Tons of info on Olive Township - and Green & White messages

The roots of Olive Township run deep.

At least that seems to be the case, based on the number of responses we've received on the County Road piece about Olive that appeared two weeks ago. Thanks for the added info - which we'll pass along here to the entire Indy readership.

Stan Loomis sent an email about a well-known Olive Township byway - Loomis Road. As it turns out, the road was named for his grandparents, Theodore and Della, who operated the local post office before it became a DeWitt rural route.

Stan recalls his birthplace with fondness. "My father Carl was born there, as was I. He played baseball for the Merle Beach team. I graduated from the Merle Beach School and was a member of the Olive Grange. I attended dances there and at the Merle Beach Hotel. Thanks for a most interesting story."

Although he's not an Olive resident, the article also caught the eye of John Chmiko because of its mention of the interurban that ran along Loomis Road. John stopped by the office last week to let me know that an interurban bridge still remains.

The bridge as it stands today is located to the south of the curve on DeWitt Road near where Jason Road makes its swing around Muskrat Lake. Any readers out there have input on the bridge and how it got to its present location?

Gary Steinherdt, who lives in Indiana where he is a professor at Purdue University, provided the name of the red-brick schoolhouse that sits on the northeast corner of Bond and Chadwick roads - Lemm. An Olive Township native, he attended the pretty country school that has an interesting history.

According to Gary, there was a dispute - involving the "Fighting Five" - about which corner the school should be built on. He says at one time the school was located across the road on the southeast corner.

No conflict marred Gary's stint at Lemm School - his memories are good ones.

Dale Calder called to ask me to mention the fact that his ancestor, Alexander Calder, was the first landowner in Olive Township. In the abbreviated history of the township that is part of each County Road piece, I named Olive's first settlers, the Merrihews and Fergusons, but neglected to include information on the man who first bought land in the township.

The 1980 History of Clinton County says that in 1835, "a lone rider came to the village of DeWitt via the Grand River Road." A native of Scotland, Calder purchased 120 acres of land from Captain David Scott - for the price of $1.25 an acre. Calder later built a cabin on his land and went on to play a significant role in the history of Olive Township.

Thanks to all these 'road readers' for the added information.

Ovid Township is up next - we'll be anxious to see what response the trip there brings from Ovidites.

* * * * * * * * *

It would be remiss of me not to mention another group of individuals who called, sent emails, and otherwise made their opinions known last week following the Spartan's NCAA championship victory.

There's nothing I like better than seeing a huge, Green S floating across my computer screen while the MSU Fight Song blares from the speakers.

Thanks.

Thanks a heap.

There's always next year, of course - but, I have to admit, the hoop forecast doesn’t look too good for the Maize & Blue.

Fortunately, football season is just around the corner - maybe the Wolverines can at least avenge that fiasco from '99.

Or not.