Looking Back
Compiled by Ryan Schlehuber

This photograph of Cedarville in 1947 shows the Cedar Inn and other businesses no longer standing. (Photograph courtesy of Les Cheneaux Historical Association)

115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, January 23, 1892

The ferry North Star was put into winter quarters last Wednesday. The owners intend to give her a new boiler this winter.

Mayor Chambers now spends a good deal of his time at Naubinway, looking after his interests at that place.

The deal for the new ice crusher has been closed and next fall will see a new boat plying between here and Mackinaw.

It is said that a newspaper is to be started in Mackinaw City. - Cheboygan News. (You are way behind the times, brother, the paper has already been issued.)

The Celtic Club of Mackinac Island, consisting of five - Wm. Donnelly, Chas. Holden, Frank Lasley, and Jas. Murray - visited the city Thursday on an ice boat.

Thos. Vallier and Newell Snakell were carried away on the ice near St. Helena Island last Saturday afternoon and remained on a cake all night. The cake they were on went ashore at Pt. Aux Chene, from which place they walked to their homes at Pt. LaBarbe.

The steamer St. Ignace has found considerable difficulty of late in loading and unloading cars at her dock on account of low water, and it has been found necessary to lower the dock 18 inches. The work was begun the first of the week.

90 Years Ago The St. Ignace Enterprise Thursday, January 25, 1917

One of the worst blizzards and snow storms to visit the straits district for several years invaded this section at an early hour Sunday morning and continued with increased tendency all during the day and into the night. It was midnight before there was any let-up, and by that time the roads were piled high with huge snow drifts. The storm was accompanied by zero-degree weather and those who faced it did so of necessity.

For the second time this winter, the ferry Chief Wawatam was held in the straits by the ice drifts, this time on Monday morning as she was backing away from the Mackinaw City dock.

The Moran Hotel was reopened Monday.

Eugene Lapine of Mackinac Island showed he possesses nerve by crossing the ice bridge to St. Ignace last week Wednesday with a heavy team. The bridge went out Saturday.

50 Years Ago

The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, January 24, 1957

Answering a faint call for help on the wastes of ice at Les Cheneaux, Dr. E. W. Cleary, Cedarville dentist, found Howard Tucker, 68, retired Cincinnati city employee, helpless in sub-zero weather with a fractured leg, suffered when he slipped and fell while out ice fishing. Cleary loaded the helpless man on the sled and started for the shore.

Bruce Patrick, Edward Carr, and Frank Strazalka sighted the doctor pulling the heavy sled and went out to investigate. They helped bring in the man and take him to the office of J.J. Blue. Tucker was so cold he could hardly speak. Dr. Blue reduced the fracture and placed the leg in a cast. He was taken to the Strazalka home for care.

An estimated half dozen fishing shanties, valued from $40 to $75 each, floated away on ice cakes or sank in Lake Huron Monday night and Tuesday morning. Ice between the bay here and Mackinac Island floated away Sunday. Some shanties were recovered Tuesday along the First Ward shore.

Excavation by competent archaeologists would be required to pinpoint the location in St. Ignace of historic Fort de Buade, "Cradle of Michigan," which was constructed here by the French in 1688, according to a report made before the local historical society Monday evening by Mrs. E.G. McNamara, who is investigating the location of the fort.

The Republican-News heard that the first crossing on the ice bridge from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace was made last week Thursday by Islanders Green, Andress, and Cadotte. Confirmation of the report has not been made, but it is said that Green broke through the ice once.

35 Years Ago

The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, January 20, 1972

An annual report which reviews the activities of the City Government for the year 1971, which was the first full year under the new Charter and the Council- Manager form of government, was submitted to Council by City Manager Walters and will be published in its entirety elsewhere in this issue [City Council meeting January 17, 1972].

Mrs. Delia Bickham, who retired after a 26-year career in the Hessel Post Office, was honored at a farewell dinner for 30 members of the family and office associates at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Bickham.

The prospect of a new post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is now a reality. A meeting was held Jan. 8 at Miller's Camp, West U.S. 2 at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. Further plans will be made toward organizing the post.

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, January 23, 1992

A multi-county grand jury investigation that included the Eastern Upper Peninsula has resulted in the indictment of 110 persons on 264 felony or misdemeanor charges involving illicit drugs, according to a final report by the organizers. Mackinac County's defendants were arrested on charges involving possession or distribution - or both - of varying amounts of marijuana and cocaine.

Taking another step toward construction of a new water filtration plant, the St. Ignace City Council on January 20 authorized the sale of $1.85 million in revenue bonds.

Sled dog racers from Massachusetts to Idaho, the world champion in eight-dog racing, and a husband-and-wife international champion team were gliding the trails of the second annual Great Lakes Sled Dog Association races last weekend in Hessel.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The St. Ignace News is seeking original prints or reprints of old photographs depicting areas of 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.