii. .Statistical information in.regard to the Vernon School System for the years 1901-1930 by decades. Total en- Total indebt- Total ex- Expenditure Year rollment edness v__, penditurefi' per pupil 1901 103 $3,000 $2,838.91 $26.57 1911 84 none 3,642.90 43.36 1921 121 none 8,780.50 72.56 1930 164 none 10,953.64 66.78 In 1901 there were 13 non-resident pupils; in 1911 there were 21; in 1921, the number had dropped to 12 and in 1930 there were still but 12 non-resident pupils. Vernon has no bonded indebtedness. This community seems to follow the policy of paying as you go. There was a bonded indebtedness of {3,000 in 1901. This was two years after the present school building had been built. In 1911 no indebtedness existed.and.nnne has been incurred. In 1921 $5,395.99 was raised by taxation for all purposes. This is $4,200.28 more than had been.raised thru the same means in 1911. In 1927, $6,500 was raised by taxation for school purposes on an assessed valuation of $245,720. In 1929, $11,000 was raised on the assessed valuation of $318,880. So although there has'been no indebtedness since 1901 the tax rate has remained consistently high and there is still the need for a new school. In 1901 the total expenditures for the sch001.were $2,838.91; in 1911 they were $2,642.90; in 1921, $8,780.50 and in 1930 they were $10,953.64. This is some index of the increase in funds which has been necessary. 131 It will be interesting to consider some further data in regard to these three schools, Montrose, Vernon and New Lothropl Montrose had the highest per cent of'absence for one year, 8 per cent. Vernon had 6.9 per'cent and New Lothrop 3 per cent. But New Lothrop had the highest per cent of tardiness, namely 12 per cent. Vernon had less than one per cent and Mbntrose had just 1 per cent. Both New Lothrop and Vernon had two graduates in college. The institutions which attract the majority of New Lothrop‘s students were the two State Normal Colleges, the one at Mount Pleasant and the one at Ypsilanti, and.Michigan State College. Vernon had Michigan State College and the university of Michigan as their choice. Montrose had four graduates at Business School and one in a technical school. 111 three schools are recorded as having graduates who do successful work when they are away at college. Vernon has 569 volumes in their library, Montrose 630 and New Lothrop 417. No one of the three villages has a public library. The per capita cost of education in the high school at Vernon is estimated to be $101; that of New Lothrop $104 and that onMontrose about $60. The information in.the following table is of value in this connection. The data if of February 12, 1930 and gives the certification of the teacher whether they have a life certificate, degree or a 2nd grade certificate, the number of hours credit, the number of year's experience, the number of years in the community, the salary paid.and the subjects taught. 132 Table iffl Statistical information concerning the Teachers in the Vernon School System. Position Institu- tion from No.01 No.0f No.0f which.grad- hours years yrs.in 'Su0jects uated credit exp. Vernon Salary taughtfi Superin- Life 128 9 2 $2,050 History tendent Central Mathmatics State Princi- Life 136 4 1 1,350 Mathmatics pal Central Science State Degree Life 252 z 0 1,550 English teacher Central Latin State Grammar 2nd 52 10 8 1,050 room grade Inter-. Life 96 19 4 1,200 mediate Primary Life 96 1 0 1,050 Vernon has one more teacher than New Lothrop, a teacher in the intermediate grades. The superintendent received 3250 more than either of the two superintendents of New Lothrop and Montrose. He recently received his A.B. degree from the Central State Normal College at Mount Pleasant. The former superintendent is now working for his master's degree at the University of Michigan. The inspector's report is of value as a final judgment of the school system of Vernon. Estimate of school plant and equipment - poor administration and supervision - good progressiveness of teaching staff - fair quality of instruction - good school spirit good community interest and support divided The Lennon School System Lennon is a small town in the Venice township, 11 miles to 133 the south of New Lothrop. Its relative position to the other towns of this study has been described in a previous chapter. Its value, however, at this point is to show how Lennon's school situation is like or unlike that in New Lothrop. Both villages are unincorporated. They are both of'about the same size. Lennon has an estimated pcpulation of 265 pecple. According to an actual count, New Lothrop has 272 people. Lennon, however, is on a main trunk highway and on the railroad between the towns of Durand and Flushing. New Lothrop on the other hand, is not an a railroad.or trunk highway, but it is well off even main traveled.raods. There is a certain isolation as a result. A significant fact is that New Lothr0p has a 12 grade school; Lennon a ten grade school. The tollowing table will give some indication of its actual size. Tablsjifii Statistical information in.regard to the Lennon School System for the years 1911-1930 by decades. Total en- Total in- ' Total ex- Expenditure Year rollment debtedness penditurefi per pupil 1911 