South Michigan News

This is John Proper's saloon, which was located at 129 N. LeRoy in the late 19th century.

The issue of whether Fenton would sell booze within village limits, whether it would be "wet" or "dry," came up often to be voted on at that time. 

Burns Fuller described it this way:

"The inevitable day finally would come: Election Day. On the upper floor of the old town hall, the polls would open at 7am. Up those interminable steep stairs climbed the voters, some of them deep in their cups, others stone sober, and many in between."

"Into that smoke filled room went the voter, first to be challenged by old Cap. Silvers, smoking his ancient corn cob pipe, which was strong enough to hire out by the month." 

"Next came seated at the long tables the members of the election board, half of them drys, the other half wets. Always the wets were smoking big ten-cent cigars."

"Then the men went into the curtained booth to cast the vote for your cause. On the way out you were either smiled at or glared at, depending on what the hangers on thought you had voted."

"If the result was dry, a growling, grumbling monotone pervaded the wets as they disbelievingly came down the stairs, accompanied by rather smug, sedate, quiet drys."

"But oh my gosh, if the wets won, all hell would cut loose. No dry dared to negotiate the stairs until the last shrieking, howling, delighted wet had hopped down out of the hall to the street, bearing the good tidings, and making a bee line for the bars."

Original source can be found here.