September 19, 2025
Re: Summer/Fall 2025 Update
Dear Historical Society Members & Supporters:
We greatly appreciate your support of the Lyons-Muir Historical Society (LMHS) and Historical Museum. As summer ends and fall begins, we wanted to provide this update on recent and planned activities, as well as some other items of interest.
Museum Happenings:
- LMHS on the Internet – LMHS member Vanessa Mitchner continues to maintain and post updates to the Lyons-Muir Historical Museum’s website and Facebook page. Please visit those sites for the most current information and to share your input!
- Museum Summer “Open Hours” – The Museum was “open” from 1-4 p.m. on the 2nd Sunday of each month (June/July/August) this past summer, with quite a few visitors stopping by to view items from the area’s past. The Museum is also “open” to the public at other times by appointment (Ph. 989/855-2921 or 989/855-2472).
- Lyons Township District Library Connection – District Library staff again scheduled visits this past summer for area school kids and others to tour the Museum, with LMHS members providing information about the many Museum artifacts.
- Weaving Classes – These classes, using old Museum looms and taught by Suzanne Carpenter of Comstock Park, are open to members and others (free/no charge) most Thursdays during the fall, winter and spring (Ph. 517/230-7730 if interested).
- Ionia Free Fair (IFF) Display – The LMHS again participated in the IFF this year, with LMHS member Cindy Billips setting up an antique “Halloween” display at the “Antique Village” in the Floral Building. A photo of the display is included below.
- Tri-River Historical Museum Network – The TRHMN is a consortium of 30+ small museums across several counties in West Michigan (connected by the Grand, Flat and Thornapple rivers), which shares information with each other and helps promote the history of the communities. The LMHS has been an active member of the TRHMN for many years, but (like several other small rural museums) the LMHS recently opted to change to an “inactive status” due to a declining number of members able to continue participation in TRHMN activities.
Artifacts & Other Old Stuff:
Various historical artifacts are regularly donated to the Museum or are brought in by LMHS members to monthly meetings for “Show & Tell”. Recent items included a doll fashion book and dress that Carol Ludwick’s mother had made, an old “Budweiser” replica toy race car, a number of old photos of area families, and an 1800’s metal ice water urn and mug.
Information from the Past – Native American History of Lyons and Muir Area
Prior to white settlers arriving in the 1830s, the Grand River Valley in Lyons and Muir provided fertile land and ample hunting, fishing, and gathering opportunities for its native settlers. In that time, the land was heavily wooded and game, including white tail deer and wild turkeys, were plentiful. The recorded history of this time is scant, but records indicate that members of the Ottawa tribe were established in the area as early as 1707.
The area’s native populations were believed to be the remnants of tribes who were part of the Northwest Territory, and consisted of Ottawas, Chippewas, and possibly Pottawatomies. There were several small villages located along the Grand and Maple rivers.
The region’s early white settlers found trade with its native inhabitants to be lucrative prior to the establishment of villages. One such early area trader, William Hunt, created a trading post along the Grand River, and brought along his wife, who later birthed a child, in what is now considered to be the village of Lyons. Hunt traded commodities such as guns and whiskey to the native peoples in exchange for furs and other items.
Native Americans who lived in the area relied on farming, hunting, fishing and gathering to sustain themselves and their communities. While men took on hunting and fishing responsibilities, women worked close to home – caring for the young, planting and harvesting crops, maintaining fires, and gathering nuts and fruits growing in the wild. While at work, women carried their babies with them by strapping them into a tickenagun. One of the most important local critters was the beaver, who were hunted for their meat and fur (used for trade and in the making of garments and blankets).
The Lyons-Muir Historical Museum features a collection of arrowheads found throughout the area by local explorers, which are reminders of the region’s early Native American settlements. Images and a newspaper article detailing local excavations are included in the display, as well as traditional clothing and artifacts. The native settlers’ clothing was made using animal skins and pelts, and varied in style based on the season. Their clothes were adorned with beads and shells and featured embroidery done with porcupine quills. While the Museum’s summer open hours are now concluded, you may request an appointment at other times (see contact numbers) to view the displays and other Museum information.
