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THE NEWS - PALLADIUM, BENTON HARBOR, MICH.PACE TWENTY-EIGHTTHURSDAY, JULY 6, 1967STORY OF THREE OAKS PIONEERS TOLDTwo MenWho Played Big RolesChamberlain And Warren RecalledAt Centennial Timetty HILL KUMKLKR South Berrien BureauTHREE OAKS - The growth and development of a community con easily be measured by when llie first scltlcr came, when gas lights were installed, when cement sidewalks were put in or when Hie first brick house was constructed.However, the history of Three Oaks enn host be studied in the Jives of two men.For Hie growth and dcvelop-mcnl oT Three Oaks was conspicuously cenlci fifl o r o tt n lt;1 Henry Chamberlain and Edward K. Warren, their courage and foresight; Chamberlain during the 1850’s, and Warren from the late pari of the cctury until bis death in 1919.The Three Oaks area in the beginning was part of New Buffalo township where Henry Chamberlain lived with his father Moses Clmmberlfiin. who migrated from the cast in 1843.Three Oaks really got started when the Michigan Central Railroad (later merged with the New York Central) built a refueling siding near a large Ira cl of lirnbcrlnnd owned by Ilcnry Chamberlain.FIRST CABINSeeing that the fuel stop was nearby Chamberlain took on a contract to supply the wood-burning engines with 4,000 cords of wood and Ini ill a cabin near the siding in 1850, the first structure in Three Oaks.Several woodcutters settled nearby and since Urcre were three oak trees near the trucks that looked like one giant oak from a distance, train passengers called the siding Three Oaks.With the economic collapse of New Buffalo in 1853, Three Oaks started growing rapidly due to the sudden influx of former New Buffalo residents and even had a school by 1854 and in 1856 the area was incorporated as a township.Chamberlain worked toward the idea of a village at Three Oaks from the very beginning.He linrl the railroad but he knew villages nre usually located at important crossroads so he surveyed two roads to the township boundaries. The north-south road today is the heavily travelled Three Oaks road and still the main road through town.The oast-west road now carries routes US-12 and M-GO, The boundaries of the village he laid out are still the same today. STARTS STOREChamberlain, with partner Ames, started the first general store — really more a trading post — in the village and attracted n few other businessmen to town.Before 1870 the town hnd a papulation of 100 but in 1870 it bad grown to 500 with 1,328 in the township.In 1888 Chamberlain built n borne on the east side of Ash street where he lived until his death in 1907.Chamberlain was always interested in politics as indicated by the fact he was elected aIIENRY CHAMBERLAINEDWARD K. WARRENcapital.Three Oaks beat out Niles and Michigan City as the site with the decisive blow coming when farmers joined together to subscribe to $10,000 worth ofstock.Although the business seemed to make an easy go of it, thefirm actually had n difficult time as Warren had no manufacturing experience and yet was trying to produce a new material made by a new process. It took ten yearsactually to get the business on a solid base.At its peak the facioiy employed 500 persons and due to it, Use town grew to 1,500 inhabitants by the turn oi the century. It bad changed from a small farming and timber community to an industrial town due to Warren’s fealherboue industry,Warren became the dominant figure in the community with the rise of his business. Without, exception he used his influence for Bid betterment of theAgriculture Day Set On July 12111.r mansion.The firm movedto Gainesville, Ga., in 1957 but the slackof this economic setback to the community was taken up by Weldun Tool and Engineering, Harness Inc. (manufacturing office furniture) Lee Electronics and Knoll Co. making plastic products for infants.By ROM ELYlCDLTOU’S NOTK: ttnn l!lj in the I ale 11 In a Itmr line o 1 *cl«rs and H‘ilrlr.% who liatr won Ijwp And f«i(un* s*lnpjn* from rln#i r*nd making Junflr rails *« '■Tarran.*' \ lot of \lrwori rrfnA thr Nilt;! ►rrlciCentennial Event In Three OaksTHREE OAKS—The agricultural timetable will be turnedWARREN EEATHERHONE: This ia part. of the lt;M Warren Featherbone factory as it looks today. The firm moved to Georgia in J957. The extensive spread of buildings are now occupied by Weldun Tools and Engineering, Harness Inc. and bet* Electronics. (Staff photo)FIRST STORE: The first store opened in Throe Onka was the general store of Henry Chamberlain and his partner Ames. Structure was put up in 1854 on Elm street just routh of the Michigan Central railroad tracks. It also served as Chamberlain’s home for a time. It was torn down in 1824.Is Hard Work, Says ActorSTREET SCENE: Old photo shows a street scene in Three Oaks before the coming of the auto. Scene is looking north on Elm street. Post office is the first building