125 YEARS AGO

The News and Free Press

May 15, 1885

Quite a few of “the boys in blue” were over from the Island yesterday, having a jolly time.

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The social in the Presbyterian church by the Sunday school is to be held on Tuesday first, not Monday as we previously announced. The children expect to have a good time, and invite outside friends to be present. Admission, 15 and 10 cents.

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Stellwagen & Kynoch are enjoying a larger spring trade this year than they ever did before. W. H. Wiley, their foreman, who ranks second to none as a finished mechanic, has been busy for several weeks making repairs on boat machinery, a branch never before gone into very extensively by the firm, and his work has given much general satisfaction that this branch will be no small item in their business in future. To-day he finished repairs on the tug James Reid and all interested in boat machinery should see the work and judge of his ability for themselves.

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The steam barge Smith Moore, from Cleveland, arrived here this morning for ore.

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Neil McCauley went up to Orville on the Remora Wednesday morning to do some work on his homestead.

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The new store at Beaver Island is owned by Reagon & Murray and not I. Reagon alone, as mentioned in these columns.

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Ronald Rankin, boat builder, has been busy at work on a new sailing yacht, for some months, and will have it completed in June. It will surpass any former effort of his in that line.

••• Michael Hoban will hereafter be found in person at the Register of Deeds office in the Court House.

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The prim little steamer Remora left this morning for up-shore points with about 50 passengers, thus sowing how much esteemed Captain Vosburgh and his little boat are, by up-shore friends. May their shadows never grow less.

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Rogers City is perhaps the only place on the shore of Lake Huron which has a wind-mill for grinding flour.

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Residents of Alger county are wrangling about the county seat. Munising-on-the-lake wants it and so do Onota and Grand Marais, but the latter place stands very little show. Munising will probably get it. Much bitter feeling is displayed over the matter.

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A movement is on foot with a view to getting a sidewalk along the water side of State street, from Chambers' dock to a short distance the other side of Cooke's bakery. If property owners and residents between the points named study their own interests and sign the petition which is being circulated, the project will prove a success and a sidewalk within a few weeks the result. Those interested should not hesitate in the matter. Now is the time.

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“We are much pleased to note the prosperity of our old friend, C. G. Cavanagh since he struck out in the newspaper business way up north in Michigan. First working at the case in one office in St. Ignace, then going to the other, then entering into partnership and starting the News, them buying out his partner's interest and running it alone, and now gobbling up one of the other offices and issuing the News and Free Press; and all of this inside of two years. Charley will soon want the earth, and he has our permission to take it, too.” - Youngstown (Ohio) Saturday Night.

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Frank Hulbert's barn at Allenville, containing a large amount of seed, a fanning mill, threshing machine, and other farming implements were destroyed by fire Wednesday night. The conflagration is said to have been caused by sparks from a brush fire.

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1,500,000 white fish, from the Alpena hatchery, passed through here on Wednesday. They will be deposited in Lake Superior, near Marquette.

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The Algomah's crew have been preparing the R. J. Gordon for business this week. She will relieve the Algomah while that boat goes into dry-dock to receive her summer wheel.

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The Orphan Boy arrived from Chicago on Wednesday, and brought a load of merchandise for the M. L. Co.'s [Mackinaw Lumber Co.] store. She will take back a cargo of lumber.

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Although a large force of men have been rushing the job for a week, Brown's roller rink cannot be got ready for the grand opening before next Wednesday evening, when it will positively take place. The proprietor has secured about 300 pairs of first-class skates, which will be rented for the low price of 10 cents. The admission fee will be 10 cents also. The St. Ignace Cornet Band will furnish music on the opening night. The public should turn out and encourage this enterprise.

80 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace Enterprise

May 15, 1930

The second annual Mackinac County school tournament held at the fair grounds at Allenville last Friday attracted the largest crowd every assembled on the grounds. Every school in the county was closed for the big day and nearly every school had representatives in the events.

Bob Hossack of Cedarville was the hero of the day, taking a larger number of firsts than any other contestant, but nearly all the schools were represented among the winners.

A special train carried large numbers from St. Ignace to the grounds while hundreds of automobiles brought in crowds from all parts of the county, both young and old.

Sponsored by County School Commissioner C. E. Langdon, the idea met with instantaneous favor throughout the county and the unqualified success of the first two years ensures its continuance.

As a result of these tournaments the county schools are drawn into closer communionship, with outstanding results for the good of all. The athletic events inspire and bring out the true sportsmanship of the children, which will remain through life.

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City trucks will make a tour of the city next Monday and Tuesday, May 19 and 20, for the collection of garbage placed at the curb to be hauled to the city dumping grounds. This service is free of charge to property holders, but all garbage must be at the curb and easily accessible for the trucks.

