125 YEARS AGO

St. Ignace News

March 3, 1885

The Republican was moved to its new quarters yesterday.

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The ice harvest is large this year. Everybody seems to be laying in a stock.

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A new piston and valve are being manufactured at Cheboygan for the propeller Messenger.

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Timber for the new dock for the G. R. & I. R. R. at Mackinaw city, is being delivered at that place.

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The wife of John L. Sullivan, the pugilist, is suing for divorce on the ground of cruel and abusive treatment.

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We have not heard of any of our democratic friends leaving for the scene of inauguration at Washington tomorrow, with the exception of Wm. P. Preston, and we only make a rough guess at him.

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The son of Capt. Bouchard, at Cheboygan narrowly escaped drowning last week. He was chasing ducks on the river when the ice gave way under him.

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The soft weather this week induced many to excavate in order to find their sidewalks, and the result is that in many places we have clear sidewalks, but like hens teeth, few and far between. You may strike a space of sidewalk hard, and not twenty feet from it you will find a snow bank 8 feet deep.

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Lake Michigan is frozen over entirely across to a depth of from two to three feet in the vicinity of Milwaukee.

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From Newberry: Mr. Calkins, since he was promoted to the position of “wood boss,” has undertaken the cultivation of a moustache and has succeeded so well that it is now quite noticeable.

••• We see by the Cheboygan Tribune that another steamer is to be

Looking put upon the route between that place and Chicago this coming season. The name of the steamer is the St. Joseph, built two years ago and about the same model as the Messenger.

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S. A. Snyder's livery stable collapsed last Friday night. The only damage  excepting the stable  was the destruction of four buggies. S. A. is renovating the shell, which will be used for the remainder of the winter, and in the spring will contract for the erection of firstclass stables.

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Sammy Clark, one of the Lennon & Harrold's stage drivers, who froze his feet so badly while crossing the Straits, is at the Cheboygan Sanitarium; He had his toes amputated a week ago by Dr. Berdan. Numerous entertainments have been given and also a petition circulated for his benefit. Report says he is getting along nicely.

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Two new handsome parlor cars have been placed on the Mackinaw division of the M. C. R. R. They are known as the Lake View and Lake Side.

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Chas. Kynoch has leased from A. Goudreau the lots adjoining C. H. Wilber's residence, and will erect a roller rink thereon as soon as spring opens up.

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A number of men came down from the woods last and the first part of this week. It does not take some of them longer than 24 hours to dispose of 6 months wages.

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It is reported that the new hotel to be erected at Mackinac Island is to be shaped like the three sides of a square, to be three stories high, and have a capacity for accommodating 600 guests at a time.

125 YEARS AGO

St. Ignace News

March 6, 1885

Cleveland Inaugurated. . President Arthur was now announced, and his coming was greeted with warm clapping of hands, in recognition of which he

Back bowed gracefully to the assemblage. A moment later, and the buzz of conversation ceased on the announcement of “The presidentelect of the United States.” Mr. Cleveland had entered the hall with his escort, and halted within sight of the assemblage while his arrival was being announced. On his appearance there was a clapping of hands at first, and then cheers, loud and prolonged, welcomed him.

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The traveling public will regret to learn that Capt. E. A. Bouchard has severed his connection with the Messenger. He is one of the most popular and obliging steamboat men on the lakes and his many friends will hope to soon hear of him on some good boat in this vicinity.  Northern Tribune.

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A bill has passed the legislature prohibiting fishermen from using less than five-inch mesh in the pond-nets, and we hope the Inspector of fisheries will see to it that this law is enforced, a mesh of the above size is quite equal to the demands of fishermen; and it will somewhat prevent the wholesale destruction of small fish that has been indulged in during the past. But we might just as well have no law if it is not enforced.

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Verily the piano has fallen upon hard times. The Popular Science Monthly says: - “It is the family vampire which has snapped the vitality of thousands of young girls by keeping them from the healthful recreation and exercise they so much need.”

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“Knuckle down tight and fan dubs,” is all the rage among the kids now. We have wished a good many times the sidewalk in front of our office was not clear of snow.

[Editor's note: The terms are used in the game of marbles.]

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We are sorry to learn that the Good Templars' entertainment at the Island last Wednesday night was not a success financially. In fact they were out of pocket by the trip. However, they find no fault, but feel thankful to those who did turn out and to the proprietor of the Mackinac house who made them comfortable and furnished all a first-class meal. The last few lines refers to our former townsman, Fred. Emerick. Prof. Crippin displayed his musical talent in such excellent style that it was admired

80 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace Enterprise

March 6, 1930

Mayor J. F. Jamieson, who for the past two years has been at the head of the city government, will be a candidate for a third term at the Republican convention to be held March 17.

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Under the skillful supervision of Seth MacGregor the Soo bus line has established a record for efficiency during the winter that would be hard to duplicate.

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A. R. Soblaskey, formerly agent at the Soo Junction, has been transferred to St. Ignace where he has joined the telegraphy force at the station.

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With a loss estimated at $25,000, the Hotel No-Ko-Miss of Mackinaw City was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon.

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From Mackinac Island: Announcement of the marriage of Mr. Otto Lang and Miss Marjorie Pfeiffelman was received here Saturday. The young couple spoke their marriage vows in Detroit Saturday and arrived at the Island Tuesday where they were given a reception and a warm welcome by their many friends. Mr. Lang is the efficient and popular manager of the Arnold Transit Company, and his bride is the charming daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Walter Pfeiffelman, who previous to her marriage held a position as a stenographer for a Detroit organization.

