The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 38, September 23, 2007, Article 12

GLEANINGS FROM THE DETROIT FREE PRESS DIGEST, 1863

W. David Perkins writes: "I was in Detroit on business last week,
and before flying home on Friday spend a few enjoyable hours doing
some research at the Burton Historical Society, Detroit Public
Library Detroit, Michigan.  My research was numismatic, pertaining
to Detroit Civil War Store Card tokens and also a little on my
family genealogy.  My great-great grandfather, Wm. Perkins, Jr.
opened the Perkins Hotel in Detroit in 1847.  In 1863, he issued
two CWT Store Cards, one for the Perkins Hotel and one as Wm. Perkins,
Jr., Grocer & Provision Dealer.  I have been collecting and researching
these Store Cards for over a decade, and have published 15 or so
articles on them in the Civil War Token Journal and in TAMS Magazine.

"The Hotel, Grocery & Provision Store, Meat Market and Livery were
all located on the corner of Grand River, Middle Street and Cass
Avenue in downtown Detroit.  I located two files with quite a few
different photos of the Perkins Hotel, all previously unknown to me.
I also located the land records for the acquisition of this property.

"Viewing this Detroit Free Press Digest was a little like 'going
back in time' for me.  Following are a few of the 'fun' findings,
in no particular order.

"'November 17, 1863:  'Penny tokens of copper can be furnished at
$7.50 by John Gault, New York City.'  Many E-Sylum readers will
recognize Gault's name.  I assume it was $7.50 for 1,000 tokens,
these likely being made from 'stock dies' and what we term Patriotic
Civil War Tokens today.

"May 24-26, 1863:  'F. Behr has sold out his business near the Post
Office and will open in a new place, 926 Jefferson Avenue, opposite
Miller's garden, May 21.'  The Fred Bayer 'Ein Glas Bier' token is
the second rarest Detroit CWT, with maybe only 4-8 examples known.
Perhaps this sale of his business helps explain the rarity of his
token?

"July-December, 1859:  'At a democratic meeting in the Eighth Ward
[Detroit, Wayne County] addresses were made by Ex-alderman Gallagher,
James Dale Johnson, John Quigley, William Perkins, Sen., Richard H.
Finley and others.'  William Perkins, Senior is my great-great-
great grandfather.  I never knew he was a Democrat?  It was neat
to find something pertaining to him.

"March 15-17, 1863:  'A man named Fields has been arrested for
robbing the boot and shoe store of Charles B. Goodrich, corner
of Grand River and Cass Streets.'  Goodrich advertised his location
on his CWT Store card as 'Opposite the Perkins Hotel!'  I wonder
if Fields took any Civil War tokens out of the till???

"September 19, 1866:  I'll end with the following, and a brief
story, 'Richard Benson, living on Middle Street near Perkins'
stables is a worthless vagabond.  He came home drunk and turned
his family out of doors!'

"The barn or livery held up to 150 horses per my research.  Dealer
Mike Ringo purchased a tin-type photo of the Livery stable of the
Perkins Hotel at a gun show in Portland, Oregon during the same
time the 1998 Portland ANA was being held.  The tin-type made its
way to me via Dealer Steve Tanenbaum and a very good coin friend
who purchased it on Friday afternoon (after I had left the show
to return to Denver).  My good friend shipped it via over-night
mail, arriving on my birthday!"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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