Boyne 1839-1867
BOYNE, BOYNE VILLAGE & BOYNE CITY
BOYNE CITY’S ORIGIN STARTED WHEN THE FIRST SETTLERS CAME TO THE AREA. IN ABOUT 1825
FISHERMEN STARTED TO USE THE PINE RIVER AREA (NOW LAKE CHARLEVOIX) AS A LOCATION TO
CONGREGATE.
1839
PETER GREENSKY IS SENT BY THE METHODIST MINISTRY AT OLD MISSION TO WORK WITH THE
AREA INDIAN, MOSTLY OTTAWA’S, AND SETTLES HIS MINISTRY IN THE VICINITY BETWEEN PINE
RIVER (NOW CHARLEVOIX) AND WHAT WILL LATER BE KNOWN AS HORTON BAY. THEY
WORKING TOGETHER BUILD THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE AREA. THIS CHURCH IS STILL
ACTIVE TODAY.
1848-49
THE STRANGITES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JESSIE JAMES STRANG (1813-1856)
MIGRATED FROM VOREE, WISCONSIN TO THE EMERALD ISLE ARCHIPELAGO AND
SETTLED AT ST. JAMES HARBOR ON BEAVER ISLAND.
1850
JULY 8TH. LEADER OF THE MORMON SECT ON BEAVER ISLAND PROCLAIMS HIM SELF KING AND IS
PUBLICLY CROWNED AS THE RELIGIOUS HEAD OF SOME 1,000 OR MORE STRANGITES LIVING ON
BEAVER ISLAND AND IN THE SURROUNDING MAINLAND AREAS.
NOTE: DURING THIS PERIOD THERE WAS A GROWING CONTROVERSY
BETWEEN THE CHOSEN STRANGITES AND THE AREA GENTILES, AS ALL WERE
CALLED WHO LIVED OUTSIDE OF THE PALE OF THE MORMON CHURCH.
ACCORDING TO THE LAWS SET BY STRANG AND HIS TWELVE APOSTLES WHO
RULED AND REIGNED SUPREME OVER THE KINGDOM AND MATERIALS
EITHER
REAL OR IMAGINARY THAT COULD BE OF DIRECT USE OR
APPROPRIATED
AND SOLD FOR PROFIT WAS SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATED
CONSCRIPTION.
THIS WAS DONE UNDER THE GUISE OF “CONSECRATING OF
GENTILE PROPERTY. THIS ALONG WITH THE PRACTICE OF RELIGIOUS
APPROVED POLYGAMY AND LAWFUL CONCUBINAGE SET THE SCHISM
BETWEEN THE MORMONS AND THE AREA GENTILES. STRANG IS THE ONLY
KING, SELF PROCLAIMED OR OTHERWISE TO EVER REIGN IN AMERICA.
THE MANY HISTORIES WRITTEN AND SHORT REMINISCENCES
CONCERNING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MORMON STRANGITES AND
THE GENTILE NON-MORMONS IN THE AREA ARE ALL CLOUDED WITH
UNDISGUISED BIGOTRY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THE STRANGITES WERE
UNDER
THE CLOUD AND TEACHING OF STRANG WHO ALLOWED THAT
PEOPLE OTHER
THAN MEMBERS OF HIS FLOCK WERE PROFANE. THE
GENTILES WERE BOTH
AFRAID OF THE STRANGITE TEACHING, JEALOUS OF
THE POLYGAMY OF THE ISLAND
RESIDENTS, CONFUSED THAT WERE
DIFFERENT FROM THE ESTABLISHED
AND ACCEPTED NORM AND
MISINFORMED AS TO THE TRUE TEACHING OF
STRANG.
1853
THE “BATTLE OF PINE RIVER” OCCURS WHEN A BODY OF MORMONS FROM BEAVER ISLAND
LANDED AT PINE RIVER, NOW THE WESTERN MOUTH OF THE ENTRANCE TO CHARLEVOIX AND
LAKE CHARLEVOIX, TO TAKE THREE MEN, HULL, SAVAGE AND MOON, BACK INTO THE STRANG
FOLD. THESE MEN REPORTEDLY ESTRANGED FROM THE MORMON SECT AND HAD BEEN
ASKING AND GIVEN ASYLUM BY THE PINE RIVER FISHERMEN. WHEN THE MORMONS
ADVANCED UPON THE CABINS AND FAMILIES OF THE LOCAL FISHERMAN THEY WERE REPULSED
BY GUNFIRE AND MADE THEIR ESCAPE BY SMALL BOAT BACK INTO LAKE MICHIGAN. THE
FISHERMEN ALSO COMMANDEERED A SMALL BOAT AND SET IN HOT PURSUIT OF THE
MORMONS. THE MORMONS SOUGHT SHELTER AND WERE GIVEN REFUGE BY CAPTAIN STONE
OF THE SAILING BARK MORGAN.
1856
JUNE 16TH, MORMON BROTHERS THOMAS BEDFORD AND ALEXANDER WENTWORTH, BOTH
MUCH DISGRUNTLED WITH THE TYRANNY OF KING STRANG, APPROACHED STRANG, AS HE WAS
WALKING TOWARDS THE UNITED STATES STEAMER MICHIGAN, AND SHOT HIM THREE TIMES.
MORTALLY WOUNDING THE ONLY KING TO REIGN OVER ANY OF THE UNITED STATES. THE TWO
ASSASSINS THEN BOARDED THE STEAMER AND CLAIMED POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS ASYLUM
UPON REACHING MACKINAW CITY AND THE MAINLAND.
NOTE: DURING THE TIME THAT KING STRANG REIGNED ON BEAVER ISLAND THERE ARE SOME
MORMON CABINS AND SETTLEMENTS SCATTERED AROUND THE AREAS OF GRAND TRAVERSE
AND CHARLEVOIX COUNTY. MOSTLY LOCATED CLOSE TO THE WATER, WHICH PROVIDED AN
EASY METHOD OF TRAVEL. WHEN STRANG IS OVERTHROWN AND ASSASSINATED MOST OF THE
REMAINING MORMONS ARE DRIVEN FROM THE AREA AND THEIR CABINS ARE LEFT
UNATTENDED.
AUGUST 1ST, SAMUEL HORTON, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FAMILY, TRAVELING ON THE SMALL
SAILING VESSEL ROVER, EAST ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF PINE LAKE. COMING TO A
BEAUTIFUL BAY, HE SETTLED THERE WITH HIS FAMILY. THE BAY AND AREA NOW STILL BEARS
HIS NAME, “HORTON BAY." SAM AND HIS FAMILY BECAME THE FIRST WHITE SETTLERS IN THIS
AREA OF MICHIGAN. TRAVELING ON THE ROVER AS CREW/PASSENGERS WERE JOHN NEWMAN
AND ARCHIE BUTTERS. NEWMAN SETTLED FOR A PERIOD IN HORTON BAY AND BUTTERS IN THE
PINE RIVER AREA.
OCTOBER 26TH. THE MILLER FAMILY, JOHN AND HARRIET, ARRIVE AT THE MOUTH
OF PINE
RIVER. THEY TRAVELED THERE BY SMALL SAILBOAT WITH THE DIXON FAMILY. THEIR TWO SONS,
HUGH R., AND JAMES R. TRAVELED BY SECURING
PASSAGE IN ANOTHER SAILBOAT.
NOVEMBER 14TH., PIONEER SETTLERS JOHN MILLER AND HIS WIFE HARRIET AND TWO SONS
CAME TO THE HEAD OF PINE LAKE AND TOOK POSSESSION OF ONE OF SEVERAL OLD MORMON
CABIN LOCATED AT WHAT IS NOW CALLED NORTH BOYNE. FORMALLY REFEREED TO AS BAY
SPRINGS. THE CABIN, LOCATED IN THE AREA OF GROVELAND AND MICHIGAN, IS ORIGINALLY
CONSTRUCTED BY A MORMON, OF THE KING STRANG SECT, NAMED REUBEN T. NICHOLS. MR.
MILLER IS, BORN OCTOBER 10, 1811, OF SCOTTISH-IRISH DECENT. HARRIET, BORN IN ONTARIO,
CANADA, IS OF IRISH DECENT. THEIR TWO SONS, HUGH R., BORN FEBRUARY 14, 1842 AND
JAMES R. IN 1843. JOHN AND HARRIET WERE AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN TO THE RESIDENTS OF
BOYNE AS “AUNT HARRIET” AND “UNCLE JOHN.”
NOTE: THE THREE FAMILIES, MILLER, MAY AND HORTON ALL FOUND
CLEARINGS, BUILDINGS AND OTHER SUNDRY TRACES OF PRIOR SETTLERS
IN THE AREAS WHICH THEY FIRST INHABITED. THE PREVIOUS HOLDERS
MEMBERS OF THE KING STRANG “STRANGITES” OF BEAVER ISLAND.
ARE
JAMES MILLER IS LATER TO DIE BY DROWNING WHEN SKATING FROM
ADVANCE TO BOYNE. AS HE APPROACHED THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER HE
WENT THROUGH THE ICE AND UNABLE TO HAVE ANYONE HEED HIS NEED
FOR HELP HE DEPOSITED HIS WATCH AND RING ON THE EDGE OF THE ICE
BEFORE HE SUCCUMBED TO THE COLD. THESE WERE LATER FOUND BY THE
FAMILY AND TODAY RESIDE IN THE BOYNE CITY HISTORICAL MUSEUM.
ALL OF THE IMMEDIATE MEMBERS MILLER FAMILY IS INTERNED IN THE EVANGELINE CEMETERY.
JOHN MILLER, KNOWN AS “UNCLE JOHN” NAMED THE RIVER AT THE HEAD OF PINE LAKE “THE
BOYNE RIVER” AFTER A RIVER IN HIS NATIVE IRELAND.
DURING THE COMING WINTER THERE WERE FOUR FAMILIES SETTLED IN THE PINE RIVER AND
PINE LAKE AREA. MEAD THOMPSON, JOHN S. DIXON, SAMUEL HORTON AND JOHN MILLER.
THESE HARDY FAMILIES WERE PROBABLY
ACCOMPANIED BY NEWMAN AND BUTTERS.
FRANK MAY AND HIS WIFE LOCATE AT WHAT IS NOW ADVANCE, ON THE SOUTH
SIDE OF PINE LAKE. THE MAY’S DAUGHTER, DORA, BORN THERE, IS SAID TO BE THE FIRST
WHITE CHILD BORN IN WHAT IS NOW CHARLEVOIX COUNTY.
BOYNE, NORTH AND SOUTH, BECAME SETTLED WITH ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AND THE ROOTS OF
A TOWN TOOK HOLD.
A. G. ALDRICH, A VISITOR TO BOTH THE BOYNE CITY AND EAST JORDAN AREAS REPORTED THAT
THE RIVERS ARE NOT ONLY PRIME FISHING BUT ARE INUNDATED WITH GRAYLINGS. THIS FISH,
ONCE ABUNDANT, IS GONE FOREVER.
LATER WILLIAM H. PORTER IS TO SETTLE IN ADVANCE, HE THEN MOVED TO BEAR CREEK
(PETOSKEY) FOR A FEW YEARS. RETURNING IN 1865 TO ERECT A SAWMILL, GRISTMILL AND
BUILD A DAM WITH WHICH TO POWER HIS BUSINESS. THE CREEK, WHICH HE DAMS, STILL
BEARS HIS NAME, “PORTER CREEK.” PORTER IS TO BECOME THE FIRST PERMANENT WHITE
SETTLER IN ADVANCE AS THE MAYS LATER MOVED TO THE AREA EAST OF DEER LAKE.
ADVANCE IS TO BOOM. AT FIRST HOSTING PORTER’S MILL, HAYES AND NEWTON’S STORE, A
SCHOOL, KARLSKIN’S SHOE SHOP, HELLER’S LODGING HOUSE AND SCHOOL, WHICH ALSO
SERVED AS A CHURCH. THIS, THE FIRST MAJOR COMMUNITY IN THIS AREA, IS TO WANE IN A
FEW HECTIC YEARS AND ALL THAT REMAINS FROM THAT PERIOD IS PORTER CREEK, THE OLD
MILL FOUNDATIONS, A STORE AND A FEW HOMES.
FIVE VESSELS, OF UNKNOWN AND QUESTIONABLE ORIGIN, ARE SEEN NAVIGATING THE PINE
LAKE WATERS DURING THIS PERIOD. HUGH MILLER, ON THE NORTH ARM, HAS A CRAFT
AFFECTIONATELY NAMED THE “LEVIATHAN.” HIS FATHER, JOHN MILLER, HAS THE SAILING
BOAT “UNION JACK,” REPORTEDLY BUILT IN CHARLEVOIX, WHICH HE USED TO TRANSPORT
SUPPLIES AND PEOPLE FROM CHARLEVOIX TO BOYNE. AMOS WILLIAMS, ON THE SOUTH ARM
