125 YEARS AGO

The News and Free Press

May 5, 1885

 Schoolcraft county has just paid $2,000 over to this county for the board of her prisoners since the jail was burned at Manistique.

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F. E. Leonard, of the 99 cent store, this week purchased the Ryckman building opposite the Nun block, and will next week move it across the street on the vacant lot between the residences of Charles Conner and C. H. Wilber. As soon as the building is ready he will move his stock therein, and be in a better position to attend to the wants of the public than ever.

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The baby show at Foley's store last Wednesday was no small affair. Nearly 100 little ones were present, and before leaving home each mother firmly convinced herself that “hers” would be the handsomest, and the result did not cause them to think otherwise, as all were treated alike. The first arrived at 2 o'clock and an hour later the store was uncomfortably packed. The excitement was so great that it was useless to make an effort to sell any goods; besides the babies had possession of the room and the auctioneer could not have made his voice heard above their cries, even if he wanted to. Mr. Brut took a survey of the group of children at 3:30, and no doubt saw the determined look of each mother at the same time, and decided that they were all so very handsome that each one was entitled to a prize. The prizes consisted of very neat gold pins and finger rings. Mr. Burt said he had attended a great many baby shows, but for quantity and quality this one beat them all. After receiving their presents, the children were brought to the front of the building and artist Agrell took a picture of the whole crowd. It is the best out-door picture Mr. Agrell ever made, and will no doubt receive a large sale. We estimate the number of persons present at about 500.

••• This morning the side walks and house tops were covered with two inches of snow, which fell during the night. The weather is quite cold and overcoats have been freely used the past few days. The ice has all disappeared in this vicinity.

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The body of Joseph Marley, who was drowned off Gravel Island, near Detour, last fall, was found near where the accident took place one day last week and was taken to Detour. Michael Marley, father of the deceased, left for the latter place by the first boat, and arrived in this city with the remains per steamer Messenger Wednesday night. The funeral took place from Michael Marley's residence yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock, to the R. C. burying ground.

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A puzzle: The following is sometimes denominated the “printer's puzzle.” The person solving it and acting upon the suggestion will ever have the most happy days:

I

F  Y

O  U  O

W  E  T  H

E  P  R  I  N  T

E  R  N  O

W  P  A

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The hand-organ man arrived yesterday, and opened the season by playing the “Irish Wash Woman.”

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From Dollarville: The tug under the supervision of C. Sheck, in charge of Capt. Hurst, is doing a fine business, towing logs from about eight miles below. No time is lost, every available minute being put in to take advantage of the present high water, which makes it favorable for the business.

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Articles of association of the Menominee & Sault Ste. Marie railway company have been filed with the secretary of state; capital stock, $2,000,000. All the incorporators are Minneapolis (Minn.) parties. The road begins at a point on the Wisconsin and Michigan boundary line between the mouths of the Pine and Pike rivers in Menominee county running thence easterly through the counties of Menominee, Marquette, Delta, Schoolcraft, Mackinac and Chippewa, through the village and to the River Sault Ste. Marie, being about 200 miles; the gauge is to exceed three and a half feet wide.

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A side walk is badly needed in the 2d ward, along the water side of State street. Some effort should be at once made in that direction.

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In our last issue we published an item clipped from the Mining Journal, to the effect that the Ste. Marie would this season run between Marquette and the Sault. The following form the last issue of the Chippewa County News, indicates that she will run on our old route this season: “The steamer St. Mary has been thoroughly overhauled from the bottom of her hold to the top of her pilot house, and never looked so neat and tidy as she does at present. Her timbers forward have been removed and replaced by heavier and much more substantial works and after her repairs are completed at the Bay Citjy dry dock will be one of the most substantial boats on the lakes. Her captain and crew are just as popular as ever, and will take their share of the trade between here and Cheboygan this season. Her time for leaving for Grand Marais this season will undoubtedly be changed to Saturday, instead of Friday as heretofore.”

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The strike of the Cheboygan logdrivers is ended. They must now look elsewhere for work as their places have been filled by others at $1.50 a day.

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It was the St. Ignace Cornet Band that played in front of Brown's Hall last evening and not a New York band, as many were led to believe from the excellent music discoursed. They could play better still if our council and citizens would give them a little encouragement towards getting new uniforms.

