Sylvester, MI.jpg
27 October 2007; with umbrella in hand, I am on the verge of entering the metropolis of Sylvester, Michigan.
Sylvester was first inhabited approximately in 1860. It got its start as a lumber mill on Sylvester Creek. Sylvester Creek was originally called Silver Creek, this is how the town was creatively named Sylvester.
By 1870, Sylvester boasted a population of 70 residents. It was claim to two general stores, three saw mills, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, and a boot and shoe store. Sylvester even had their own doctor, Andrew Farrar. Farrar moved to Millbrook in 1855, ran a store in Sylvester, had 40 acres north of town and served the entire Millbrook, Mecosta and Sylvester villages as a family doctor for more than 50 years. In 1877 a hotel was built during its peak population of about 100. The steam mill boiler exploded in 1900, killed two men, and was not rebuilt. Thus, the end of the lumber business was upon Sylvester.
This village maintained a post office from 1872 to 1904. Sylvester also supported a school from 1883 to 1943.
A series of grocers set up shop over the first century of the town's existence. The last one owned by William Yurisko, saw his establishment burn to the ground on New Year's Eve 1957. The Grand Rapids Herald ran a photo of the burning store next to an article titled: "Last Store Burns: Mecosta County Town of Sylvester Becomes History".
Agriculture is Sylvester's primary industry today.
Sylvester, MI.jpg
27 October 2007; with umbrella in hand, I am on the verge of entering the metropolis of Sylvester, Michigan.
Sylvester was first inhabited approximately in 1860. It got its start as a lumber mill on Sylvester Creek. Sylvester Creek was originally called Silver Creek, this is how the town was creatively named Sylvester.
By 1870, Sylvester boasted a population of 70 residents. It was claim to two general stores, three saw mills, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, and a boot and shoe store. Sylvester even had their own doctor, Andrew Farrar. Farrar moved to Millbrook in 1855, ran a store in Sylvester, had 40 acres north of town and served the entire Millbrook, Mecosta and Sylvester villages as a family doctor for more than 50 years. In 1877 a hotel was built during its peak population of about 100. The steam mill boiler exploded in 1900, killed two men, and was not rebuilt. Thus, the end of the lumber business was upon Sylvester.
This village maintained a post office from 1872 to 1904. Sylvester also supported a school from 1883 to 1943.
A series of grocers set up shop over the first century of the town's existence. The last one owned by William Yurisko, saw his establishment burn to the ground on New Year's Eve 1957. The Grand Rapids Herald ran a photo of the burning store next to an article titled: "Last Store Burns: Mecosta County Town of Sylvester Becomes History".
Agriculture is Sylvester's primary industry today.