SAILS THE VESSEL “OLD SHIP ZION.” THESE TWO ARE TRUE LOG OR DUGOUT MADE FROM A
LARGE TREE TRUNK. THE “ROVER” OWNED BY SAM HORTON AND A FORTH IS THE SAILING
BOAT OWNED BY A MAN NAMED HOLLAND WHICH WAS CHRISTENED AS “BUCEPHAIUS.”
OTHER THAN NATIVE CANOES THESE WERE THE FIRST OF MANY TO FOLLOW WHICH WILL
TRAVEL THE BEAUTIFUL AND THEN PRISTINE WATER OF PINE OR CHARLEVOIX LAKES.
1861
CIVIL WAR (1861 -- 1865) IS DECLARED BETWEEN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STATES OF
AMERICA. THIS SAVAGE CONFLICT SET BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER AND FATHER AGAINST
SON. THE SCARS OF THIS CONFLICT ARE STILL UPON THE FACES OF AMERICA AND DEEPLY
WOVEN INTO THE HISTORIES OF MANY FAMILIES TODAY. AND MANY FROM BOYNE CITY.
WILLIAM H. ROGERS ENLISTED IN THE UNION ARMY IN COMPANY F, 58TH. PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUNTEERS AND SERVES HONORABLY UNTIL DISCHARGED IN 1865 DUE TO A SEVERE
WOUND IN THE BATTLE OF CHAPIN’S FARM.
1862
ABRAHAM LINCOLN BECOMES THE 16TH. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE HOMESTEAD ACT VOTED BY CONGRESS MAY 20TH. DECLARES THAT ANY U.S. CITIZEN, OR
ANY ALIEN INTENDING TO BECOME A U.S. CITIZEN, MAY HAVE 160 ACRES OF LAND ABSOLUTELY
FREE, EXCEPT FOR A $10.00 REGISTRATION FEE. PROVIDING THAT HE PROVE UP ON THE LAND
AND INHABIT THE ACREAGE FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THEN 5 YEARS.
NOTE: DUE TO THE PRIME LAND SET ASIDE FOR INDIAN RESERVATIONS AND
THE RAILROAD “LAND LOOKERS” THE HOMESTEAD ACT DID NOT A FIRST
HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT IN THE AREA OF PINE RIVER AND PINE LAKE.
1863
GEORGE WASHINGTON BAILEY RECEIVES HIS COMMISSION AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE
UNION ARMY. AS AN OFFICER, HE IS IN CHARGE OF A BLACK TROOP. ON HIS DISCHARGE IN
1865 HE RETURNS TO NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA
ANDREW J. HALL SETTLES IN THE BOYNE RIVER AREA LOCATING ON THE SITE OF THE FUTURE
BOYNE CITY.
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC IS FOUNDED BY UNION VETERANS OF THE U.S. CIVIL WAR.
AT IT’S PEAK THERE WILL BE 400,000 MEMBERS. MANY MEN AND MASONS IN THE BOYNE CITY
AND CHARLEVOIX AREAS WILL HOLD MEMBERSHIP IN THIS PROMINENT ORGANIZATION.
IF YOU WALK THROUGH THE MANY OLD CEMETERIES OF BOYNE CITY YOU WILL DISCOVER
TOMB STONE WITH THE LETTERS “GAR” PROUDLY THERE ON DISPLAYED. THIS TELLS YOU THE
PERSONS THERE ENTOMBED WERE VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR.
1867
THE FIRST STEAM POWERED VESSEL “COMMODORE NUTT” CRUISES THE WATERS
OF PINE LAKE. THIS VESSEL IS NECESSARILY SMALL AS THE CHANNEL, NOW PINE RIVER, HAS
YET TO BE IMPROVED AND THE COURSE IS TREACHEROUS. PRIOR TO THIS, ONLY CANOES,
ROWBOATS AND SMALL SAILING BOATS HAVE PLIED THESE PRISTINE WATERS, FROM LAKE
MICHIGAN VIA PINE RIVER INTO AND ON PINE LAKE.
DURING THIS TIME IN MICHIGAN’S HISTORY MANY OF THE AREA SETTLERS ARE MEN WHO HAVE
RETURNED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE CIVIL WAR AND CLAIM THEIR HOMESTEAD LAND IN
NORTHERN MICHIGAN. THE HOMESTEAD LAW, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1863, GRANTED
SETTLERS FROM 80 TO 160 ACRES OF LAND FOR A NOMINAL FEE.
JOHN MILLER PLATS THE VILLAGE OF SPRING HARBOR. LATER KNOWN AS BAY SPRINGS AND
FINALLY AS NORTH BOYNE, NOW A PART OF BOYNE CITY.
A. J. BEARDSLEY’S DAUGHTER, FLORENCE, IS BORN IN THE VILLAGE OF BOYNE. THIS,
THEORETICALLY, MARKED THE FIRST WHITE CHILD TO BE BORN IN THE NEW VILLAGE.
AS ALWAYS MY THANKS TO EULA MARTIN, AND ROBERT MORGRIDGE FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND
CONTRIBUTIONS IN BOYNE’S HISTORY
EDWARD MAY III
Boyne 1839-1879
Boyne, Boyne Village & Boyne city
1868
May 30th, “Decoration Day” now known as “Memorial Day” is observed on May 30th. This date is
established by, general john a. Logan, commander of the grand army of the republic, and a
Michigan man.
He established this after he was informed about the deplorable state of the graves of the
confederate soldiers who had perished during the War Between the States.
It was by his order that the graves of all fallen men would be decorated with flags and so
honored. This is also the date that the last known union volunteer is discharged after serving his
country.
1869
The first Post Office is established in the Boyne area. John Miller is Postmaster with area
travelers carrying the mail as they ventured about the area. His home serves as the area Post
Office.
The Suez Canal opens for the traffic of large ships.
1870
Benjamin Warner moved to Boyne and settled in the area about southwest shore of Pine Lake
where the Tannery, (Howe’s Leather Company) would later be developed. He proved up on the
property and was granted his deed to the homesteaded area.
1871
The first Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star is formed in New Jersey. This fraternity will
later be established in Boyne.
Boyne’s first school opens in a board shanty owned by Hugh Miller and “School no. 1 Fractional”
is organized. The location is on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 26, Evangeline
Township. The approximate location of the present day Baptist church in North Boyne, 875
State Street.
Miss Mariette Hicks commence to teach the first Boyne public school. Later Alice Hayden taught
there for two summer terms.
October 8th. Through 10th. The great Chicago fire killed 250 people and left 90,000 homeless.
Approximately 4 square mile in central down town Chicago went up in flames. This, when
according to local legend a cow kicked over a lantern following a historic dry period leaving the
city extremely susceptible to fire. The need for lumber was great and the area of Boyne city and
Northern Michigan profited due to their abundance of white pine a natural building material.
1873
George Washington Bailey migrates to Northern Michigan where he claims his military right,
having honorably served in the Civil War, to a 160-acre homestead in the immediate area of
Deer Lake.
His family would later establish Bailey Drugs in Boyne
The United States of America adopts the gold standard.
1874
Boyne’s school moves to a log cabin near the shores of Pine Lake in what is to become known as
South Boyne at Elm Street in the Cob addition. Some of the teachers at this location are
Johanna Haggart,
Mary a. Root and Sarah N. Miller.
The previous Homestead Land Act while effective in many areas was not promoting the settling
as designed. So the Federal Government revised the act and opened the Indian Reservation
Land to homesteading by the public. This gave the opportunity for settling on many prime sites
previously protected and the area of Charlevoix County has a sudden influx of people.
May 3rd. The first organized church is in the South Arm, opened by the Methodists in September.
Reverend A. G. Wiggins is the Pastor.
Note; approximately half of the chartering members of the newly formed Methodist Church are
from the colored families which are among the founders of Boyne.
Frank M. Abraham moves here from Chicago and starts a small business mostly on the barter
system, as hard money is scarce. He later sells this enterprise to Robert Cad well.
The first unit of the Pine Lake House is constructed by Alexander Jackson.
1875
A. J. Beardsley opens the first store in Boyne, located in the Pine Lake House.
Wilson Township is organized and George W. Bailey is elected a supervisor.
George Beardsley, a land-looker for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad and his brother, A. J.
Beardsley purchases 97 acres of land, from the Easterly Company. This encompasses the main
section of what is to become the center of Boyne City.
The purchase is for $13.50 an acre and they plat the acreage and set out the first design of
Boyne.
1876
The original plat for Boyne is made by George Beardsley, he and his brother are the founders of
Boyne Village.
In that plat, Beardsley sets aside a section for the park located north of the river. Known as the
Old City Park today bound by North East Street, North Park Street, River Street, and the Boyne
River. This is his gift to the village.
Alonzo J. Stroud and William Hole erect a portable saw mill in the Horton Bay area.
A. J. Beardsley builds a store, home and a dock in Boyne located on Lake Street, about where
