Tom Shamy's Linen Shop, which operated on Mackinac Island's Main Street (where Mighty Mac Hamburgers is now) opened for business in 1908, offering such items as fine imported linens, silk and challis scarves, handkerchiefs, and children's dresses. Mr. Shamy (left) sold the business to his two employees, Ruth Clark (middle) and Ling Horn. The two women continued in the business until 1969, then sold the building to Frank Nephew, who opened Mighty Mac Hamburgers in 1970. (Photograph courtesy of Candy Smith) 90 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, October 24, 1918

As a precaution against the spread of influenza in our midst, Health Officer Dr. Darby issued a notice Monday to keep the children off the streets and at home.

The little village of Newberry is almost panic stricken over the Spanish influenza. About 200 cases of it there and some twentyfive or thirty dead. - Curtis column

Newberry appears to have the influenza epidemic pretty well under control now and the number of cases is fast decreasing. Six young doctors from Detroit arrived there Tuesday morning and went to work with a will, and there is much better feeling in the village now.

Notwithstanding that strict economy was the watchword of the sessions, the members in justice to the increasing cost of living, voted the county officers an advance of 20 percent in their salaries, as follows: Treasurer... $1,800; Clerk...$1,600; Sheriff... $1,200; Prosecuting Attorney... $1,200; Supt. of Poor...$225; Sec. Poor Board...$400; County Physician...$ 500; Janitor Court House... $800.

The Sheriff was made the custodian of the court house and grounds and each county officer as authorized to make his own purchases and be responsible for the same.

David C. Hiser, 69, died at his home near Hessel on Tuesday evening of last week as the result of an accident. Monday afternoon, while drawing in a load of buckwheat, he fell from the wagon and became entangled in the lines, and before he could extricate himself, he was so badly injured internally that death resulted the following day.

Jimmy Brady is matched with Joe Putt, a Grand Rapids boxer, in the feature bout of the Cosmopolitan Club's show in Detroit tonight. Jimmy has met a lot of the fast ones since leaving St. Ignace a couple of years ago and has held his own with them all.

A valuable horse belonging to J.D. Erskine was run over and killed by No. 2 passenger train one evening last week.

Mrs. Lillian Henderson [St. Ignace] has taken over the confectionery and cigar business of Mrs. M.O. Seward.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, October 23, 1958

Emphasizing that it is equally important to the Straits country to restore historic Fort deBuade and the Jesuit Mission, capitals of the Great Northwest in the 17th century, Mrs. Carroll Paul described to the Michilimackinac Historical Society Monday evening her studies of early French forts.

"When the French were here in the 1600s, the people's lives were largely controlled by the morning bugle at the fort calling men to work and the mission bell calling people to the chapel in the evening," Mrs. Paul said. She is the curator of the Marquette County Historical Society. "We must give this old Jesuit mission its place in history."

The St. Ignace chapter of the Loyal Order of Moose, No. 999, held its initiation of charter members on Sunday afternoon at the Mackinac Conservation clubhouse. Officers chosen from among the 86 members are as follows: Past Governor - Homer Smith; Governor - Simpson Christensen; Junior Governor - Douglas Lipnitz; Prelate - Darrell Maxey; Trustees - Blair Pemble, George Bartlett, and Reuben Hunter; Secretary - Edward Wartella; Treasurer - David Craig; Sgt. at Arms - Ronald Carbine; Inner Guard - Burton Martineau; Outer Guard - John Schimmelpenny.

From military detail in the German embassy in Washington to retirement after 17 years with the Edison Sault Electric Co., St. Ignace branch, presents a colorful background of August Braun, who, with Mrs. Braun, was honored at a company dinner held at Fenners' last Thursday, marking his retirement from the company.

Approval of construction totaling an estimated $32,800 within the city limits by action of the [St. Ignace] city council Monday night is a bare indication of a fall building boom at the Straits.

W. Steward Woodfill, chairman of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, reported this week that 118,246 tourists - about five times the usual quota - visited historic old Fort Mackinac from June 15 to Sept. 20.

Workmen started excavation on Monday in preparation for a new motel to be located on the rear of the Routhier property known as The Colonial House.

The Cedarville Trojans came through with a 30 to nothing victory over the Brimley Bays under the lights of the Alvin H. Hossack Memorial field last Friday. This was the last game of the season and the Trojans put on an excellent exhibition of six-man football.

35 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, October 25, 1973

Kim Campbell, 1973 Homecoming Queen, was crowned during the halftime ceremonies last Friday at the Gaylord-Saints game. Debbie Carmean, 1972 Queen, presented her with the crown and a beautiful bouquet of red roses.

About sixty Chamber of Commerce members and their guests gathered at the Shores Restaurant last Wednesday evening for the annual banquet. As always, the highlight of the evening was the naming of the Chamber's selection as recipient of the "Citizen of the Year" award.

Dave Blomquist, superintendent of the St. Ignace City Schools for the past three years, who resigned this past summer to return to school for his doctorate, was chosen for the honor on the basis of his outstanding contributions as superintendent of schools as well as his enthusiastic efforts in his church, fraternal organizations, and just about everything within the community aimed at its betterment.

In a confrontation with the Department of Natural Resources over deer hunting policy, the Michigan Senate has overridden a veto of the U.P. antlerless deer hunting ban.

Remember "Brian Snydersky," famous announcer of the Senior Band's concert tour in 1972? Well, he's back, not as a student, but as a teacher. Mr. Snyder, a 1972 LaSalle graduate, has joined the long list of new faces at the school by returning this year as the assistant band director.

15 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, October 21, 1993

Senior Christi Goetz scored a game-high 20 points to lead Rudyard's girls basketball varsity team over Gaylord 58-46 in Michigan Huron Shores Conference action Tuesday, October 12.

Soil scientist Greg Whitney's final soil boring on October 15 officially completed a five-year soil survey of Mackinac County's 650,000 acres of ground, earth that Whitney said is among the state's most diverse. Officials from several agencies gathered to participate in the last of an estimated 300,000 borings into Mackinac County during the last five years.

State school funding reform could chop $91,600 out of St. Ignace's budget and force the city to increase property taxes, according to City Manager Gary Heckman.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The St. Ignace News is seeking original prints or reprints of old photographs depicting areas in the Eastern Upper Peninsula to e 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.