People gather at the corner of South State Street and High Street, watching firefighters trying to put out a fire at the Hotel Cadillac in St. Ignace in 1911. The fire destroyed the entire building. The hotel was where True Value Hardware store is today, across the street from the old Merchandise dock and the Chief dock. (Photographs courtesy of Ollie Boynton) 115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, April 11, 1891

One of the most quietest and yet one of the most vigorous campaigns that has ever occurred in St. Ignace was that of last Monday. The issue was clear cut and well defined. It was as the so-called citizens party against the democracy, and the former suffered a crushing defeat.

New Council: Mayor Michael Chambers; Clerk Alfred Gennell; Treasurer Schullar Farrell; Aldermen 1st Ward, Joseph Burdette, J. Fritschen; 2nd Ward, John Mulcrone, E. Sherwood; 3rd Ward, Julius O'Brien, M. Murray; 4th Ward, O.J. McArthur, Louis Goudreau.

After the result of the election was definitely known Monday evening, the Society Band turned out and serenaded a number of the successful candidates. The band treasury was handsomely replenished and the members have all been smoking 10 cigars ever since. They think the men elected are all "trumps," from Mayor Chambers down.

The fire and smoke from Hotel Cadillac looms over downtown businesses in St. Ignace. Notice the fire hoses running all the way down South State Street to the hotel and the two one-hitch horse-pulled wagons. As much of the hotel's furnishing as could be saved was pulled out and placed outside. The businesses seen in the photograph next to the hotel are (from left) Hub Sample Room, Marine Grocery, Fruits and Candy Parcel Room, and Mulcrone Bazaar. The following students have not been absent or tardy during the month: High School - Walter Boynton, Allen Bell, John Bell, Theron Cornell, James Ferries, Ernie Faut, James Lefever, Early Murray, Sophia Mason, Maggie Musgrave, Eric Ogle, John Quance; Grammar School - Annie Beveridge, Olive Blanchard, Bessie Carr, Agnes Cravens, Artie Earil, Bert Faut, Charles Bloomfield, Lucy Gillam, Alice Hyde, Phebe Leveille, Frank McNamara, Grace Nunn.

Wrestling matches between our town sports and homesteaders have been the rage lately. The man with the biggest load of barley corn gets downed every time.

Ice in the harbor solid - open water in plain sight.

E.P. Foley and wife went to the Island this week, to spend the summer.

Joe LaFountain has leased the premises adjoining his saloon and is busy fitting the same up for a hotel, to be known as the "Fountain House." Mr. LaFountain will run as good a dollar a day house as will be found anywhere and his excellent location, opposite the depot, insures him a large trade. Meals or lunch served at all hours. Success to him.

Jacob Stevens and Moore Blair, of Cheboygan, two young men who have been working at Feltus' camp, near Pine River, all winter, were arrested and jailed in St. Ignace this week, charged with criminally assaulting an eightyear old sister of Stevens. It appears that Stevens' parents were soon to move to Feltus and the little girl was sent on ahead to keep house for the two men until they arrived. Aneighbor found the child in bed nearer dead than alive, her injuries being of a serious nature. The men have nothing to say about the crime of which they are charged and neither deny or affirm their guilt. Their hearing has been set for Monday next.

Naubinway column Village president Wells starts in at the right notch. He personally notifies any saloon-keeper who does not run his place of business in an orderly manner.

We have an ordinance against stove pipes projecting through roofs of buildings within the village limits. I, today, counted 38 violations of the ordinance. Hi, there, Mr. Fire Warden, wake up. - Nixy.

Portage/ Newton column - Forty voters took dinner at Hotel de Lee last Tuesday. Mrs. A.W. and H. Burrows cooked the hash.

Our attorney wants the township to donate $50 toward fixing up a place to build his monument.

Newton township is boasting over a new town hall.

Mr. Bunnel's family of Newton township are all down with lagrippe. Several other families are also afflicted. Dr. Walker of Manistique is attending.

Freddie Burrows and Charley Long took a load of potatoes across Manistique Lake last week, the first of the season.

Little Mary, the 11-year-old daughter of William Cook, of Newton township, knits six pair of mittens a week for the wood-choppers.

