Looking Back
Compiled by Ryan Schlehuber

A photograph taken around 1920 of Fred Taylor Hardware in Pickford shows former Pickford undertaker Jack Quinnell (right) with store clerk Harold Taylor at the store. The business is now owned by Dick and Marcia Taylor, who operate it as Taylor True Value on Main Street in Pickford. The store's stamped tin ceiling can be seen in the photograph, as well as a ladder attached to a rail system for reaching upper shelves along the wall behind the men. Dick Taylor is Fred Taylor's grandson, and he worked at the store during his school and college years. The hardware has been in the same location since about 1900, Mr. Taylor estimates, but was started in the late 1890s at another location. Jack Quinnell worked for Taylor Hardware as the town undertaker, which Mr. Taylor said was a common practice in the early 20th century, when hardware stores ordered and sold caskets. Mr. Quinnell eventually left the store to start his own business in 1934. Today, Taylor Hardware has the same tin ceilings and wood floor seen in the photograph. (Photograph courtesy of Jack McDonald)

115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, March 11, 1893

Two locomotives were at work last Saturday afternoon, clearing the mill side track of snow, preparing for the reception of train loads of logs, which will soon begin to arrive.

The News is pleased to learn that Dave Tyndall has been appointed electrical engineer on the new steamer City of Mackinac. Dave's past experience will enable him to hold the job down in good shape. We wish him success.

The sparrow bounty has been so amended by the legislature as to require boys to bring to the town clerks the entire sparrow instead of the heads only. The purpose is to save other birds from destruction.

Sam Winkelman, formerly of the People's store, is going into business for himself at Manistique. He has made himself very popular while clerking for his brother here and will no doubt become quite as popular in Manistique as a merchant. We hope so.

A new five hundred dollar bill has been issued. For fear some of our subscribers might hand us one of these bills when paying up their subscription, we would respectfully request them to get even change first - $1 - as we might not be able to change so large an amount more than once or twice a day.

The soldiers at Fort Mackinac were paid yesterday, with Col. Candee in charge of the roll.

The ice harvesters have completed their work for this season.

Rev. Father Miller will deliver a lecture at the Island Friday evening, March 17.

P. Mulcrone is having a new front built on the building adjoining F. Gunther's barber shop.

The mild weather of the past week is an indication that winter is over. The snow wasted away considerably.

Thomas Weldon arrived over from Prentiss Bay yesterday morning, coming all the way on the ice. He was in charge of three teams, which came after camp supplies.

90 Years Ago

The St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, March 14, 1918

On Tuesday evening, Rev. James W. Bond, to whom was recently issued a unanimous call from the Presbyterian church of this city, was formally installed as pastor before an audience that filled the auditorium.

Robert Devine, a Portage township boy, now somewhere in France, as a member of the 107th Engineers, was a passenger on the Tuscania when she was sunk by a German submarine near the Irish coast. He wrote home telling his family of his experience.

Clarence Eby, the well-known photographer of St. Ignace, whose interesting article detailing a trip from the straits to Washington by auto has been favorably commented on by Enterprise readers, has enlisted in the U.S. signal corps.

Female Masonry - a farce, will be given by local talent at the Trout Lake opera house Saturday evening, March 1.

Mrs. J.L. McChesky was severely burned about the face a day last week by the explosion of a can filled with potted ham, which she had at first heated and was about to open.

The women [in Allenville] are more careful in opening cans of food now, since the explosion at St. Ignace.

50 Years Ago

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, March 13, 1958

One of St. Ignace's aged, historic buildings, the "Yellow Front," operated for years as a curio store in the infancy of the tourist trade by Don Vigeant, and in recent years by Leonard Goudreau, is being razed.

John R. Goudreau, St. Ignace, has accepted appointment as Mackinac County chairman for the May 4-10 Michigan Week Observance this year.

Acommittee composed of local citizens held their initial organizational meeting this week to make plans for an intensive inventory of the assets that the Straits area north of the bridge can offer prospective industry and business in the future. The ultimate goal of the committee is to gather all available information and compile it into report form to be used to indicate trends and direction for future development of the... area.

Marvin Mohr, patrolman and toll taker at the Mackinac Bridge, says that a Byron Center man has another bridge "first." Mohr explained that this man was en route to Mackinaw City and south some weeks ago, and came to the toll booth, where he found himself 25 cents short of the required fare. Mohr deposited the coin for the man and gave him his name and address for return of the loan. This week came a thank you note to which 25 cents was attached. It is a "first" because Mohr has one 50 cents and one 25 cents still outstanding under similar circumstances.

Several new faces appeared on the political scene in St. Ignace following the party caucuses and conventions last week. Notably, it is Raymond "Pete" France, Republican candidate for mayor, who will oppose Mayor Alexander G. Phillips, who was renominated by the Democratic party for his ninth term.

Perhaps the oldest anchor discovered in the U.S. (or the world) was purchased by Prentiss M. Brown, Mackinac Bridge Authority chairman, from Merle Duffney of Cheboygan, who salvaged it off Bois Blanc island in 18 feet of water. The 1,600-pound anchor is believed the type used before the discovery of America.

Ruth Johnson, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. D. Johnson, pastor of the Hessel Baptist church, reports remodeling going on there, with a new floor being laid in the church.

35 Years Ago

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, March 15, 1973 The St. Ignace Saints boys basketball team clinched the district title with a 79-65 win against the Newberry Indians. Ed Lester scored 28 points in the contest to pace St. Ignace's potent attack.

New parking meter regulations were approved by St. Ignace City Council Monday, March 12.

A new Chippewa County industry went into operation Monday, March 12, with the opening of the Rockview Mini-Woodyard of the Mead Corporation. The new woodyard is located five miles south of Pickford.

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, March 11, 1993

Hard freezes, thaws, and lack of deep snow cover have resulted in more than the usual number of water line problems in St. Ignace during the last two weeks.

Barbara Brown, assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, was invited by the St. Ignace Board of Education to be this year's commencement speaker at LaSalle High School.

The City of Mackinac Island's proposed solid waste management ordinance has been modified to permit residents and businesses to store and dispose of garbage themselves, rather than use the city disposal system. This modification was made by a city council committee that decided the original ordinance was too restrictive.

The final points race of the year for the Michigan Drag Racing Association drew a record 601 entries to Cedarville Bay Saturday and Sunday, March 6 and 7.

The St. Ignace Midget hockey team won the Northern Michigan Hockey League playoff championship with a 4-0 win over Gaylord in the semifinals and a 1- 0 victory over Gladwin in the title game in Cheboygan March 7.