125 YEARS AGO

St. Ignace News

October 14, 1884

Joe Inglesby expects to dispose of his restaurant business here this week and go into the woods.

••• The sad accident to Hubert Cascadden of this city happened as follows: On the 8th inst. the barge Agness was off White Rock, on Lake Huron, in a heavy gale; Cascadden was in the act of jibing the fore-sail, when he was caught in the sheets and thrown a distance of 50 feet clear of the boat. It is supposed that he was stuck by the boom, as he never came to the surface.

Some sort of disease attacked Capt. Ryerse's pigs some time ago and the ninth one died on Sunday and another one has probably since died, leaving him three out of a drove of thirteen. The disease is something new in these parts and acts on the swine similar to what diphtheria does on human beings.

•••

The present term of the Circuit Court bids fair to be the most interesting of any ever held in Mackinac county. The principal attraction will be the trial of Richard Wheeler for the murder of Wm. McCormick. . . .

The prosecution will be conducted by Mr. Riggs, Prosecuting Attorney of Schoolcraft county, assisted by Prosecuting Attorney McNamara of this city; while the defense will be conducted by Judge C. R. Brown, of this city, John Power, Esq., (the Democratic candidate for Congress from this District), and P. N. Packard. . . .

For the benefit of the public, we will publish an "extra each day, giving particulars of the trial as it advances.

90 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace Enterprise

October 16, 1919

Residents of St. Ignace and the entire peninsula will be pleased to learn that beginning on the 26th inst. The Michigan Central will again make evening connections at Mackinaw City with the South Shore. This connection ceased over a year ago, much to the inconvenience of upper peninsula business interests.

•••

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Backie and Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Gustafson delightfully entertained a party of young people in the Moose hall Tuesday evening in honor of the returned soldiers, sailors and marines. The evening was enjoyably spent in dancing and cards. Music was furnished by the City orchestra, with Roy Gustafson at the piano, while a delicious lunch refreshed the young folks at midnight.

•••

If your wants range anywhere between a crate of bacon and a case of toilet paper, just consult Postmaster M. Hoban for he has been delegated to help the government dispose of surplus army food and supply stocks. The local postmaster has descriptive pricelists and anyone who is interested can get full information by calling at the office. In the previous sales the parcel postage charges were additional, but Uncle Sam now "pays the freight."

•••

Mackinac county soldiers and sailors who saw service in the world war are to be honored by the erection of a suitable monument on which their names will be emblazoned.

This has been decided upon by the board of supervisors in session this week. No plans for the marker have yet been drawn, nor the cost ascertained, but the members of the board are decided that when it is completed it will be a credit to the county and to those in whose honor it is to be erected.

•••

The tribe of Chippewa Indians will be living on 40,000 acres of land on the west bank of the Saginaw river in a few years, according to George Weaton, 59 years old, who claims to be chief of all the Chippewas, and coincidentally, title to the territory comprising the present Township of Bangor and about two thirds of Monitor and Frankenlust townships in Bay county. Weaton bases his claim on records going back to 1807, but focuses his fight on the Indian treaty of 1819, made between Gen. Lewis Cass and the Chippewa Indians. Weaton has taken his case to the courts. One decision of the circuit court against his claim has been reversed by the supreme court. One Chicago real estate concern has offered $1,000,000 for the claim, Weaton asserts. . .

"I am not making this fight in the courts through any ill-feeling toward the United States. I merely desire to secure for my people what was promised them in the treaty of 1819." . . .

"If this treaty holds good, the state had no right to homestead this territory. God planted the Indian here long before the white man came. The Indians should be treated right. Indian graveyards are torn up by relic hunters. If the Indians treated white men's graves in this fashion they would be accused of sacrilege and punished. Indians have the same feelings as white people. It is not pleasant to stand and watch relic hunters digging up the graves of what might be one's own father and mother.

"When I swear I do it in English. There is no such thing as an oath in the Indian language. I believe in God and I think he will look out for the Indian."

Chief Wheaton acknowledges that the Chippewas at the coming of the white man, maintained their right to the Saginaw Valley only through conquest. The story of the Chippewas' conquest of the valley, he said, was handed down by the Indians from generation to generation.

"The Saginaw Valley derives its name from the Indian word OSauk E-non, he said, "meaning the 'land of the Sauks.' The Sauks were a powerful, warlike tribe always at war with the Chippewas on the north and the Pottawatomies on the south. The Sauks' main village was on the west side of the Saginaw river.

"A convention of Indian tribes was held at Mackinac Island. This convention was called to subdue the warlike spirit of the Sauks. Represented at this meeting were the Chippewas, Menominees, Ottawas, and Six Nations of New York. After the meeting they stole down the Saginaw river and attacked the Sauks. Then followed the battle that is referred to in histories as the "Skull Island Massacre." The Sauks were wiped out as a tribe and the Chippewas were in possession from then until 1819. The island where the massacre took place was in the Saginaw river and there were tales thereafter for many years of Sauk ghosts which walked there. For sometime it was used as a penal colony by the Indians."