125 YEARS AGO

The News and Free Press

May 8, 1885

Capt. Ryerse has 100 dozen fresh eggs to dispose of.

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Three train loads of ore arrived here Sunday.

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The steam barge R. J. Hackett and consort Wm. McGreggor are loading ore here to-day.

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The old log cabin, lately occupied by the Free Press office, was torn down to-day and a fence will be built around the lot.

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F. E. Leonhard has men at work to-day getting his building ready for removal across the street.

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There will not be as many “red chromos” decorating walls in this city this year as there was last. Too many saloons made the business unprofitable for some.

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From Au Train: Robert Dollar is going to load his timber in cars here for shipment to St. Ignace. He is building a platform on the bank of the river and calculates to run the timber from the river on to the cars.

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The steamer Lady May arrived over from Chegoygan on Sunday morning, looking as clean and bright as a new pin. Capt. Campbell says she has been overhauled from stem to stern and never was in as good condition before. Yesterday and to-day he has been making improvements on her cabin and she will likely begin running regular trips to-morrow. We never saw her look so prim as now and hope she will do a paying business this season. Her officers are: Captain a. J. Campbell; engineer, Jas. Mitchell; clerk, W. E. Westlake. The route will be between St. Ignace, Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City.

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Until further notice the Lady May will leave Mason's dock, St. Ignace, daily at 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for Mackinac Island , and leaves there at 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for St. Ignace.

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Large bill boards are being erected to-day in different parts of the city for W. W. Cole's circus. This show is sure to come on the 15th of June and as it does not exhibit in any place near here, it will bring a monster crowd of visitors to our city from Cheboygan the Sault and other small towns.

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The most important marine event this week was the opening of the Straits of Mackinac. The propellor Van Raulte is entitled to the distinction of being the first to run the ice blockade. She left Cheboygan Sunday and made Beaver Harbor Monday afternoon. Tuesday the steamship Silvanus J. Macy, the first grainladen boat to leave Chicago, got through the Straits, being the first boat down from Lake Michigan. She was also the first boat through the Straits in 1883 and is the first boat this season to go ashore. She went on the rocks a few miles above Presque Isle light Tuesday night during a fog, but was released and made Point Edward Thursday, after jettisoning a part of her cargo of corn. The schooner R. B. Hayes, the last vessel through the Straits last fall, was the first sail craft down this spring. - Island Marine.

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We had a call this morning from Geo. W. Dyer, formerly of Allenville. For the past winter Mr. Dyer has been running a camp on Drummond's Island for Hitchcock & Foster, Island Cedar Co, of Chicago. They have got out 500,000 cedar pavement blocks and nearly 300,00 railway ties. On the 21st of April, they finished up their work and on that day had 18 teams hauling out large loads on sleighs, the latest sleighing known in that section. He says there is still snow in the woods. Mr. Dyer is now engaged running a boarding house for the same firm at Scammon's Cove and has been away from home over a week hunting for hired girls, but with poor success. He will try Cheboygan and then return home.

80 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace Enterprise

May 9, 1930

Property owners of St. Ignace are voting today on the proposition submitted by the Board of Education to bond the city in the sum of $35,000 for a new building as a wing to the present LaSalle school. That the present building is inadequate for a high school is admitted by everyone who has given the matter a moment's thought.

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The most severe electrical storm of the year occurred Monday evening. The thunder was so heavy that buildings were shaken and the lightning was so sharp and vivid that it presented a beautiful sight. Rain fell in torrents, but owing to the natural drainage of the town no damage was done.

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All St. Ignace fishermen as well as those in nearby ports where the industry is being carried on are making record catches this spring, and tons and tons of trout and whitefish are being shipped daily from this port.

One of the busiest men in the city is Joe Paquin, superintendent of the St. Ignace Fish Co., who handles the catch of a number of those engaged in fishing from this port, Gros Cap, Epoufette, Naubinway, Brevort and the Beaver isands. Joe is known far and wide as one of the fish experts of the Great lakes. He has handled so many fish that he can tell at a glance whether a fish is under size, what it weighs, and when caught.