90 Years Ago

The St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, April 13, 1916

The Allenville Fair is the largest and best exhibit of its kind yet seen in this end of the peninsula. We urge everyone in this district to work to make it a success. The dates set for the exhibition are October 11 and 12 at Allenville.

The election having evidenced the fact that the taxpayers of this county are almost unanimous in favor of continuing highway improvements by authorizing the $75,000 bond issue for the purpose, the commissioners are losing no time in getting matters in shape to begin construction work as soon as the weather will permit.

Saul the Clothier has greatly enhanced the appearance of his store by enclosing his windows for a better display of his stock. The work is artistic and was done by Fred Johnson.

The women of Japan are asking for suffrage.

The Mackinaw City lighthouse displayed its light Tuesday night for the first time this season.

The steamer Algomah will again assume the mail contract between Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island. One season was enough for the contractor, George Walford, who experienced considerable trouble with his small boat. This news is particularly pleasing to the residents of the Island who are assured prompt service by the change.

Mackinac Island column A crew of men under the supervision of George Lapine have commenced work on the Arnold coal dock. They have been engaged in driving piles and other needed repairs.

The work on the Mackinac Island golf course was resumed again on Monday. They were obliged to stop work, however, owing to the fact of the ground being frozen too much to accomplish anything yet.

The steamer Islander arrived at the dock at noon Tuesday. It took her two and one-half hours to make a passage through the ice from St. Ignace. We will have daily steamboat service from now on between the Island and St. Ignace.

Engadine column Dr. Walsh experienced quite an exciting time Saturday evening with his horse while returning from Naubinway. He got out of the buggy to fix some part of the harness and the horse ran away. The horse was stopped at the Proton farm in the country and the doctor came home on a hand car. Sunday afternoon Peter Proton Jr. brought the runaway into town. If you don't believe this horse is some speeder, just ask Doc.

Moran column Phillip Luepnitz, T. Schlehuber, and Bert Ellsworth have had their automobiles out for the past week.

Katherine and Marion Schlehuber have been enrolled as pupils in the primary department of the Moran school.

50 Years Ago The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, April 12, 1956

Council approved a $1,500 installation of stop and go lights at the foot of Truckey Street in St. Ignace, at council's Monday session. Cost to the city will be onethird. The state highway department has approved the installation to control State Street traffic. A set of blinker lights to control traffic in the vicinity of the Third Ward school also was approved by the council, provided the St. Ignace board of education is willing to bear one-half the cost.

Aboatload of hardy iron workers crossed the icy waters of the Straits of Mackinac last Thursday to start the 1956 construction season for Michigan's $100,000,000 bridge being erected by U.S. Steel's American Bridge Division for the Michigan Bridge Authority. The men began the installation of work platforms, elevators, derricks, and do other necessary jobs to prepare the structure for the construction work that lies ahead.

The state legislature is having a committee investigate the possibility of establishing ferry service between the upper and lower peninsulas after the Mackinac Bridge is opened.

Mayor John Donnelly goes to West Branch and the West Branch mayor will preside here on Mayor Exchange Day during Michigan Week. Mayor of West Branch is Dick Hewson, manager of the A&P store there. He is married and has four children.

The first boat to arrive at Port Dolomite in Cedarville was the steamer Calcite, on April 4.

35 Years Ago The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise Thursday, April 15, 1971

The Cathedral of Tomorrow has purchased Mackinac College, a $17 million educational facility on Mackinac Island, and will operate it as the Rex Humbard Center for Christian Development. Purchase price was undisclosed. The school, with its 32-acre campus along the shore of Lake Huron, is said to be one of the most beautiful and best equipped small colleges in the country.

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News Thursday, April 11, 1991 Federal Judge Richard Enslen has denied a request for limited seasonal commercial fishing in Hammond Bay by the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa-Chippewa Indians.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The St. Ignace News is seeking original prints or reprints of old photographs depicting areas in the Eastern Upper Peninsula to be scanned into its archives and for the Looking Back column. Photographs to be loaned or donated to the Michilimackinac Historical Society can also be dropped off at The St. Ignace News.