the rerouted Boyne River flows today. This building will be the first home for the Boyne city
Masonic lodge no. 391, f. & a.m. working under dispensation in 1882.
William h. Rogers moves from Detroit to the Charlevoix county area where he purchases a lot
from John Miller in the Bay Spring’s location.
1876
Colorado becomes the 38th. State to enter the Union.
June 25th. The last stand of, Michigan native, a, Colonel George Armstrong Custer takes place at
the “Battle of the Little Big Horn” Montana, in the Sioux Indian Wars. Lost with him were his
two brothers, Tom and Boston, his nephew, Autie Reed and brother in law James Calhoun.
The losses at this engagement were 264 soldiers include four men from Michigan. General
Custer being one of the four.
Mark twain publishes his writing “Tom Sawyer.”
John Miller and his wife Harriet had their land by “pre-emption. Land that was previously
worked up by the Strangaites who fled the area.
They platted this property as the Village of Spring Harbor. Later it would be known as Bay
Springs and then when becoming part of Boyne, know as North Boyne.
Note: the lot sizes as platted by the Millers, the Beardsleys, the Morgans, and others clearly
show the differences in the thinking of the town founders. Spring Harbor, or North Boyne, the
lots are considerably smaller than in Boyne.
Benjamin Warner, having recently received his deed to his land from the Federal Government
sells his property to the newly organized school district in the Village of Boyne. Schools will be
held in the log cabin he erected for the next several years.
1877 June 25th. The village of Boyne City is registered as such with the Michigan State Auditors
General office.
Alexander Graham Bell discovers the first telephone capable of sending and receiving voice
transmission with a quality of the transmission which is acceptable for human speech.
The average working week for the trades and craftsmen in Boyne is a 60-hour week.
The dredging of the Pine River Channel at Charlevoix has preceded far enough that steamers
and larger vessels can visit the headwaters of the lake.
Note: at this time prior to the dredging and clearing of the pine river rapids the level of
Pine Lake, later renamed Lake Charlevoix, was about 3 or 4 feet higher than the waters
of Lake Michigan. Envision if you can the waters of Lake Charlevoix 3 to 4 feet higher
than you have ever seen them and that would be how the area looked to the first settlers
of the area.
1878
Boyne is comprised of about seven buildings and 20 resident people.
The first Presbyterian services are held in Boyne by the Reverend J. Beardsley
1879
Boyne’s school occupies a new frame building, 28 feet by 38 feet, near Park and Main Streets,
facing Main Street, at the present school location. Miss Annie Cooper is one of the first teachers
at this time. Later, 1880, Miss Etta Myers is likewise employed.
George Beardsley donates a lot on the corner of State and East Streets to the Methodists on
which to build a church. The church members then purchase the adjoining lot, 220 State
Streets, and erect a parsonage on the property.
Thomas Edison, growing up in Port Huron, Michigan, invented the incandescent light bulb.
Zachariah Morgan and his business partner plat an area of one hundred and fifty acres for a
village known as South Boyne.
Doctor Sanderson, who arrived in the area a few years ago, helps Boyne through its first bout of
typhoid fever.
The new Michigan State capitol building is dedicated in Lansing.
As always my thanks to Eula Martin, and Robert Morgridge for their efforts and contributions in Boyne’s
history
Edward May III
Boyne 1880-1883
Boyne, Boyne village & Boyne city
1880 The United States hotel, built by George Beardsley and Frank Abraham,
opens on the southwest corner of Water and Park Streets.
At this time the lake we know as Walloon is commonly referred to as Bear
Lake and Walloon was known as Talcott Village. It being named after the
man who platted it. Previously to being called Talcott it was called
“Muhqua Nebis” which was Indian and translated “Muhqua” meaning Bear
and “Nebis” meaning Water. As travelers went back and forth from Boyne
to the bear lake area it is common to see many black bears in transit.
J. C. Mcfellen purchases the hardware business from O. V. Monroe.
The population of Boyne is approximately 200 people.
Zachariah Morgan and his associate Nichols start a brick factory located
near the corners of Main and Boyne Avenue.
December, the first news publication is started in Boyne City by Stephen H.
Clink and is known as the “Boyne City Standard.”
1881 William h. White and R. E. Newville start a broom handle factory in Boyne.
The first building is erected in Boyne City that is intended primarily for use as
the Towns Post Office. It is located at 28 South Lake Street the present
location of the Boyne city Chamber of Commerce building. It was of two story
construction and also housed a small grocery store.
A rough frame is raised for the future footbridge over the Boyne River at
Park Street.
The first area news publication is purchased from S. H. Clink by William
Mears who maintains the weekly tabloid’s name of “The Standard.”
William J. Lewis opens the first meat market in the Boyne area.
George F. Beardsley donates property on the corners of Ray and Park
Streets to the Presbyterian Church for the erection of a church.
The Presbyterian Church in Boyne City is formally organized on April 1st,
1881, Pastor John Redpath.
1882 The population of Boyne is approximately 400 people
Godfrey Von Platen builds a new saw mill in the Advance area and imports
a large group of German laborers from Chicago.
July 28th. Several members of the local community with the assistance of
the Charlevoix Odd fellows Lodge organize the Boyne River Odd Fellows
Lodge no. 367. Their first meetings were held in the Masonic Temple
located in the upper floor of the Beardsley Mercantile Building. The
chartering members are.
A. J. Stroud, M. Houghtelin, J. W. Hawley, William J. Lewis, H. A. Thompson,
Frank P. Myers, William A. Norton, William H. Doweny, Ira Safford, D. Ford,
James Dilworth, J. H. Burton and James E. Bell.
The newly completed Spring Harbor to Boyne Falls railroad is completed
and carries both passengers and freight. This, developed by William T.
Addis to support his saw mill venture and other enterprises.
During this time the Boyne school is awaiting a new building and the
students are farmed out to many areas building as their present facilities
are vastly over crowded. Some of the buildings were the Hagney building,
located on Front Street, and the Thompson corner building, located on the
northeast corner of Water and Park Street and the Thompson building on
the northeast corner of Lake and Water Street. Time, the razing need for
growth and fire has rendered the loss of all the fore mentioned buildings.
Boyne’s Dock Wallopers go on strike, demanding a wage increase from 25
cents to 40 cents per hour.
H. B. Chapman comes to the area from Saginaw and builds a resort home in
Bay Springs that is the marvel of the area. Later this will become a
proverbial white elephant and is sold several times. Eventually it is razed
and only pictures and a few old foundations
will remain.
The Charlevoix County Board of Supervisors approves the starting of the
“Ironton ferry.” Henry E. Sheldon is authorized to build and operate the
ferry system securely guided by two cables affixed to the sides of the craft.
This allowing they, the cables, lie deeply enough into the waters of the
narrows so not to impede any schooner traffic.
Note: At this time the main method of lake transport is by sail.
The charges for the Ironton Ferry service are;
Double-teams
30 cents
Single-teams
20 cents
Beasts
10 cents except sheep
Sheep
10 cents up to six, over six, 5 cents each
Footmen
5 cents without beasts
Threshing machines and articles of such nature
$1.00
Note: the charge for the teams included the wagon, carriage, and
their respective occupants.
William H. White, born April 12th. 1859 in Ontario, Canada, moves from
East Jordan to Boyne City.
A new brick school building, two story from white brick is erected which will
seat 60 students. This is the first such structure of it’s like in b\Boyne and
the finest school structure in Charlevoix County at this time. Named the
