Town and City Scenes--Coldwater

Black and white collotype postcard from circa 1904-1906 of the Branch County Courthouse in Coldwater, Michigan. The courthouse was approved by voters in 1887 and construction finished in 1888. A fire destroyed the building in 1972, later determined to be arson.

Black and white postcard from circa 1904-1906 of the cottages belonging to the State Public School in Coldwater, Michigan. The school was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1871 to provide support and instruction to neglected and dependent children aged 4-16 before they could be placed in permanent homes or returned to their families. The school provided "family-like" life that included education, recreation and work skills training, and utilized the cottages in the postcard to create more home-like life. By the turn of the century, the school was the only home in the state to admit both disabled and non-disabled children. In 1935, the wards and records were taken over by the Michigan Children's Institute in Ann Arbor, and the Coldwater school became the Michigan Children's Village, accepting mildly impaired children. By 1939, it started admitting developmentally impaired persons of all ages and became the Coldwater State Home and Training School.

Black and white collotype postcard from circa 1904-1906 of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Coldwater, Michigan. This church building replaced the original building in 1880. A pipe organ was added in 1885, and a large bell was purchased in 1888.

Black and white photograph of West Chicago Street, looking west from Marshall Street, in downtown Coldwater, Michigan.

Black and white collotype postcard from circa 1904-1906 depicting the Edward R. Clark Library building in Coldwater, Michigan. The library, a gift of prosperous druggist and grocer Edward R. Clark, was dedicated on December 29, 1886, and was one of the earliest dedicated city library buildings in the state.

Black and white collotype postcard from circa 1904-1906 depicting the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad depot in Coldwater, Michigan.

Black and white postcard from circa 1904-1906 of the State Public School in Coldwater, Michigan. The school was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1871 to provide support and instruction to neglected and dependent children aged 4-16 before they could be placed in permanent homes or returned to their families. The school provided "family-like" life that included education, recreation and work skills training. By the turn of the century, the school was the only home in the state to admit both disabled and non-disabled children. In 1935, the wards and records were taken over by the Michigan Children's Institute in Ann Arbor, and the Coldwater school became the Michigan Children's Village, accepting mildly impaired children. By 1939, it started admitting developmentally impaired persons of all ages and became the Coldwater State Home and Training School.