The Prosperity of Munith
by Ron and Arlene Kaiser
The log house on the Sutton Farm owned by Hiram Sutton became the site for the depot of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1884 when it was built from Pontiac to Jackson. Seeing the possibilities afforded by the railway, Mr. Sutton platted his farm for the building of a new village. The name, Munith, was adopted as a slightly changed form of the city of Munich, Germany, the original home of several of the early pioneers. Thus without the development of the railroad, the village wouldn’t have existed.
The Methodist Church was built in 1872, in Gassburg, a community two miles northwest of Munith, at the crossroads of N. Territorial and Fitchburg roads. In 1887, the church was moved to Munith to a plot given by Mr. Sutton who had offered a site for any church that would be built thereon. In the same year two stores and several houses were moved from Gassburg to Munith, and Dr. Conlon moved his practice from Gassburg to this growing community.
By 1890, Munith boasted a brick factory, several general stores, blacksmith shop, harness shop, church, grain elevator, newspaper, furniture store with undertaking rooms, cobbler shop, barber shop, meat market, drug store and two doctors.
The one-room district school, known as the Pixley School, had been built many years previously on the corner of Territorial and Musbach Roads, a mile north of the village of Munith. The children of the village of Munith walked to and from this school to learn their three “R’s.”
In 1913 half the town of Munith burned to the ground. This was a most devastating period for the entire community. Later articles will focus on this era of Munith.
The village of Munith in 1960, during the 125th Anniversary of Munith, Stockbridge and Gregory, was a changing version of its pioneer days. One still recognized the zeal of the founding fathers being carried on by their descendants when one heard many of the same names in the community.
The business section of Munith in 1960 served the community by means of the Farmers’ Elevator owned and operated by Vern Parks, Wright’s Grocery, Porter’s Grocery, Frinkle’s Hardware and Plumbing, Farmers State Bank, the post office, Hand Implement Service by Louis Freymuth, Clark’s Marathon Service, Munith Building Supply by Alex Hoffman, Stowe’s Garage, Ross Tank and Welding, Munith Drive-In Restaurant, Ewing Plumbing and Heating, and Wilson Implement Service.
The surrounding areas of Munith remain largely agricultural today. The town these writers grew up around and went to school in is but a mere shadow of the prosperous, thriving community we once knew. Munith is still filled with friendly families who cherish and hold dear their small town. Thank you Munith for holding on.
Information for this article was taken from the 125th Anniversary book from 1960 and personal accounts of those living near Munith.