Boyne city Union School and located at the southeast corner of South Park
and main streets. The bricks required in the construction are from the
Boyne Brickyard of Charles Nicholas and Zachariah Morgan. M. G. Cook
designs this structure at the cost of approximately $6,000.
William J. Pearson moves to Charlevoix County from Oakland and Barry
counties.
As always my thanks to Eula Martin, and Robert Morgridge for their efforts and contributions in
Boyne’s history
Edward May III
1883
The first Methodist Church is organized in Boyne. This is through the efforts of the Deer Lake
Prayer Meeting Society, established in 1873. The building they will occupy is the little frame
schoolhouse, recently vacated by the Boyne School System. They move the little school building
to the location where it stands today along side of the public library. This little building has gone
through several ownership’s and recently returned to a place of worship as the Episcopal Church
of the Nativity, 209 East Main Street.
The Weekly Standard, originally a six-column folio is changed to a seven-column folio, is
purchased by Phillip A. Badour from Harbor Springs. He continues to publish under the banner
of “The statesman.”
August 28th. Rescue Lodge No. 577 International Order Grand Temperance is organized in
Boyne with about thirty-five chartering members. Meetings are held in the Odd Fellows or
Masonic Lodge ever Wednesday. The first officers installed are,
Dr. J. T. Brown, Mrs. R. K. Crane, Miss. Emeline Thompson, Miss Eva Danley, N. Morgan, G. L.
Fox, M. D. Kittel and F. M. Chase.
The First Presbyterian Church is built in Boyne. The site is partially funded by George Beardsley.
The population of the State of Michigan is approximately 1,750,000 people
J. M. Fuller comes to Boyne from Stanton and seeing a growing and enterprising town opens
Boyne’s first bank.
November 25, a fire consumes the buildings and their content of F. W. Littlefield, William J.
Lewis and the rest of the building on that side of the street.
Fire (the first documented loss of the Boyne Masonic Lodge)
November 25, 1883, the Boyne 391, F & A. M. Lodge room and all its contents, including her
Grand Lodge dispensation, her Masonic Lodge papers, and membership records, are destroyed
by fire.
Note: At this time the lodge is located on the second floor above the Beardsley Store. The
location is approximately where the Powder Puff Hair Salon is located at this time. This was
before the mouth of the Boyne River was diverted from its original bed and relocated in a
southern location.
From the 39th. Michigan Annual Communication of Grand Lodge, Grand Master Alanson
Partridge’s address. January 23, 1883.
Dispensation renewed
“I have renewed dispensations as follows, to the Brethren at Verona, Huron County, in place of
the one destroyed by fire in the great conflagration of 1881, and one to the brethren at Boyne,
Charlevoix County, in place of one issued by my predecessor, and ordered by the last Grand
Lodge. All of the above Lodges, I trust, will bring up good square work for your inspection.”
1884
The Fuller Bank closes not having sufficient business to make the operation profitable.
Area lectures and presentation are augmented by use of the magic lantern.
Boyne’s first telephone system is approved and funds are raised for the construction of a phone
line to Boyne. At this time Boyne did not have a telegraph line let along a telephone system.
Mark Twain’s masterpiece, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” appears in writing.
Walter Clifford Post, Grand Army of the Republic, is mustered in Boyne City. There are twentyeight mustering members and the first Post Officers are,
Commander
Charles Denell
Senior Vice Commander
Alonzo J. Stroud
Junior Vice Commander
Hiram A. Thompson
Adjutant
T. J. Hill
Surgeon
Henry N. Dryer
Chaplain
John F. Crane
Quartermaster
D. Halliday
Officer of the Day
John A. Newville
Officer of the Guard
William Hewen
Sergeant Major
Adelbert Halliday
Quartermaster Sergeant
Sentry
R. E. Sampson
David S. Khuns
William J. Lewis builds the first brick store in Boyne and operates a grocery and meat store.
At the October Board of Supervisors meeting a vote is cast and a 2/3 majority required is
rendered on the matter of placing the ballot of the next general election. The issue is of moving
the County Seat from Charlevoix to East Jordan. This is due to a long and deep-seated feeling
that the seat should be in Boyne, as the geographic center of the County is about 1 mile west of
Boyne.
The people of Boyne, realizing that they do not have the votes to swing the move directly to
Boyne, place their power behind the move to East Jordan.
Boyne merchant, Richard S. Hubbard, tries his hand at managing a local bank and opens the
Boyne River Bank in his dry goods establishment. Sadly, this too is soon to close.
The Spring Harbor and Boyne Falls Railroad fails. Addis leaves the area and this narrow gage
railroad line fades into history.
1885
Dispensation is granted to Masonic Mystic Lodge No. 379, East Jordan, by Grand Master Arthur
M. Clark, and August 2nd, to relocate. This was first located at South Arm and later removed to
East Jordan. At first there were 12 chartering members.
Greenwich Mean Time, (GMT) which after this all military men and women came to know, was
adopted by all shipping lines and the world wide military as a method of setting a universal time
period.
The steamer North Star and the side-wheeler Queen of the Lakes make their scheduled trips
between Boyne and Charlevoix. Along with the regular runs there are many special excursions
over the weekends.
The first Chapter of the Michigan Department of Women’s Relief Corps (WRC) was established
here in Michigan. They are comprised of the wives of Civil War veterans. They would later
expand to include all loyal and patriotic women. Their motto is “Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty.
They provided financial help to the widows and children of Civil War veterans.
Lawyers comprising the Boyne bar are; William A Norton, L. F. Moon, Z. N. Garbutt, Roscoe S.
Corbett, H. A. Jersey and Arthur E. Martin
Boyne’s first charter election is held on April 18th at the United States Hotel. Boyne becomes a
chartered Village. J. C. Mcfellen is elected president. The various positions for a Village Council
are filled and many new, sometimes controversial, village ordinances are adopted.
Boyne’s Village officers and appointed positions:
President
J. C. Mc Fellen
Clerk
H. C. Miley
Streets and sidewalks
Fires and their prevention
Hosmer, Schaub and Hicks
Shepard, Schaub and Hicks
Licenses and printing
Shepard, Schaub and Hicks
Public buildings
Halliday, Schaub and Hicks
Sanitary matters and police
Schaub, Allen and Shepard
Claims and finance
Hicks, Hosmer and Halliday
Ordinances
Allen, Hosmer and Halliday
Marshall
Surveyor
H. A. Thompson
E. K. Robinson
The Village Postmaster applies for a name change for the Post Office, requesting to go from
simply Boyne, to Boyne City. The approval is granted and on July 1, 1885, the official mailing
address becomes Boyne City, Michigan.
A ruling was adapted not to allowing cattle/mules and others to run free in the village between
the hours of 7:30 pm and 6:00 am the next morning.
This caused much consternation among the citizens requiring the hiring or appointing of a
Pound Master along with the financing and building of a impound structure.
The two schoolteachers in Boyne City are Miss Ida M. Garner and Mrs. Matthews.
Three businessmen of good report from Boyne head up the movement to bring the County Seat
to Boyne. Ely F. Allen, Samuel B. Thatcher attorney and William J. Lewis owner of the Lewis
House.
Boyne City boasts the presence of two private library societies, which render a vast array of
reading material to the local citizens.
In East Jordan the Mystic Lodge No. 379 F. & A. M. is chartered on January 29th. The name will
be changed in 1918 to East Jordan Lodge to allow the Lodge to better identify and affiliate with
the town. It will later surrender its charter to Michigan Grand Lodge and consolidate with
Charlevoix Lodge No. 282 F. & A. M. in 1988.
The Charlevoix County Agricultural Society is organized.
In the spring, a majority vote of the people is cast in favor and the County Seat is moved from