LMHS Membership Status:
The LMHS currently has twenty-five (25) members and is very financially stable but, due to aging and health issues, there are only a handful of active members remaining in the area and that number continues to decline. This is a problem which appears to be common to many such social and voluntary community service organizations, as younger folks seem less inclined to join and actively participate in them nowadays. Because of the declining number of active members and recruitment efforts that haven’t had much success, we have had to prioritize, downsize and discontinue some activities. Your understanding and continuing support is greatly appreciated.
LMHS 2025-2026 Membership Dues Renewal:
September is the traditional start of the LMHS’ new year, with annual membership dues requested ($10 per individual or $15 per family). If not already paid, please take a moment to send in your membership dues for the upcoming year, made payable to the Lyons-Muir Historical Society and mailed to:
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
509 W. Bridge St.
Lyons, MI 48851
Election of LMHS 2025-2026 Officers & Directors
The following officers and directors were elected at the September 8, 2025 membership meeting:
- President – Judy Rich
- Vice President – Sue Houserman
- Secretary – Cindy Billips
- Treasurer – Jon Houserman
- General Directors – Carol Ludwick, Jerry Rich
LMHS Upcoming Events:
- Regular Monthly Meetings – 7:00 p.m., on the 2nd Monday of each month (March thru December), at the Museum.
- Christmas Bazaar & Open House – Friday, December 5, 9 am to 4:30 pm, at the Museum.
Again, many thanks for your past and continued support of the Lyons-Muir Historical Society and Historical Museum. Please feel free to share this information with family and friends, as well as encourage them to also become LMHS members to help preserve and continue the history of this beautiful mid-Michigan area.
Best Regards,
| Judy Rich, President Lyons-Muir Historical Society Ph. (989) 855-2472 | Sue Houserman, Vice President Lyons-Muir Historical Society Ph. (517) 230-7730 |
April 16, 2025
Re: Spring 2025 Update
Dear Historical Society Members & Supporters:
We greatly appreciate your past and continued support for the Lyons-Muir Historical Society. Your past and continued support is greatly appreciated. Spring is upon us and we’re looking forward to another year of LMHS activities.
Museum Happenings
- “Spring into the Past” – The Tri-River Historical Museums Network (of which the LMHS is a member) is again sponsoring this event (May 3-4, Sat. 11-5 & Sun. 1-5), which will involve “open houses” at half of the museums (northern tier) in the network. The theme will be “Tracing Our Roots – Roads, Rivers, Rails and Trails”. LMHS, in the southern tier of network museums, will not be having an open house this year for that Tri-River event, but please contact us if you are interested in the theme and might wish to visit any other Tri-River museum locations having open houses.
- LMHS Website & Facebook Page – LMHS member Vanessa Mitchner continues to maintain and post information on the LMHS Website and Facebook page. Please check them out if you get an opportunity to do so!
- Museum Summer “Open” Hours – The Museum (309 E. Bridge St., Lyons, MI) will again be “open” from 1-4 p.m. on the 2nd Sunday of each month this summer (June/July/August). In addition, the Museum continues to be “open” by appointment at other times during the year (Ph. 989/230-7730 or 989/855-2472).
- Lyons Township District Library Connection – LMHS member and Lyons Township District Library Director Mattie Cook-Hildebrandt is helping develop this Spring Update Newsletter, researching and authoring the “Information from the Past” article about area schools. In addition, we hope to continue the collaborative relationship with the Library this year, giving area kids an opportunity to tour the LMHS Historical Museum this summer. In addition, Mattie will be working with us this spring/summer on a project for digitizing local history collections for a digital archive.
- LMHS 2025 Fundraising Events – We will again be participating in the Lyons Farm Markets (2nd & 4th Thursday afternoons each month from May through October), continuing to maintain a vendor booth at the Ionia Riverbank Treasures shop, and will be doing a Christmas Bazaar at the museum in December.
