James John Brown (left) sits with his son, Prentiss M. Brown, in the family's law firm office on the upper floor of the old red brick building of First National Bank on State Street in St. Ignace in this undated photograph. James Brown, originally from Pontiac, had moved to St. Ignace in the early 1870s, after serving as city attorney in Detroit and then mayor of Cheboygan. A Shakesperian scholar and active in drama and theater, Mr. Brown also served on the St. Ignace city council and was the county's prosecuting attorney at one time. His only child, Prentiss, was a lawyer and U.S. senator and promoted construction of the Mackinac Bridge. (Photograph courtesy of Prentiss "Moie" Brown, Jr.) 90 YEARS AGO The St. Ignace News Thursday, December 26, 1918

St. Ignace is fortunate in the fact the while telephone rates are to be advanced all over the state, there will be no increase here. However, there will be no twoparty lines hereafter, all residence phones being on four-party lines.

Mackinac county has a number of her boys in Russia and the parents and friends naturally feel anxious concerning their welfare, especially in view of the conflicting reports that are continually sent out.

H.L. Harris, judge of probate, will go down in history as being the only man who ever refused a raise in salary. Judge Harris has refused the raise in salary tendered him in the shape of a clerk hire at the annual meeting of the board of supervisors, claiming the action is not legal. The judge thinks a judge of probate ought to command as big a salary as a janitor, any old time - Newberry News

Big game hunting in Michigan, which annually claims many lives, presented a list of 10 fatalities for the season just closed, as compared with a list of 15 to 16 fatalities a year ago and a normal list of more than that number; the 1918 season's reliable reports contain the names of but 10 victims.

All regulations of restaurants, hotels, clubs, dining cars, and other public eating places were removed at midnight last evening, according to word received from Washington.

The Enterprise last week published a paragraph to the effect that Wallace Seward was reported among the missing in France. The family had not heard from him for several months and the report was generally credited. Tuesday, Ernest Seward, brother of Wallace, received a letter from the Marine under date of November 26, in which he said he was o.k.

At a meeting of Mackinac Island's Historical Society held Dec. 16, E.J. Lachance was appointed historian. 50 YEARS AGO The Republican-News & St. Ignace Enterprise Thursday, December 25, 1958

One of the world's greatest artists of stage and screen, Muriel Smith, sang in St. Ignace at the LaSalle high school last Thursday evening. Also featured were the Moral Rearmament International Chorus of 40 voices from 15 countries, famed for songs in thirty languages and appearances in 35 countries.

The LaSalle Saints dropped into a second place tie with Alcona in the Straits-Huron Conference when Alpena Catholic checked a determined fourth-quarter rally to top the Saints 48-45 on Friday evening in Alpena.

Tax statements totaling $105,526.18 were sent out this past week by Mrs. Helen Clark, city treasurer. The winter tax spread is allocated as follows; County, $41,040.24; school $46,897.27; and special building and site tax for schools, $17,588.67. State school aid checks totaling $44,962.50 have been distributed among 11 Mackinac county school districts through the office of the county treasurer.

The checks represented only 75 per cent of the school aid approved for Mackinac county. This was the first school money received since late October. The largest check was for $12,750. It went to the St. Ignace city school district and will make it possible for teachers of the city to receive their salary for the month of December.

LaRocque Drugs independent basketball team rolled to a 117- 61 victory over the Quinlans of Newberry here at LaSalle gym last week. Merle McLeod, manager of the Druggists, said the 117 points was the largest score posted in the gym by a high school or independent basketball team.

Ralph McCarry was elected master of the St. Ignace Lodge No. 369, F.A.M., at its regular meeting held Wednesday evening Dec. 17, at the Masonic Temple. Retiring Master is Edward Hudson.

Ice fishing has been exceptionally good in Les Cheneaux and the fishermen are going home with very good catches and they are still getting them at Government Bay, while Muskie Bay is still very slow.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Johnson of Lill's Snack Bar in Cedarville left for Ypsilanti, where they will spend the Christmas week with their daughter, Doris, and family.