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From Mackinac Island: There was no crossing from St. Ignace on Friday and Wednesday of last and consequently we got no mail. The ice was reported as very poor but on Thursday the crossing was safely made with mail and provisions. Mail carrier Valier reported that one of his horses fell thru the ice on Saturday but jumped right out. The journey was made on Sunday with

single horse sled. There were several loads of lumber brought across on Friday and Saturday without any mishaps by Island men.

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From Brevort: The highway overseer with a crew of men opened up the roads around the settlement Friday and Saturday.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

and St. Ignace Enterprise

March 3, 1960

Appointment of Donald M. Densmore as crew leader for the 1960 census of population and housing in Mackinac county, Dist. 8, has been announced.

He will supervise about 20 enumerators in the census, which begins April 1.

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Application has been made to the U. S. Army Engineers for permission to reconstruct and enlarge a pier at Mackinac Island.

The Michigan State Waterways commission... has asked for a $150,000 pier development.

The existing outer end of the pier will be removed and a combination H beam and timber leg will be built to provide 16 finger piers on the outer end of the resulting pier.

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The film dramatizing the construction of the Mackinac Bridge has been given a certificate of award from Film Media, a leading publication in the motion picture field, as one of the top non-theatrical films of 1959.

“Mackinac Bridge Diary” was filmed by Herman D. Ellis, photographer and public information executive for the Mackinac Bridge Authority since the beginning of construction of the bridge in 1954. Mr. Ellis photographed every facet of bridge construction from the ground-breaking to dedication in 16 mm color, black and white stills and color transparencies.

Using Mr. Ellis's basic photography, “Mackinac Bridge Diary” was produced by the Jam Handy organization. Public distribution has been under the guidance of the U. S. Steel corporation.

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St. Ignace “hit bottom” after the Mackinac bridge robbed the city of a $2 million payroll, but the city is on the way back and the big bridge is helping, according to a United Press International writer.

From The Petoskey News- Review comes the following evaluation by the wire service writer:

The bridge shut down the state ferries and the ferry crewmen and other employees living here on the north side of the Straits of Mackinac lost a total of $2 million in annual pay.

Last year saw eight downtown businesses quietly closed their doors as the city changed from a shopping center for ferry workers to a haven and attraction for tourists and travelers.

Gone from downtown St. Ignace were three auto agencies, a furniture store, a grocery, a barber shop, an oil distributor and an insurance agency.

But on the edge of the city went up motels, gas stations, restaurants and souvenir shops. Also planned was a $300,000 jet fuel base where tankers will pump fuel from pumping stations in the harbor. Work will be resumed this spring. The fuel is for planes at Kincheloe and Sawyer Air Force bases in the Upper Peninsula and Grayling National Guard post to the south.

When St. Ignace totaled up at the end of the year, there was $600,000 in new buildings and improvements underway or scheduled during 1959.

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Burglaries, one at the St. Ignace post office and the other at the office of Webster Morrison, superintendent of schools, Pickford, on Monday night resulted in losses reaching into thousands of dollars.

Postman Drayton LaChapelle, first to arrive on duty Tuesday morning, reported the breaking in at the local post office.

Entry was gained by breaking through both the stout inner and outer rear doors of the post office building.

Missing were $400 in cash, including 13 silver dollars; approximately $5,000 wroth of stamps varying in denomination from $5.00 in postage to one-centers; documentary stamps in denominations of $10, $5 and $1.10; 11 blank treasury checks, office records and keys.

Entry to the Pickford school was gained by forcing the front door. A walk-in safe in the superintendent's office was entered after a 2x2 hole was broken through a concrete block wall. A waste basket was used to carry away the loot, which amounted to at least $500 in cash plus four checks.

30 YEARS AGO The St. Ignace News

The Weekly Wave

March 6, 1980

The creator of the Cord, Gordon M. Buehrig, will be the guest of honor at the 5th Annual Straits Area Antique Auto Show Sunday, June 28.

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The St. Ignace City Council at its Monday night, March 3, meeting voted to hold a public hearing on a rate increase request for cable television after one councilman verbally lashed out at the cable firm for poor reception and service he has received.

Councilman John G. LaChapelle chided Sun Cablevision General Manager Roland Smith at the meeting. “I've got your cable in my home,” he said, “and it's lousy. I'm going to vote against a raise.”

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Mrs. John G. (Marion) Nelson, who has been helping welfare clients in Mackinac County since 1939, retired Friday, February 29.

Mrs. Nelson was born in the house where she and her husband live, and she has always lived there. Her father was a county treasurer and postmaster.

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From Moran: Doc's bar was almost sold last week but the price was not right, so back to the drawing board.

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From Les Cheneaux: Golden firelight and fragrant wood smoke lent a scenic outdoor atmosphere to the winter roast sponsored on February 14 as part of the Winter Carnival by Les Cheneaux Lions Club.

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St. Ignace's Super Valu grocery store has a new manager and assistant manager who began their duties here Monday, February 25.

Manager Merlin Galer [of Pickford] and Assistant Manager Maynard Stringer both came from the Sault Ste. Marie Super Valu store.

Ken Laakko, former manager o the St. Ignace Super Valu, is now the assistant manager at the Sault Ste. Marie store.

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Clark Township has received a new plan for expanding the public dock at Hessel. The latest plant . . is designed to accommodate 39 boats and incorporates a permanent pile-supported main pier that runs parallel to the existing pier and protrudes from the bulkhead in the vicinity of the comfort station.