A COMMUNITY THAT STICKS TOGETHER
Date unknown
Mendon is a close-knit community and the people stick together. Anyone who has lived in Mendon always wants to go back, and anyone who visits Mendon, will hold a warm spot in their heart for the friends and neighbors they meet there. The history of Mendon is an interesting one, qualifying them as one of the oldest communities in the area.
Mendon was born on the Nottawaseepe Indian Reservation on 73,600 acres; the Ottawa, Chippewas and the Pottowatomies predominated. In 1829, on the south side of the St. Joseph River, two French brothers, the Godfoe brothers, opened a trading post for the Indians to buy their blankets, beads, trinkets, etc. Two buildings were built, one serving as a store and the second one as a shop.
The first white settler was Francoise Marantette from Detroit in August, 1833. He took charge of the post and also helped Governor Porter cause the signing of a treaty giving the reservation to the United States.
Our town was first called Wakeman. In 1844 the town fathers met and voted that the town be named Mendon, after two residents who had settled here, one from Mendon, Massachusetts, and the other from Mendon, New York. As the community grew, logically, the first industry was a sawmill built in 1844 to make material used in construction. In 1845, Leander Matty surveyed and platted the village. Also, Patrick Marantette platted another portion at the same time.
The railroad played an important role in Mendon’s early history. In 1870, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad was completed at thee west edge of town. It carried passengers, freight and mail. The next thirty years Mendon grew and prospered. In 1916, a disastrous fire struck and all but wiped out the entire business district, plus several homes. The rebuilding began, but some businesses were never replaced. What is now M-60, a busy and well-traveled state highway, used to be a gravel road. Now it brings retired people from Chicago and Detroit to live in the pleasant little community.
The tourist attraction centers around the St. Joseph River, along with Little Portage Creek, provides many hours of enjoyment for boaters, canoers and fishermen. They have their own tennis courts, St. Joe Valley Golf Course within six miles and the Langley Covered Bridge only eight miles away.
Mendon has become reputable for two programs in their community. Number one is the competitive and successful high school athletic teams, having copped the Class D Championship in recent years in one sport or another. The second is the Kiwanis Showboat, which has become some sort of a tradition in the area. It’s staged every November at the high school.
Mendon is located within reach of many fine educational institutions. Glenn Oaks Community College is well attended by many people in the area, as it represents our district as the most convenient for our residents. However, there are many higher denudational facilities. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, to name a few.
The active community also has many organizations, clubs and lodges, and take an active role in boy and girl scouts, 4-H Clubs, and are extremely pleased with their Little League program. If you’re planning to move into this area or you have a young man or woman to attend college, consider Mendon as your home.
