By Staff
I've always wondered about the names of our Dowagiac streets.
In looking in my 1948 city directory, I find we have eight streets named after trees.
There are a Cedar, Cherry, Chestnut, Elm, Maple, Oak, Spruce and a Walnut.
Four are named after states: Indiana, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
Front Street was probably called Front because most of the old businesses "fronted" it and it was the main way into town from the north.
Main Street because it was the main way into town from the south.
Division Street was a simple choice as it was the street that divided the north and south sides of town for house numbering.
Of course, East and West Railroad streets were because they ran on the east and west sides of the Michigan Central Railroad tracks.
I suppose Commercial Street was because it consisted of some businesses.
Former presidents gave us Lincoln, Jefferson and Cleveland streets.
Hamilton was named after Patrick Hamilton, a Dowagiac pioneer.
Beckwith because of P.D. Beckwith, who was a Dowagiac industrialist.
McOmber Street was probably named after old Mr. McOmber who owned the stage stop years ago.
Colby Street was because of the Colby Mill. Mill Street because it went from E. Division to the mills location.
Maybe Pokagon was named after Leopold Pokagon, an old Cass County Indian chief.
I don't know how they came up with Merchant Street, as there were only two houses on it. In fact, it is no longer a street, but is the Catholic church parking lot.
Hill Street because it has a hill on the far end of it.
Park Place had to be because of Michigan Central Railroad Park that used to be one of Dowagiac's showplaces (remember the old bandstand and green benches?)
Riverside Drive cemetery street may have been when the pond it crossed was just a small river.
Orchard Street may be because of some orchards on it.
I know there was one in the 700 block in 1948 when I lived on the corner of Orchard and North streets. North was just a two-block east-west street with only two houses.
Last but not least is "Clark" or "Clarke" street.
This street was named after my pioneer (Clarke) family who owned the old Clarke homestead on Division which consisted of the four lots west from Clark Street.
So the city sign should be spelled "Clarke."