During a ceremony in the early 1950s, Mackinac Island Mayor Ralph "Speed" Coles (far left) makes his speech as Island military veterans prepare to fire a salute to those who served their country. The color guard was from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapman Belonga Post 514, which was formed in 1947 and was disbanded in 1949. Mr. Coles was mayor from 1950 to 1952. (Photograph courtesy of Pat Andress) 90 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, November 7, 1918

County Election Winners - R.H. Benjamin (R), Sheriff; H.J. Hotchkiss (R), Treasurer; Geo. A. Rapin (D), Clerk; P.M. Brown (D), Pros. Atty.; Frank A. Wood (D), Reg. of Deeds; Frank S. Walker (R), Coroner; J.D. Erskine (D), Coroner; Geo. Kitchen (D), Surveyor.

Purser Joseph Wenzel of the Mackinac Transportation Line, states that hunters from lower Michigan are already crossing the straits to select their hunting grounds and get their camps in order, ready to be out bright and early on the opening day.

Section 402(b) of the Act of Sept. 8, 1916, authorizes the producer of wines to manufacture not to exceed 200 gallons thereof for the use of his own family without paying of tax. Wines thus produced must not be sold or otherwise removed from the place of manufacture. The Department has further ruled that all those making wine for their own family use must file a notice of intention to manufacture with the Collector of Internal Revenue at Grand Rapids, Mich.

Captain Bert Boynton was the first to send a Christmas package from this city overseas, it being addressed to his son Wayne in France.

The Yanks' fighting spirit is exemplified in a letter received from Jesse Brown to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. N.C. Brown of Gould City. Although a sniper's bullet got him in the temple, this did not stop him from capturing two Germans on his way to a hospital.

Friday of this week has been designated as nut day and A.R. Highstone has been appointed official collector. Be it ever so humble, the prune is a patriotic food. Depending on their size, between two and three hundred prune stones will furnish enough carbon for one gas mask. This carbon acts as an air filter and is the soldier's protection against the deadliest German poison gas.

Al Newman, the artistic mason of St. Ignace, has improved the Congregational Church here in Allenville by the addition of a new chimney.

The U.S.S. Search, a survey boat, was docked at Mackinac Island Saturday. They were here to dismantle the Island's wireless station.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, November 6, 1958

Saturday 2 p.m. marked the first full year of Mackinac Bridge operation. It was exactly 365 days ago that Governor Williams paid the first toll of $3.25 to cross over the Straits via the new structure to Prentiss Brown, chairman of the bridge authority. Incidentally, he paid by check and the check was cashed by the authority.

While Michigan voters on Tuesday gave the state Democratic officials, from Governor Williams on down, including Philip Hart's defeat of Senator Chas. E. Potter, Mackinac county voters reelected their entire slate of incumbent officers, all but two on the Republican ticket.

The farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Hawkins, Simmons Settlement, burned to the ground at 6 p.m. November 3, leaving only a towering chimney standing at the site.

A.R. Highstone was honored for 40 years of service with Red Cross at Coe Memorial hall Thursday. He is retiring as service officer of the county chapter of the American Red Cross.

The gymnasium was crowded to capacity for the annual Halloween carnival, sponsored by the seniors of Les Cheneaux community high school on Friday evening.

Applications have been made to the Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit, for permission to build a new dock at St. Ignace in Moran Bay and a new boathouse in Les Cheneaux. Carl and Ray Halberg of St. Ignace have asked for a federal permit to construct a wood pile and timber rock-filled crib pier extending 200 feet lakeward in Lake Huron on East Moran Bay. Dwight W. Maddux of Cincinnati has asked for a federal permit to construct a combination log crib-frame boathouse.

What he thought was "one of those flying saucer visions" was sighted by a St. Ignace man last Friday as he was driving his car in the vicinity of Ozark at 5:17 p.m. Toivo Hill, a local upholstery artist, said he reported the sight to Kinross [Air Force Base] and planes were sent out to investigate. Hill said he saw Sputnik III several nights last week in the western heavens, but by Saturday it was traveling too far west to be sighted.

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Manschreck left for California on Tuesday for the winter. Mr. Manschreck is a co-owner of the famous Mystery Spot on Martin Road.

Marvin Gitchell, owner of the Graham Glass shop, has been busy lately trying to fill orders he is receiving for glass suppliers and other material they furnish.

Michigan ranks fourth in the nation as a tourist state, behind New York, California, and Florida.

P.D. Downes, on a sabbatical leave from his teaching position in a private boys school at Belmont, Massachusetts, called on the Emerson Smiths last week looking for information regarding John Tanner, who acted as Indian interpreter for Schoolcraft and Mackinac Island and Sault Ste. Marie. This Tanner was accused of killing the brother of Henry Schoolcraft. Mr. Downes is preparing to write a story about the incident. His research has taken him to Kentucky, Michigan, and St. Louis, Mo. He is interested in preparing an accurate story of this John Tanner, who was kidnapped by the Indians and raised as one.

35 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News & St. Ignace Enterprise Thursday, November 8, 1973

St. Ignace electors went to the polls Tuesday and elected their first woman mayor in the history of St. Ignace, a city that recently celebrated its 300th birthday. Sarah Tamlyn defeated Ronald Walker, 426 votes to 230. Councilmen elected were Norman LaLonde, Leonard France, Jean Kalbfleisch, and Henry "Harry" Lee.

The St. Ignace Saints, undefeated and second ranked in Class C in the state, face the Traverse City St. Francis Gladiators Friday at St. Ignace. Last year, the two teams met in Traverse City and 5,000 fans jammed the stadium to watch the Saints deal the Gladiators their only loss of the year, 41-28.

At the start of the final 500 miles of the 1973 Press on Regardless rally Saturday night in S. Ignace, Canadian National Champions Walter Boyce and Doug Woods of Ontario led the 1973 POR International Car Rally. Driving a Toyota Corolla, Boyce and Woods had attained a substantial 20-minute lead over the second place team of Jim Walker of Ann Arbor. The Canadian duo won the race, finishing in Alma, winning $650 plus special stages. New teachers at Gros Cap School are Pete Everson, Gail Collins, Dave Rodda, and new principal Mr. Sipola.

Mr. Shuler, the new sixth grade teacher at McCann Elementary School, is very pleased with his position here. He moved here from Pontiac August 28.

After being a scout for five years, LaSalle junior Mike McNamara received the Eagle Scout award Saturday, October 27.

15 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, November 4, 1993

Contract extensions for St. Ignace and Engadine teachers expired last week and it appears a resolution in the prolonged negotiations will not occur without outside intervention.

The average residential customer in St. Ignace could end up with water and sewer bills that are $8.24 a month higher next year as the city attempts to comply with government agency requirements.

Construction of an 85-room Holiday Inn Express is underway on the waterfront in the 1000 block of North State Street in St. Ignace.

A week of shore and water searches on South Manistique Lake failed to turn up the body of a Lansing man who was fishing and presumably drowned during an early-season storm October 21.

The St. Ignace Saints will make their sixth trip to the state high school football playoffs and the Cedarville Trojans join the post-season playoffs for the first time in the school's history. The Trojans will travel to Marquette's Superior Dome to battle Bessemer and St. Ignace will tangle with defending state Class C champion Traverse City St. Francis.

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.