Ortonville- It was the 98th celebration of Independence Day’an invitation to attend a gathering at the once grand Ortonville Hotel.
It’s been more than 130 years since invitations to the Fourth of July Ball on Friday evening July 3, 1874 were purchased.
An original invitation to the event was recently obtained by a resident.
Brandon Township resident Bill McGuire said he traded for the old invitation which was removed from the walls of his home near Reese and Tindall roads during a renovation of the dinning room a few years ago. Bill and Nancy McGuire purchased the house in 1968 and have since researched its history.
The farm house was built about 1860 by George Tindall says great-great grandson Jack Tindall who lived in the house with his parents Paul and Donna Tindall from 1935 to 1951.
‘I figure it was George’s invitation,? said Jack. ‘He was a doctor and lived in the house located on about 80 acres. We found his doctor bag which contained some of his instruments in the attic.?
Admission was $2 and states ‘the company of yourself and lady is respectfully solicited.?