The 1st Union City Boy Scout Troop, Feb 1918 - Re-posted with newspaper article

Photo provided by Duane Hooker....

Picture and information forwarded to me by Duane Hooker's daughter Denise ...Duane notes; "First Boy Scout Troop" - I believe the photo of the boys is the first Boy Scout Troop in Union City. A note on back of picture reads: "February 1918, picture copy by Douglas Hobday". Eli T. Hooker (Duane's father) is the third boy from the right in the photo. Duane comments that he suspects a lot of grandpa's will be recognized by their grandchildren in this picture.

Sandra Plettner originally posted the newspaper article on the "Union City, Michigan Memories" Facebook group.  The newspaper article notes the names of the boys appearing in the picture.

Comment: Looks like the Civil War Statue in the Soldiers Park beside the Congregational Church in Union City is behind the scouts. You can also see a little of the bandstand that once stood in the park on the very left in the picture. ....Ron

Tom Thumb Wedding in 1921 - Repost with Bill Gough's Comments

The picture above title "Tom Thumb Wedding" in Union City, Michigan on Feb. 11th 1921 appears to have take place in the Congregational Church.  The original picture was loaned to me to scan back in 1998, by Barbara and Vernon Cline.  They lived in the apartment across from my parents in the Butler Apartments where the old school once stood.  Barbara is in the second row back the 3rd from the left.  My father is located in the second row from the rear, the boy on the right looking off to his left.

Additional comment from Bill Gough ....My mother's older sister, Margaret Corbin, is also in the picture taken at the church. She is 2nd to the left from the organ console in the 2nd row from the top, wearing a bandanna.

Comment from Bill Gough ....My mother Eleanor Corbin Gough is in the "Tom Thumb" wedding picture taken inside First Congregational…she was four years old. I am happy to report that she is still alive and turning 96 is October. I recognized that picture as soon as I saw it, and picked my mother out right away…in fact she is on the right side of the picture in the second row and her head (black hair with a bandana) brushes up against your dad who you say is looking to the left. As the story goes, all the kids are looking at one of the bridesmaids who just became sick and is actually vomiting in the picture!

The picture above was scanned while visiting the Hammond House in 2010.  The picture notes "Tom Thumb Wedding".  Appears to be in the opera house.

Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Civil War Monument - 1884

My brother Marty sent me this picture.  The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) erected the monument in 1884 in recognition of those men who served in the Civil War.  The picture was taken shortly after the monument was erected, and is one of the earliest pictures of both the monument and the Congregational Church.

Silas B. Corbin Family - 1902

Picture sent to me by Bill Gough from his mother Eleanor (Corbin) Gough's photo album.

Comments from Bill ....The Silas B. Corbin Family, taken in 1902. From left to right, my grandfather John, Elizabeth (Betty or Bessie), Silas, Byron and Ella (Spofford). John was 18, Betty 16 and Byron 13 years old in the picture. Silas' brothers Horace and Samuel were businessmen in Union City, in dry goods sales. The Corbin brothers came to Union City from Charlestown, New Hampshire, during the early 1860s. They were descendants of the Puritans.

Betty went on to be a teacher at a private school in Highland Park, MI, Byron became a professor of chemistry at the Teachers College (now Eastern Michigan University) in Ypsilanti. John, of course, took over the farm from Silas, but he was also president of the Union City National Bank, the Branch County Community Corporation, and was a member of the Branch County Hospital Board. He was also a deacon at the Congregational Church. 

Congregational Church Events in early 1900's

Some more pictures sent to me by Bill Gough from Eleanor (Corbin) Gough's photo album.

Comments by Bill ....When I look at the following two pictures, I can't help but compare this to the recent festivities in Union City that I have seen via the Facebook page. What is there about the town that makes folks want to dress up in costumes?  Just kidding…

Comments by Bill Gough ....it looks like there has always been a lot of imagination in Union City. It's heart-warming to see pictures like these…in so many photos from the past, people look so serious. The first is, I'm reasonably certain, from the Congregational Church. Mom doesn't know the occasion, but I suspect this was a play that was put on by the members…and I would guess it was taken around 1910. My grandfather John Corbin is standing in the second row with a mustache and small goatee, 5th from the right. I think that is also my great aunt Betty Corbin (John's sister) sitting in the front row, 4th from the left, in the white dress. A lady holds a sign that says "Matrimony" on the left, along with a trumpet player, a railroad engineer, the ladies' social group, etc. Interesting. 

