Looking Back
Compiled by Ryan Schlehuber

115 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Saturday, April 22, 1893

The addition to the Mulcrone building nearly opposite the depot is quite completed.

The front of LaClare's jewelry store will soon be adorned with a large clock of artistic design.

The first boat of the season was the steamer State of Michigan, which arrived in port on Tuesday last.

The new transfer steamer Ste. Marie will leave the Detroit dry dock today.

James Hess and family will now occupy the residence recently purchased from ex-mayor Farrell.

The steamer Gazelle pulled out of her winter quarters this morning to make a trip to the Snows.

The new steamer City of Mackinac was launched in Detroit this week. The new steamer City of Alpena will hardly be ready for service before July.

90 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, April 25, 1918

As the date approaches for the closing of the saloons in Michigan on April 30th, much interest is manifest in the provisions of the laws that will govern the new regime. A meeting of the prosecuting attorneys of the upper peninsula was held at Marquette Tuesday, when the manner of enforcing the new laws were discussed and plans were made for carrying them into full effect.

The registration of Michigan women in their country's service begins next Saturday, April 27th.

St. Ignace should at once make known her advantages and press her claims for the location of a ship building plant by the United States government.

The steamer Lotus of the Snows Transportation Co. broke out of winter quarters last Friday after inspection. Early Tuesday morning she left for the Soo in command of Capt. McGregor, where she will go in dry dock to be ready for the season's business.

Prosecuting Attorney Brown is driving a new Buick, purchased through the Wing agency.

Mrs. Napoleon Rapin is at Trout Lake in the capacity of a nurse at the Conlogue home.

Navigation is again open to our little port. Postmaster W.H. McFee has his trim launch, the Sysonbee, in fine shape, ready for the season. Jasper St. Louis has his launch, the Veronica, newly painted and ready for business. [Les Cheneaux]

Edwin O. Wood died in Pasadena, Cal., where he had gone for his health. Mr. Wood and family spent many summers on the Island in their beautiful cottage, and no man ever did more to bring the Island to the attention of the outside world than did Mr. Wood. His death will be universally regretted to this community. [Mackinac Island]

Editor's note: Mr. Wood was an assistant to the president of General Motors Corporation and treasurer of Chevrolet Motor Company. He was a member of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, Michigan Historical Commission, and the American Historical Association. He was also an author of many books on historic Mackinac.

50 Years Ago

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, April 24, 1958

A list of registered contestants for the St. Ignace Lions Club's Miss Mackinac County contest for the bridge dedication include the following people so far: Patti Dory, 19, of St. Ignace; Sharon Grondin, 19, of St. Ignace; Marilyn Movalson, 17, of Brevort; Lenore Allen, 19, of St. Ignace; Carolyn Yahrmatter, 19, of St. Ignace, and Shirley Ferris, 18, of Evergreen Shores.

Ryerse Sales nosed out McLeod Plumbers Friday by a score of 742 to 734 in the final session of the cribbage league, and thereby won the championship of the season, an honor they held last year. Individual scoring honors were made by Charles Ryerse and Joseph Vairo with 179. In second were Ed Wartella and Roland Beeck with 171.

The 20th anniversary of Moral Re-Armament and the 80th birthday of its American initiator, Dr. Frank Buchman, will be celebrated at Mackinac Island this summer.

Pfc. Everette Hamilton, of Pickford, is a member of the 9th Engineer Battalion basketball team, which recently won the 37th Engineer Group tournament in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Hamilton, a combat construction specialist in the battalion, entered into the army in August 1956. The 24- year-old solider is a 1951 graduate of Pickford High School and 1956 graduate of Western Michigan college.

35 Years Ago

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, April 26, 1973

On May 17, eight men in two 20-foot canoes will leave St. Ignace to fully re-enact the 1673 voyage of Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet down the Mississippi River to Helena, near the mouth of Arkansas River, where the early explorers turned back. Like the men who preceded them 300 years ago, they will then return to Lake Michigan via the Illinois River.

Much activity at the Island this time of year. James Francis' crew is finishing the new French Outpost (formerly Mary's Pantry), and the Donald Andress crew is remodeling the outside of The Lamp Lighter Cafe. The Grand Hotel has several workmen, the City of Mackinac Island is preparing its park grounds, and the old paint brushes are going again at Mackinac, just as every spring.

St. Ignace City Council recognized the passing of T.L. Jackson, who served the city for more than 28 years as engineer, from 1934 to 1947, and as assessor, from 1947 to 1962.

15 Years Ago

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, April 22, 1993

A group of St. Ignace area residents has petitioned the St. Ignace school board to include an invocation and benediction in LaSalle High School graduation ceremonies.

Whether the 50-year-old, Cheboygan-based ice cutter Mackinaw will be decommissioned still is "up in the air," said Cleveland District U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Brian Huth. The Coast Guard's 1994 budget, which proposes the decommissioning as a cost-saving measure, has not yet been presented to Congress, he added.

Rudyard Township will construct a $1.91 million community water system this year, consisting of two production wells and 125,000-gallon storage tank.