Ang-Gio's Restaurant on M-134 in Hessel was first known as Les Cheneaux Restaurant and Drive-in, built and owned by Celina and Maurice Daniels in 1956. The restaurant was known for its big meals, especially its hot beef sandwiches, and homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, and fries. Pictured are Mrs. Daniels (right) and employee Lorna Thompson in 1959. The building was made of brick, as Mr. Daniels, originally from Belgium, was a mason who owned a masonry downstate before settling in the Les Cheneaux area. Mrs. Daniels was from Paris. The two met in the 1920s during a boat voyage to America. The Autore family has owned the restaurant since 1964, renaming it Ang- Gio's, a combination of two family members' names, Angelo Fabricino and Giovanni Autore. They have since added more seating and kitchen space, and re-sided the building with wood. (Photograph courtesy of Lorraine Powers of Mackinaw City) 90 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, May 15, 1919

County Road Commissioners E.H. Hotchkiss and Geo. A. Litchard, who attended a meeting of the Upper Peninsula good roads boosters, returned home feeling mighty well pleased with their trip. State Highway Commissioner Rogers, who was present a the meeting, appeared to be particularly interested in Mackinac County and told the local commissioners that he would do all he can to further the interests of this section.

Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Keightley returned from St. Thomas Monday, where they attended the funeral of her brother, Fred Bechley, who was instantly killed last Thursday in one of the worst wrecks ever to have occurred on the Wabash railroad.

Don't miss Winkelman's Big Shoe Sale. Every pair of shoes carries a reduced price.

Rev. F.C. Bircham of the Methodist church preached an eloquent sermon Sunday evening. He first read Gov. Sleeper's proclamation urging the day be observed in honor of the memory of the mothers of Michigan and followed it with a talk on the lines suggested in the proclamation.

The D.D.I. club scored a big success at their Rube dancing party in Soucie's hall Tuesday evening.

Officers of the reconstructed Civic League for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President - Mrs. J.E. Quinlan; Vice President - Dr. Conner; Secretary - Miss Jean Hotchkiss; Treasurer - Mrs. E.G. McNamara.

G. Burt Banta, who owns a cottage at Graham's Point and is well known in St. Ignace, has been appointed superintendent of the Detroit House of Correction.

Mrs. E.D. McBain is expected at the Lakeside Hotel [Les Cheneaux] about May 17th. Some repairs and alterations to the hotel will be made at once.

Mrs. R.S. Melchers expects to arrive at the Islington Hotel about June 8 [Les Cheneaux].

Highway Commissioner Tripp has a small gang of men working on a mile of the Meridian road just south of Windberg's Corners. The intention is to widen out the three miles from the Corners to Cedarville and make this stretch of road conform to the Dixie Highway.

Several young people of Trout Lake attended the dance Saturday evening at Rexton. All report a fine time, but Clinton does not. How about it, Sam?

The fine weather of the past week has caused a general activity among [Mackinac] Island folks and they are all busy preparing for an unusually busy season. The hotels will be ready to receive the first guests and the boarding and rooming houses are making many bookings.

Edward G. Chambers of the Island visited in the city [St. Ignace] Friday, returning from St. Helene Light, where he was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Hall for a few days.

Dr. Frank E. Dunster is now driving a Dodge car, having effected a trade with William McCauley for the doctor's Ford. Ed Rutherford sold his Ford to Mail Man John Kelly at Charles, expecting to purchase a larger machine. Sheriff Benjamin is the owner of a new Buick. James E. Quinlan also is the possessor of a Buick, purchased through the Wing garage.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, May 14, 1959

Bids opened Saturday for construction of the proposed new Methodist church in St. Ignace found a low bid of $163,000, a figure higher than the budget for the building program. Construction is expected to begin this spring.

Sutton's Wagon Wheel restaurant building was damaged by fire and smoke at 8:40 a.m. yesterday. The fire was extinguished before it spread further.

The Wigwam restaurant opens Saturday under new management of Mr. and Mrs. G. Bruce Bentgen of St. Ignace. The cocktail lounge is now open under the management of John C. Hopkins. Mr. and Mrs. Bentgen will entertain the motel owners and gas station operators on West US-2 this evening at the restaurant as an introductory feature.

