City of South Haven history

Pioneering times brought J.R. Monroe who founded the area in 1833.

1844 First township board meeting in Breedsville.

April 1845 Split up of Columbia and South Haven Townships

April 1849 Raise tax of $50 to buy and clear two burying grounds In the Township

The availability of lumber made it possible for a hotel, a school, homes, stores and many other buildings to be built. It was not until the 1850's that permanent pioneer families started settling at this location.

April 1852 Township to raise $250 to be applied in building a bridge across the mouth of south Black River

October 1853 Board of Supervisors set off and organized into a new township the name of Bangor

April 1855 Money allocated to put a swing or draw bridge at the mouth of the river

September 1857 Liberty Hyde Bailey elected Commissioner of Highways and Path Master elected

April 1858 Motion to raise $250.00 for highway purposes

April 1861 Moved and supported that no boar pigs be allowed to run at large in the township after they are four weeks old

October 1868 Voted to procure a suitable bookcase to contain the Township Library records, law books and documents belonging to the Township

The territory embraced all of section 10, fractional sections 9 and 3, and a strip of land 80 rods wide on the west part of section 2, and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 11.The first election under the reincorporation was held May 10, 1869.

March 1870 Special meeting to aid in the construction of the “Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad”. The sum of $40,000 bonds to be deposited with state treasurer and to be delivered to the treasurer of the railroad company when the line was completed through the township.

August 1873 Township requested that the treasurer of the State of Michigan cancel and delivery any and all railroad bonds

April 1875 Amanda Hale rejected sum of $65 for damage done to her property caused by Commissioner of Highways and appeal is going to be written.

1879 Annual meeting held In the Eby building and nine path masters elected

April 1883 Annual meeting held in Leighton’s Opera House and nine path masters elected

April 1889 $150 to build bridge on Geneva and South Haven Township line

April 1893 First meeting held at the Township Hall.

April 1895 Meeting held to vote on proposition to bond the township in the sum of $2500 to repair culvert on Phoenix Ravine

April 1897 Township gave $200 to library fund

March 1901 A bill to authorize the township to raise or borrow money and Issue bonds (not to exceed $50,000) to purchase a site and for construction of a courthouse and jail for Van Buren County.

April 1906 Highway Commission asked for funds to build culverts in 4 locations. $1000 spent for gravel for roads

April 1908 Township Republican Committee formed with George W. Matthews, Peter Walkins and C.A. Westgate

April 1911 Township proceeded to purchase one acre of land from Mrs.

July 1912 Fred Kohlhoff was awarded $10 for the damage to his house.

August 1914 Township board officials granted the Kalamazoo/South Haven Railroad to construct a siding at Fruitland station of unloading of stone for future Stone road building.

March 1916 Board asked permission to borrow sum of $25,000 and issue bonds for expense of macadamizing and building stone roads, repairing the necessary bridges.

April 1926 Archie Siller was appointed a Health officer for an annual salary of $100.

February 1929 Following delegates to be sent to the Republican County Convention held at Hartford: Larry V. Chaddock, George E. Chatfield, Charles D. Leisering, and Henry Pearce.

It was also during the 1930's that the Liberty Hyde Bailey home was presented to the city in memory of an earlier prominent horticulturist.

November 1932 Board designated township funds to be at the First State Bank and directed Treasurer Orin Horton to deposit all funds there-

November 1935 Township purchased a typewriter for a cost of $35.

March 1938 Clerk asked to call for bids for repairing the chimney of township hall.