Otsego

By Ryan Wieber

Otsego has a rich and storied past as one of the earliest settlements in southwest Michigan. Founded in 1831, its character has been shaped by a history filled with agriculture, tourism, fascinating people, and remarkable commerce—particularly the manufacturing of paper. Otsego has seen the rise and fall and recent rebirth of the local papermaking industry, and it is now poised to progress through the 21st century with a renewed sense of vigor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Dec 8, 2008
• ISBN: 9781439636862

Ryan Wieber

Ryan Wieber is the director of the Otsego District Library and past chairman of the Otsego Area Historical Society. He has produced a video titled Otsego, Michigan: Papertown U.S.A. and has written several articles on Otsego's history. Sandy Stamm is Plainwell's local historian and has shared her expertise with thousands during her years at Plainwell's Ransom District Library. She has also supplied local newspapers and various publications with articles on Plainwell's history.

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INTRODUCTION

The story of Otsego, Michigan, provides a representative glimpse into the settlement, development, and ever-changing face of small-town America. In an enjoyable manner, this book shows how some of those changes have occurred in Otsego, a town settled amid a time in our country’s history when land was affordable for the common man, pioneering was the norm, and the risks involved in settling a new land were worth it all.

Studying history can be fun when utilizing photographs and observing the changes to the landscape over time by comparing then and now images. Many of us have a desire to know what our ancestors looked like, and how our homes, streets, and rural areas have changed over the past century. There is, also, a rather large group of us who have never given a second thought to our local history. However, with the help of a visually appealing book such as this, those who never previously put forth thoughts of a historical nature may perhaps begin to ponder their town’s beginnings.

Location, location, location. Early Otsego settlers and developers saw great promise for this area based on the strength of the Kalamazoo River here. It offered future industries great potential for powering their activities and, unfortunately, it also provided the means for disposing unwanted by-products. Once the beginnings were established with a local government that set up roads, bridges, and a school; businesses that sold supplies; mills that cut the lumber and ground the grain; and churches that ministered to its faithful, then this early Allegan County community began to take root.

The Native Americans knew long before the 1830–1831 arrival of families like the Sherwoods, Scotts, Fosters, and Comstocks that this land provided excellent crop-growing, fishing, hunting, and river transportation. Ancient mounds long since gone, atop hills north of town, reflected their respect for this spot of land and what it meant to them in life and death.

Paper mills dominated the way of life here for the good part of a century beginning in 1887—and even today a lone surviving and thriving plant employs over 100 workers—but no longer does one hear the whistle of a mill, or think of Otsego as solely a mill town. Instead it is a mixture of factories, farming, historic houses and modern subdivisions, valued traditions and fresh ideas, and old names and new families.

CHAPTER 1

AROUND THE TOWN

The original North Street bridge was completed soon after the paper mills came to the west side of town in 1907. This allowed hundreds of mill workers to cross the river conveniently and safely to and from work every day. It also lessened some of the mill truck traffic that heavily used the Farmer Street bridge.

The North Street Bridge has seen its share of collapses. It experienced them in 1953, 1966, and 1979. The bridge was slated to be replaced in fall 1979 when it collapsed in May of that year due to a truck that was 46 tons overweight. The accident sped up the new