•••

On and after January 10, 1920 the dogs of Michigan are to be under direct control and supervision of the state, according to the dog law of 1919, as it is officially known, passed by the recent legislature. Dogs and their owners may well pay particular attention to its provisions.

•••

Mr. and Mrs. John Porter have received a telegram from their son, Lee Porter, a member of the U. S. aviation force, stating that he left Miami, Florida, Sunday night to join the Pacific Coast fleet in San Francisco. While the dispatch did not state where he would be assigned, he has undoubtedly been promoted to a permanent berth in the Pacific coast fleet, which is attracting so much attention throughout the United States at this time. Lee is said to be one of the expert flyers in the service and his success is very pleasing to his many St. Ignace friends.

•••

From Brevort: Leander Gustafson's "Sand Beauty" potatoes came home from the County Fair with the first prize. Reckon all of you inferior potat will sit up now and take notice of a prize winner.

•••

From Brevort: Two men, riding bicycles, a downpour of rain, mud, hungry and headed for Portland, Oregon, where they proposed to wind up the Roosevelt Trail, is one more variety of freak travelers arriving here not catalogued in the book of "Nuts and Nuttings."

•••

From Allenville: Geo. Mahl of Ozark really got down to the fair this year and told us what fine potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beets, mangles, parsnips, beggies and sunflowers he had at home. Maybe we will go up there next year and hold the fair and see all of those good things."

•••

From Allenville: A grand stand and ball grounds will be two improvements that will be added to the fair grounds before the next exhibition, and perhaps a new horse stable. All three are badly needed, and if the residents of the county will take the same pride in their fair as they do in Luce county we will soon have as good a fair as any county in the state.

•••

From Gros Cap: Alex Cheeseman, who has been sailing on the Steamer Polynesia this season, arrived home Monday, having left his boat at Buffalo. His father's failing health demands his attention at home.

•••

From Mackinac Island: Elmer Adams, the humorist of the Detroit News, who spent a couple of days on the Island last week, has the following paragraphs in his "Wolverines" column of Tuesday:

–

The chief difference between St. Ignace and the Island is that on clear days the Saints remark cheerfully on how close the Island looks, and on dull days the Islanders remark cheerfully on how far away St. Ignace looks.

–

Tourists planning a trip to Mackinac next summer are warned not to place too much faith in the pictures they see of Arch Rock. We sat there half an hour looking at the arch intently and from all angles, and can say positively there is no sailboat on the water to be seen exactly through the center of it.

–

There is still room for one more name to be penciled on the whitewashed surface of the eastenmost block house of old Fort Mackinac, which shows the sort of carelessness to which our summer tourists are sometime liable.

–

A tribe of six or seven thousand Indians once lived on the shore of the Straits, so it is not unnatural that they should have left very numerous relics, such as arrowheads, characteristic of their mode of life, and we also have done what we could to perpetuate the memory of our own race, for we went out behind Rabbit Back this morning and buried a tomato can.

•••

Mackinac Island will be represented at the convention in Lansing next Saturday called by Gov. Sleeper to take measures to prevent a recurrence of the influenza epidemic which swept the country last fall and winter. Dr. Guy G. Bailey, the local health officer, will represent the Island at this gathering.

•••

The owners of the Grand Hotel are going to make it the finest summer resort in Michigan, bar none. Money is no object, as their elaborate program of improvements show. A landscape architect of national reputation is now at the Island making plans for the improvement of the grounds, work on which has already begun. The roadway between the little stone church and the hotel is to be paved, each side being lined with norway maples while flower beds and shrubbery will line the center. The board walk is to be replaced by cement, and the grade to the approach made more gradual, stone walls taking the place of the old fence along the way. Walks are being made in the grove of cedars and this portion of the grounds will be made more attractive in other ways. A swimming pool will take the place of the tennis courts, the ground for which has already been plowed and the work will be completed before the opening of the season. New courts will be constructed and if possible the golf grounds enlarged to an 18-hole course. It is said that another story is to be added to the hotel, but this could not be verified, although it is known that fifty additional rooms with bath are being installed.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

and St. Ignace Enterprise

October 15, 1959

The Big Mac Shrine club of St. Ignace will receive its charter on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 17, at a dinner in the Nicolet Hotel at seven o'clock.

