Without a little prep work and routine maintenance, winter weather can wreak havoc on your home. Following a few simple steps can help you avoid frozen pipes, drafty rooms and slippery sidewalks.

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It was 100 years ago this month that the fledgling new Albion Chamber of Commerce embarked on a community-wide organizational membership campaign. Discussions about organizing a Chamber of Commerce occurred in November, 1923, and an executive committee was formed on November 19 to recruit members.

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We continue with our theme of “Albion, 100 Years Ago.” December 1, 1923: “Eckford, November 28. On Monday of this week while George Earl of West Eckford was feeding a corn husking machine, he reached in too far and his left hand was caught in the snapping rolls. Before the machine could be stopped the hand and wrist were crushed. He was rushed to Marshall where the arm was amputated.

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With “Albion Aglow” coming up this Friday, December 1, I’m reminded that Albion used to have some rather large Christmas parades during the 1950s, when our population burgeoned to nearly 13,000 persons.

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A happy Thanksgiving to all my readers of this column. With the recent announcement that Albion College is transferring the Washington Gardner High School building at 401 E. Michigan Avenue to the non-profit Zero Day organization for transformation into senior living apartments and other things, we were heartened to learn that they will retain the Washington Gardner name for this facility.

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From 1911 to 1970 in the United States, one of the ways to save money was to purchase Postal Savings Stamps. Stamps were sold at local post offices in denominations of 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 or $5. They were affixed to cards of a same denomination, and then turned in for deposit at the Post Office. Deposits earned 2% annual interest.

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We continue with our theme of “Albion, 100 Years Ago.” November 1, 1923. “A number of local people witnessed the burning of a cross which was fastened 10 feet in the air above the steel truss on the cemetery bridge last evening at midnight. The cross was made of wood, being about 4 feet across and saturated with kerosene.

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It was on July 4, 1939 that Charles “Pete” and Ruth Peterson opened their Root Beer stand at 315 Austin Avenue. It was a simple camp office-like structure designed to attract thirsty travelers along the busy U.S-12 route through Albion.

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Read any good books lately? This year (2023) has been one of celebration at nearby Spring Arbor University, which is commemorating its 150th anniversary

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Have you ever wondered how Albion’s addresses were originally numbered and laid out? Before 1889, our address numbers started with a “1” or “2” at the Cass/Superior intersection, depending upon which side of the street you lived on.

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We continue with our theme of “Albion, 100 Years Ago.” October 2, 1923: “City Considering Water Meters. At last evening’s regular session of the City Council

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I sometimes get calls from people wanting to know the history of their house. You can go to old city directories and look up your address in the street directory portion to find out who was living there in a particular year. If your address number doesn’t appear, it probably means your house wasn’t built yet.

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