Fishermen's Memorial Gets $1,000
Waterfront Monument To Honor Commercial Fishing Culture Here
By Karen Gould

While final details continue to be worked out, this is a rough rendering of the planned commercial fishermen's memorial local volunteers hope to have erected near the St. Ignace City Marina this year. (Sketch by Jim Ardis)

A monument honoring the county's commercial fishermen got a boost in support last Friday. The monument will serve as a reminder of the important role fishing culture has played in the history of Mackinac County, say Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board members, who approved a $1,000 donation for its construction at St. Ignace Friday, April 13.

"I'm not a fisherman," said St. Ignace resident Shirley Bentgen, who came up with the idea for the monument and presented it to the board. "We started with no money and just kind of did it on faith."

In addition to recognizing the significance of fishing as a food source, providing a livelihood for residents through the years, and helping to support the area's economy, said Mrs. Bentgen, the monument will honor those commercial fishermen who lost their lives while fishing in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

"We would really welcome this in the downtown district," said Deb Evashevski, director of the DDA.

Since January, Mrs. Bentgen and a committee of volunteers has sought community help in compiling names, ages, hometowns, and accident dates for fishermen who have died in the trade. They also have been working with a downstate artist for a design and have talked to city officials about placing the structure south of the St. Ignace City Marina in a well lighted area near the boardwalk.

The memorial will comprise a 4.5-foot-long stainless steel whitefish on a six-foot-tall base. Two bronze plaques will be attached to the base. One will note the heritage of fishing in the area and the second will list the names of those in the county who lost their lives while fishing.

The monument is estimated to cost approximately $7,000.

"Everything is in place, except the money," she said.

Mrs. Bentgen was inspired, she said, by a large granite monument crowned with a boat that she saw last fall in Booth Bay Harbor while visiting her son in Maine. When she returned home, she solicited support, and a committee now includes Violet Gustafson, Andy Valentine, Steve Grondin, Jim Brown, Sr., Ray Halberg, Paul Gustafson, and Don Massey. Mayor Paul Grondin also has attended committee meetings.

The committee seeks additional names for the monument. Information already provided includes the following: 1937 Carl Motson age 28 of St. Ignace, 1937 Ray McLean, age 30, of St. Ignace, 1945 Teddy Paulson, age 17, of Naubinway, 1946 Frank Brix, age 38, of Naubinway, Art Stiebe, age 31, of St. Ignace, 1969 Terry Halberg, age 16, of St. Ignace, 1969 Melvin Frazier, age 51, of Naubinway, 1977 Alvin Gustafson, age 67, of St. Ignace, 1977 Gary Gustafson, age 37, of St. Ignace, 1980 Cliff Biglow, age 22, of Epoufette, 1980 Mike Biglow, age 24, of Epoufette, 1983 James Converse Jr., age 28, of Naubinway, 1983 Edward Moses, age 27, of St. Ignace, 1986 Edward Perkins, age 47, of Naubinway, 1986 Rusty King, age 31, of Naubinway, 1986 Kirk Peterson, age 28, of Naubinway, 1995 Robert Rickley, age 23, of St. Ignace, 1993 Rick Wessel, age 35, of Mackinac Island, and 1999 Ray Frazier, age 25, of Naubinway.

Contributions can be made to the Commercial Fishermen Memorial fund at the First National Bank of St. Ignace.