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Charles L. Fischer, whose orchestra has delighted thousands at the Grand Hotel, Mackinac, for the past several seasons, writes The Enterprise that he will not return to the Grand this summer. Mr. Fischer is expecting his first, and large band will play at the Rolay Hotel, Montreal, this season and his Cruise orchestra (the Chas. Fischer Collegians) to Butler, Penn., where they open a twenty weeks engage- ment May 16.

The Fischer orchestra usually officially closes the St. Ignace resort season with a dancing party at Birchwood Arbor and these popular musicians, one of the finest orchestras in the country, will be missed here as well as at Mackinac Island.

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Fire Wednesday night of last week destroyed the hotel, store and garage... owned by Litzner Brothers. None of the contents of the buildings was saved, and the loss is a heavy one to the firm. Insurance was carried for $8,000.

The fire was discovered by Mrs. Phil Luepnitz, who gave the alarm which was responded to by nearly the entire population of the village, who were at a dance nearby. Had it not been for the rain that was falling and the heroic work by the volunteers the entire business section of the city would have been wiped out.

The hotel had just been made ready for the summer business, the store was well stocked and a number of used cars and a tractor were in the garage.

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What is believed to be the largest colony of sandhill cranes (the largest bird in America) now make their home in the marshes off the Boulevard drive, and attract the attention of everyone who uses this drive.

The colony has shown a big increase over that of any previous year and now numbers between 50 and 75, and is one of the attractions of the city.

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At the council meeting Monday night Mayor Mulcrone sprung a surprise on the aldermen when he read a letter from State Highway Commissioner Dillman in which was stated that the city intake pipe would be extended to a distance to allow a depth of 25 feet of water at its base. This he said was the decision reached after consulting with the state board of health. Further that it was optional with the city to do the work or that it be done by the department, in either the state to bear the expense of the improvement. It was voted that the work be done under the supervision of the state.

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Saints who are not “shot” sometime during the summer will be in luck, as a large number of children will be armed with Kodaks ready to take you in at the most opportune moment.

The LaRoque drug store has given away absolutely free a large number of Kodaks to children whose twelfth birthday occurred during April, 1930, and it is expected that all of them will be on the war path. Those who received Kodaks are, Frederick Nasker, Jack Ryerse, Aileen Bartlett, Margrette Cousineau, Louise Shedowin, Milton Sneth, Mary Fenlon, Verna Dennis, Ruth Whitting, Delmer Walker, Rosena Stephenson, Florence Gustafson, Louise Massy, Vern Snyder, William McLean, mary Mulcrone, Dorothy Sneth, Bernice Johnson, Junior McDonald, Max Mellwing.

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A meeting of the business men held at the city hall Tuesday evening appointed committees for the celebration in connection with the unveiling of the Roger's monument at the Allenville Junction June 4th. Mayor Mulcrone will declare a civic holiday on that date.

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At the unveiling of the Rogers' monument June 4 arrangements will be made to feed 1,000, it is announced by the Highway department. Governor Green will be the principal speaker.

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From Mackinac Island: Orlens Denizer removed his auto to a garage in St. Ignace on Monday. He was accompanied by E. M. Tellefson.

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From Rexton: The final examinations were given Tuesday and Wednesday. School closes the ninth of May when the boys and girls of Rexton will take part in baseball games and foot races. Mrs. Miller plans to remain one week longer to drill the seventh and eighth grades for the state examinations.

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John H. Brawley of Gould City, who was in the city recently, sated to The Enterprise that partridge were coming back in larger numbers than for several years. Newton township was formerly rated as one of the best hunting sections for both birds and deer in the peninsula, and hopes are entertained that with birds showing an increase it will continue so.

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From Cedarville: The Cedarville switch board will open at 6:30 A. M. and close at 9:30 P. M. from now on unless too much complaint comes in. This will continue until the automatic system is completely installed in the new building which will probably be by the first of July. Actual construction began on the new building this week.

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From Allenville: While motoring home from St. Ignace Sunday night and going thorugh the Summerby swamp, James Erskine saw a new Ford car being driven at a high rate of speed coming from the opposite direction. The driver of the Ford was keeping in the middle of the road and was apparently going to keep it there. In order to avoid a collision, Jim turned his car clear off the road and when the Ford was within 30 feet of him it pulled over and struck Jim's car square on. Both cars were demolished. The man in the Ford was badly cut around the head; Jim escaping with an injured hand.