- Weaving Classes – These classes, using antique LMHS museum looms and taught by Suzanne Carpenter of Comstock Park, are on-going and open to members and others (free/no charge) most Thursdays during the year (Ph. 517/230-7730 if interested).
- Ionia Free Fair (IFF) Display – The 2025 IFF is scheduled for July 10-19 and the LMHS again expects to participate in the “Antique Village” displays area of the Floral Building. Please plan to attend the Fair and visit the Antique Village!
Historical Artifacts & Other Old Stuff
As always, “artifacts & other old stuff” continue to have a way of showing up at the Museum, either as donations or as monthly meeting “Show & Tell” items. Recent items include:
- Several “old” photos from the Ludwick family.
Information from the Past – Lyons/Muir Area Schools – It’s Graduation Time!
Prior to the 1840s, there were no public schools in Michigan. The first school to operate in the area was housed in a small log shanty constructed by H.V. Libhart, was located on Libhart Street on the west side of Lyons.
Like many rural areas, Lyons and Muir public schools began as a collection of country schools – Lyons had Crane, Keefer, Murphy, Kimball, Oak Grove, and Gorham schools and Muir had Hayes, Ross, and Schaeffer schools. In a time when there were no school buses, it was important to have rural schools located throughout the area to accommodate walking students. Parents of schoolchildren were billed for their attendance and required to provide firewood for the school building as well.
In the early 1870s, a building was purchased for the purpose of creating a public school in Lyons. This was later named Lyons High School and sat on the west side of the Grand river. The school served students from elementary through high school. The 1880 US Census records showed that 275 students between the ages of 5 and 19 attended the school. The school was in continuous operation from 1884 until 1964, under the names Lyons High School, Union School, and Lyons Township High School.
Muir High School was built in 1883 and was located on what is now Center Street in Muir. The school operated from 1884 through 1941.
The Lyons and Muir schools operated separately until 1942, and were said to have been competitive rivals in sports and academics. In 1942, Muir combined with Lyons and several other area rural schools to form Muir-Lyons School. In 1964, all Lyons Township schools (including the Muir-Lyons School) became part of the Ionia Public Schools system.
Both the Lyons High School and Muir High School buildings have long since been demolished, the former making way for construction (at a cost of $120,000 cost) of what is now the Twin Rivers Elementary School. It was completed in 1952 and dedicated in honor of the Grand and Maple rivers flowing nearby.
Upon entering the Lyons-Muir Historical Museum, visitors will see framed Lyons and Muir high school graduating class pictures adorning the walls. Viewing the faces and observing the changing styles of hair and clothing over the years provides a wonderful snapshot of our area’s local history. The museum houses school yearbooks, graduation papers, and school memorabilia as well. Be sure to take an opportunity to visit the museum during its “open” hours this summer, which will be from 1 to 4 pm on the second Sundays of June, July, and August. The museum is also open at other times by appointment (Ph. 989/855-2472 or 517/230-7730). In addition, the museum and Lyons Township District Library are partnering to provide tours twice this summer – drop in to the museum anytime between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm on June 18 or July 23 to check out the museum’s many displays and learn more about the history of the Lyons and Muir public schools!
LMHS Monthly Membership Meetings:
At 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month (March thru December) at the Museum.
Again, our deepest appreciation for your past and continued support of the Lyons-Muir Historical Society and Museum. Please feel free to share this information with family and friends, as well as encourage them to also become LMHS members to help preserve the history of this beautiful area of mid-Michigan.
Best Regards,
Judy Rich, President
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
Sue Houserman, Vice President
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
November 12, 2024
Re: Fall 2024 Update
Dear Historical Society Members & Supporters:
Thanks again for your continued support of the Lyons Muir Historical Society (LMHS) and Museum. Following is an update on recent LMHS activities and the final 2024 newsletter:
Museum Happenings
- Museum Seasonal Displays – LMHS members have been busy this fall decorating the Museum front window displays for Halloween and Thanksgiving, and afterward will be re-decorating for Christmas. In addition, Sid’s Flower Shop-Ionia will be putting up Christmas garland on the Bridge Street exterior of the Museum in early December.
