Reese, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Reese is a village in Tuscola
and Saginaw
counties in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. Located almost entirely in Tuscola County's Denmark Township
, the village includes only a tiny portion of Blumfield Township in Saginaw County. The population was 1,375 at the 2000 census
.
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
William B. Stark was born in 1831 in New York and came to Denmark, Tuscola County, in 1865. Six brothers and one sister came to live with him in the following years. They lived in tents in the dense forest of the area. Could this be how Camp St. got its name? In 1873, William’s brother, Joseph, came to the area and opened a hotel near the corner of Reese and Saginaw Roads. He was the fourth family to move to the area, with the others being his brother, the Woodruffs, and the Rogers.
In the fall of 1865, A.W. Gates, a stage proprietor from Saginaw, established a plank road from East Saginaw, through Reese, and on into Watrousville. In 1871, Gates established a mail and stage route along the plank road. Gates kept his express and stage offices in Rogers’ hotel. The post office was also in Rogers’ hotel. The post office was named Gates in 1871 after the man responsible for getting it established. In the fall of 1871, Daniel Woodruff opened a grocery and provision store across the street from the hotel, and George Melatt and Archie Scott opened a blacksmith shop. In September, 1872, Asenath M. Rogers, Roberts’ wife, surveyed and platted eleven acres and called it Gates.
In 1873, G. W. Reese brought the Detroit & Bay City Railroad through the town. Hudson B. Blackman then platted a tract of land adjoining Gates, and called it Reese, in honor of the railroad superintendent. The station, post office and town were then renamed after him. Thomas Haniford, and Michael Doyle probably worked for that same railroad, and Eustius Gall, born in Switzerland, was an engineer. Blackman also donated the right – of – way and grounds on which the depot sat..
In 1875, Aseneth Rogers surveyed and platted an addition to the village of Gates. With the railroad station at the east end of town being called Reese, the post office of Gates at the west end eventually merged in, and the entire village and surrounding area became known as Reese. James N. Taylor, whom, according to the 1880 census was born in Virginia, served as postmaster from 1878 to at least 1883. In 1889, he and his family lost most of their possessions in a house fire.
The village grew rapidly and with in five years had a population of more than 300. In 1877 it was described as the railroad and trading point for a large section of farming country. Along with transporting people to and from the area the railroad would also transport timber
, limestone
and produce
to markets throughout the state of Michigan. In the early 1900s, the railroad also was used by local farmers to ship hogs
and cattle
to Detroit. Stages were also running daily from Saginaw to Caro. The depot served both railroads, as two train order boards were present. (one on a mast for the NYC and one on the building for the PM). Reese Crossing was not an interlocking but it was protected by a target that was set by approaching train crews. The E-W route is that of the Pere Marquette, and the N-S route going by the grain elevator is the Michigan Central branch line between Denmark Jct. and Bay City. The target was set vertical for a Michigan Central movement on the Denmark Jct. Branch.
In 1946, the C&O Railway
purchased the line. In 1985 the C&O combined with B&O
to form CSX Transportation
. In 1988, Huron and Eastern Railway purchased the rail line which is still in operation today. In 1993, Reese celebrated its 120 years of rail service. Reese area farmers are one of the Huron & Eastern Railway's major shippers. Even today the farming success depends on efficient use of the rail system.
In 1971, 44 teachers from the elementary and high school went on strike. After refusal to go back to work, the Reese Board of Education fired all 44. Reese 44 members were the first teachers in Michigan fired for demanding a fair contract by striking. This produced the phrase "Remember the Reese 44".
The area continues to be largely agricultural.
of 2000, there were 1,375 people, 591 households, and 397 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,195.8 per square mile (461.6/km²). There were 627 housing units at an average density of 545.3 per square mile (210.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.47% White, 0.07% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.29% from other races
, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population. Reese's ancestral background is mainly German with 51%. 10% are Polish, 9% English
, 9% French
, 8% Irish
and 4% from the United States
.
There were 591 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,469, and the median income for a family was $50,556. Males had a median income of $40,938 versus $25,250 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $22,498. About 3.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Tuscola County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-15* M-24* M-25* M-46* M-81* M-138-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 58,266 people, 21,454 households, and 15,983 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 23,378 housing units at an average density of 29 per...
and Saginaw
Saginaw County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 210,039 people, 80,430 households, and 55,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 260 people per square mile . There were 85,505 housing units at an average density of 106 per square mile...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Located almost entirely in Tuscola County's Denmark Township
Denmark Township, Michigan
Denmark Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,249 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*The village of Reese is in the northwest corner of the township on M-81....