•••

Last Friday a bus transported students of the senior government classes from LaSalle High School to the Mackinac County Court House to listen to a case which had been going for three days. On April 30, 1958, Kenneth Dobson of Bay City was faced with the charge of negligent homicide in the death of Gerald Sauve, also of Bay City, a passenger in the Dobson car who was fatally injured. The accident occurred on North US-2 at the end of the fourlane pavement and the intersection of M-123. Attorney for the defense was Edward McNamara, Jr., of St. Ignace. Judge Fenlon excused the students in time for them to catch their buses after school.

•••

From Les Cheneaux: An interesting fact to many hunters is the sighting of bear at the Clark township dumping grounds, It has been reported that there have been as many as eight bear at one time seen there.

•••

Thirty members were present at the last meeting of the Les Cheneaux Lions as Lyle Hudson, Fire Chief of the Clark township fire department gave an enlightening talk on fire prevention in view of Fire Prevention Week.

In the general meeting of the club, Lion George Markey was commended for his duties as a law enforcing officer in the Les Cheneaux area. Markey was given a letter of commendation before the club and a standing ovation was given to him for his outstanding work with the teen-agers of the community.

Lion George Trefry gave a report on the sale of the flags for the 49th state and he said that he still has a few of them left and anyone interested in buying one can contact him and he will supply the need.

•••

From Mackinac Island: Despite the weather of the past two days of which we have had gale winds, several daily tourists are still coming to Mackinac for color time. Friday our winds were of gale force and one would have to be a good sailor to make the trip. The Island color is exceptionally good this year. The Mackinac Island Carriage Tours is still maintaining sightseeing and taxi service. Little Bob's and Raymond Horn are still preparing daily meals. This service will continue until inclement weather makes the operations impossible.

•••

From the Mackinac County Chamber of Commerce: We have been accused of forgetting the fisherman by not having the ferry docks opened so people can go out on them to fish. We would like to print two answers that we have received in answer to our requests for this permission:

Mackinac Co. Chamber of Commerce:

After serious consideration by me and my staff, relative to your request to allow people to fish from Dock No. 2, it has been decided that this practice cannot be allowed. This decision was based wholly on the insurance requirements that affect the ferry boats presently tied up at Dock No. 2.

May I assure you that if these boats are moved we would immediately grant permission for people to use the entire dock.

Signed, Fredrick E. Tripp, Dir. For Administration, Michigan State Highway Dept.

Mackinac Co. Chamber of Commerce:

This has reference to your letter of May 15, 1959 in regard to public use of a fishing platform to be constructed on the piling of our old merchandise dock. We wish to advise that our Mr. Holberg has checked into this matter and contacted your Mr. Wamsley in this regard, obtaining from him information on the proposed project.

After reviewing Mr. Holberg's report on the matter, I find that the proposed project would not be in line with the policies of our railroad in that it would encourage and permit trespassing in dangerous areas and would increase the fire and personal injury hazard in the area tremendously In view of these facts, I feel sure you will understand why the railroad company must refuse permission for the use of its old pilings at the merchandise dock for the purpose you have mentioned.

Signed, E. Pearson, Chief Engineer, Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic R. R. Co.

30 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

October 18, 1979

Peter J. Della-Moretta was honored last week by Michigan State Senate special tribute for his serve as chairman of the board of the Mackinac Straits Hospital as the hospital marked its 25th anniversary.

•••

The City of St. Ignace officially dropped the proposed $18 million aerated lagoon sewage treatment plant project in Moran Township Monday night, October 15, when the City Council unanimously selected a proposed less expensive biological disc sewage treatment plan project at the existing site on the lakeshore at the south end of the downtown business district.

•••

Retaining the hospital in St. Ignace fits into a statewide effort by health directors to keep patients close to home, State Senator Mitch Irwin said during his visit in St. Ignace to help the hospital fund drive.

The goal is to keep elderly patients in their own home as much as possible and then if they need hospital service, Irwin explained, have that service as close to home as possible to make visits from their friends convenient.

•••

From Mackinaw City: Another meeting was scheduled for Monday, October 15, regarding the proposed Community Center for Mackinaw City. Members of the MOB and MAMA and Chamber of Commerce were to meet at the Fort Restaurant at noon with heads of the Cheboygan and Citizens Banks for financial information. The Committee plans to attend the Village Council meeting on Thursday, October 18, to arrange further contacts and communication.

•••

From Curtis: Bids opened October 3 for the Senior Citizen and Low Income Hosing in Curtis and Engadine were determined not acceptable, as they were more than the budget provided for the project.

Tom Sherman of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Housing Commission said that bids may be re-submitted, perhaps in December.

•••

Remodeling of the office areas of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Inspection Office in the upstairs of the St. Ignace Municipal Building has been completed. Across the hall, an office has been established for the staff of the Biscayne Bay, the Coast Guard icebreaker which will be arriving soon. Date of its arrival is rumored to be December 8, but officers and crew have already arrived.