- Masonic Lodge Building Roof Renovation – As mentioned in the last newsletter, the LMHS Historical Museum is located in the former Masonic Lodge building in downtown Lyons. The building was sold to the Village of Lyons for $1.00 when the Lodge closed in 2012, subject to a provision that the Museum could remain in the downstairs area under an initial 30-year lease agreement between the Village and the LMHS. As landlord, the Village is responsible for overall maintenance of the building, and recently contracted for and had the building roof repaired and renovated. This was very needed due to some water leakage having been noticed on the south end both upstairs and in the Museum, with some historical materials in the Wilma Ackerson Reference Library sustaining minor water stains prior to the roof renovation.
- LMHS on the Internet – Historical Society member Vanessa Mitchner and other members continued to work on restoration of the organization’s Internet presence, with much information and many photos recently posted. Please visit the “Lyons–MuirHistoricalMuseum” Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560639343472) and website (https://lyonsmuirhistoricalmuseum.com/) when you have a chance.
- Weaving Classes – After a summer break, these classes have begun once again on most Thursdays, using the Museum’s old looms and taught by Suzanne Carpenter of Comstock Park. The classes are open (free/no charge) to LMHS members and anyone else wishing to learn this skill (Phone/Text: 517/230-7730 for class dates and times).
Other LMHS Activities
- Plans are currently being finalized for the annual Christmas Bazaar & Open House, which will be at the Museum on Friday, December 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will again be a nice selection of items for sale including fresh homemade baked goods, crafts, Christmas ornaments and decorations, and various other items. In addition to being a major fundraiser, this event provides a great opportunity for customers and holiday visitors to tour the Lyons-Muir Historical Museum.
Historical Artifacts & Other Old Stuff
As always, a number of unique old things found their way into the Museum over the past few months, either as donations or “Show & Tell” relics brought to monthly membership meetings. Recent items of interest included:
- Some old bronze or brass handmade Arabian horses and Roman soldiers donated by the Allen family.
- A large number of old cobalt blue glass bottles and other items from the late 1800s and early 1900s, including a Chinese snuff bottle, a pair of welder’s eyeglasses (which look like granny glasses!), medicine bottles, a lay-down perfume/scent bottle, etc.).
Museum History on Display – The Old Palo (MI) High School Stage Backdrop
Several years ago we received a call from the Palo Schools that the old Palo High School stage backdrop (photo attached) was available and in jeopardy of being thrown out, since Palo had no museum or other adequate location to display it. The information provided was that it had been made and the center scene hand painted by an artist in the mid-1930s, with the cost covered by advertisements from various businesses and other contributors in the surrounding area. While very old, the stage backdrop is in surprisingly stable condition and has beautiful colorations on the bright blue background. It is very large (20’ across x 10’ tall), and spans nearly an entire wall at the Historical Museum.
Of particular interest on the backdrop are the various ads, the pastoral country cottage center scene, and especially the ad above the scene noting that the backdrop was “Compliments Facualty of 1936-1937”! Curiously there was no mention of Palo Schools and the spelling of “Facualty” cannot be found in any dictionary – perhaps a case of a good artist, but a poor speller! We found the attached newspaper article in some other Palo historical materials, which solves the mystery of who the painter was (Otto Kinsel) and provides some very interesting information about his career as a painter of vaudeville stage settings as well as stage settings for Hollywood Warner Brothers’ early silent movies! He was also a chiropractor, a realtor, restaurant owner and had many other interests (e.g., playing bit parts in Hollywood, playing the violin in the pit orchestras at theatres, building early house cars/motorhomes, and traveling across the country).
Of the thirty-one ads on the backdrop, how many of the advertisers do you remember? We remember about one-third of them, including three (Ionia State Savings Bank/now Independent Bank, Ionia County National Bank/now Mercantile Bank, and Fuller Furniture/same name and still at the same Main Street location in Ionia) that remain in existence today. The ads are interesting too, including some very old telephone numbers!