73 none $1,762.01 $24.13 1921 137 @300 5,234.16 38.20 1930 105 non3 8,330.60 79.33 In 1911, there were 20 non-resident pupils, in 1921 there were 58 and in 1930 there were 8. In 1927 there were only 6 non-resident pupils. The average numberof pupils per full time teacher during the year of 1927 was given as 29. The assessed valuation was higher during that year than the present, $318,965 in 1927 as against $267,665 in 1930. $4,000 was raised on this evaluation. The tuition rate for the high school was $40 and the per capita cost of education was estimated to be $100 in 1927. In 1930-31 there was a total enrollment of 91 pupils, 58 in the first six grades, 33 in the four higher grades, 8 in the seventh; 13 in the eighth; 11 in the ninth, and one in the tenth. There are 3 non-resident pupils in the high school. The approximate number of books in the school library was 750. The present building*was constructed in 1912. It is re- ported not to be croweded. There are inside toilets, drinking fonnisinsg, and adequate school furniture. No vocational work is offered. The final comment of the inapector is to the effect that the building "is clean at all times". The inspector felt that one room appeared to be overcrowded. He questioned whether a single teacher could teach 40 or 50 pupils in lower grades under the conditions and do it successfully. It was recommended that they have two teachers for the lower grades. Facts about the teachers in the Lennon school will be shown in the following table. Table,Xii.Statistica1 information concerning the teachers in the Lennon School System. No.0f Position Institution No.of No.of No.of pupils from which hours years yrs.in Grades per graduated credit 952' Lennon Salary taught teacher Superin- Life 132 1 1 $1,500 7 - 10 33 tendent MeSeNeCe Grammar A.B. 196 3 1/2 1 1,100 3 - 6 40 M.S.N.G. Primary 2nd grade 56 5 3 1,100 kinder- 18 C.S.N.C. garten to 3 Lennon estimates the cost per capita for educating a pupil in their school to be the same as Montrose, an estimate of $60. But Vernon and New Lothrop maintain a higher per capita cost, Vernon estimating the cost at $101, New Lothrop at $104. The three villages, Vernon, Lennon and New LothrOp have no indebtedness. Consolidation or the Township Unit Plan A discussion of consolidation or the township plan will be taken up next. To many this would seem to be a logical solution of the problem at New Lothrop but the various aspects of the situation must have become apparent as the situation has been described. For instance both Montrose to the northeast and Lennon to the southeast have at times been able to draw certain districts to their school where tuition and transponation were paid.for their pupils for a period of ten months. The natural question which comes to one's mind is why has New Lothrop never had a like experience? It will be remembered that before 1893 there was no district school number ten. The c . . _ a . . - I ' C . ‘ “ g t ; ‘- - - . - e r- ‘_4 - J { ' . — ' ' I- w ' k _ - ~ - ' - » ' ’ J o ‘ - ‘ r ‘ . h - i - I V ' I . . _ _ _ . \ r' e e u - ‘ or . IV D _ . r . . , . ‘4 - ‘ ‘ a‘ _ _ _ _ _ i _ \ fi " ' O ' v . ‘ .1 - - V ’4 w! '0 Age Birthplace Years in Commnity Yrchhooling Occupation 64 How Lothrop 64; lo farmer 52 " 52 8 " 51 " 51 13 " 4'! Pickford, Iiich. 6 5 merchant 43 Holly, mchigan 16 9.5 farmer 43 New Lothrop 43 '7 " 42 " 42 8 " 32 " 32 12.6 funeral dir. 24 " 19 1/ 2 12.5 farmer The ages of the .9 leaders range between 24 and 64 years, the average being 44 1/3 years. Seven of the leaders were born within the community, the remaining two were born outside of the com- munity and the county but within the state. Dix of the leaders have lived in the community all their lives, one over 2/3rds of his life, another about 1/5 and the last about l/Bth of his life. All the leaders own their own farms and homes except the youngest leader who still lives at his parent's home. Seven of the leaders are farmers, one a merchant and the other a funeral director. In regard to education one has had 13 years in school which is the highest among the leaders. This leader had normal school work and he has taught in the community's district schools for 21 years. The he youngest leaders have had 12,6 years each. The leader with the lowest number of years of schooling was Just starting in the 5th grade when he was obliged to leave school. His father died when he was 2 years old and he has been working since his 12th year. He had to work out the necessary arithmetical processes having to do nudes business himsuf. Two leaders have bed can»: courses in Business Colleges of six months each. All the leaders have lived in the community long enough to have become well established. The leader who has been in New Lothrop but six years, had a brother who was the Methodist Epis- —— ___-~‘ 7““..— r-r—._— .o—g -‘aWa—Q .-.__ ._. < ._. ._~._——~—__.‘ e v. a .. t , \ D. u a . v e , \ - . -. \ . , a , . ~-. . _ u , - . . i a .—-—.—.4.‘-- \ . 1 ' V y. . I I ,. . w , . , . . ' s. . - I . v . \ e v i - ’\‘ v , a- _ . - e ' - .