The Nankin Township Historical Society

Detroit Free Press , August 26, 1892 Although the temptation is great since the pickings are abundant I'm not going to stay too long on this Romulus search which I have already found 3 great items from. Or perhaps I should. Raising hickory poles was still in fashion in 1892 as is evidenced with this article concerning Romulus Democrats erecting a 95 foot specimen for Grover Cleveland and Adlai Ewing Stevenson (no, not that one) at the behest of John Sherlock. Despite the announced speakers not showing up there was a baseball game to amuse the gathering. The team from Romulus lost to the visiting Plymouth Club. The batteries for each were: Plymouth (Penny & Wilbur) Romulus (Rutter & Perkins).

Detroit Free Press , July 15, 1892 With the foreign namesake being what it is there was bound to eventually surface a story mixing the two Nankins. Not directly but indirectly through an English visitor to the Russell House in Detroit via China and Liverpool, 4 years removed. Myself, I've searched earnestly for just such a story and here we are having found it quite accidentally. The man, James B. Wylie, was headed to Buffalo and stopped over in Detroit en route. He related some stories of the brutality of China in regards to women, daily life, opium and even cannibalism. Speaking to the former latter, opium, it was quite curious that Mr. Wylie refused the porter his attempt to carry his luggage. Perhaps Mr. Wylie was making a few transactions himself in the illicit trade before going to Buffalo.