Election of LMHS 2024-2025 Officers & Directors
The following officers and directors were elected at the September membership meeting:
President – Judy Rich
Vice President – Sue Houserman
Secretary – Cindy Billips
Treasurer – Jon Houserman
General Directors – Carol Ludwick, Jerry Rich
LMHS Upcoming Meetings:
- Christmas Party & Potluck – starting at 6:30 p.m., on Monday, December 9th, at the Museum.
- Regular Monthly Meetings – 7:00 p.m., on the 2nd Monday of each month (March thru November), at the Museum.
You are cordially invited to attend these meetings, so please join us if you can and bring a friend!
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Judy Rich, President
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
Ph. (989) 855-2472
Sue Houserman, Vice President
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
Ph. (989) 230-7730
August 14, 2024
Re: Summer 2024 Update
Dear Historical Society Members & Supporters:
As always, we greatly appreciate your ongoing support of the Lyons-Muir Historical Society (LMHS) and Historical Museum. As summer nears its end, we wanted to provide this update on recent activities and other items of interest.
Museum Happenings:
- “Spring into the Past” – As an active member, the LMHS participated in this annual Tri-River Museums Network event (May 4-5), with the Lyons-Muir Historical Museum and many other west Michigan museums open to history buffs for visitation. This year’s theme was “Notable Names – Prominent People and Places”, with each museum emphasizing displays accordingly. Our Museum welcomed 22 interested visitors during this event.
- LMHS on Facebook – Unfortunately the LMHS’ Facebook page disappeared from the Internet about June 11th. One of our LMHS members and Facebook manager, Vanessa Mitchner, has been developing a new LMHs Facebook group page to replace it (which is still in progress). Please visit it at Lyons-Muir Historical Museum – Facebook.
- Museum Summer “Open Hours” – The Museum has been “open” from 1-4 p.m. on the 2nd Sunday of each month (June/July/August) this summer, with quite a few visitors stopping by to view items from the area’s past. The Museum is also “open” to the public at other times by appointment (Ph. 989/855-2921 or 989/855-2472).
- Lyons Township District Library Connection – District Library staff scheduled two visits this summer (June 25 and July 23 – approx. 25 total visitors) for area school kids to tour the Museum, with LMHS members conducting the tours and providing information about the many artifacts. This in part revives a tradition from many years ago, of the LMHS scheduling Museum school visits for Lyon-Muir Twin Rivers Elementary School children, to help educate and connect them to the area’s history.
- Weaving Classes – These classes, using old Museum looms and taught by Suzanne Carpenter of Comstock Park, are open to members and others (free/no charge) most Thursdays during the fall, winter and spring (Ph. 517/230-7730 if interested).
- Ionia Free Fair (IFF) Display – The LMHS participated in the July 11-20 IFF, with LMHS member Cindy Billips setting up a “Christmas” display at the “Antique Village” in the Floral Building.
- Masonic Lodge Building Roof Renovation – The LMHS Historical Museum has been and continues to be located in the former Masonic Lodge building in downtown Lyons. When the local Masonic Lodge discontinued operations in 2012, they sold the building to the Village of Lyons for $1.00 with a provision that the Village continue to let the Historical Museum stay downstairs there with a 30-year lease to the LMHS. Under the lease agreement, the LMHS maintains the inside main floor museum and the Village maintains the overall building. A project is currently underway to repair and renovate the Masonic Lodge building roof later this year.
Artifacts & Other Old Stuff:
Various historical artifacts are regularly donated to the Museum or are brought in by LMHS members to monthly meetings for “Show & Tell”. Recent items included two Green View Point Park photos, two late 1800s butter churns, Elvis Presley memorabilia, a 1930s Philco radio (which still plays), and a March 5, 1887 New York newspaper with a sketched scene of the Village of Lyons downtown great flood caused by a huge Grand River ice jam.