— w I a ‘ ‘o \ , e 180 cepal minister there for two years befdrc he himself came. The leader who had been in the community 16 years, returned to the heme of'hrs father's family which was ohe of the pic- neer families in the community. One family came directly from England, one from Germany by way of new York State. Another family came from New Iorh:8tate. Two families came from Ire- land and One from Canada. The others are Michigan families. It is of’advantage to know the number of children in the family of the leader's parents as well as the number of children in the leader's own family. The number of children is some index of the number of contacts that are made within the community. The children of the leader are quite apt to be leaders themselves in the groups to which they belong. The result is an increased interest in the community on the part of the entire family. They feel themselves to be very much a part of the community life as a consequence. Leader no. of children H0. in Leader's Special responsi— in parent's famp family bilities assumed ilies in parent's home. 1st 5 6 normal and 9 4 yes 3rd 3 3 normal 4th 2 1 yes 5th 3 2 normal 6th 3 5 " 7th 5 2 s 8th 1 2 " 9th 5 not married " The average number of children in the homes of the parents of thn leaders was 3.9; that in the homes of the leaders themselves 4.0. It was not possible to count the 9th leader because he is not married. There were only two leaders who were obliged to as- sume special responsibilities in the homes of their parents. Many of the leaders became conscious of their leadership ability within the community in their earlier years. For in- stance four of the leaders said that they had learned to ex- press themselves thscugh the activities of the school of which they were a member. Loader he. 2 earned many prizes in rural school. He learned to debate there under the direction of an outstanding teacher. Leader Ho. 6 earned many prizes in school. He participated in school plays and in many debates in the same way. Leader he. 8 earned a $15.00 second price by writing an essay for the Lincoln Insurance Compgny. He took part in two high school and also two community plays. This leader was also captain of bsth the baseball and basketball teams in the local high school when he was a student. Leader No. 9 wen a school price for an essay and took part in local high school plays. He played on cup winning teams in both of bhsketbadltand baseball. He had some experinoe in debating there for one year and also some at the business college he attended. He was also a member of a debating class in a small city. One leader spoke of himself as an enthusiastic baseball fan. He had always played the game and still enjoyed seeing a real game at Detroit. Four other leaders mentioned their interest in baseball. Three of the leaders were not conscious of any particular leadership development. One was the member of a prominent family in the community and became a leader in the township government. Another develOped his leadership ability through the organisati on of the church and its auxillary organizations. The third was what is pcpularly known as a 'good fellow'. He was thought of as 'wild' during the early years of his life but has now settled down as a 181°, consistently reliable and conscientious citizen. It is essential according to the concept of leadership to know the organizations that the leaders belong to at the time, or offices that they have held in the past in the organisations to which they belong. It is remembered that it was thought that a leader must be an active participant in at least three organi- zations. 0f the nine leaders chosen by the people within the community, three have been supervisors for periods of years vary- ing from one to eight years. Only two of the nine leaders are masons, the oldest leader and the next to the youngest, the oldest being the uncle of the next to the youngest's wife. Four of the nine leaders belong to the Venice-Hazelton Farmer's Club. Only two of the leaders are now members of the Farm Bureau, one silling Farm.Bureau Insurance, the other stating that he had paid $30.00 into the organization and figures that he has received it back although many other farmers who Joined do not think so. Seven of the nine leaders are members of churches and attend regularly. The seven leaders, however, attend five different churches. The political organization is apparently the only one in which all the leaders have something in common. Leader No. l is a political leader. He was a very pcpular supervisor. He explains it by saying that he gave the farmers what they were paying for. He is also the director of a bank and a past commander of the masonic Lodge. Leader Ho. 8 is now on the Board of Review. He is a member of the Catholic Church at maple Grove. He has lived in the community all his life but he says that he has never has much in nommon with the peOple in the township. His activities on the Board of Hetiew have given him contacts which he values. He is coming to know them in a way that he has never known them before. This leader is also a director of the bank in yew Lothrop and of the Flushing Oil and Gas Company Which has a gas station in New LothrOp. Leader Ho. 3 taught in the community for 21 years. He is considered a very good speaker. He is a member and past president of the Venice-Hazelton Fara mer's Club. He also sells Farm Bureau Automobile