Charlevoix to East Jordan. The move is made without undue consternation.
At the October meeting of the Board of Supervisors the 2/3 majority vote required is gained and
the County Seat is approved to be moved to Boyne City. This however is not to be a quiet issue.
Boyne City starts to install wooden sidewalks and Mr. Robinson is employed to survey the City
streets for wages of $4.00 per day.
Eventually a wooden sidewalk is installed from Boyne to Bay Spring. A sewer system is started
on Park Street.
Boyne City rallies’ around the issue of a new building for the County Court. Business and area
leaders pledge to erect the necessary structure and furnish it free of charge to the County for 10
years. There will be multitudes of charges claiming improprieties cast all around, between the
residents of Boyne City, East Jordan and Charlevoix.
A State compulsory school attendance law is enacted.
The County Supervisors support the move to Boyne City and so does County Judge Ramsdell.
The County Clerk and the Sheriff move their offices and department effects to Boyne City. The
Register of Deeds and the Treasurer refuse to move to Boyne City. A fractured County
Government exists and feelings remain strained.
The Michigan State ten-hour workday law is passed.
George M. Kerry moves to Boyne City from Chicago and following his chosen trade opens a new,
modern and progressive blacksmith shop.
William H. White and his brother buy the old Sheboygan Chair Company and start a vast lumber
industry which will be a mainstay for Boyne area employment during the lumber era.
1886
The school enrollment of Boyne City is about 114 children.
August 12th, almost the entire town of Mancelona, Michigan is consumed by a great fire. Most
all of 30 building and their content are lost.
The state teachers institute holds a meeting in Boyne City with Roscoe Corbett as secretary. The
requirements for becoming a teacher at this time are to pass a local examination. There is no
formal education requirement standard at this time.
Boyne City becomes the County Seat by a majority of only 39 votes. Many feel the election is
rigged and the feelings remain very hostile.
Note: the State of Michigan Supreme Court reviewed the election findings and held in favor of
Boyne City as the new County Seat.
The school holds an annual lyceum event for the enjoyment of the parents and citizens of
Boyne.
The County’s first court session, held in Boyne City, is on May 25, in Lewis hall.
Sears and Roebuck start its first store in Minnesota.
The County effects are moved to Waldron House, the former Chapman Hotel, awaiting the
construction and completion of the new County building.
The new County Court House is built in Boyne city, located on the corners of north and north
Lake Street. It is 34 by 48 feet with a large and well laid out courtroom on the second floor. The
floor of which is notably covered with sawdust to allow for men to spit their chew as required.
County offices and jail are located on the first floor. The jail, in the east end, having three cells.
The school system has eleven grades, under the tutelage of Miss Gardner as principal. There are
123 students attending. The teachers are Miss Gardner, Miss Stella Kane and Miss Addie d.
crane.
November 26, the first County Circuit Court meeting is held in the new county court house in
Boyne City.
Miley and Chapin purchase the Statesman from Badour renaming it the “Boyne Citizen” on
September 3rd.
At the annual September meeting of the school board the discussion and decision was made to
stump the school grounds immediately adjacent to the school building.
Note; at this period of time in the lumber era when the tall and stately pine was king, many
areas in the northern parts of Michigan had their houses (bordellos) of entertainment for the
traveling men who served as dock-whollopers, lumberjacks, mill workers and the occasional local
resident.
These rather mystic and often unmonitored enterprises were scattered around the area of Boyne
City and the surrounding towns served by the fallen doves of the community and while not well
remembered by all their existence was just as prominent as the number of liquor establishments
and other businesses of entertainment.
Neither Boyne nor the surrounding area was very straight laced and our small town was like unto
the Wild West that we read about in the old penny dreadful publications.
Our founding ministerial members had their hands full to relate the least. A few of the old houses
of promiscuity still remain standing to this date and their reputation has passed into history. Our
local temperance society was busy at times.
1887
October 14th, a monstrous fire totally destroyed the Charlevoix County Court House, located in
Boyne city. Lost are all the content of the building including the records maintained at the
register of deeds office. Due to previous problems in locating the County Seat at Boyne City,
speculation rose as to the fire being accidental or set.
1887
William Wallace Bailey and a man known as Jones work to save what they can and managed to
push the large door of the county safe closed, using a two by four.
As some county records are destroyed in the fire the controversy of where the County Seat
should be located is rekindled. A smaller building is hastily erected on the northeast corner of
Main and Park Streets for the County Court.
Two area villages merge into one. The Village of South Arm merges with the Village of East
Jordan and the Township of South Arm is all that history will remember of the old village of
South Arm, Michigan.
1888
A. J. Beardsley erects Boyne City’s first gristmill.
William J. Lewis acquires the Commercial House.
The steam barge Fannie C. Hart, loaded with wood products, docks in Boyne City this week.
The first graduating high school class in Charlevoix County comes from the Boyne school system.
There are six in the graduating class. The commencement program was held in the Presbyterian
Church.
The graduation students are;
J. Edward Gardner
Hammond Argils
Thompson G. Delbert Johnson
Lulu Morgan
Minnie Morgan
Etta Stevenson
John Malcolm Harris moves to Boyne from Charlevoix and becomes the school principal for the
next eight years.
The United States Hotel, located on the corner of South Park and East Water Streets, is
destroyed by fire. A second United States hotel is shortly erected on the same corner.
Ed Newville, seeing the opportunity and need, starts a stage line between Boyne and Ironton.
Where passengers can board the Ironton Ferry.
1889
North and South Dakota become the 39th. and 40th. States to enter the union.
Montana becomes the 41st. state to enter the union.
Washington becomes the 42nd. State to enter the union.
1890
Census figure for Boyne city; 450.
Fire destroys the Village of White Hall Michigan. Along with all the major building in the village
The second graduating class from Boyne City remains small in number but high in
determination. Mr. J. M. Harris was the school principal. The graduates were;
Jenny McIntyre
Lewis McIntyre
John Sheppard
Martha Nugent
Note: the graduating McIntyre’s Jenny and Lewis were twin brother and sister. They were the
first twins to graduate in Charlevoix County.
Idaho becomes the 43rd. state to enter the union.
Wyoming becomes the 44th. State to enter the union.
Chief of the Sioux Indians, Sitting Bull, is killed fighting with United States troops.
1891
A motion is made and carried at a village meeting that anyone running logs down the Boyne
River must place a log boom at the upper end of the park. This to be enforced by the village
marshal.
Boyne 1892 - 1897
1892 Notice to all boys from the Village Constable; to stop bathing, during the
daytime or daylight hours, from the City docks. The days of public skinnydipping are coming to a close.
November 18th. The Evangeline Chapter No. 95 Order of the Eastern Star is
instituted by the Grand Chapter of Michigan and start to hold meetings in
the Village of Boyne City.
Note: The Order of the Eastern Star, as known in the United States, is based
on the ritualistic work of Dr. Rob Morris (about 1850) Poet Laureate of
Masonry. Through the work of Robert Macoy (about 1865) using the
groundwork previously established by Morris, to the first formation of the