lt;m the left.Playing ‘Tarzan On TVing in Bni7.il. out on the town. I don’t drink orWhat I’m doing taxes me anti ! smoke. What few minutes I challenges me. The day-nflcr- * Imvo alone I spend sleeping. It day work is hard but if you have I doesn't sound glamorous and it a pride in Ihc business and arc I isn't.hammering out a product fro-: M'Uo inim.iAc Unor.:f'v:• • T ;*■ »'»■ lt;'*7 • r* ' . . .'Tr *« . • • •• \‘YiV:mw5community, such as pushing for a new water and lighting plant and a new railroad station. He also donated land to the village for a park.DEWEY CANNONWhen -a national competition was announced for contributing money fcr a Manila Bay monument fund with a cannon captured in battle for the prize, Warren got behind the idea of Three Oaks computing.He, along with Henry Chamberlain and TfcVCfe, headed the committee that collected contributions and coined the phrase Three Oaks Against the World” as the campaign rally cry.Three Oaks contributed more money per capita than any other community in the nation and President McKinley came to town in 1899 to dedicate the Dewey canson.As he was almost always working for the benefit of the viilago his influence was seldom envied and his prestige was high, according to oldtimers.Iu politics he was once township clerk, treasurer and supervisor for several terms. WARREN FOUNDATIONIn 1917, two years before his death, Warren started the Warren Foundation for the preservation of forests, historical data and documents and the cstafc-lishinest of parks. The efforts of this foundation led to the establishment of Warren Woods and Warren Dunes state park and the highly praised Chamberlain memorial museum, which has since been donated to the. University of Michigan.As the Featherbone Co, facedDEWEY CANNON TODAY: The Dewey cannon dedicated to Three Oaks by President McKinley in 1899 sita on a pedestal in its own park in front of the once proud railroad station. (Staff photo)SATURDAY, JULY 15, VETERANS, ARMED FORCES ANDFRATERNAL DAY9 a.m. Water ball fight among Berrien county fire departments, Three Oaks school parking lot.10 a.m. Muzzle loaders skect shoot, Three Oaks school grounds, 1:30 p.m. Judging of the Brothers of the Brush.3 p.m. Gigantic parade featuring famous Zouaves.8 p.m. River Valley high school band concert, Memorial Park. 8:30 p.m. Final performance of the historical spectacular. Memorial Park.TUESDAY, JULY 11, INDUSTRIAL APPRECIATION DAY10 a.m.-noon Tours through Three Oaks industrial plants.2 p.m. Greased pig catching contest for the kids iu the park-library area.6:30-8:30 p.m. Old fashioned icc cream social, Reformed Church.8:30 p.m. First performance of the historical stage show spectacular “Growth of an Acorn,” Memorial Park..WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, AGRICULTURE DAY9:30-12:00 a.m. Steam show: log sawing and threshing at Dewey Cannon Park.1-3 p.m. Second steam show, same place.4:00-7:00 p.m. Horse events, Dewey Cannon Park.8:00-8:SO p.m. Musical program, Memorial Park.8:30 p.m. Second performance historical spectacular. 21 cannon salute to be fired.FRIDAY, JULY 14, LADIES DAY9:30-11:30 a.m. Cooking school sponsored by IM Electric Co. in Three Oaks school all purpose room.12:30-3:30 p.m. Luncheon and style show, Ccngregalional Church.7:30-8:30 p.m. Old timers band concert, Memorial Park.8:30 p.m. Fourth performance historical spectacular. Memorial Park. 21. cannon salute.THURSDAY, JULY 13, YOUTH DAY8 a.m. High school boys golfing at Chikamlog County Club.9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Athletic events for boys and girls.7-8 p.m. Folk Ringing group, Memorial Park.8:30 p.m. Third performance of the historical spectacular. Memorial Park. 21 cannon saJulc beforehand.10 p.m.-midnight Tccn dance, Three Oaks school gym.MONDAY, JULY 10, MERCHANTS AND HOMECOMING DAY8:30 a.m. Merchants parade, downtown. Stores to feature old fashioned Bargain Day.7-9 p.m. Hootenanny downtown.9 p.m.-midnight Square Dance, Three Onks school parking lot.SUNDAY, JULY 9, HERITAGE DAY ,1:30 p.m. Firing and rededication of the Dewey Cannon with President McKinley as speaker. Also, special recognition of pioneers present.3 p.m. Combined service af all churches in a Religious Heritage program.a decline in the use of its materials in whips and corset stays in the ninteenth century the firm took to making ribbons, tapes and braids. The whip factory closed in 1921. However. Warren had made enough money to live out his last ten years in on Evanston,Centennial CalendarTin •ee OaksCANNON UNVEILED: Artist’s sketch published in “The Acorn,’1 Three Oaks magazine published in 1920, shows multitudes watching historic cannon unveiled as monument June 28, 1900.
Newspaper Details
Benton Harbor News Palladium
Benton Harbor, Michigan, US
Thu, Jul 06, 1967
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Brian C.
MI, USA 18 Oct 2018
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