Les Cheneaux
By Helen Shoberg 484-2626 mink1@cedarville.net

Kindergarten through sixth grade students of Les Cheneaux Community Schools in Cedarville participated in "Build a Wall Against Drugs," a prevention education program, October 21 through 27. Each block shows activities that can serve as alternatives to drug use. Eighth grade art students David Andress, Jon Thompson, Dillion Currie, and Kharizma Labinski helped build the wall. (Photograph courtesy of Melanie MacDowell of LMAS Health Department)

We had reports of two who shot their deer on the first morning of the season. The first was a fivepoint shot by Dale Williams. Dale was out of the woods by 9:55 a.m. with his buck. Another was young Dale Dunn, who bagged a nice sixpoint buck.

At the time most people will read this paper, the Thanksgiving turkey and all of its trimmings will have been devoured. We hope everyone had a happy day.

A trip to Lower Michigan with a daughter last week put me in the mood for Christmas. The stores are decorated and Christmas sales are advertised. Many shop for Christmas throughout the year, and those who shop for service men and relatives overseas must do that, however, there is something about the excitement of waiting until the music is playing and the bells are ringing. It's a happy and exciting time of the year.

Jim Johnson's historic photograph of downtown Hessel from the water was shot 57 years ago, from the top of Pat Mertaugh's pile driver beside what was locally known as Fenlon's "big dock." The road now known as Pickford Avenue is lined with trees, divides the downtown area, and extends to the water's edge, where docks are visible at right. Mr. Johnson identified buildings visible in the picture, and Hintz Fenlon's boat house roof in the right foreground. At left, he identifies (front to back) the "round house" gazebo, Fenlon Brothers Store behind the gazebo, and he mentions two other buildings behind Fenlon's, including the first feed store (now Pickle Point) and McFee's (now The Islander). On the right side of the street, Mr. Johnson identified (front to back) Porter Johnson's popcorn shack, Paul and May (nee Nye) Umbreit's house, and William Walker's grocery store. Some of the other buildings identified in the photograph (in no order) include Hintz Fenlon's house, Joe Fenlon's house, Hugh Wagner's house, Pat Mertaugh's house, Doyle's Restaurant, and Father D.P. Tighe's house. (Photograph courtesy of Jim Johnson)

Servicemen should be a part of our Christmas this year, even if it's only in our prayers.

The preschool bazaar is one of the big events on the calendar this coming weekend. Les Cheneaux Preschool will host its annual Christmas Bazaar and Cookie Walk Saturday, November 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Les Cheneaux Community Schools in Cedarville. It's surprising how many crafters come up with new ideas for gifts.

The Les Cheneaux Historical Museum is having the first weekend of its annual Christmas Open House. We stopped in to take a peek at the hand-decorated trees that will be for sale through a silent auction, and it never ceases to surprise me to see how amazingly clever some people are. There are many beautiful and original trees on display. This open house will take place Friday, November 23, Saturday, November 24, and Sunday, November 25, and continue the following two weekends. The final time for bidding will be December 7, 8, and 9, when the final bids may be made. Hours for all three weekends will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for Sundays, when the hours are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Cedar Post Secretary Jane Clover reports that the emergency food pantry received 50 bags of non-perishable food, paper products, and toiletries from the Cedarville Student Council. The students went from house to house Wednesday, October 31, collecting the items in their annual "Trick or Treat for Charity". The items were delivered the next day, and many more donations have been coming in, Jane said, noting that Cedar Post staff are grateful for everyone's generosity, which will help local families.

"We still need donations of food, paper items, clothing, and personal care items, especially with Christmas coming up," she said. "Winter clothing is a big need. Things like hats, gloves, coats, and boots are especially welcome."

The Manistique Lions Club won the Les Cheneaux Lions Club $100 raffle November 13.

This week we have a snapshot Jim Johnson of Kincheloe provided us of the town of Hessel as it was in 1949. We don't realize how many changes have been made in Hessel and Cedarville until we see an old snapshot such as this one.

A recollection about early school teachers, from Bruce Patrick, follows:

"This is about teachers that I went to through my school years. I went to Edgewood School for my first five years. After those five years, I went to Cedarville School for the rest of my 12 years. The Cedarville or Clark Township school system went through 10 grades in those days. If you wanted to graduate from 12th grade, you had to finish in Pickford or the Soo School. The township would pay tuition for the remaining years that you needed to finish 12 grades.

"My first year school teacher's name was Miriam Kay. She taught one year at Edgewood School. She walked from Cedarville and back home at night each day. In winter, she walked the Indian Trail, which was a straight trail from Cedarville. It started right behind Taylor's Mill, then more or less straight through to Edgewood School. She always came early so she could fire up the big box stove so the room was warm by the time kids got there.

"Other teachers that I remember were Alan Jones, Alice Tieford, also Bill Smale of Cedarville, and Miss Rebota, who married Eric Lofdahl. Alice Tieford was a cousin of mine from Evanston, Illinois. John Tieford came up from Evanston years back to run the club farm for a few years. He was a brother of my mother. Running the club farm did not last for very many years before John went back to Illinois, where he ran a vegetable farm."