St. Ignace businessman Loren R. Litchard (left) and pilot Dutch "Bud" Hammond, who later became the private pilot for the King of Arabia, at the St. Ignace airport in the winter of 1939-40. To the right is St. Ignace Postmaster Oliver C. Boynton Jr., bringing the U.S. mail for Mackinac Island. (Photograph courtesy of Ollie Boynton) 90 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, March 6, 1919

County Clerk Geo. A. Rapin and family are now residing in their new residence adjoining the P.E. Gallagher property on Portage street.

Mr. Rapin and Chas. Madison last week made a deal whereby the former acquired the Madison house and Madison the Rapin home at the corner of Portage and Marley streets.

The usual supply of ice will be harvested in St. Ignace, notwithstanding the weather conditions, and G.A. Litchard, the local ice magnate, has also contracted to ship several cars to outside points.

It is believed that the petition recently presented to the post office department for the establishment of a star route service between St. Ignace and the Snows will be favorably acted on by the government.

Advertisement - HOLSTEIN BULL FOR SERVICE - Mackinaw's Emblaggard Prince, a grandson of the famous Pontiac Butter Boy. Service fee, $3.00. Densmore's. Phone No. 69-F.2

The Coast Guard station [on Mackinac Island] opened March 1.

Islanders have had the advantage of steamboat transportation all winter, the first time in many years.

Mackinac Island, through its council, has given its approval of the bills now before the legislature for the improvement of the Island by the state. A resolution offered by Mayor Chambers at a meeting of the council held February 26th was unanimously adopted with Aldermen Bogan, Cable, Donnelly, Pfeiffelman, and Holden.

The Cedarville young people had a sleigh ride party to the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Strandholm at Hessel last Friday evening.

Gordon Rudd and John Strandholm have commenced work on the old rink building which will be refitted for a modern garage. The first work consists of dropping the building down to the street level, or nearer that, and leveling it up.

A dance will be given in Finnegan's hall, Hessel, Monday evening.

"Going fine," is the greeting of Purser Mike Doud of the steamer Islander, plying between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island the year around. "No ice from dock to dock," he says.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, March 5, 1959

Jack Henry, manager of Straits state park, St. Ignace, is prepared to "declare war" against dogs running loose in the park. Mr. Henry estimates that nine out of 10 dogs seen loose in the park are without collars and license, a violation of local ordinances.

High individual scoring by Ted Roetman and Norman Wixson as well as by Bert Taylor and Tony Simmons saved the league leading Taylor Appliance in Friday night's cribbage play.

Although it was reported that the exhibit building at the Allenville fairgrounds appeared beyond saving at the first reports, the St. Ignace fire department on Monday managed to limit the damage to the forepart of the building, floor, joists, rafters, and northwest corner of the building. Supervisor L.C. Litzner, who was at the city hall here when the call came in, asked the department to rush to Allenville to protect the nearby church and parsonage.

A "friendly suit" will be instituted by the Mackinac Bridge Authority to clarify legal language concerning payment of interest on $100 million worth of bridge bonds.

Charles M. Ziegler, 70, state highway commissioner for 13 years before retiring, died at his home in Lansing on Sunday as a result of a heart attack.

Harold Wartella of Cheboygan will assume management of the Mackinac county airport this coming weekend.

Fifteen men and three ladies joined in the Mackinac Conservation club program of browse cutting for hungry deer caught in yards as the result of heavy snow and cold weather. The group worked in the St. Martin's Bay country on Tuesday to open the program and supplied the yards there with enough browse for nearly two months, according to George Michalka, president of the club.

A total of 375 paid admissions attended the Saturday night showing of "Mighty Mackinac," a movie-lecture on the Mackinac Bridge by Herman D. Ellis staged in LaSalle auditorium.

35 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, March 7, 1974

[St. Ignace] City Attorney Prentiss Brown introduced a resolution purposing the abandoning of Hamlin Avenue located between Ferry Lane and Church Street. The abandonment would increase the size of part of the land the St. Ignace Area Development Corporation anticipates selling to Michigan Bell Telephone Company.

Portions of Seney National Wildlife Refuge will be open to limited beaver trapping.

The St. Ignace Saints finished out their season schedule Friday night with a big 94-57 victory at Rogers City. While beating the Hurons for the eleventh straight time, the Saints also wrapped up second place in the Michigan Huron Shores Conference.

A pizza dinner at the Driftwood, for the LaSalle High girls volleyball team, arranged by Miss Sara Irwin, coach, ended this year's volleyball season. The players for the 1974 season were: Denise Beaudoin, Paula Deitz, Barbara LaTour, Helen O'Neil, Melinda Pelon, Jean Pemble, Denise Saunders, Julie Soblaskey, Toni Sorenson, Janet Stewart, Marty Tamlyn, and Nora Winters.

Mackinac Island Public School will resume Monday. The school had been closed the past week with a flu epidemic which seemed to be among the younger children.

15 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, March 3, 1994

Eugene Massey, who began his 30-year career with the Mackinac Bridge as a toll-taker, retired effective Friday, February 25, as its operations manager.

Jim Lamoreaux and Barry Pierson of St. Ignace will be inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 23.