St. Ignace teenagers Sandy Gustafson and Janice Steiner assist Mackinac Bridge worker Mel LaChapelle with changing a lightbulb on the main cable in spring 1969 in this promotional photograph for the bridge. There are 96 lights on the bridge's two cable lines. (Mackinac Bridge Authority photograph by Herman D. Ellis) 115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, May 6, 1893

Canada maple syrup at Murray Bros.

Everybody talks of taking in the G.A.R. excursion to Cheboygan Memorial Day.

Mr. Waldo, the shoemaker, has opened a shop next door west of the News office.

Examine our new stock! Loaded with the finest and largest line of furniture. - Mallett & Walker's

O.E. Bouchard, late of the "Exchange," retired from the hotel business on May 1, and has moved into his own dwelling on the bluff, which was formerly occupied by Under Sheriff Therrian.

The steamer Mary makes regular daily trips to the Snows and is getting her full share of business.

90 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, May 9, 1918

Folks from coast to coast are still wondering why the time-honored blue uniforms worn by the United States Marines were superseded by the "forest greens" now in use. "Practical military reasons," was the brief answer given by Marine officials.

But a history shark now comes forth with a better cause, he says, then mere military necessity, for the change of colors.

He claims that green is the historic hue for Marine Corps and to prove it he has dug up an order of the "Marine Committee," dated September 5, 1776, prescribing a uniform of green coat, faced with white, white waistcoat, and breeches edged with green, and black "gaiters."

The Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Co. announce the sale of their steamer, City of New York, formerly the City of Mackinac I, to the Goodrich Transportation Co. and she will thereafter run out of Chicago. The boat is one of the oldest and best known passenger boats on the lakes and for many years made regular trips to this port.

It is predicted that travelers on the railroads of the country will soon be obliged to dig up five cents for every mile of travel in the near future.

The Islander made a special trip to Mackinaw City Saturday to meet Mr. and Mrs. Frank Breuckman, returning from Petoskey, where Mr. Breuckman had been taking special treatment for locomotor ataxia.

Epoufette: The Ola boys from Brevort are still hauling logs to the mill here.

Les Cheneaux: Mr. Barney Nehls is our first cottager to arrive, coming up from Detroit Monday, and has opened his cottage on Pleasant Point for the summer.

Postmaster W.H. McFee has his ice cream parlor at Hessel open for the season, and it is a very attractive place to spend the evening, or wile away a few moments of leisure, with its pretty rustic decorations, fine open fireplace, and choice music.

50 Years Ago

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, May 8, 1958

"Breaks" in the "whistle" strip, which controls four-lane traffic through the Third ward, were asked by the common council in session Monday night. With Alderman Roy Carlson presiding as mayor pro tem, Alderman John Fenlon took exception to this highway department plan calling for "but about three breaks in the whistle strip, from the Third ward to Evergreen Shores."

Prentiss M. Brown Jr. has announced his candidacy for congressman from the 11th district and plans an early visit to all parts of the district.

"Time is of the essence," learned a St. Ignace delegation which met with state highway officials in Lansing last Thursday in connection with the proposed construction of a shoreline highway through St. Ignace to relieve traffic congestion in the city and bring tourists along a scenic route.

Postmaster O.C. Boynton Jr. this week announced that thousands of requests for "first day covers" have been received for the new Mackinac Bridge stamp to be released here on June 25, the day before the dedication festivities.

Mackinac Island: N.C. Bicking, manager of Grand Hotel, arrived Thursday from Chicago and has opened the business office.

Mr. and Mrs. Milan of Cedarville have purchased the grocery store known as Dick's Market here and are this week busy getting it in order to open May 12.

35 Years Ago

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, May 10, 1973

There have been two confirmed cases of whooping cough in the St. Ignace area recently. Both were children without immunization. The source of the disease has not been determined.

Plan now to attend the Voyageur Ball at the Kabaret Lounge on Wednesday, May 16. Music is by Ray Miller and his Zippy Zips.

Greg Shimkovitz has been selected by his Suomi College basketball teammates to be one of the team's captains for the 1973-74 season. Greg is a 6-3 center and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Luther Shimkovitz of Moran.

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, May 13, 1993

A new Star Line ferry, the Joliet, last week retraced the 320-year-old Mississippi and Illinois River path of early French explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, as the Joliet and its 10-man crew left Morgan City, Louisiana, where it was built Monday, May 3, and navigated 1,300 miles of rivers, lakes, canals, and locks to arrive in St. Ignace Monday, May 10.

The St. Ignace Schools like Proposal A and are urging local citizens to vote in favor of it in the statewide special election on Wednesday, June 2.

The Mackinac Island City Council voted 5-1 to take a stand against the inherent "inequalities" of Proposal A's property tax assessment cap at a special meeting Monday, May 10.

One of the oldest downtown buildings [St. Ignace] was taken down this week, the Thunderbird Trading Post. It will be replaced by a new gift shop similar in size.