Ayoung Jerry Horn of Mackinac Island stands in front of the Bois Blanc lighthouse in 1958. The lighthouse was built in 1829 but its navigation light was not installed until 1867. The original tower was destroyed by a storm and was reconstructed in 1941. (Photograph courtesy of Angie Bunker) 115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, June 6, 1891

If we're going to celebrate the 4th, it is time a move was made in the matter.

Wednesday night's rain storm was welcome and vegetation was much benefited.

F.R. Conway telegraphed from Kennedy yesterday for a coroner to hold an inquest on a man who had hung himself. No further particulars.

A painful accident occurred to Willie Kirby at Mackinac Island last Wednesday morning. He was employed on the steamer Chas. West, and while making the boat lines fast to the dock, his right leg was caught in the lines in such a way that when it tightened it cut the leg off below the knee. He was immediately taken to the Fort hospital, where he still is. It was found necessary to amputate the leg four inches above the rope cut. The sufferer is having the best of care and treatment and will likely pull through, for he is possessed of more than ordinary grit and a good constitution. The shock was too much for his mother and she has been very ill the past three days.

Advertisement City Meat Market, Opposite City Hall. Fresh, Salt, and Smoked Meats. All kinds of produce. Oysters and Game in Season. G.C. Clark, Late of The People's Market, and successor to M. Jamieson.

Farm lands in the United States, taking the country as a whole, occupy only 289 acres to every 1,000.

Joseph Cuppens, scalded at the furnace two weeks ago, died from his injuries on Tuesday last, after several days of intense suffering. William Hayes, who was scalded at the same time, is doing well.

90 Years Ago

The St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, June 8, 1916

Two railroad velocipedes going at a high rate of speed, it is alleged, met head-on about a mile west of Moran between 11 and 12 o'clock Monday night, resulting in injuries to Henry Lacky and Fannie Kallio, the latter a 13-year-old girl; that caused their deaths; the amputation of a leg to Charles Kyoperi, a broken jaw and other injuries to Mrs. Walter Turpin, and serious injuries to several others. Each pede had been to St. Ignace at night, each carrying a party for the Cole Bros. circus.

The Ursuline Academy will close its 19th school year June 20th, on which day the annual commencement exercises will be held.

Willmer Patton, aged 15, of Pickford, a pupil in the Bumstead school, Marquette township, Miss Elizabeth Gille teacher, will take a free trip to the State fair to be held in Detroit next fall, he beating out sixteen others who took the eighth grade examination for the honor.

Advertisement Ford Cars. There's nothing about a Ford car to puzzle anyone. Any man or woman can quickly learn to drive and anyone can care for his Ford car, and that's half the fun of motoring. No bills for skilled mechanics; no complications. Just the reliable, simple, useful car that meets everybody's requirements. Touring Car $440; Runabout $390; Coupelet $590; Town Car $640; Sedan $740. All prices f.o.b. Detroit. On sale by J.D. Erskine, Allenville. Mich.

Dr. Walter Watte late Thursday was sentenced to die in the electric chair during the week of July 10 - the penalty for the murder of his father-in-law, John E. Peck, of which he was convicted.

Mackinaw City suffered one of the worst fires in its history Tuesday morning when several of the principle business blocks and private residences were destroyed by a blaze which started in private rooms over Zimmerman's furniture store and rapidly spread to surrounding buildings. The estimated loss is placed at $30,000. There is only $700 insurance on the entire property which was destroyed. This is held by Coffman's drug store.

S.B. Chamberlain, aged owner of the Chamberlain block, one of those destroyed, dropped dead in the street from excitement. Several others narrowly escaped death in the flames. So far as can be learned, it is supposed that the fire started from an explosion of a gasoline stove in the private rooms over Zimmerman's store.

Les Cheneaux column Seth McGregor has been having the Cedarville Boat Co. put a new Smalley engine in his boat and will run the ferry this summer at Les Cheneaux Club, taking people back and forth from club to golf grounds.

The H.P. Hossack & Co. mill broke down last week Wednesday and a trip was made to the Soo by W.D. Hossack and George Leach for repairs. Several days were lost by mill workmen. A flange on the boiler came loose.

The trial of George Parlmer, accused of violating the game laws, took place at Pickford last week Friday. Attorney Baxter came over from St. Ignace and represented him. John Coryell testified for the state and Curtis Patrick and Parlmer's brother for the accused.

50 Years Ago The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, June 7, 1956

Two men plunged nearly 400 feet from the Straits of Mackinac bridge into the icy and deep waters of the Straits at three o'clock yesterday afternoon after snubbing lines let go on a catwalk and the mesh slid out along the cable like down a ski-slide. Two companions managed to cling to the catwalk mesh and make their way to safety on the north tower of the bridge. The body of one of the accident victims was recovered at 6 p.m. last night. Police continue to search for the other.

The City of St. Ignace on Monday night declared war on unlicensed dogs in the city and dogs running the streets as the city council engaged Norman Bourisaw as dog warden. He was instructed to start at once.

Tourist traffic over the Memorial Weekend, the last four days of May, was far below that for the same dates last year.

"The Mystery Spot," established on the Martin road about five miles west of St. Ignace off US-2, brings a new tourist attraction to the Straits area. C.L. Manschreck, Fred Nelson, and Vaden McCrary are partners in the venture which opened for business last weekend.

35 Years Ago The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise Thursday, June 10, 1971

St. Ignace City Council in regular session on Monday, June 7, conducted a public hearing, after proper notice thereof, for the purpose of hearing objections and other comments concerning the proposed Spring Street Sanitary sewer project. Letters attesting to the health hazard were read from City Health Officer, Dr. L.C. Shaftoe, and the Luce-Mackinac Health Dept. Sanitarian, and both urged immediate action. Truckey Street residents in the immediate area signed a petition as to the offensiveness of the inadequate sewage system.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Law of Houston, Texas, were in St. Ignace for four days this past week visiting the Glenn Laws and closing the deal on the purchase of the Rev. Leslie Williams' summer cottage near the Silver Sands Resort.

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, June 6, 1991

Attorney General Frank Kelley is going after what may be a $1 billion bonanza for environmental cleanups - unclaimed deposits going to Michigan soft drink bottlers and beer wholesalers. Mr. Kelley said he is appealing a court ruling that deposits paid on lost or broken bottles and cans belong to those companies.

David Armour has been appointed as acting director of Mackinac State Historic Parks while the Mackinac Island State Park Commission searches for a replacement for department director David Pamperin, who left the post to serve as administrator with the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison.

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.