George Bardeen
Encyclopedia
George Edward Bardeen, Sr., a native of Otsego, Michigan
, USA, was a businessman and state-level politician. He owned and operated the Mac Sim Bar paper mill in Otsego, the Otsego Independents
semi-professional baseball team, and was financially instrumental in the founding of Olivet College
.
Bardeen and other investors started up the city of Otsego's first paper mill in 1887, reducing the availability of spring water and thus shutting down the town's Mineral Springs Bath House.
In 1900, Bardeen was the state's 4th District delegate to the Republican National Committee
; attending the Republican National Convention
in Philadelphia that year. In 1907, he served as a member of Michigan's Republican State Central Committee.
In 1901, Bardeen entered a venture to help start the Kalamazoo Stove Company
. His partners in this venture were Edward Woodbury, son of the late Jeremiah P. Woodbury, Kalamazoo’s
wealthiest 19th-century industrialist and banker; the Dewing brothers: William S., James, and Charles; and other prominent local businessmen. Taking advantage of the recently established Rural Free Delivery postal service that brought mail-order catalogs to rural homes, these investors sold their products directly to customers, without retail middlemen. The company slogan was "A Kalamazoo ~ Direct to You."
In 1902, Bardeen was among the first team owners in white baseball to allow African-American players to be integrated. He signed Negro League baseball
pitching star Andrew Rube Foster, who had just been released from the Chicago Union Giants following a performance slump, to play for him that season.
which boasted eight fireplaces and even a full-sized bowling alley. The most amazing rumor about this home was that it had a tunnel that went under the Kalamazoo River
all the way to his paper mill, about two miles away. That claim has not been substantiated.
The Bardeen Mansion was vacant during the 1950s and early 1960s. To local children, this was known as "the haunted mansion." For several years after the mansion was torn down, it was just a vacant lot. The only sign that there was once a building there was the original sidewalks leading to the front and side doors.
With the Mansion now gone, the only legacy Mr. Bardeen still has in the city is in the minds of those who remember the mansion, a stained-glass window bearing his name in the nave of the Otsego First Congregational Church, and a street named after him in the Ely Acres subdivision.
Otsego, Michigan
Otsego is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,934 at the 2000 census. The city is within Otsego Township, but is administratively autonomous....
, USA, was a businessman and state-level politician. He owned and operated the Mac Sim Bar paper mill in Otsego, the Otsego Independents
Otsego Independents
The Otsego Independents was a white minor league baseball team in Otsego, Michigan in the early 1900s. It was owned by paper industry magnate George E...
semi-professional baseball team, and was financially instrumental in the founding of Olivet College
Olivet College
Olivet College is a coeducational, liberal arts college located in Olivet, Michigan, United States, south of Lansing and west of Detroit. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, and accredited by the North Central...
.
Bardeen and other investors started up the city of Otsego's first paper mill in 1887, reducing the availability of spring water and thus shutting down the town's Mineral Springs Bath House.
In 1900, Bardeen was the state's 4th District delegate to the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
; attending the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in Philadelphia that year. In 1907, he served as a member of Michigan's Republican State Central Committee.
In 1901, Bardeen entered a venture to help start the Kalamazoo Stove Company
Kalamazoo Stove Company
The Kalamazoo Stove Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan operated with the slogan "A Kalamazoo ~ Direct to You." This was one of the first manufacturing plants to deal directly with the customer instead of employing the use of retail stores....
. His partners in this venture were Edward Woodbury, son of the late Jeremiah P. Woodbury, Kalamazoo’s
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
wealthiest 19th-century industrialist and banker; the Dewing brothers: William S., James, and Charles; and other prominent local businessmen. Taking advantage of the recently established Rural Free Delivery postal service that brought mail-order catalogs to rural homes, these investors sold their products directly to customers, without retail middlemen. The company slogan was "A Kalamazoo ~ Direct to You."
In 1902, Bardeen was among the first team owners in white baseball to allow African-American players to be integrated. He signed Negro League baseball
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
pitching star Andrew Rube Foster, who had just been released from the Chicago Union Giants following a performance slump, to play for him that season.
The Bardeen Mansion
In 1895, Bardeen built a 3-story Victorian Mansion on M-89 HwyM-89 (Michigan highway)
M-89 is an east–west state highway in the US state of Michigan. It runs from near Ganges Township to Battle Creek. M-89 passes through Allegan County, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and Calhoun County. It also briefly crosses the southwest corner of Barry County.-Route description:M-89 begins...
which boasted eight fireplaces and even a full-sized bowling alley. The most amazing rumor about this home was that it had a tunnel that went under the Kalamazoo River
Kalamazoo River
The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch...
all the way to his paper mill, about two miles away. That claim has not been substantiated.
The Bardeen Mansion was vacant during the 1950s and early 1960s. To local children, this was known as "the haunted mansion." For several years after the mansion was torn down, it was just a vacant lot. The only sign that there was once a building there was the original sidewalks leading to the front and side doors.
With the Mansion now gone, the only legacy Mr. Bardeen still has in the city is in the minds of those who remember the mansion, a stained-glass window bearing his name in the nave of the Otsego First Congregational Church, and a street named after him in the Ely Acres subdivision.