Insurance. He is one of‘the very few men in the township who is a member of the Grange. Leader No. 4 is a church member and influential leader and.is also on the school board of the Dew Lothrop school district. He is a former president of the P. T. A. in New Loth- rop. His interest in community enterprises has been commented upon. Leader No. 5 was supervisor fro three years. It is stated rather universallyrthat he could not get the office again because he was against allowing the streets of New LothrOp to be electri- cally lighted at township expense. He believed that it should have been put up to a vote of the township. Because of this he lost the New Lothrop vote, it is said. Leader Ho. 6 is at present a Justice of the Peace in the township and has considerable influ- ence. He has two boys in the new Lothrop High School. He is a member of the P. T. A. He is also a member of'the Farmers Club. His ability to make friends with everyone is looked upon as his chief asset. Leader Ho. 7 is the Irish democratic leader. He was township supervisor for one year. He expects to run again this spring on a citizens ticket. He has the Irish lettlemant behind him to a man. He is fiery influential in his churahaat Flushing. He is at present president of the Holy flame society in the Flushing parish. Leader no. 8 is the modern type of leader in the sense that he realizes the value of making contacts with as many people as possible both within the community and outside it. He is a capable speaker and likes to recite at local gath- cringe at which he is in constant demand. The youngest leader is of the same type. He has learned to speak and.has been very highly'praised because of his work with the 4H Club. Leader Ho. 3, the former school teacher is the only leader who reads extensively. 312902 the seven farmers Who are leaders take the Michigan Farmer. All the leaders take the Owossoeirgus. One leader receives the Flint Daily Journal. One leader said that 'talks by famr and business leaders, study of books and papers related to our various activities' are most helpful to him in his leadership activities. The present lack of community consciousness in the New LothrOp Community can hardly be said to be due to the lack of leadership in the community. The leaders are there and they have a knowledge of the social situation in Which the majority of them have lived all their lives. But it 15 evident that they have not as yet come to the realization of what is needed in the community. It is possible for the community to be stimulated by certain forces and organizations outside the community but the people in the community are the only ones who can settle their own problem.satisfactonily. The response to their need.aan come only through their own recognized leaders. The leaders of the community have been shown to be largely rural. This is not surprising as has been said in view of the fact that the pcpulation of the community is predominately rural, There are only 272 of the 1320 people in the community who live 185 in Bew LothrOp. If the pcpulation of the school area is consid— ered, that of’approximately’tffio/persons, the tributary area of the community is seen to far surpass that of'the village center. This seems to complicate the matter. The only hOpe for the community would seem to be among those leaders who develOp either in the high school at the village center or in the growing members of the Farmers Club, the young penpieowho have interested theme selves in the in Club or the Canning Club. The present leaders)althoughothay belong to several organi~ cationsayet there is no gggrtzmggfigizfi'which.all the leaders have something in common. The result of this lack of common interests is a greater’lack of a needed co-crdinaticn of their efforts if the best welfare of the community is to be attained. These leader Should be able to have round table discussions at which all the problems of the community might be considered. This would enable the leaders to assume their true role in the life and Interests of the community; namely that of creating community consciousness among the people in the community. The leaders once they caught the vision would lead in discussion groups among an ever increase ing number of citizens, both town and country. This discussion of community problems and concerted efforts to solve such problems would go a long way to develOp the needed community consciousness. a4 186 Chapter II. Summary and Conclusions. When New Lothr0p was sbttled, the objective of the farmer was primarily that of owning a farm. The fact that the farm was remote from a trade center was not in itself considered to be a very great handicap. The farmer was contented with his neighborhood associations whihh provided the bulk of his social contacts. in occasional trip to a trading center enabled him to sell a load of produce and th bring back the actual necessi- ties of his daily life. But with the passing of a few decades, the farmer has begun to realize that he is living in a new era. now he is existing in an age of buying and selling and facility in bargaining is a very definite asset to the farmer. Modern inventions have made it necessary for him to keep pace with other farmers if he is th»buy and sell effeciently. Taxes of farmers have increased because it is necessary for them to have good roads, modern schools and other services of govern— ment which are essentila in modern life. This condition of affairs not only affects the farmer but also the townsman. many town residents subsist by providing farmers with the things they need for their own subsistence and the Operation of their farms. Consequently both farmer and townsman must come to realise that they are a part of a town- country community. The farmer and the townsman need to become community conscious. They are parts of a certain ecolOgical unit from which they cannot escape. New LothrOp is on the borderline between a neighborhood Q ~._. -a ...