Things you probably never knew about Alden.

Some interesting information from my book, “Reflections at the Water’s Edge, an Illustrated History of the Alden Area.”

In 1854 Lumber Camp # 4 was established on the East side of Torch Lake, by a creek, which today bears the name of that lumber camp’s mananger, John Spencer. The settlement was originally called Lewis Town, and then named Noble, after the lumber baron, Henry Hobart Noble.

In 1870, Reuben Coy, rented a building at the mouth of Spencer Creek, and began operating the first general store in Helena Township. The proceeds from sales that first day, totaled $ 46.81 A pound of sugar back then, sold for 15 cents a lb. and ladies could choose from a selection of two shoe styles.

Bringing supplies from Elk Rapids, was dangerous since teams had to ford(swim) the Torch River. So Reuben purchased a two masted scooner, named the King Fisher, which brought supplies and passengers from Elk Rapids. The King Fisher was used until 1873 when the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, was built through Kalkaska and Mancelona. This enabled him to haul supplies with teams and wagons.

Reuben, eventually built a stone burr grist mill, which was powered by the waters of Spencer Creek. Settlers used trucks, with wheels made from the ends of sawed off maple logs, and drawn by teams of oxen, to bring their grain to the mill. The mill closed in 1890, but the building still stands today. The Alden Bar, now occupies the spot where theCoy Store once stood.

In 1890, a railroad line traveling from TC following the Chain of Lakes, north to Bay View, above Petoskey, was built. The logical route would have been straight north through Elk Rapids, But instead, an expert in railroad law and finance, by the name of William Alden Smith, used his influence to establish a route, that brought the railroad through Spencer Creek. Grateful townspeople renamed the town, Alden in his honor. Later on, he is rumored to have said, that “Alden is the handsomest and biggest town of its size, in the U.S.”

The first train depot was built in approximately 1892 . In 1904 “The Resort Special” began operations, carrying “summer people” to camps and resorts, that had sprung up around the lake. Soon Alden was know as the “leading summer resort between Grand Rapids and Charlevoix”. In 1906, despite the efforts of a bucket brigade,the depot burned to the ground. The following year, the new Pier Marquette Train Depot, was built and today it is home to the Helena Township, Historical Museum.

With arrival of the railroad, more people and commerce arrived and before long The Coy store had some competition, when Foster and Company Store, opened across the street. When Coy put up a banner reading “Welcome Tourists” Ernest Foster, put up a sign that read “Welcome Everyone” Another time, Coy decide to start selling stoves and planned a big promotion. Foster had already been carrying stoves for sometime. On the day of Coy’s sale, he moved every stove in his store outside, and offered them at wholesale prices. Not one stove was sold at the Coy Store that day.

The Main Hotel was built in 1890. One evening, upon hearing that a dance was being held at the hotel, a group of working men gathered there. When no women showed up, the frustrated men began dancing with each other. When the piano player finally gave up and went home, a fist fight erupted and the sheriff had to be summoned.

In 1898 Dayton Higgins built Higgins Drug Store. Since doctors, were almost non existent in this area back then, he served as druggist, doctor and veterinarian. The Higgins family lived in the store building, and when Dayton passed away, his daughter Ethel took over. The soda fountain was a favorite place to gather and drink a cherry coke or so[ a soda. Today, people wait in line to get a hand dipped ice cream cone, from Higgins Store. Miss Higgins had two Great Danes, when one of the dogs bit someone the “George Smith vs Brutus” hearing, was held at the Township Hall (today’s 45th parallel.) Miss Higgins lawyer argued that the Smith, had caught his sleeve on a nail, causing the injury and Brutus won the case! Local folk lore insists, that Ethel still haunts the upper rooms of the old store.

During the Depression, Inez Hiatt took a job as switchboard operator, at the Grand Traverse Telephone Company Office, which was located in the building where the Red Eye Gallery is today. Most people could not afford the luxury of a telephone, so when someone wanted to contact them, they would call the telephone company and Inez’s young son Bud, acting as a “runner”, would hop on his scooter, and go to a home or cottage and inform the person, that they had a phone call. Then,they had to go to the phone company office, to receive their call. Bud saved all his earnings and tips, and by the age of 9 was able to afford a new bicycle. Today, well into his eighties, Bud still remembers that he paid $22.86 for that bike.

In 1963, Robert Studley Scott Jr. held up the Alden State Bank, at gunpoint. He stole $20,000. stuffed it into a paper bag, and might have made a clean get a way, had he used something stronger than kite string, to tie up the bank teller with! The teller was able to quickly break free, notified the police, and the culprit was caught in record time.

In 1984 Aden’s beloved and somewhat eccentric, Chef Geno, opened the Alden Mil House, as a chicken carry out restaurant, where he also did catering and sold his blend of spices. Geno was a creative, as well as a very messy cook, leaving his messes in the kitchen, for his family and employees, to clean up. His wife Joy, finally had enough, and convinced him to let her manage the Mill House, and sell his spices, while he did the marketing.

Geno loved nature and reptiles were his favorite. He once had a pet water dragon, named Lizzy. Whenever he went out of town on business, he left Lizzy in the care of his employees. He even taught them how to hunt for ant eggs, with which to feed her. One day, he decided to put Lizzy out in the yard, so she could sun herself. He tied her little harness to a rock, but Alas, a big bird appeared out of nowhere, swooped down and carried poor Lizzy away, never to be seen again!

At one time there were three gas stations in Alden, but no automobiles! And now you know the rest of the story!