City Government

Mayor C. J. Davis commenced his official duties this morning and about his first public act was the signature of some dog licenses and licenses for drays. Tonight for the first time he will preside over the initial meeting of the new council and will read his message to that body.

Lansing State Republican, May 3, 1897

Lansing’s mayor and city council dealt with issues that directly affected the lives of city residents. Costs—whether that of dog-catching or of heating the new city hall—were always of concern.

Lansing celebrated the new year of 1897 by dedicating an impressive new city hall at the southeast corner of Capitol Avenue and Ottawa Street. The building embodied the city’s pride and self-confidence as it entered its second half-century as Michigan’s capital.

Local architect Edwyn A. Bowd, whose work included the Industrial School for Boys and the Michigan School for the Blind, designed the new city hall. It housed city offices, the police department, and Board of Education. Prior to construction of the Carnegie Library in 1905, city hall was also home to the public library. (The 1897 city hall was torn down in 1959.) The Lansing Fire Department headquarters was located on the south side of Allegan, between Washington Avenue and Grand Street.

Lansing had two mayors during the calendar year 1897. Attorney Russell Ostrander, who held office as the year began, was succeeded by Charles J. Davis, a lumberman elected in the April municipal election.

Each of the city’s six wards elected two aldermen to represent it on the Common Council. Most members of the council in 1897 were self-employed businessmen or professionals like wholesale grocer M.R. Carrier, who represented the fourth ward. Only two were wage-earners: hardware store clerk Tony Engelhart and machinist George Horan. One of the most controversial issues before the council in 1896 had been the regulation of bicyclists. The main issues were whether they should be taxed and what speed limits should be set.

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