Information from the Past – “The Old Country Store”
Country stores, or general stores, started out of necessity for the many pioneers who lived in rural areas of America from the late colonial period through the early 20th century. Many owners of these mercantile stores began as roving peddlers. Once they had accumulated enough capital and inventory, they often established permanent locations at advantageous crossroads or in rural settlements with a need and likely profit. The country store also served as a community gathering place for customers to sit around a pot-bellied stove and gossip about politics, exchange news, socialize, play checkers and cards, and pick up their mail.
Country store inventories were largely based upon what the local customers needed in the home or on the farm, and what the store owners could afford to stock and sell at reasonable prices. Sales were usually made on a “cash only” basis, but occasionally credit was extended to reliable customers and some business was done in barter. For example, rural housewives sometimes would trade eggs, butter and other farm produce for staple groceries, or perhaps a piece of gingham or other materials for making a dress. Besides everyday essentials, the country stores would often stock things like licorice and peppermint stick candy that youngsters could buy for a penny each. The old-time country store typically had lots of shelving on the walls, long counters and display cabinets, and lots of bulk food items for sale out of large containers (e.g., cracker barrels) around the store.
The Lyons-Muir Historical Society has an “Old Country Store” display in its Museum. The large wooden wall shelving/drawers unit and long counter were acquired from an old hardware store in Nashville (MI) and refurbished by one of our members. Another member donated the lovely old 1800s counter-top display cabinet, as well as several of the original store goods and advertising displays. Additional items have been added as received and acquired, and more such items are always welcome. We encourage you to come visit the “Old Country Store” at the Historical Museum!
LMHS 2024-2025 Membership Dues Renewal:
September is the traditional start of the LMHS’ new year, with annual membership dues requested ($10 per individual or $15 per family). Please take a moment to send in your membership dues for the upcoming year, made payable to the Lyons-Muir Historical Society and mailed to:
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
509 W. Bridge St.
Lyons, MI 48951
LMHS Monthly Membership Meetings:
At 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month (March thru December) at the Museum.
Many thanks again for your past and continued support of the Lyons-Muir Historical Society and Historical Museum. Please feel free to share this information with family and friends, as well as encourage them to also become LMHS members to help preserve and continue the history of this beautiful mid-Michigan area.
Best Regards,
Fred Charles, President
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
Ph. (517) 290-7113
Email: fred652@yahoo.com
OR
Sue Houserman, Vice President
Lyons-Muir Historical Society
Ph. (517) 230-7730
Email: jonsueh@yahoo.com
April 10, 2024
Re: Spring 2024 Update
Dear Historical Society Members & Supporters:
Your past and continued support is greatly appreciated. After a long winter break, we are looking forward to warmer weather and the various LMHS activities coming up this year.
Museum Happenings
- Host for Tri-River Historical Museums Network Meeting – As an active member, the LMHS hosted the Network’s March 19th meeting at our museum in Lyons, with representatives in attendance from museums in five (5) neighboring counties.
- LMHS Website & Facebook Page – A March 19th presentation to the Network (regarding our Museum’s G.A.R. Post #100 flag) was recently posted on the LMHS Facebook page. We will also be posting the 2024 quarterly updates (including this Spring 2024 newsletter) and other items of interest throughout the year. Please check them out on Facebook!
- “Spring into the Past” – The Tri-River Historical Museums Network is again sponsoring a weekend (May 4-5, Sat. 11-5 & Sun. 1-5) of open houses at each west Michigan museum in the network. The theme this year is “Notable Names – Prominent People and Places”, with each museum emphasizing displays accordingly. Please plan to visit the LMHS museum that weekend, as well as other museums in the Network.
- Museum Summer “Open” Hours – The Museum (309 E. Bridge St., Lyons, MI) will again be “open” from 1-4 p.m. on the 2nd Sunday of each month this summer (June/July/August). The Museum continues to be “open” by appointment at other times during the year (Ph. 989/230-7730 or 989/855-2472).
- Lyons Township District Library Connection – We are hoping to continue the collaborative relationship established last year with staff of the District Library, in hopes of scheduling more tours of the LMHS Museum for area kids.
- LMHS 2024 Fundraising Events – We will again be participating in the Lyons Farm Markets (2nd & 4th Thursday afternoons each month from May through October), continuing to maintain a vendor booth at the Ionia Riverbank Treasures shop, and will be doing a Christmas Bazaar at the museum in December.