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F. A. Swanson returned Sunday from a trip to Ludington during which he had the pleasure of going through one of the two new ferry- boats which are operated there by electricity. He says that [in] icebreaking power they are far superior to the Straits steam ferries, and that the electrically driven boats make their crossings much faster than before when propelled by steam. - Cheboygan Tribune.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

and St. Ignace Enterprise

May 5, 1960

Michigan week will be observed by the state police with open house at all posts on “Hospitality Day,” Tuesday, March 17, and with the flying of the state flag all week, according to Sgt. George Burnette, commanding officer of the St. Ignace post.

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Friday and Saturday saw exhibits from Mackinac county's 450 4-H club members judged in what was the largest 4-H display for the county in a numbr of years, states Bill Muller, Mackinac county extension agent.

Exhibits represented the following commnities of the county: Bois Blanc and Mackinac islands, Les Cheneaux, Moran, St. Ignace, Brevort, Newton, Hudson- Hendricks and Portage townships along with 5 clubs from the City of St. Ignace.

Clothing and handicraft represented the largest aggregation of exhibits along with conservation displays from 130 youngsters enrolled in the basic conservation series.

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The Mackinac Island State Park commission is boss of the carriages for hire on state property.

The measure was among minor bills signed into law by Gov. Williams.

The issue had been hotly contested on the Island. Court squabbles resulted from the commission's fight to limit the number of horse-drawn vehicles touring around the summer resort. The new law gives the commission specific authority over Island roads.

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Wilbert Swanson, George Lannoo, Floyd Truckey and Bob Brinkman have returned home after having taken the former state ferry, Vacationland, to its new owners in a Canadian port.

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From Mackinac Island: T. B. testing will be held at community hall Friday, Mary 6, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. All Islanders are urged to make this public service effective to us, so let's all strive and come on May 6.

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Approximately 92,000 yearling lake trout are being released in Lake Michigan this week by workers of the conservation department and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife to kick off Michigan's first plantings for 1960 under the projected 10-year program to revitalize trout populations in the upper Great Lakes.

This year's planting stock, consisting mainly of one-year-olds ranging from 5-6 inches, will be immune to the lamprey's kill for several years after their release. By this time it is expected tat the predator will be under control.

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Vernon L. Erskine has received President Eisenhower's nomination for postmaster at Moran. The St. Ignace high school graduate and World War II veteran succeeds his uncle, James Erskine, who has been acting since the retirement of Mrs. Robert G. Gille last year.

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The Mackinac Island State Park commission said this week that between 200 and 300 thousand persons are expected to visit the restored fort at Mackinaw City this summer.

At the same time, the commissioners are looking across the Straits toward St. Ignace, site of the first fort on the Straits. Already plans are shaping up for the rstoration of Fort de Buade, built in the late 17th century by the French.

Reconstruction of this fortification on the north side of the Mackinac bridge will help round out restoration of the entire Straits area, points out Dr. Eugene T. Petersen, director of historical projects for the commission.

“We plan eventually to restore Fort de Buade (1690-1701) as a typical French fort of the period; Fort Michilimackinac at Mackinaw City (1715-1781) as a typical British fort and Fort Mackinac at the Island (1780-1895) as a typical American fort,” he says. “This way there will be no duplication. A tourist visiting one won't be seeing something he's already seen.”

In time the Straits area will be comparable to the historic triangle formed by Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, he believes.

“And it will prove that Michigan's historic attractions, potentially as interesting as anywhere can provide a magnet for tourists beyond anything hitherto dreamed.”

•••

Nelson and Manschreck, operators of The Mystery Spot, are proposing to install a “Tom Thumb” railway that will run from The Mystery Spot to Emil Syversen's, around the Martin settlement lake and back to the Spot, a three mile ride.

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Deputy sheriffs on Friday shot two dogs that where chasing deer at Pte. Aux Chenes. It was the second time in a month that officers were called to kill dogs that were “running” deer. In the first incident, two dogs feeding on a deer carcass were shot.

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George Izzard of Cedarville, with his 4,000-pound bay team, placed third in the heavyweight horse-pulling contest held at the Kalkaska trout festival.