Everyday Klansfolk

Everyday Klansfolk

Author: Craig Fox

Publisher: MSU Press

Published: 2011-03-15

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1609171357

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In 1920s Middle America, the Ku Klux Klan gained popularity not by appealing to the fanatical fringes of society, but by attracting the interest of “average” citizens. During this period, the Klan recruited members through the same unexceptional channels as any other organization or club, becoming for many a respectable public presence, a vehicle for civic activism, or the source of varied social interaction. Its diverse membership included men and women of all ages, occupations, and socio-economic standings. Although surviving membership records of this clandestine organization have proved incredibly rare, Everyday Klansfolk uses newly available documents to reconstruct the life and social context of a single grassroots unit in Newaygo County, Michigan. A fascinating glimpse behind the mask of America’s most notorious secret order, this absorbing study sheds light on KKK activity and membership in Newaygo County, and in Michigan at large, during the brief and remarkable peak years of its mass popular appeal.


Newaygo County 1850-1920

Newaygo County 1850-1920

Author:

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 9780738541150

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Pioneers in Newaygo County were motivated by the call of adventure and a chance to make a fortune in the vast wilderness. The first settlers came to lumber the virgin white pine that grew in the Newaygo forests. The Muskegon River flowed through the region and, along with the White River and many creeks and lakes, offered a major waterway to float logs to Lake Michigan. As early as 1837, Newaygo loggers were floating logs to market, becoming large contributors to the lumbering industry. Lumber from Newaygo County was used to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871. In 1851, legislature gave Newaygo independence to form a county and Newaygo County entered a growth spurt that continues to this day. With the coming of the railroad in 1872 and a rapid increase in population, small settlements started popping up. As areas became logged out, many of these settlements died and have been long forgotten; many others remained and thrive today. Newaygo County: 1850-1920 preserves the history of these settlements and the people who built them.


Newaygo County: 1920-2000

Newaygo County: 1920-2000

Author: Sandra Vincent Peavey and the Terry Wantz Historical Research Center

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 1467112054

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People moved into Newaygo County to farm, as the terrain offered beneficial conditions for planting crops and orchards, and eventually the area developed into several interwoven farming communities. Once agriculture took root, others businesses and crafts found a marketplace within county limits, and Newaygo began to grow while still maintaining a sense of hometown warmness and caring. Residents are proud of their heritage and history and know how to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty regardless of the season.


Newaygo County

Newaygo County

Author: Newaygo County Society of History and Genealogy

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

Published: 2006-12-06

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 1439633169

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Pioneers in Newaygo County were motivated by the call of adventure and a chance to make a fortune in the vast wilderness. The first settlers came to lumber the virgin white pine that grew in the Newaygo forests. The Muskegon River flowed through the region and, along with the White River and many creeks and lakes, offered a major waterway to float logs to Lake Michigan. As early as 1837, Newaygo loggers were floating logs to market, becoming large contributors to the lumbering industry. Lumber from Newaygo County was used to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871. In 1851, legislature gave Newaygo independence to form a county and Newaygo County entered a growth spurt that continues to this day. With the coming of the railroad in 1872 and a rapid increase in population, small settlements started popping up. As areas became logged out, many of these settlements died and have been long forgotten; many others remained and thrive today. Newaygo County: 1850-1920 preserves the history of these settlements and the people who built them.


Lake County

Lake County

Author: Lake County Historical Society

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

Published: 2009-11-09

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 1439621012

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Native Americans roamed the beautiful lands of northern Michigan for many years, leaving a legacy of mature forests, clear waters, and plentiful game. By 1871, waves of immigrants were arriving from Europe, as well as Union soldiers after the Civil War. These pioneers brought with them the tools, know-how, and determination to transform the wild land into an economy based on the timber, railroads, and farming. Schools, churches, businesses, and tourism blossomed. The county's 156 lakes and 46 trout streams offered pristine settings for swimming, boating, hunting, and fishing. Resorts, sporting clubs, and cottage colonies sprang up to meet the needs of seasonal visitors. Early fishing guide and hotelier Andrew J. Bradford, financiers Curtis W. MacPhail and Robert J. Smith, philanthropist Martin Johnson, and others nurtured the growth of the communities. The Civilian Conservation Corps replanted the forests and built roads, the African American resort of Idlewild showcased black entertainers, and Raymond W. Overholzer built Shrine of the Pines, all promoting the county's development.