Comments by Bill Gough ....In the picture above, John Corbin is standing in the back row 4th from right. I don't know if either his siblings Byron or Betty or in the picture, but they could be. The room also looks interesting - obviously not in the church but where, I don't know. Mom cannot recall anything about this, but it was before her time. A bit exotic with the Chinese lanterns and the palm tree, and a few people in Asian garb. Again, I would guess from around 1910. Up to you and the rest of the town to fill in the blanks!

Rev. Roger Gough

Pictures sent to me by Rev. Roger Gough's son Bill.

Comments by Bill ....two pics of my dad…Rev. Roger W. Gough. The first one (sepia) is from the early 1930s while he was in seminary in New York…he probably looked much the same when he came to Union City. The second is my mom's favorite, because of the smile, but was taken probably close to twenty years after leaving the Union City church.

Wedding picture - Eleanor Corbin and Roger Gough in front of the Congregational Church in July 1940

Picture sent to me by Bill Gough, son of Eleanor (Corbin) and Rev. Roger Gough.  

Comments by Bill Gough ....Picture was taken in front of the Congregational Church after their wedding ceremony in July of 1940.  Yes, the Corbins were quite involved in the Union City church... and so my dad got to know my mother through that connection while he was pastor. Mom was a student in college at Eastern Michigan U. (Michigan Teachers College at the time) in Ypsilanti when they met. They were married a little over one year after she graduated. In between, she taught music in Ithaca, MI in the public schools. My parents left Union City in the summer of 1941 for a church in Allegan, MI. From there they moved to Piqua, OH and then eventually to St. Paul, MN. Attached is a wedding announcement from the Battle Creek newspaper at the time.

Congregational Church and the Christian Endeavor Group

The pictures below were sent to me by Bill Gough from his mother's photo album ...some great pictures, hopefully some of you that take a look at the pictures can help identify who the people are in the pictures.

Comments from Bill .....Some old photos from the Congregational Church. Below is a picture of the church choir in the mid 1930s. My grandfather John Corbin and my mother Eleanor are 2nd and 3rd from left in the second row. My grandmother Ethel is 3rd from left in the front row. I think that is a Rev. Russ McConnell (?) in the back row in the center. I don't know the exact year but it was likely around the time mom left for college.

Bill's comments ....The "Christian Endeavor" group, I think it was a young adults group, taken in the church in 1905. John Corbin is 3rd from left in the back row. His brother Byron is 3rd from right in the back row.

Bill's comments ....A postcard to my grandmother Ethel from John, 1911. On the back written "Thurs Eve. This is the breaking up of the C.E. (Christian Endeavor) picnic. Do you see any familiar faces?" Not sure who he is referring to!

Bill's comments ....Not sure when this was taken … but I would guess 1905-10. Christian Endeavor Group again. Byron Corbin, my great uncle, on the left end.

Moving Day in Union City - early 1920's ...Re-post with comment on 21 Nov 2011

The picture was sent to me by my brother Marty.  The truck moving a families possessions sitting at the corner of Broadway and Allen Streets, with Soldiers Park and the Congregational Church in the background. The picture is estimated to have been taken in the early 1920's.

Does anyone have a clue as to who the men are in the picture or correct date?

Comment - Hi Ron:

The Union City Bicentennial 1976 booklet in the UC Public library, the picture is titled "Ed Lincoln and his truck".  Hope this helps. 

I enjoy your blog and check it frequently.  I grew up just outside of UC and graduated in 1980, approximately a year ago moved back and bought a house on Ellen Street.  I have been doing research on my house and happened to see this same picture that you have on your blog so I thought I would send you a note.

Have a great day.

Julie Gregory

  

The First Congregational Church - 90th Anniversary Program