Lester Wamsley has been named valedictorian and Mona Warner, salutatorian, of the LaSalle high school graduating class this year, it was announced last weekend by Donald Wachter, principal.

Initiated to Les Cheneaux Lions Club were Bob Miller, Herb Whittaker, Don Cozens, Chester Kasper, and Bob Robbins. One new Lion who escaped the initiation was Albert Lindberg, who was away on a business trip, but will receive his initiation at another date.

Celebrating their first meeting in their newly erected club house, the Les Cheneaux Sportsman club enjoyed a wonderful luncheon and featured Jack Ryerse of St. Ignace, who showed exciting movies of pheasant hunting and "The Life of a Bear." Also, another movie was made possible by Fire Chief Charles E. Wagner of Kinross AFB, which showed the methods of fighting crash fires of airplanes.

Mackinac Island voters went to the polls Monday in a special school district election and approved a proposition designed to issue bonds in the amount of $265,000 to provide a new school. The vote was yes, 101; no, 62.

Our hailstorm as of May 2, 1959, at the time news was written, had not time to hear of the damage done: Sawyer's Greenhouse had heavy loss of glass and glass had to be shipped from Illinois, and the glass is being placed. The MRA greenhouse and some of their buildings lost considerable glass. Heavy damage was done to the Island windows and roofs were lost. In places the hail came through the roofs. Anyone having any doubt as to the size and hardness of the hail stones can stop into Little Bob's, as he froze some for proof.

Now open, Chippewa Hotel Beauty Salon; Helen Marr, Director; Telephone Viking 7-3902.

Attorney James J. Brown came in Tuesday morning with the nicest catch of perch seen here this spring. They ranged up to some weighing more than a pound and were caught near the Chief's dock.

[St. Ignace] Mayor France read a letter from the historical society regarding the proposed plans of the Mackinac Island State Park commission for Fort DuBuade with suggestions of the appointment of a committee to further study this project for the best interest of the city. The mayor appointed Aldermen Morin, Carlson, Krause as a committee for this purpose. - Council meeting May 4, 1959

35 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, May 16, 1974

Restoration started May 8 on the "Save a Lighthouse" project with the Durocher Dock and Dredge Company of Cheboygan bringing barges of rock to begin construction of the breakwater. The Mackinac Island Historical Society, with Mrs. Marcia Haynes of Port Huron as fundraising coordinator, started the drive to save the lighthouse late last fall.

The Michigan Public Service Commission today approved a "Tourist Gasoline Availability Plan" to direct available gasoline supplies to stations staying open on major routes for tourist travel this summer.

Dial phone service comes to St. Ignace Saturday, May 18th.

Raymond Sayles, LaSalle High School art student and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sayles of St. Ignace, received a letter of commendation from Lt. Governor James H. Brickely for his efforts in submitting a Bicentennial coin design in competition with other high school students throughout the United States.

Sault Ste. Marie, established in 1668, is the oldest town between the Alleghenies and the Rockies.

Work has commenced on State Ferry Dock 2, the City of St. Ignace, in accordance with contracts awarded in March by the State Waterways Commission. Repairs and improvements in the amount of $49,400 will be made to the old ferry dock.

Greg LaTour is one of a select group of high school athletes across the country chosen for the 1973-74 Prep All-America Basketball Honors Program.

15 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, May 12, 1994

Check fraud is a growing problem that is starting to make a big dent in the St. Ignace Police Department's annual budget, Police Chief Tim Matelski said last week.

Mackinac County and other hard-hit northern Michigan counties apparently will get enough federal and state assistance money to cover their $7.1 million in frost-damage expenses.

Old Man Weather caused another spring water problem Wednesday, May 4, when a water main broke in DeTour Village. The result was a closed school and dozens of residents left without water until about 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Nine months of wrangling and haggling appear to be nearing an end, as final approval of new teacher contracts is expected soon in Engadine and Pickford.

Gary Kiracofe has moved his Island Schrimshander shop from Memory Lane Mall to a new shop in the lobby of the Chippewa Hotel.

Seniors Cale Gady and Chris Suggitt of Rudyard established new school track and field records May 7 at the St. Ignace Kiwanis Track Invitational, breaking records in the pole vault and 400-meter-dash events, respectively, that were more than 20 years old.

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.