__,.__‘ k4 —<_-—_—-----»._-H___‘_. __ o - r .- i ‘ . . . ' ‘ . o - , .. ' f r, J A . ~ ’\ “ A - . ' ¥ ‘ . '— " O r - _ . _ I—.. r . c 4' - u . . .- _' I e V 'V . I o ¥ I v \ _ . 7 I . - ‘ O . o 187 and a community but it is necessary for them to co-oPerate more effectively if they are to maintain a community status. There are two distinct boundries to the community area, the one a composite economic area of 32 square miles, comprised of the banking, marketing and the various retail agendies, the other the school area which extends beyond the economic area and comprises an area of 58 square miles. The population of the economic area, both town and country, is 1,320 and that of the school area is 2,122 persons. There is one active neighborhood which can be considered entirely within the community, that of Juddville. The other two are only partly within the community, Layton Corners and Brent Creek, although they were formerly a part/they can no longer be considered in this relationship. The English and Irish Settlements once had an important place in the New Lothrdp Community but their former influence has waned. There is one aspect of New LothrOp as a village center which is altOgether favorable in the fact that it does serve co a¢°’ively a large rural economic and school area even though the rural pcpulation far exceeds that of the town. There are no towns or villages so close to New LothrOp that they present comunity develOpment. The number of retail stores in New Lothrop is adequate. The area is not large enough to support more than the one chain store, the general cash store and the general credit ctore, the bank, the hardware store and the drug store. The restaurant has an uncertain status in the community, not from the standpoint of service and cffeciency but from the actual trade which it is able to secure within the area. The ease with which pecple can 186 travel to surrounding and larger economic centers is an impor- tant influence which the merchants of New LothrOp recognize. But as yet the merchants have not worked out a method which will secure them a satisfactory and sufficiently stable trade. The marketing agencies of the area are adequate prehaps, but they are operated by private individuals or firms, 00-0p erativos marketing has not develOped. The Farm Bureau and the Agricultural Extension workers have never been able to convince the farm leaders of the community that cooperative activity would be a factor in unifying the community and enablying the farmer to market more successfully. The members of the Venice- Hazelton Farmers' Club, however, have come to a realization of their needs through a discussion of their problems. They now favor the Farm Bureau and agricultureal extension work. There are 9 rural school in Hazelton township as well as two other school districts outside the township which belong in the school area of the community. The possibilities of either having a consolidated school at New LothrOp or of having a township unit school system are not very great. Consolidation has been agitated ever since New LothrOp first had a district school in 1895 but unity of action is not possible since the community sentiment is not well develOped. Consequently many pupils from outside the New LothrOp district attend the New LothrOp school. They attend the New LothrOp High School. A well balanced curriculum, athletic teams and the numerous social groups within the school are maintained by the school. The superintendent considered the Parent-Teacher Association a necessary factor in making these advantages possible. .1 189 The New LothrOp schohl district is small. Consequently its assessed valuation is low. There are 47 non—resident pupils attending the high school this year, the tuition is $50.00 which is paid by the district from which the pupils come. The attendance of these pupils has meant that New Lothrop has been able to have an accredited school. There are 60 village children in the school. It would have been impossible to have had the present instruction for these children if it were not for the income realized from the tuition pupils. Since the schoolhouse burned on march 82, 1932, school is being held at the present in temporary quarters at an old hotel in the village. There are now two factions in New LothrOp in regard to their school problem, one facoring the return to an eighth grade district school, the other a new high school at a conservative cost, well adapted to their needs. The churches have develOped several diverse interest groups. They tend to be really national groups in character. There is one strong church in New Lothrop, the other three are relatively weak. Three catholic churches outside the community draw a large number of pecple from outside the com- munity area. There is a feeling on the.part of a few that one strong protestant church in the community at New LothrOp would do more to develOp the community than the present number with few members. But there are three protestant church groups who are not convinced that this measure is necessary. As yet the leaders have not been able to agree on any plan of improvement. 