The Mackinaw City railway ferry dock in 1913. (Photograph courtesy of Keith Massaway) 115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, April 18, 1891

Bert Faut is waiting tables on the steamship St. Ignace.

It cost $15,000 to run St. Ignace last year, but no town in the upper country made more public improvements with the same amount of wealth. The large majority by which Mayor Chambers was re-elected proves that the people were pleased with his administration. Cheboygan News

On Monday last, Governor Winans issued a proclamation, designating Thursday, April 30, as Arbor Day. He "earnestly appeals to all our people to observe the day, or a portion thereof, by the planting of trees, vines, and shrubbery along the highways, in the cemeteries, and about their homes." Everybody should act accordingly.

There is talk of Salling, Hanson, and Company of Grayling and a Manistee party buying the Mackinaw Lumber Company's mill plant here and starting the mill at an early day. There is also talk of J.B. Kanouse and Company and the Mackinaw Lumber Company going to law over the premises.

Joe LaFountain has several men busy overhauling and fitting up the Fountain House. The work will be completed next week, when he will have as snug a hotel as the traveling public could wish for. Rates will be $1 per day.

George Cooke has a novel scheme in view for the coming summer. He owns a schooner, in

which he intends to build a bakeoven. When it is completed, he will take on a stock of groceries and sail for Les Cheneaux, where he will cast anchor during the resort season and serve the people with fresh bread, pies, and cakes every day, and should business slack, he will strike out for some other port, but will return to St. Ignace in the fall, so as to be on deck again next spring as a candidate for the office of Justice of the Peace.

The first arrival of the season was a Mackinaw boat from Prentiss Bay on Wednesday last.

Landlord Campbell, of the Dunham House, has the material on the ground and several men busy, preparing to build a 30-foot wing to his hotel.

Conrad Bros. give 20 pounds of light brown sugar for $1, and 171/2 pounds of granulated sugar for $1.

The dancing party at Mulcrone's hall on Thursday evening was largely attended by young people, and all enjoyed a nice time.

On Thursday afternoon, the steamer St. Ignace broke a channel to the winter quarters of the ferry Gazelle and tug Saugatuck. The Gazelle went into commission on the Island route yesterday and will make regular daily trips. She carries the U.S. mails.

90 Years Ago

The St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, April 20, 1916

The most important change in the teaching staff for next year is that of superintendent of schools in St. Ignace. A.E. Cross being succeeded by H.V. Owen. The advancement of Mr. Owen from principal of the LaSalle school to superintendent left a vacancy, which has been filled by the appointment of J.E. Quinlan, at present principal of the Third Ward school.

A.E. Cross, who will retire at the close of the present school year, has been superintendent of the St. Ignace schools for the past seven years.

The steamer Algomah of the Island Transportation Company's fleet has again demonstrated her worth as an ice crusher by breaking her way through and opening up the Soo passage from DeTour to the locks. At times, she was forced to break from 24 to 36 inches of ice, but notwithstanding this great handicap she made excellent

progress and more than fulfilled the expectations of the Canadian minister of marines, who was aboard.

Manager Albrecht of the Grand theatre is putting on an attraction for Easter Sunday that will undoubtedly fill the house. Through Universal, he will present America's most popular photoplay stars, Francis Ford and Grace Cunard in the masterpiece of the season, "The Campbells Are Coming," including a company that numbers over 2,500 people, a production from the famous story of the Sepoy rebellion. Prices 10 and 20 cents. The Grand orchestra will furnish music at each performance.

The straits of Mackinac are open to navigation. The first boat of the season to pass through the narrows was the steamer Nevada, up bound, which went through at 6:30 Thursday morning.

The jury in the case of Matilda Holtquist vs. Daniel O'Connell and the Michigan Bonding Company, returned a verdict for the plaintiff Saturday, placing the damages at $2,000. This was a case brought by Mrs. Holtquist for damages for the death of her husband, who alleged to have lost his life by falling into a hot pond of the Cooperage at Engadine while in an intoxicated condition.

The steamer Chief Wawatam of the Mackinac Transportation Company made a special trip at 5:20 Monday morning, taking on at this port 28 cars loaded with copper, the value at which is $336,000. The copper is designated for foreign shipment via Boston.

Les Cheneaux column W.R. Dunbar, who has a cottage on Big LaSalle Island, writes that he will bring up a new 25-foot launch this season.

The Kenyon cottage, on Coryell Island, has been rented for the season. Mrs. Nathalie C. Buchanan, who has a couple of cottages near Hessel, has rented one of them. Indications are good for a full house and prosperous season for the Snows.

Last week Friday, John Beach's Collie dog, "Bosco," decided to go home from Cedarville, and when in the vicinity of Ailes Point, went through the ice and was unable to get out. After a time, several men went out with a boat on a sled and rescued him.

"Cap" Hartnick, one of the wise men of the Snows, ventured the prediction on the 10th of April that the channels would not be open before the fourth or fifth of May. And he made another prediction also. "Cap" has always been a staunch Republican, and when asked who was going to be the next president, promptly replied, "Teddie."

50 Years Ago The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise Thursday, April 19, 1956

Members of the St. Ignace city council on Monday night heard the final report of the nine-man charter study commission which on Thursday night will make its final reading and submit the draft to Governor Williams for signature. Mrs. E.J. Ossmann, who represented the study commission, said that the new charter would give St. Ignace a commissioner-manager form of government with seven commissioners elected at large by non-parish primary and regular elections.

From this commission, the mayor would be selected by the members. A city manager would be employed.

With about 75 fishermen plying the waters of the Black River on opening day last Saturday, reports came that the rainbow run had not started and few fish were caught. Fred Koehler fished at the TwoHearted and landed a two-pounder.

Threat of a strike on the Great Lakes by the Licensed Tugmen's Protective Association resulted in a delay of construction on the Mackinac Straits bridge during the past week.

The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has agreed that the doctor's wing of Mackinac Straits hospital is eligible for federal construction assistance, said U.S. Senator Pat McNamara, via a telegram to The Republican-News. He said that the total cost involved is $21,944.70.

35 Years Ago The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, April 22, 1971

In the matter of dog control, which always comes up at this time of year, it was reported that last year the number of dogs picked up in St. Ignace averaged 10 per month with the average for March-June being only seven dogs per month. In March 1971, the enforcement effort resulted in 23 dogs being picked up, and at least twice this number will probably be picked up from April through June.

Angela McLeod has been named salutatorian for Les Cheneaux's Class of 1971 and Sheri Hudson has been named the valedictorian of her class.

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, April 18, 1991

The message was clear at VFW ceremonies honoring St. Ignace's first returning soldiers from the Persian Gulf war, Petty Officer Third Class Patrick Belleville, Specialist 4 Donald Orr, Specialist Jody Werkheiser, and Private First Class David Becker.

St. Ignace will aim for a new water filtration plant and water system improvements totaling $4.55 million the costliest of three options proposed by its engineers the City Council tentatively decided April 15.

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.