Historical Baggage Tag: Part III

By Angela Kellogg-Henry

Cleaver Managing Editor

Readers may remember the two articles I’ve written about two brass baggage tags found from the Johnson House of Harrison, now the home of the Harrison District Library. One tag was found in the Saginaw area and the other from the woods in Hubbard Lake.

The newest baggage tag found comes from Meredith. A gentleman from Jackson posted it on a local group asking if “Brown’s Restaurant” was still in business with a photo of yet another 1880s brass baggage tag. It is the same size and style as the Johnson House tags. He had it in a random box of items that he and his brother planned to sell.

The newly found tag is probably from the restaurant, hotel, and livery of John Brown, a Clare County businessman. The Clare Sentinel reports in October of 1893. “Filex Beauchamp has moved into Mr. Holihan’s house, and Sherd Metchner has rented Gene Cogswell residence while Ed. Haws has opened a restaurant at the old stand recently vacated by John Brown.”

Immediately, he began to get inquiries about purchasing it. I’m grateful he allowed the Harrison District Library to purchase it so it can be shared with anyone who would like to view it.

Items from Meredith are hard to come by. As the lumbering camps moved north a new town was established in 1883 in Franklin Township near the Roscommon and Gladwin county lines called Meredith. Many Harrison businessmen went into business in Meredith to capitalize on its growing population. Meredith was in constant controversy with fights, prostitution, murders, and general civil disorder. A post office operated in Meredith from January 14, 1884, until October 14, 1895.  In 1893 the rails were pulled up, the depot was dismantled and the crews moved on along with most of the people and Meredith became a ghost town.

After the lumbering era was over what did not burn was hauled away and used for homes and farms leaving Meredith deserted. The first home was built in Meredith after it was a ghost town for many years in 1940. Built by Merrill and Myrtle Hoard the cabin still stands today.

There are not many tangible history items from Meredith. A handful of photos, some pottery shards and bottles, a few letterheads and covers (envelopes) and now this baggage tag.