90 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, February 6, 1919

The principal object of the [Business Men's Association] meeting was to take up a proposal of Richard Jones relative to the reestablishment of the mill recently destroyed by fire. In brief, Mr. Jones' proposition was to organize a stock company capitalized at $75,000, he and Mr. Kerry to take $40,000 and the citizens $35,000 of the stock.

The officers and directors of the Brevort Agricultural Association are already laying plans for their annual fair next fall. They are beginning this early in order that there will be no hitch in the arrangements and they are in hopes to have the new grounds and race track completed in ample time for the exhibition.

If St. Ignace is to secure a German cannon it is necessary to get busy and get its bid in. There are hundreds of these cannons to be distributed among American cities and there is no reason why this town cannot be one of them.

The St. Ignace Cloverland Club is the name given the new organization by the organizers, who recently leased the Mulcrone building opposite The Enterprise office. The club is organized for the social entertainment and to furnish a place for rest and recreation for our returning soldiers.

No effort will be made by the leaders of the Dry forces in Michigan to make a fight in the courts against the so-called "wine and beer" amendment, it has been announced from the headquarters of the Drys.

Advertisement - G.H. Bobier, Marine Grocery, State Street.

Fire broke out [on Mackinac Island] about 3:30 Sunday in the farm house owned by the late Peter Early, resulting in a complete loss. A defective chimney was the cause of the fire.

Col. Poole has a summer home located on the north end of [Mackinac] Island and he has let the contract for a new bungalow to be built in the spring to contractor Patrick Doud.

Mrs. H.P. Hossack [of Les Cheneaux] has been assisting in the post office for a few days, on account of the departure of Harvey Hamel.

The Cedarville schools opened on January 27. Up to the present time, about six weeks of the school year have been lost because of the influenza epidemic.

School reopened in Brevort Monday after a three-week vacation by reason of the epidemic.

J.B. Easton [of Gros Cap] managed to make a crossing from St. Helene Island on Friday of last week for the first time in four weeks.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, February 5, 1959

A total of 1,553,206 vehicles have crossed the Mackinac Bridge since its November 1, 1957 opening.

The state has authorized the sale of two more of the Michigan State Ferries, the Petoskey and Munising, at a price of $160,000 for both. Sale will be made to the K.&K. Trucking line, which proposes to haul trucks from southern Michigan across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, Wis.

Attorney James J. Brown of St. Ignace and Chuck Blanek, Moran businessman, who teamed up on a trip to the Arctic Circle for a fishing expedition on Great Slave Lake, arrived home on Tuesday afternoon. It was a four-day trip each way to their "jumping-off" place at the southern tip of the Canadian lake. In a temperature of 61 degrees below zero, the two spent five days and nights on the ice sheet. A mishap, Chuck suffered a frozen toe.

Operation of the Mobil gas station at the foot of Truckey Street has changed hands, effective Feb. 1. Harold Hayward has sold his interest in the station to Roy "Bud" Closs, who will continue the service.

"I'm fighting for the people who are isolated on Mackinac Island," said Mrs. John Franks, "and I understand that when such a population is stranded we can get federal aid." Mrs. Franks was talking to the meeting of airplane operators, airport committee, and interested citizens gathered here Saturday night to consider the problems confronting Island people in the costs of plane and taxi travel to St. Ignace as a shopping center.

Airplane landing strips laid out on the bay ice by City Engineer C.P. Becker on Monday received approval as temporary licensed fields from the Michigan Dept. of Aeronautics. They will be used by planes transporting Island passengers and freight.

Richard Welch of the Mackinac Island Ferry Company placed a written statement with the city asking a ramp near shore on Dock. No. 2 for use of his 65-ft. boat to transport passengers from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island.

Not many St. Ignace people know that the hill back of the police post was called Cheechock hill in the '80s and '90s. Known by many today as Ryerse Hill, it was originally the home of the largest of the Lake Huron Ottawa settlements. Over the years, relics and skeletons have been found over a considerable part of the front part of this hill, which extends for a considerable distance west, as a ride on the Cheeseman Road will show.

Advertisement: Primary election in St. Ignace on Feb. 16. Lets all get to the polls and vote. - Roy Carlson, candidate for nomination for Mayor.

The Mackinac Island State Park commission has asked the legislature for $17,500 to start planning on a proposed $400,000 to $500,000 restoration of old Fort Michilimackinac at Mackinaw City.A

Saturday night joy-ride via Buick automobile across the ice bridge to Mackinac Island wound up with a tow behind Old Dobbin. Calvin Rogers and Jim Wellington of Mackinac Island left St. Ignace after supper in their Buick passenger car. What happened is that the Islanders had reached within two miles of land before their auto stalled and the battery failed. They hoofed it to land and called St. Ignace to give up the search. On Sunday, the Buick was retrieved by a horse tow through snow two feet deep.

35 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, February 7, 1974

Police Chief Pillsbury released information Monday, about the investigation of grand larceny of a coin collection from the Father Marquette Mission Museum. The coins were from a collection which originally belonged to Aunt Jane Goudreau and had been donated to the Knights of Columbus. The most valuable coin reported taken is an 1804 silver dollar, one of fourteen known to be in existence and with an estimated value of $30,000.

A St. Ignace resident notified police that she had purchased two coins, a 1904 Indian Head penny, and a 1902 Canadian penny, which are thought to be part of the collection. Entry was gained between November 9 and January 18 by forcing the lock on the back door. Police have several suspects but no arrests have been made at the present time.

Friday, February 1, found the railroad ferry Chief Wawatam locked in heavy windrowed drift ice, one half mile out of Mackinaw City on her return trip to St. Ignace.

Three 1973 graduates have joined the staff of the St. Ignace School system, Miss Mary Sue Rahilly (home economics) of Newberry, Miss Chris Wadaga (English and journalism) of Fruitport, and Miss Char Tuchowski (elementary and high school music and special education) of Crystal Falls.

15 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, February 10, 1994

More than two months of freezing temperatures, compounded by days and nights of sub-zero weather, have caused an unexpected problem in Clark Township: Some sewer lines are freezing.

Michigan State Police troopers from St. Ignace recaptured one of two inmates who jumped from a prison van Wednesday, February 2, at the intersection of US-2 and Worth Road. The other prisoner was recaptured by one of two corrections officers with whom the prisoners were riding in the van, said police.

Ivan Hansen, of Lachine, warded off intermittent snow squalls, a persistent pack, and a thrilling late challenge to persevere at the International 500 Snowmobile Race in Sault Ste. Marie Monday, January 5.

St. Ignace LaSalle High School senior Sean McLafferty, son of Joe and Becky McLafferty, signed a national letter of intent Wednesday, February 2, to study at Ferris State University and play football for the Bulldogs.

Seniors Willy Beach and Kristina Irwin were crowned homecoming king and queen at Mackinaw City High School before the varsity basketball game between the Comets and Harbor Light Christian Friday, February 4.

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.