Mike Polk and Ted Formanuk, both summer residents of Les Cheneaux, were here for a couple of days last week inspecting their cottages on Lakeside Road.

Harold Pagel, owner of the Superette in Cedarville, left last week to spend the winter in Jensen Beach, Florida. Diane Church will assume management of the Superette for the winter.

Ruth Clark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Clark of Chicago and Mackinac Island, was chosen Auto Queen. Ruth, the new Miss Portage Park, is a pert miss of 16 who is a junior at Schurz high school. 35 YEARS AGO The Republican-News & St. Ignace Enterprise Thursday, December 27, 1973

Prentiss M. Brown Sr., former U.S. Senator and Congressman, died of a heart attack at his home [St. Ignace] Wednesday, December 19, at 7:30 a.m. He was 84. He was born in St. Ignace June 18, 1889. Funeral services for Senator Prentiss M. Brown were conducted from the United Methodist Church here Saturday, December 22, with Dale Emerson Lantz, Pastor, and Rt. Rev. Msgr. Bernard A. Karol, St. Ignatius Loyola parish, officiating.

It was his untiring efforts and driving force that brought this to reality in June, 1957, when the great span across the Straits of Mackinac was open to traffic. The Mackinac Bridge stands as a memorial to this great man with its towers reaching high into the sky above the blue waters of the Straits of Mackinac. It serves as a reminder to us of the many great things Prentiss M. Brown has undertaken and accomplished. He was Chairman of the Mackinac Bridge Authority until his death.

St. Ignace Mayor Sarah Tamlyn proclaimed four hours of mourning by suspending business in all city departments Friday, December 21, in recognition of the death of Senator Prentiss M. Brown. County officers at the Mackinac County Courthouse were also closed and flags were set at half staff.

The Saints recorded their fourth victory of the season Friday, coming from behind in the third quarter to take a 97-80 decision over the Gaylord Blue Devils. Ray Russell finished with 30 points and 18 rebounds, while Greg LaTour had another great night with 26 points and 11 assists. Louie Grondin did a fine job, as he wound up with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists, and Terry Gillespie ripped down 20 rebounds.

Around 150 patrons attended the silver tea and bazaar staged in the church parlors in Les Cheneaux Dec. 8. A complete sellout of tickets for the tea was reported.

Lori Saunders of rural St. Ignace was elected to the exalted position as Honored Queen of Bethel 79, International Order of Job's Daughters at a recent meeting. At the December 11 meeting, the business session was presided over by Miss Sandra Stiling, outgoing Honored Queen. 15 YEARS AGO The St. Ignace News Thursday, December 30, 1993

The Eastern Upper Peninsula was hit this Christmas weekend with some of the coldest temperatures in 10 years, setting a new record low at Sault Ste. Marie and bringing three to eight inches of lake-effect snow. The December 26 record low at the Sault, -31 Fahrenheit, said Sault weather station meteorologist Pat Bak, smashed the date's old mark of -17, set in 1925.

It also set a new record low for the month, topping the -25 recording of December 25, 1980. It was the coldest recorded temperature, Bak said, since a -33 reading January 21, 1984.

A 1994 Mackinac County budget of nearly $2.9 million has been approved by the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners, leaving the county government property tax rate the same as in 1993.

The Mackinaw City Village Council voted December 17 to sell a portion of the village's airport property to a Pellston developer who intends to build an 18-hole golf course. Richard Carter Enterprises will buy about 220 acres of the village land for $66,000, said Joe Duff, village manager. The land is outside the village between Mackinaw City and Carp Lake.

A 25-year-old Trout Lake man and his 53-year-old father both were arrested within minutes of one another on alcohol-related driving charges in the same pickup truck on Christmas Eve, state police reported.

To meet the needs of its expanding schools, the Les Cheneaux Community School Board has authorized Superintendent Ken Drenth to seek property for the expansion.

The St. Ignace Community Ice Rink, off Cheeseman Road and Lemotte Street, is open to the public. Warming areas and the rink will be supervised, said St. Ignace Recreation Director Joe McLafferty. There are three rinks available.

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.