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MICHIGAN'S OLD STATE CAPITOL SUCCUMBS TO THE FLAMES AFTER THIRTYFIVE YEARS OF SERVICE
From the Lansing Republican, Dec. 19, 1882
A BRIEF BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE OLD CAPITOL From the Evening News, Detroit, Dec. 16, 1882
Lansing, Mich., Dec. 16. —The fire in the old State capitol building broke out at 2:30 p. m., and the building is now (3: 45 p. in. ) wholly destroyed. The loss of Piatt Bros, will be heavy. They are said to be insured for $8, 000. Most of the machinery and manufactured stock was saved. The fire originated in the garret from a defective chimney. Fortunately the wind was in the right direction. No other buildings were destroyed. The grand army of the republic occupied the upper story and saved most of their furniture.
The burning of the old State capitol at Lansing to-day makes the following brief bit of state history of interest at this time. The constitution of 1836 provided that the seat of government should be established at Detroit until 1847, when it should be permanently located by the legislature. In January, 1847, Gov. Felch called attention to this provision, and the legislature attempted to carry it out. After long and tedious effort—Ann Arbor, Jackson, Marshall, Kalamazoo and other places, * being determined to have it —a proposition was carried to locate it on the school section of the extreme northwestern township of Ingham county. It was known to be an unbroken wilderness, without even a good wagon road leading to it, but the absurdity of the thing disarmed opposition and the measure was carried in triumph. It was then voted to hold the next session there, in hopes that the difficulties of the situation would bring members to their senses and lead them to unite on some available point.
MICHIGAN
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