Eastern Star Grand Chapter, in 1867, in the State of Michigan.
There are people who will tell us that the Order of the Eastern Star has
derived it’s self from the old “Rite of Adoption” dating back to about 1750,
in France, under the reign of the Empress Josephine. When this order was
conceived it consisted of an androgynous Masonic program with seven
degrees in related steps. It was open for both men and women. We are
also told it came from Russia and other areas as the various historians and
Masonic scholars have delved into its veiled and allegorical past.
1893 The Boyne City and Southeastern Railroad is incorporated with a
capitalization of $56,000 dollars. The line owns 7 miles of track going from
Pine Lake to sign post ¼ section 21. Boyne City to Boyne Falls.
October 11th. Evangeline Chapter no. 95 Order of the Eastern Star is
constituted and granted a charter from the Grand Order of the Eastern Star
of Michigan. This is by order of Ada Richards, Worthy Grand Matron, and
John R. Bader Worthy Grand Patron.
Signing members of the Boyne City who requested the establishment of an
Order of the Eastern Star Chapter in Boyne City are;
Marion Corbett
Walter Ware
Jennie Cadwell
George Cadwell
Cora Goodman
John Goodman
Ella Herron
Mary Jane Lewis
Blanche Lyke
Byron Lyke
Sarah L. J. McNeal
Emma McWain
John Pickering
Mary Rogers
W. H. Rogers
Louisa Smith
Minnie Smith
Porter Smith
Ella Ware
Nellie Harris
May Ward
Gilbert Ward
Carrie White
George W. White
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The chartering chapter officers are;
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marion Corbett,
Worthy Matron
Walter Ware,
Worthy Patron
Nellie Harris,
Associate Matron
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The original charter for the Boyne City Order of the Eastern Star Chapter is
consumed in the fire of 1951. The authority of Ida J. Martin Worthy Grand
Matron and Charles Cornell Worthy Grand Patron issues a replacement
charter.
Boyne Falls is incorporated as a Village.
Note: During the prime years Boyne Falls had a large population. Five
school districts serving 156 area students. The town boasted three large
hotels, five general stores and more than half a dozen saloons.
1893 John M. Harris is admitted to the Bar of the State of Michigan after
learning and serving under the tutelage of Judge Roscoe L. Corbett.
Henry Ford produces his first motor car. This is an experimental model and
is lost to the element of time.
1894 City ordinance saying “that no person shall drive a team of horses, mules,
asses, oxen, nor any horse, mule or ass, along or across any sidewalk.” is
enacted in Boyne.
Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem formed in the United States.
The Boyne City and Southeastern Railroad is amended and incorporated
with a capitalization of $256,000 dollars. The line owning 32 miles of track
going from the South Arm of Pine Lake east to Boyne Falls to the railroad
junction at Alba.
A fire of monstrous proportions razed through the area between
Boyne
City and Boyne Falls, prevailing winds headed it towards Boyne City. It is
stopped only by the herculean efforts of all residents. Men, women, boys,
girls and anyone available assisted using shovels, buckets, sand and dirt.
Methodist church parishioners having out grown the little school, which
they had converted into a church, erect a new and larger building on the
corners of Park and Pine streets.
This lot is originally given to the Methodists by Zachariah Morgan, later sold
by the church and finally repurchased for the church
again from John
Nicholls for the price of $200.
September, the little church, former old school house, that was vacated by
the Methodist Charge, is purchased by the reorganized Church of Latter
Day Saints and regular meetings are held by the Saints in Boyne City.
Note: I have it, from an impeccable first hand source or information that
many of the first practitioners of the Boyne City Saints church had the same
sir names as many of the Strangite Mormons from Beaver Island. And; in
fact were and still are direct descendants from the King Strang Mormons.
We need to remember that while many of the Strangites were driven from
the area after King Strang’s assignation, many families, friendly with the
area gentiles, removed themselves to the Boyne City and Charlevoix areas,
remained and became upstanding citizens of Charlevoix county.
Note; My wife’s “God Mother” is a direct descendant of one of the men who
felled King Jessie James Strang on Beaver Island in June 16,1856.
I am honor bound to transcribe no more about given nor assumed names
related to the Saints who remained here in Boyne and will close the subject
saying “ we, Boyne and our citizens have benefited by their being part and
parcel of our community.”History makes strange bedfellows.”
1895 Special legislation is passed disbanding the County of Manitou (island) and
assigning the Beaver Islands, with her three townships, (old Emerald Isles)
to Charlevoix County. This is the opening for the County Seat to return to
Charlevoix.
Areas of Mackinac Island are designated as a historic State Park.
Before 1895, Post Masters were allowed to design individualistic postage
cancellation marks. Many of these old cancellations are collector items
today.
Schuyler B. Stackus buys the business, from his father, James B. Stackus,
and becomes the owner operator of the area’s first
undertaking parlor
(funeral home).
Comment in local Boyne paper (Citizen) about “that Sea Serpent in Little
Traverse Bay.” Seems as Michigan has its own Loch Ness, Nessie.
The second United States Hotel is destroyed by fire.
The Boyne school library was established by vote of the school district
officers. This will remain in effect until the erection of the Boyne City
Carnegie Library in 1917.
1896 May 8th, one of the first settlers to the area passes away due to a multitude
of ailments. Age and a hard life were being some of them. John Miller,
born in St. Andres Town Land, County Down, Ireland on October 10, 1811,
dies at the ripe old age of 85 years.
George W. Bailey is elected supervisor of Evangeline Township.
Evangeline Township evaluation is shown as $136,153.00 and Boyne City’s
evaluation is shown as $86,612.00.
Utah becomes the 45th. State to enter the Union.
1897 By what some say is pure chicanery, the County Seat is voted to be moved
from Boyne City and returned to Charlevoix, where it remains today. This is
accomplished by the voters in a meeting of the board of supervisors held in
January.
Even now, 2010, the feelings passed through many generations are that
Boyne City was hoodwinked and the County Seat should be returned to
Boyne City, where it belongs!
Ransom E. Olds, a resident of Michigan, establishes the State’s first
automobile factory located in Lansing.
Regular Boyne Masonic Lodge communications are held on the first
Wednesday evening on or immediately after the full moon of the month.
Boyne’s Lodge was referred to as a “Moon Lodge”. This was to allow foot
and horse travel at night by the light of the full moon.
1897 April 28th. The Michigan State Legislature adopted the apple blossom (Pyrus
Coroaria) as the State flower. This was at the request of William Harris of
Norwood, Michigan. It, the apple blossom was the first State symbol
adopted by the state emblematically representing anything.
William J. Pearson is reelected to the position of Supervisor of Chandler
Township.
The Boyne City and Southeastern Railroad is amended and incorporated
with a capitalization of $384,000 dollars. The line, owning 48 miles of track,
going from the south arm of Pine Lake east to Boyne falls to the railroad
junction at Alba also from the main line ne ¼ se ¼ section 8 to Vanderbilt.
The passing of legislation disbanding the County of Manitou, the
transferring of Bear Lake, Spring Vale and Resort Townships from
Charlevoix to Emmet County. The attachment of Manitou and Fox Islands
to Leelanau County and other political moves changed the balance of
voting power in the area of Charlevoix County forever.
A. F. Herron and his son open the Herron & Son’s Hardware Store. This is a
two story wooden frame structure. It is located at 127 Water Street on the
corners of Park and Water Street where the Boyne Country Party Shop is