- Weaving Classes – These classes, using antique museum looms and taught by Suzanne Carpenter of Comstock Park, are on-going and open to members and others (free/no charge) most Thursdays during the year (Ph. 517/230-7730 if interested).
- Ionia Free Fair (IFF) Display – The 2024 IFF is scheduled for July 11-20 and the LMHS will again participate this year in the “Antique Village” displays area of the Floral Building at the fairgrounds. Please plan to attend the fair and visit the Antique Village!
Historical Artifacts & Other Old Stuff
Various “relics from the past”, either as donations or as monthly meeting “Show & Tell” items, continue to “appear” at the Museum on a regular basis. Recent items include:
- A hand-forged steel blade/wooden handle dough and cheese cutter (1800’s).
- A 1950’s wooden sales display cabinet for cigars.
- Two 8” wooden/metal wool carders (1800’s), used as combs to clean and straighten wool before spinning into yarn.
- Child’s toy (18” x 12”) wooden/tin red and yellow stagecoach, made as a replica of the old wild west stagecoaches and marked “Wells Fargo Overland Stage”.
Information from the Past – Gee Brothers Ice Harvester
In the early 1900’s (over 100 years ago), because of the newly developed availability of electrical power generated from the Grand River dam and power plant, numerous manufacturing businesses sprang up and thrived in the Lyons area. Among the more unique of these businesses was an ice harvester machine manufacturing operation, which originated from a revolutionary invention by Hector Gee to help reduce the enormous amount of toil with how ice was made at the time in the country.
In 1919, Francis Gee’s father (Hector Gee) was granted a patent by the United States of America Patent Office (photo at right) to produce an “Ice Harvester” machine. Together, Hector and his brother Homer, began producing Gee Bros. Ice Harvesters in the early 1920’s, and selling/shipping them across the United States and Canada, and even oversees. Hector’s son (Francis) began working for the business in the late 1920’s, and in 1936 became a partner in the business.
As a result of this invention, the reliance on hand saws and horse plows to harvest ice from lakes and rivers was greatly reduced, and thousands of pounds of perfectly cut blocks of ice (typically 6” x 10”) could be produced in a fraction of the time previously required and with much less labor.
Sales of the Gee Bros. Ice Harvesters were brisk (approx.. 100 per year for about $445 to $545 each for 10 and 12 horsepower machines) until the introduction of electrical ice boxes in the 1940’s. The ice harvesters were sold and shipped from Lyons by railroad, plus the business also worked with a nationwide distribution network. The last five machines were sold in 1942 (during World War II), to buyers in European Norway.
The Gee Bros. Ice Harvester was a sled mounted motor driven saw that could be operated by one person at a speed of 150 feet per minute. Then, when cut, the ice blocks would be removed with crow bars and lifted onto a wagon, for storage in ice houses until used. The remnants of Lyons’ old ice storage house can still be seen beside south Tabor Street near the Grand River. From there, the blocks of ice would be delivered to people’s homes for their ice boxes.
The Gee Bros. family put together a reconstructed version of the original Ice Harvester in the 1990’s, using original parts they had saved throughout the years, and donated it for display to the Lyons-Muir historical museum (photo attached). The Ice Harvester is a very heavy machine and sits on the museum floor above a strong foundation wall. It remains one of the LMHS museum’s most unique and prized display pieces.
LMHS Monthly Membership Meetings:
At 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month (March thru December) at the Museum.
Again, our deepest appreciation for your past and continued support of the Lyons-Muir Historical Society and Museum. Please feel free to share this information with family and friends, as well as encourage them to also become LMHS members to help preserve the history of this beautiful area of mid-Michigan.
Best Regards,
Fred Charles, President, Email: fred652@yahoo.com
Sue Houserman, Vice President, Email: jonsueh@yahoo.com
Ph. (517) 290-7113 or Ph. (517) 230-7730
Lyons-Muir Historical Museum 