A motor sleigh, today called a snowmobile, on the frozen bay of Mackinac Island, between Union Terminal Piers and the Coal Dock. Motor sleighs were a popular winter vehicle in the area, beginning in the 1920s. The term "snowmobile" came from a Ford dealer who mounted tracks and skis on a Model T Ford. The boat being repaired on the left may be Arnold Transit's Islander. The boat company, at that time, owned three other ferries, the DP Perry, the Algomah, and the Elva. (Photograph courtesy of Edwyna Nordstrom) 115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, February 6, 1892

J.H. Browne's theatre company will probably reach here in April.

Ice harvesting has commenced, the M.L. Company and D.S.S.&A. Railroad Company have filled their houses.

None of our businessmen complain of hard times at present - still, business is not rushing, by any means.

Will McCarty brought the mail from the Island in a row boat on Wednesday. He was accompanied by two young ladies on the return trip.

One day this week, two cows owned in the third ward walked into a hole near the mill dock, where ice cutters had been at work, and would have drowned had Tommy Taylor not been near at hand with his team and hauled them out.

L. Winkelman, successor to William Saulson, is now ready for businesses. He reported the People's store... and a larger or better selected stock of dry goods and clothing was never before seen in this city. His motto will be fair dealing, small profits, and quick returns.

Robert Burrows has commenced a four months term of school at Pointe LaBarbe, with a good attendance.

90 Years Ago

The St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, February 8, 1917

Declaring that action in 1910 by the state railroad commission to force the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic railroad to reduce its passenger rate from three cents to two cents per mile is "confiscatory," said Herbert L. Baker, Detroit attorney, who has filed his report as special master in the matter. Taking of testimony began in July 1912 and Baker's report, which covers 500 typewritten pages, was filed with the clerk of the United States District Court Friday.

Charles "Chuck" Wager Mulcrone, eldest son of Mrs. M.F. Mulcrone, died at the age of 27 after suffering from an incurable disease for two years. His death has been traced to an accident nine years ago when, as a member of the basketball team of St. Northbert's College in DePere, Wisconsin, he received an injury to his knee. It was from this accident, thought inconsequential at the time, that blood poison later set in, which finally developed into arthritis, and for two years he was so crippled in all of his limbs as to render him helpless.

The United States and Germany are on the verge of war, declaration of which is momentarily expected. Today (Wednesday) it would seem that war between the two countries is inevitable.

The ice bridge between Mackinac Island and St. Ignace is in excellent condition.

Mrs. F.M. Bennett, 78, owner of Mackinac Island's Bennett Hall, which was one of the Island's most popular resorts, died January 31.

Mackinac Island Public School staff 1916-17: Superintendent C.B. Brake; Miss Alys M. DuFresne, principal; Miss Rowena I. Fenton, Grammar Department; Miss Adeline M. DePore, Intermediate Department; Miss Marguerite McIntyre, Primary Department; Miss Anna M. Sullivan, Kindergarten and Music Department; Board of Education - James Doud, president; William Donnelly, secretary; trustees Claude Cable, John LaPine, and Benoni LaChance.

50 Years Ago

The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, February 7, 1957

"The economic future of St. Ignace and the upper peninsula appears bright despite the dislocation of state ferry employees at the termination of the ferry service and the opening of the Mackinac Bridge," Prentiss M. Brown told a meeting of the Lutheran Brotherhood and a number of guests Tuesday night. Topic of discussion was "What the Future Holds for St. Ignace After the Termination of the State Ferries and the Opening of the Straits Bridge."

"It will be a tough period of adjustment," Mr. Brown commented concerning the predicted unemployment of state ferry workers. "However, this picture is not that dark. Traffic experts conservatively predict that traffic will double the first year the bridge is open. In six years the traffic is expected to reach five million cars annually. This means that servicing these people will bring prosperity to merchants, auto services, restaurants, motels, hotels, and allied industries."

Fish shanties are fish shanties, but St. Ignace has a prize accommodation now on the ice and ready for the Perch Derby that will be fished on East Moran Bay here on February 15 and 16.

Tobogganing on the snow-covered dunes along Lake Michigan was the weekend recreation for Duane Kaminsky of Moran.

Mackinac Island column - Tom Nordberg, accompanied by house guests Joann Monger, Jane Thompson, Shelly England, Terry Barr, Michigan star halfback, and Tom Mentz, captain of the 1956 football team, enjoyed visiting Mackinac for three days. The group is on mid-term vacation and left Friday for Detroit.

35 Years Ago

The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, February 3, 1972

This past week, the Michilimackinac Historical Society decorated the windows at The Republican-News office, hoping that in displaying both historical material and future proposed developments, people will be better able to understand the relationship between the two, and will also be able to see what a National Memorial and Park could mean to the future of St. Ignace and the entire surrounding area.

A second Air Cushion Vehicle was brought to St. Ignace for the Coast Guard and will undergo extensive testing and evaluation by the Coast Guard. It has already come under fire after it got "hung up" near Hog Island. The first hovercraft that was brought to St. Ignace sank off the shore of Cedarville in Lake Huron last fall. The newest mishap has people questioning its worth, however, Coast Guard Commander Thomas Lutton defends that the hovercraft is a "very versatile craft and has a definite place in the future for Coast Guard operations."

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, February 6, 1992

After being delayed for three weeks owing to below-average snowfall and warm temperatures, Mackinaw City's second annual Mackinaw Mush sled dog race got underway February 1 and 2 with nearly 100 teams straining for the lead.

Just days after losing the Mackinac County public defender's assignment, E. Michael McNamara entered himself in the race for county prosecutor as a Republican candidate. Other candidates are Al D'Alimonte and Dan Dowdell.

The trial of a Sault Ste. Marie man who is charged with murder in the October death of a Cedarville man has been postponed until forensics testing is completed, possibly in mid- March, said Chippewa County Prosecuting Attorney Patrick Shannon.

The snowy woods of DeTour Village provides the perfect setting for a timber-skidding operation in which a Belgian horse, Pete, is used to haul pine logs up to 36 feet long. They are being collected this winter for a land owner who wants his home built the old-fashioned way.

Bob Sims, 62, closed the door for the last time at Michigan Limestone Operations in Cedarville January 24 as he looks forward to retirement after working 36 years at the quarry.

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 the 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.