A heated and lengthy debate ensued in the legislature and the names of
many interior cites and villages were presented, although the primary
contenders were Ann Arbor, Jackson, Detroit and Grand Rapids. At one
point the people of Marshall were so sure of their town's selection that
they built a governor's mansion.
Debate turned into bickering and, eventually, into deadlock. Many names
were presented as a joke, including that of Copper Harbor at the
northern-most tip of the Upper Peninsula. One morning after a fall of
snow, a member arose and moved to take up the bill, offering as reason
that, "it would undoubtedly slide easily that morning."
Finally, Joseph H. Kilbourne of Meridian Township in Ingham County
proposed the Township of Lansing which was, at the time, little more
than a "hole in the woods" and unknown to most legislators. Accepting
the site as a compromise, the House and then the Senate approved the
location which the legislature named the Town of Michigan.
In 1848 the town of Michigan was renamed. After considering a variety of
possibilities such as Huron, Pewanogowink, Kinderhook, El Dorado,
Marcellus, Thorbush, Houghton, Harrison, Washington, Cass, Swedenborg
and Okeema, they agreed on Lansing.
The Second Capitol
Michigan's second Capitol building was erected in 1847 on the block now
bordered by Washington and Capitol avenues and Allegan and Washtenaw
streets in Lansing. Designed by Israel Gillett, it was of simple and
graceful design -- a two story frame structure, painted white with green
wooden shutters and topped by a tin cupola. Including a sixteen-foot
addition built in 1865, the total cost was $22,952.01. It was intended
as a temporary home for Michigan legislators, as the original designers
of Lansing had set aside the highest site in the town for a permanent
Capitol. Sold, when the third Capitol was occupied in 1879, the building
was then used in the manufacture of wooden handles and bent work until
it was destroyed by fire in 1882.
The Third Capitol
On January 1, 1871, Governor Henry P. Baldwin, in a message to the
legislature, pointed out the necessity for a new Capitol building. The
legislators agreed, and on March 31, 1871, the Governor signed a bill
"for the erection of a new state capitol, and a building for the
temporary use of the state officers." The act also empowered the
Governor to appoint a Board of Building Commissioners to be charged with
the design and construction of both buildings. Appropriated for the new
capitol was $1,200,000, to be raised by a 16 7/8 cent, per year, tax on
Michigan residents for six years. The ultimate cost, including
furniture, fittings and improvement of the grounds, was $1,427,743.78.
Commissioners Ebenezer O. Grosvenor of Jonesville, James Sherer of Bay
City and Alexander Chapoton of Detroit were confirmed by the legislature
and Allen J. Bours of Lansing was appointed Secretary. Governors Baldwin
(1869-72), Bagley (1873-76), and Croswell (1877-80) served as ex-officio
members. The Commission announced a design competition and, according to
Mr. O. L. Jenison, "Originally the designs were required to be submitted
by 1 December, 1871, but because of the Chicago fire of October 1871
which destroyed or damaged some of the entries, the deadline was
extended to 28 December. Altogether there were twenty entries from which
the winner was announced on 25 January, 1872, and the architect was
Elijah E.
Myers, Esq. of Springfield, Ill."
Preparations were underway by late August of 1872 and construction began a
month later. By September of 1873, Lansing, a town of 7,000 was readying
for the Cornerstone Laying Day with an expected crowd of 30,000 to
50,000 visitors. On October 2, 1873, following a parade and speakers,
the five-ton granite cornerstone with its historic documents and
memorials was lowered into place and sealed. It was a great occasion.
The editor of the Isabella County Enterprise voiced his opinion, "Gone --
Our wealthy citizens have again gone to see the cornerstone of the new
capitol laid. They ought to put some potato bugs under that stone, to
let the rising generation see 'what their fathers fit'."
It was a day with few problems. According to The Detroit Post, there was
"Nothing to do -- Detectives Bishop and O'Neil who went to Lansing to
look out for the light-fingered gentry who were expected to be present
at the laying of the cornerstone, returned home yesterday morning
thoroughly disgusted, having found nothing to do. For some reason the
'mob' failed to put in an appearance and no case of pocket-picking was
reported."
The Portland Observer provided this sidelight, "If any of the bricks from
the State Capitol are missing, we know where they are. A few were
emptied into this town Thursday night, judging by the shape of their
hats that's where they carried them."
On September 23, 1878 with construction and finishing completed, the new
Capitol with its 139 rooms, was "ready for delivery." Official
dedications followed the inauguration of Governor Croswell on January 1,
1879.
Visitors came from all over to see the new State House. For many it was a
new and strange experience which was evident in their questions and
comments. One lady after viewing both Legislative Halls remarked, "I
s'pose one these is for the Republicans and the other for the Dimmicrats
[sic]." Another asked whose initials "A.D.", were on the cornerstone.
On one occasion the building superintendent was escorting a group through
the Supreme Court Chamber. He reached the door and said, "Here is the
egress." One lady questioned her companion, "What did the gentlemen call
it? I've come a good ways and I want to see all there is."
After touring the building and riding in the elevator, a visitor asked if
he could go into the "tunnel", but was satisfied when told "the tunnel
isn't running today."
Another gentleman asked to see the "libratory." When asked if he meant the
State Library, he said he guessed that was it. A visitor viewing the
empty shelves in the newly completed library, was told it would be many
years before all the shelves were filled with books. Upon reaching
Representative Hall with a hundred empty desks, he commented, "It will
be a long time before those desks are occupied."
Source: Excerpts taken from Michigan's State Capitol, History Art &
Architecture, published by the Michigan Department of Management and
Budget, circa 1988.
The First Capitol