190 A program of consolidation of the protestant churches if carried to its culmination woulddefinitely establish New LothrOp as a community center. Of the two lodges in New LothrOp one is strong from the standpoint of membership, the other weak. But the members of the stronger one have never been able to work together long enough to build their own building. However it is an asset socially to belong to this fraternal group. The weaker organs ization has a lodge hall but the membership is decreasing. The records do not disclose any constructive activities on the part of the lodges. There are also some infdrmal groups in the comp munity which ppevid social contacts for the members. Several organizations to benefit the community have been pro~ posed but they have not been successful. The Chamber of Comp ’ merce was not able to function satisfactorily on measures which would improve the community. The leaders of the movement were swayed by their separate and individual interests. They did not see their cannon needssand the absolute necessity of working out means to secure their fulfillment. The leaders have not realized the dire necessity of cutting across special interest groups and centering their efforts on the best interests of the commun- ity. For similiar reasons a Community House, Boy Scout Organi- zation and a project to provide a recreation field for the com~ munity have failed. The hepe is new that all these aspirations may be realized in a new schoolhouse. New LothroP is now dnvar; real critical 6“ stage of its growth. Everything seems to hinge on the school situation. The community has leaders. It may be that the burning of the local school building will draw the.whole area to the conception of their needs in such a way 191 as to deve10p a real community at New Lothrop. It must be said that as yet the leaders have not realized fully this possi~ bility. The government of New LothrOp Community is that of the Hazelton township. The community itself extends across the lines of the township into two others. This has made the maintainance of law and order rather difficult in the New LothrOp Community and has tended to retard legal support of Community Organizations New LothrOp as a village center has no newspaper of its own but depends upon the newspapers of surrounding community centers. As a result the leaders of the community are unable to influence public Opinion in behalf of civic needs and enterprises. There is but thu one physician in the community, an old man, who is inclined to charge exorbitant prices without giving satisfactory service. The community should be able to support an effecient physician. The township has shared with other township in the county in promoting the Nemerial Hospital at Owosso which ser- ves the entire area. There are leaders, boflmtown and country, although the rural leaders predominate partly because the rural pcpulation far ex— ceeds that of the villagpepehtersnOf the 10 community leaders, seven of them are farmers. 0f the town leaders, one is a funeral director, one a merchant and the third, the village post-master. . These leaders are members of many diverse groups within the community such as church, lodge, Farmersglub, Parent-Teacher lssociation, school board and special interest grpups. There is no one group to which the majority belong and in which they have common interests. The effect of this lack of sufficient inter~ he action is to retard community develOpment. There can beApo- 192 ordination among the leaders until they become members of a common group and discuss their community problems freely. The hepe of the community would seem to be in the graduates of the local high school and in the increasing membership of the 411 Club and Canning Clubs which are being sponsored by the Veniceefiazelton Farmer's Club. BibliOgraphy. Lynd R. S. and H. H. Brunner Edmund De 8. Pettit W. T. Fry C o Luther Steiner Melvin Bruce L. Kensler Gladys H. hmlvin Bruce L. ‘Hiddletown. 1929.Hareourt, Brace and Co. Village Communities. 1927. Case Studies in Community Organization. 1928. The Century Co. American Villages. 1926. Doran Company. American Communities in Action. 1928. Henry Holt and Co. SociolOgy of a Village and the Surrounding Territory. 1950. Cornell Univ. Agri. Exp. Station. Tartial SociolOgical Stusy eleryden, n.r. 1929. Cornell Univ. Agrim. Exp Station. It would hardly be possible to list all the readings made in the course of this study. It was thought best to restrict the Biblio- graphy to definite case studies of community life. 8389fihflfit3 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 3 1193 03013 0727