Large property holders are urged by the marshal and streets committee to have their premises cleaned so that the city in its entirety will present an attractive appearance on the arrival of our summer visitors.

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The many friends of Major Ralph Royce regret that he has paid his last visit to St. Ignace as commander of U. S. Army planes. Major Royce is soon to be transferred to training school at Washington. A promotion comes with this transfer. Major Royce has proven himself to be one of the ablest of our nation's flyers.

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The committee of arrangements appointed at the citizens meeting last week in connection with the unveiling of the Rogers' Monument, June 4, composed of Messrs. L.E. Murray, P.M. Brown, C.J. Mulcrone, J.E. Quinn, C.B. Wing, A.R. Highstone and Henry Morneau, will arrange to feed at least 1,000 visitors. There is a possibility of being more than twice that number, according to Frank. E. Betts, engineer of Menominee county, Chairman of the meeting, and who is in general charge of the unveiling. The serving of the luncheon will be placed in the hands of the local post of the American Legion.

The speakers will include the chairman of the Federal Road committee of Washington, D. C.; Frank F. Rogers the guest of honor; Governor Green, the Governor of Wisconsin, and State Highway Commissioner Grover C. Dilman.

The publicity committee is Messrs. J. F. Darby, M. Hoban and Saul Winkelman.

The tentative entertainment for the occasion is a baseball game in the afternoon, special program at the St. Ignace Theatre and a moonlight excursion on the state ferries in the evening.

Mayor Mulcrone will proclaim a civic holiday with a special request that all business houses be closed in honor of Mr. Rogers.

•••

The overwhelming preponderance of votes favoring the issuance of $35,000 bonds by the board of Education of the city school district at the special election held Thursday was self evidence of the popularity of the move for an improved high school building.

The campaign, sponsored by the Parent-Teacher's Association, was not at first looked upon favorably by a large portion of the taxpayers, who saw in a bond issue a large increase in school taxes. But the committee of which Carl F. Gustafson was chairman, was not discouraged and went forward in the campaign of educating the citizens to the needs of the improvement proposed.

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If a prize was to be given the most beautifully kept yard in St. Ignace, and was to be awarded at this time, it would be difficult to make a decision between that of J.F. Keightley and Mrs. Louis Goudreau. These two residents sent an example to others as to what can be accomplished by a little time and effort, and there is still time to work wonders along these lines.

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At their dinner at Travelers Inn Tuesday the Lions Club took up the matter of providing a city information bureau, which all members agreed was important and necessary. A committee composed of Mayor Mulcrone, C.B. Wing and L.P. Walker was appointed to determine and arrange for a suitable location. It was also agreed that the city clerk with the help of an assistant could handle the details of the office during the summer months.

The bureau will likely be located on the first floor of the city hall, where a suitable room could be arranged with little expense. The committee has already looked over the proposition and were favorable to such location.

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Shortly after his return home Friday evening and while at supper, Max Melwing discovered that his garage, in the rear of his home at Graham's Point, was on fire. Although the fire department was called and heroic attempts by himself and family to put out the blaze and save the two cars stored in the garage, it was futile. The department was only able to make use of chemicals, no water being available. Besides the garage a Jewett touring car and a Hudson coach were burned, entailing a loss of $3,500 on which there was no insurance.

•••

Manager Valier Books the Fabulous All-Talking, All-Singing Super Screen Spectacle: Manger Valier of the St. Ignace Theatre has booked radio's picture of the century, “Rio Rita,” for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening, May 20-21-22.

One hundred of Hollywood's most shapely extras for the chorus of “Rio Rita,” Radio Pictures' musical fabulous screen operetta, which has Bebe Daniels and John Boles in the leading roles.

The girls form the first stock chorus in the history of motion pictures.

Peal Eaton, RKO dancing director, created several original dance numbers for the Radio Pictures' version of Ziegfield's great musical comedy hit.

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Perch fishing from the city docks, which was a dud last summer, is again at its height and the docks are again lined every day with delighted men, women and children who are making record catches. Never before say the old timers, have perch so large been taken from the bay as this season. One fisherman Friday morning caught two each weighing two pounds.

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Mayor Mulcrone has informed The Enterprise that the county trucks have been secured for graveling the road to the cemetery, Church street, Truckey street to the court house, Portage street and all back streets that need attention. He says that this work will begin at once as the streets are all in bad condition.

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Captain Ray Collins, state director of aeronautics, was here recently investigating flying fields and pilots, looking over the Wing airport, which has been granted a state license.

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Joseph Fitzpatrick, president of the Island Transportation Co, spent a couple of days in the city last week. He is busy overseeing the fitting out of the steamer Algomah, which opens the season between Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City Thursday, May 29th.

