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CHARTER OAK

Denison Review

June 24, 1887

The town site of Charter Oak was placed on the market on April 27, 1887. For about ten days building materials could only be secured in small quantities. Building began in earnest about the 10th of May, and by the 10th of June there were built thirty-two stores and houses, several two stories, and eighty feet deep, being more than one building per day. This is unprecedented in the history of new towns.

Charter Oak has for years been regarded as the future home of a large village, because it is surrounded by a most fertile country, which is settled by wide-awake and energetic farmers.

The nearest railway station north is Battle Creek, 20 miles away; the nearest south is Dow City, 15 miles; the nearest east is Denison, 17 miles; and the nearest west is Ute, 7 miles, in an adjoining county. Thus it will be seen that Charter Oak has an unusually large territory tributary to its market. The business men of the country saw at once that this would be an excellent trading point. Men of capital and standing have poured in, not to establish little common place stores, but to bring in stocks of goods larger and better than can be found at competing points. Stocks are all new, and bought at the latest reduced rates. They will be sold at the least living profit. There is earnest competition, both at home and with other markets. We welcome you to our town. It will be no trouble to show you goods. You need not buy unless you find that it is to your advantage. We expect to have good graded school and church privileges. The larger the town, the more valuable will become your farms; for every thousand inhabitants put from five to ten dollars in value on your land for many miles.

Charter Oak is the best market for selling and shipping cattle, hogs and grain. It is the best market to sell country produce. It is the best market to buy lumber and coal. It is the best market for everything you need.

The following firms are represented: O. M. Crisswell, Town Lot Agent, W. W. Cushman, General Merchandise, W. E. Finch, General Merchandise, Star Lumber Company, Lumber and Coal, G. W. Meader, Hardware, Dr. J. J. McWilliams, Drugs, Medicines, Etc., Barnholdt & Arf, Farm Implements, Ruggles Bros & Co., Hardware, Charter Oak Bank, Banking, Collections, Etc., Riedesel & Horstman, General Merchandise. The following business houses are also either entirely completed or in process of speedy completion: J. P. Thompson, barber, W. P. Muleron, boarding house and restaurant, Harm & Shurcke, general merchandise, A. Rule, harness, J. G. Wickey, grocery, A. S. Criswell, butcher, Mr. Mohr, Red Oak, Bank and collection, C. D. Arnold, restaurant, McDermitt & Co., billiard hall. Wm. Marr, blacksmith, Jas. Long, blacksmith.

Used With permission from Crawford County Historic Preservation Commission