History of Perry Community Building 203 W Polly Street
FOUNDER- Reverend Isaac Lamb, born 1840
He was a Baptist Minister, originally from Livingston County. He was mechanically inclined. When he was 23 years old he received a patent for the first successful Flat Knitting Machine. He continued to improve machines while studying to become a minister.
He moved to Perry in 1894 to become the Baptist Minister and open the Lamb Glove & Mitten Co, Gloves and mittens were made and called Ha-Ka-Rac. Ladies leggings (with and without feet) were also made for about 10 years.
In 1900 buildings extended to the west to allow for greater productivity. In 1901 there were 56 employees in the buildings and 200 other employees did finishing work in their area homes. An average of $3000 worth of goods was shipped each week.
In 1904 the people of Perry voted for a bond issue of $3,000. The Knitting Company matched the money and this building was completed in late 1906. The Founder, Rev. Lamb, never saw the completion of this building. He died July of 1906 and is buried at Roselawn Cemetery on Ellsworth Road in Perry.
The employees of the Glove & Mitten Co. organized a baseball team in April of 1911. A ballpark was erected south of the building and is still used.
Electricity was installed in both buildings in 1912. Until that time all knitting machines had to be hand or foot cranked.
The Interurban Trains ran along Polly Street from 1911 to 1929. This had a bad effect on the Glove & Mitten Company. Wages in Lansing were higher ($.50 an hr.) and many of Perry's workers started commuting to Lansing via the Interurban. Also knitted gloves were no longer as fashionable and knit gloves did not hold up well for farm work.
The Glove & Mitten Company sold in 1927 for $10,000 (3 buildings, power plant, 5 acres and 58 knitting machines. In 1927 it was adapted as a gym for basketball games. The original building burned in 1938. The power plant was dismantled during the Second World War. The boilers and furnaces were donated to the war effort.
In 1928 this building was used for the dehydration of vegetables.
In 1933 the building was leased by Vita Seal Products to make pretzels.
From 1936-1937 the Thatcher Stove Co. leased the building.
From 1937 until July 1994 Michigan Hybrid Seed Company owned the building. The City of Perry purchased this property in 1994 and started plans to renovate for the new City offices, which were completed in 1997.