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The tri-county convention of the Lady Maccabees, which was held in St. Ignace last summer, will meet in the Soo this year, the date being set Decoration day, May 30.

One hundred delegates from Chippewa, Mackinac and Luce counties are expected to attend.

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From Mackinac Island: A new hard coal shed on the Arnold dock is about completed, a good substantial, solidly built structure that should stand for many years.

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From Cedarville: Practically the whole community attended the annual Mackinac County field meet at Allenville Friday afternoon May 9 and were naturally very well pleased with the success of the pupils of the Cedarville schools in the Athletic events. . . Cedarville has always been noted for their Base Ball Teams and, who knows, perhaps some day we might have a girl on our team, as our High School girls in winning their game from Rexton proved to be more adept at the game than many boys. . . One feature of Cedarville school athletics is that the smaller children as well as the High School get a chance for athletics instruction.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

and St. Ignace Enterprise

May 12, 1960

After Mayor Raymond J. France and Aldermen Carlson, Krause, and Ogle explained the reason for their objection to the erection of a building on the state dock for use of the Michigan Rehabilitation commission to display and sell wares of handicapped people, representatives of local organizations and associations agreed that the objection was well sustained.

Mayor France presided at a meeting held at the city hall Monday evening where John Groop and Stanley Corneliuson explained the project of rehabilitation. Attending to consider the proposal were representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Civic League, Lions and Kiwanis clubs, Shriners, schools and business people.

“We have no quarrel with the rehabilitation program,” explained Mayor France. “Our contention is that allowing them to use the dock will set a precedent and encourage other groups to ask for similar privileges. This would naturally mean that we could scarcely prohibit any worthy program an outlet at the docks and it would create a bad situation.”

As a result of the conference, it was learned that a site for the rehab program might be available near the Cadillac Coverall Supply building on So. State St.

Mayor France was officially informed on Tuesday that the rehab commission “will go along with the wishes of the city.”

•••

At the regular meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last week, the board of directors officially changed the name of the organization to “St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce.”

“Because the 1960 brochures have been printed before the name change was made, they will be used this season as will other material on hand,” said Hugh A. Horner, secretary-manager.

“The directors have insisted, as in the past, no boundary line of service or membership will be set up,” he continued. “Anyone who desires to have his name carried on the business or accommodation sheets that are given or mailed to prospective tourists may become a member.”

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Directional signing on the St. Ignace x-way pointing out Mackinac Island has been requested by Mayor Raymond J. France of St. Ignace.

“Mackinac island is the summer capitol of Michigan,” declared France. “It is the a city and an important tourist attraction. We feel that there should be some kind of directional signing to the Mackinac Island ferry.”

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According to reports of weather observers here, it has rained some portion of each 24-hour day for the past 38 days, up through Tuesday.

Plumbers estimated on Tuesday that basements of approximately 50 homes in the city are flooded and require pumping.

As an indication of the heavy surface water, the weight broke through the bluff at the rear of the James Sorenson home Tuesday night. The water and debris poured into the Sorensons' bedroom and water flooded the basement.

Meanwhile, Upper Peninsula highways continued to take a beating from the rain, along with 14 inches of snow at Marquette.

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From Gros Cap: All the restaurants and motels around here have opened up, but due to the rainy weather business is poor.

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The board of education of the Les Cheneaux community schools is now planning to submit a millage proposal to the electors of the district on June 13. Mrs. Bruce W. Patrick, board president, states that the schools will need twelve mills for purposes of operation next year if the budget is to be balanced by June 30, 1960. Five of the twelve mills would need to be approved by the voters of the community. The necessary millage includes a current deficit of approximately $16,000 which is equivalent to three mills. Mrs. Patrick indicates that the board will probably ask for three mills for a period of three years with the hope that the debt an be reduced substantially.

A similar millage proposal was defeated at the polls last September. The refusal to approve additional operation monies has resulted in the present debt of $26,000, which also includes a deficit of $6,367.66 carried over from last year. Mrs. Patrick states that the board of education has been criticized for not reducing the debt substantially after the proposal was rejected at the polls, but she points out that salary commitments and basic operation costs accounted for most of the 1959-60 budget, and being obligations, could not be reduced. Reductions were made in teaching supplies, equipment, transportation, maintenance and use of buildings, but the savings realized represented a small percentage of the total expenditures.

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From Evergreen Shores: Wonder if our supervisor has been around the Shores lately. Hope he doesn't try to raise the property taxes any because many could say they're on the water front now, with the water up to the back door and no drainage.

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From Les Cheneaux: The Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scouts will work this week to gather up in trucks all the rubbish local residents will pile up in cooperation with National Clean-Up week. Saturday, May 14, is pickup day.