today.
William Pratt moves to Boyne City and opens a, soon to be very well
respected, jewelry store.
As always my thanks to Eula Martin, and Robert Morgridge for their efforts and
contributions in Boyne’s history
Edward May III
Boyne 1898 –1901
1898 Departed is Harriet Miller, wife of John Miller. She was born in Canada as
Harriet Russell, in 1824. The Millers are both laid to rest in the Evangeline
Township Cemetery.
February, the second-class American Battle Ship, U.S.S. Maine is
mysteriously blown up in Havana Harbor.
1898 John H. Lewis, having worked here in Boyne City for his brother and then
leaving, now returns some years later, opens a business on Water Street.
He starts with a small enterprise. His store will soon become one of the
most completely stocked ventures in Boyne.
James Gale Inglis writes in his “Northern Michigan, Handbook for Travelers”
“that Boyne City is an enterprising little town whose interests are mostly
lumber”.
The United States annexed the Independent Republic of Hawaii.
A. J. Beardsley builds his beautiful Victorian style home at 401 Pearl Street.
Even today this home is referred to as the Beardsley House.
1899 The G. H. Russell Camp 6,822 Modern Woodsmen of America, is organized
in Boyne city on July 8th. It has 125 members.
William J. Pearson is elected Sheriff of Charlevoix County.
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), is founded, 1899. It is
chartered by the United State Congress in 1936.
1900 The census figure for Boyne City is 912 residents.
The school district purchases the Old Village Hall, at 201 East Main and two
lots on the northeast corner of Main and Park Streets for classrooms. This
is now the location of our present Carnegie Library.
At this time the Von Platen lumber mills were cutting and processing
8,000,000 board feet of lumber a year.
September 22nd. The village of Talcott becomes Walloon Lake Village when
the name of the Village Post Office is formally changed.
Clarence C. Schaub sells his meat market on Main Street and leaves the
area.
1901 The Ironton Ferry service operated 244 days this year at a cost of only
$379.73 dollars.
Twelfth grade is added to the school program.
United States President William McKinley is assassinated and passes on to
the Supreme Architect of the Universe.
1901 Future American President Theodore Roosevelt is raised to the sublime
degree of a Master Mason in Matinecock Lodge no. 806, Oyster Bay, New
York.
Boyne City is the location for the founding of the Howe Leather Companies
“the Boyne Tannery.” This manufacturing facility will become the largest
and steadiest employer in Boyne City and Charlevoix County for many years
to come.
At the onset of this company, it is basically self contained with its own
power plant, fire fighting systems, fresh water and electric going to all the
buildings and company owned housing. The first few years there are 80
employees retained and the annual payroll is in excess of $50,000 which for
this area is unheard of?
The Reverend George J. Rea moves to Boyne City to tend the needs of the
Presbyterian Church congregation 1901 - 1910.
At the installation program for Reverend George J. Rea the choir, led by
E. A. Ruegsegger, is in fine tune.
William S. Shaw, founder and majority stockholder (90%) of the Leather
Company, was born in Canada, 1869. He has extensive experience in the
leather business. Then with a capitol of approximately $250,000 came to
Boyne City due to the water available for shipment and processing along
with the abundance of tan bark and wood for energy generation.
He later, as an astute businessman, will be deeply involved in the Chemical
and Charcoal Companies. The former, of which he is 1/3rd. owner, shipped
more wood alcohols and acetate of lime than any other plant in the United
States while in operation.
Business registered in Boyne city in 1901 are:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Nurko & Frazer
Dry goods, clothing and shoes
 United States Hotel
Frank Abrahams
 L. H. Cook
Grocery and bicycles
 A. T. Johnson
Grocery and shoes
 Boisen
Tailoring
 Lalond Bros.
Grocery and meats
 G. L. Eddy
House furnishings and china
 William Chaddock
Wines, liquors and cigars
 Follmer & Stowe
Lumber, shingles posts and poles
 Grund, Gillett and Cunningham
 William J. Lewis
Lumber inspectors
Lewis hotel
 J. D. Watson’s Drug Store
Prescription drugs and sundries
 Louis Marks
Clothing and shoes for men
 Richard K. Crane
Blacksmith and wagon making
 F. M. Chase
Harness, flour and feed
 John M. Harris
Attorney and Charlevoix Co. Probate
Judge
 E. C. Cobb
Real estate
 J. F. Fairchild
Dry goods and furnishings
 Thomas Naylor
Grocery
 Frank Anderson
Eagle Hotel
 Will Bennett
Livery, feed, sales and stables
 Ware & Nex
Photographers
 J. Garland
Blacksmith
 the red front
Dry goods, clothing and shoes
 W. H. Childs
Bakery, fruit and confectionery
 Miss Kemp
Millenary
 John A. Lewis
Meat market, oysters and poultry
 J. L. Reichert
Tinning and job work
 A. J. Beardsley
Dry goods, ladies and gentlemen’s
Furnishings, boots and shoes
 S. B. Stackus
Furniture and funeral director
 Ira B. Mclean
Real estate
 Harvey E. Mclean
City dray, light and heavy hauling
 Dr. Bennett
Medical doctor
 J. D. Webster
Palace steam laundry
 Sim R. Wilson
The Boyne Citizen
 Herron & Son
Hardware
 Dr. A. J. Delacey
Physician and surgeon
 William Pratt
Jewelry
 G. M. Kerry & Son
Planing mill
 W. H. White
Lumber, hardwoods
 Phillip A. Baduor
The statesman, news weekly
 Wigle & White
Lumber, soft or hardwoods
 Dr. R. E. Watson
Dentist
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John Sudman is contracted to build a footbridge over the Boyne River on
Park Street. Piles are to be driven for $2.50 each, after which he is
compensated for his continued labor at $2.50 a day.
Boyne City purchases a town clock from the Howard Clock Company of
Boston, Mass. The clock is installed in a 75-foot tall tower in South Boyne.
It is a lasting reminder, reminiscent of the days when lumber was king.
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1902 through 1903
Vote is taken in regards to granting a franchise to install and operate streetlights in Boyne City
for a period of 10 years. This franchise is granted to the W. H. White Company.
The rates established for electric use are as shown;
Street lights for the village until midnight
Street lights for all night
Maximum charge for a 16 candlepower light
$50.00 yearly
$60.00 yearly
$0.50 monthly
If an electric meter is installed;
Meter flat rate
$0.40 monthly
Up to 40 m per. month
$0.12 per month
40 - 75 m. per month
$0.10 per month
75 - 100 m. per month
$0.09 per month
100 - 200 m. per month
$0.08 per month
200 - 500 m. per month
$0.07 per month
500 m. and upward per month
$0.06 per month
The Boyne City Chemical Company is founded in Boyne City with the
dollars capitol. William L. Martin is the founding secretary.
investment of $125,000
Frank Kaden starts to build his two story brick retail store in the heart of downtown Boyne City.
This structure still serves the retail market in Boyne City today, at 123 & 125 East Water Street.
He started his venture with a capitol of $10,000. $1,000 went for the purchase of the property
and the balance for the building and merchandise stock. The upper story of the building was
designed as an opera house but was never used as such.
A small but frightening small pox epidemic hits Boyne City and the surrounding area.
The Tall Cedars of Lebanon of the United States are formed.
Martin D. Reeder leaves the employment of W. H. White as Yard Foreman and takes
employment with the Boyne City Lumber Company as Yard Superintendent.
Packard Motor Car Company and Cadillac Motor Car Company are organized.
The Beulah Land Farm Home for boys is now located at the former Bay Springs Hotel in Bay
Springs. The property has been previously known locally as “Chapman’s folly.” The building,
180 feet long, is comprised of four floors. The first being brick and the rest being wood framed.
This structure, with the including 120 acres of prime land, is purchased for $5,000.
A new east wing is built for the Boyne Union School. The addition cost $25,000. The school now
employs 22 teachers.
School enrollment for Boyne City is as follows;

