Looking Back
Compiled by Ryan Schlehuber

The steamer Mackinac Islander was one of Arnold Transit's Mackinac Island ferries until the late 1950s or early 1960s. The boat offered meals to passengers and was equipped with a refrigerator that was strapped in place to avoid tipping during rough weather. Company General Manager Bob Brown tells a story of his uncle, Hillard Bentgen, bringing the Islander up to the Straits area from Ohio, where it was purchased. He said Mr. Bentgen drove through a snow storm and became lost, ending up on the other side of Lake Huron. The boat also ran out of coal, however, Mr. Bentgen and his crew made it back by chopping up the furniture on the ferry and using it for fuel. (Photograph courtesy of Donna Bigelow)

115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, September 17, 1892

A small schooner unloaded a cargo of apples at Jamieson's dock last week.

Stellwagen & Kynoch will furnish estimates to any and all contemplating taking city water and will do first-class work.

The steamer Minnie M., which has been running from Chicago to St. Joseph, has been hauled off the route and sent to Bay City. We learned this morning that George Arnold of Mackinac has gone to Bay City to buy her and place her on her old route between Cheboygan and the Soo. Our informants say that if Mr. Arnold makes the deal she will be on the route next week. -Cheboygan News.

Angus Rankin has closed his Island shop and moved the goods to his shop in St. Ignace.

George Cook returned from a fishing trip to Les Cheneaux and Carp River Thursday. He made the trip in his little boat.

The new postal money orders will soon be in vogue. The system is such that there is little or no complication, and at the same time it is a good way to send money. A sheet calling for amounts from one cent to $3 has been prepared, which on the payment of one cent, and the amount to be sent will be torn off about the same as an express order. There will be no writing on it by the postmaster, the sender endorsing it as a check or draft.

From the Detroit Times of last Saturday we clipped the following: "The trial of Lieut. Geary of court martial is ended and the defendant returned to his command at Fort Mackinac this afternoon. After the evidence was completed, the judges met in secret session. Their decision was then rendered, but it cannot be made public until confirmed. The evidence, filling about 200 pages of copy, will be forwarded to Gen. Miles, the department commander, together with the decision of the court. In the meantime, the judges must keep their decision a strict secret."

90 Years Ago

The St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, September 20, 1917

Tomorrow evening at 7:30 the twenty-nine drafted men of the second Mackinac County contingent will leave on a special train on their first leg of their trip to the trenches in France.

The officers and members of the Brevort Agricultural society are rounding things in shape for the annual fair, which is to be held this year at Allenville Thursday and Friday, October 11 and 12.

The huge stock piles of coal on the dock of the City Fuel & Supply Co. looks good to the residents of St. Ignace. It would appear from the supply on hand that there is not likely to be a recurrence of last winter's shortage.

Marine men of the Great Lakes, and notably the wreckers, are taking their hats off to Cap. Alex Cunning, master of the tug Favorite, who on Monday completed the task of raising the steamer Western Star, sunk in Georgian Bay September 24, 1915.

Wm. Anguilm of the Rexton Hotel, Rexton, was in the city yesterday. He came down to have recorded the deed to the George R. Tucker farm, which he purchased this week.

The Snows - The large grocery boat operated by H.P. Hossack & Co. has been taken off and is now used in towing, for the most part. The smaller delivery boat can now handle the business.

The Hossack mill shut down Saturday on account of a spoke in the fly wheel of the engine having worked loose, and an accident was feared.

Work will be commenced about the middle of the present week on the boat house and dancing pavilion at the Lakeside Hotel. The building will be forty feet square and will have three boat slips.

50 Years Ago

The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, September 19, 1957

Fanfare accompanied the retirement of the S.S. City of Cheboygan on Sunday evening from service with the Michigan state ferry fleet. It was purchased in 1937 from the Ann Arbor railroad, and converted. She was built in 1906.

The grammar school pupils of the Curtis area will attend school for the first time this Monday, Sept. 16, when the new $160,000 Portage township school opens its brand new doors.

Acquisition of the St. Ignace water supply system as a municipal utility will be a matter of study for a special citizen's committee of five, appointed by Mayor A.G. Phillips.

Sam Brocato closed his Island Photo Shop and Snack Grill and left for Buffalo, New York.

Highway Commissioner John Mackie has told tourist councils in Michigan that tourist information facilities are being planned for the Mackinac Bridge. The old McNamara farm, which the state owns, and which is near the Straits bridge, is a probable site for both garage and information center, which would locate the facility on the north side of the bridge, near St. Ignace.

35 Years Ago

The Republican-News & St.

Ignace Enterprise Thursday, September 21, 1972

Amanda's Mighty Mac Fudge was named "Number One Fudge Makers in the State of Michigan" by entries in a "Fudge Off" at WJR Detroit.

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, September 17, 1992

The Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District is seeking a 1.75 mill increase in its tax levy for special education programs.

Chuck Bennin has resigned as basketball coach at Pickford after 21 years of service.

St. Ignace's Michelle LeCount scored a career-high 30 points for the Saints and hauled down 15 rebounds in a loss against Newberry. The Indians won 58-52.

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.