, the village includes only a tiny portion of Blumfield Township in Saginaw County. The population was 1,375 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
History
The area of what is Reese today was first settled in 1865 when Mrs. Louisa Woodruff and her son built the first home (near the current intersection of Reese Rd and Saginaw Rd.) The Saginaw-Watrousville plank road was opened in 1871 which increased access to the community from Saginaw and the surrounding area. In 1873 the Detroit and Bay City railroads were built and Hudson B. Blackman plotted a tract of land adjacent to the original community (near the current intersection of Saginaw St and Meridian St.)and named it Reese in honor of G.W. Reese the Railroad superintendent. (Hudson B. Blackman was probably the source of Hudson St.)William B. Stark was born in 1831 in New York and came to Denmark, Tuscola County, in 1865. Six brothers and one sister came to live with him in the following years. They lived in tents in the dense forest of the area. Could this be how Camp St. got its name? In 1873, William’s brother, Joseph, came to the area and opened a hotel near the corner of Reese and Saginaw Roads. He was the fourth family to move to the area, with the others being his brother, the Woodruffs, and the Rogers.
In the fall of 1865, A.W. Gates, a stage proprietor from Saginaw, established a plank road from East Saginaw, through Reese, and on into Watrousville. In 1871, Gates established a mail and stage route along the plank road. Gates kept his express and stage offices in Rogers’ hotel. The post office was also in Rogers’ hotel. The post office was named Gates in 1871 after the man responsible for getting it established. In the fall of 1871, Daniel Woodruff opened a grocery and provision store across the street from the hotel, and George Melatt and Archie Scott opened a blacksmith shop. In September, 1872, Asenath M. Rogers, Roberts’ wife, surveyed and platted eleven acres and called it Gates.
In 1873, G. W. Reese brought the Detroit & Bay City Railroad through the town. Hudson B. Blackman then platted a tract of land adjoining Gates, and called it Reese, in honor of the railroad superintendent. The station, post office and town were then renamed after him. Thomas Haniford, and Michael Doyle probably worked for that same railroad, and Eustius Gall, born in Switzerland, was an engineer. Blackman also donated the right – of – way and grounds on which the depot sat..
In 1875, Aseneth Rogers surveyed and platted an addition to the village of Gates. With the railroad station at the east end of town being called Reese, the post office of Gates at the west end eventually merged in, and the entire village and surrounding area became known as Reese. James N. Taylor, whom, according to the 1880 census was born in Virginia, served as postmaster from 1878 to at least 1883. In 1889, he and his family lost most of their possessions in a house fire.
The village grew rapidly and with in five years had a population of more than 300. In 1877 it was described as the railroad and trading point for a large section of farming country. Along with transporting people to and from the area the railroad would also transport timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and produce
Produce
Produce is a generalized term for a group of farm-produced goods and, not limited to fruits and vegetables . More specifically, the term "produce" often implies that the products are fresh and generally in the same state as where they were harvested. In supermarkets the term is also used to refer...
to markets throughout the state of Michigan. In the early 1900s, the railroad also was used by local farmers to ship hogs
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
to Detroit. Stages were also running daily from Saginaw to Caro. The depot served both railroads, as two train order boards were present. (one on a mast for the NYC and one on the building for the PM). Reese Crossing was not an interlocking but it was protected by a target that was set by approaching train crews. The E-W route is that of the Pere Marquette, and the N-S route going by the grain elevator is the Michigan Central branch line between Denmark Jct. and Bay City. The target was set vertical for a Michigan Central movement on the Denmark Jct. Branch.
In 1946, the C&O Railway
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
purchased the line. In 1985 the C&O combined with B&O
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
to form CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
. In 1988, Huron and Eastern Railway purchased the rail line which is still in operation today. In 1993, Reese celebrated its 120 years of rail service. Reese area farmers are one of the Huron & Eastern Railway's major shippers. Even today the farming success depends on efficient use of the rail system.
In 1971, 44 teachers from the elementary and high school went on strike. After refusal to go back to work, the Reese Board of Education fired all 44. Reese 44 members were the first teachers in Michigan fired for demanding a fair contract by striking. This produced the phrase "Remember the Reese 44".
The area continues to be largely agricultural.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,375 people, 591 households, and 397 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,195.8 per square mile (461.6/km²). There were 627 housing units at an average density of 545.3 per square mile (210.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.47% White, 0.07% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.29% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population. Reese's ancestral background is mainly German with 51%. 10% are Polish, 9% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 9% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, 8% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 4% from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
There were 591 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,469, and the median income for a family was $50,556. Males had a median income of $40,938 versus $25,250 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $22,498. About 3.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.