preparatory
56

first grade
33

second grade

third grade

fourth grade
41
45
38

fifth grade
37

sixth grade
41

seventh & eighth
40

high school
43
Doctor, Guy C. Conkle comes to Boyne Falls and opens his practice as a Country Doctor and
Surgeon. His location allows him to serve Boyne Falls, Boyne City, and most of Charlevoix
County.
G. von platen donates a prime building lot for the Presbyterian Church to erect a church
parsonage.
The Boyne City State Bank is founded and erected on the southwest corner of Water and Park
Streets, where the old United States Hotels are located.
The elected officers are:
W. H. white
President
S. Shaw
Board member
H. Matthews
Board member
G. Von Platen
Board member
Thomas White
Board member
H. Matthews
Cashier
R. Wigle
Teller
The Elm Cooperage is founded and Boyne is in the barrel making business. The going rate is 50
per barrel, paid to the craftsman.
Dr. James R. Furman comes to Boyne city to open a practice after working in the Upper
Peninsula for several years.
The census figure for Boyne City is 2,023 residents.
More then 300 additional homes are built in Boyne City and the surrounding area.
Brother, Henry Ford starts the Ford Motor Company.
The Bellamy Opera House located on South Lake Street, where the present day Boyne Theater
stands, is erected by C. I. Bellamy.
The Ford Motor Company is incorporated in Detroit.
A. J. Beardsley sells his store to William R. Neirgrath and moves, with his family, to Florida.
Clarence c. Schaub returns to Boyne and builds a store at 215 South Lake Streets, where the law
offices of Klevorn & Klevorn are today.
During the next 6 years many of Michigan men were serving in the American Armed Forces for
the Philippine-American war and the Banana War.
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1904 through 1904
The Citizen’s Telephone Company of Boyne City increases its rates on phone rental.
The Michigan Bell Telephone Company purchases the old Boyne City Telephone Company from
its founder, P. F. McIntyre and upgrades the operation. The newer exchange is located above
Herron Hardware store at 127 Water Streets, the Northwest Corner of Water and North Park
Streets. C. J. Herron is the first Michigan Bell Manager for Boyne City.
The Bellamy Theater opens in Boyne City.
The Boyne City Charcoal and Iron Company started in Boyne City and will offer many men from
our community steady work. This company will later be assumed and operates under the name
of the Lake Superior Iron and Chemical Company, in 1907.
There are nearly 600 students enrolled in the Boyne City school system.
Evangeline Township evaluation is shown as $766,930.00 and the Boyne City’s is shown as
$626,305.00.
Boyne City’s school receives accreditation from the University of Michigan.
Ice cream and soda is introduced in Boyne. A new and outlandish idea.
The Boyne City & Southeastern Railroad line extends from Boyne City to, with future
expectations fulfilled, Alpena. The company is chartered and the officers are:

W. H. White

Thomas White
Vice President

William L. Martin
Secretary

J. K. V. Agnew
Assistant General Manager

James A. White
Treasurer

George Laing
Auditor and Cashier

Lemuel D. Fairchild
Superintendent
President and General Manager
Standard Oil Company erects a warehouse on Boyne Avenue J. D. Kirby becomes the first oil
delivery man in the Boyne City area, delivering kerosene from his horse drawn wagon equipped
with a wooden barrel containing his product.
The end of Harvey McLean’s Icehouse dropped into the lake due to high winds and waves.
Some of the vessels known to have sailed the waters of Lake Charlevoix and called at Boyne City
for pleasure and commercial purposes.
Steam tugs
Note: a tug was needed and is designed to be the workhorse of the harbor. Intended for
pushing or pulling other type vessels about the moorings and harbor.
Commodore Nutt
first steam powered vessel on Lake Charlevoix
Minnie Warren
Newell Avery
is the only tug, of this time, in the area to carry a life boat onboard;
Derelict Lake Charlevoix
T. V. Taylor
John Martin,
built 1871 Algonac, Michigan. Lost in a wild Georgian Bay storm 1890
Steamers
Note: a steamer is a vessel designed to be powered by a steam generating plant.
City of Hancock
built 1901 Niagara River, buffalo, New York. Scrapped in 1949 at the
dock on Dubois Street in Detroit, Michigan.
Wotan
Adrienne
built 1884 South Haven Michigan Renamed the Searchlight in 1900
Scrapped in Duluth Minnesota in 1916
Searchlight
dropped from documentation in 1916
Columbia
dock
burned October 4, 1917 at the Charlevoix Coal and Wood Company
Illinois
sank after being rammed off Point Pelee, Michigan.
Truant
renamed the Pilgrim in 1893
Pilgrim
renamed the Hum in 1904
Hum
renamed the Howard F. In 1918
Howard F.
North
Abandoned in 1935 to sink in the North Branch of the Chicago River,
of the Ashland Avenue Bridge.
Manitou
later renamed the Isle Royal, lost to fire at Manistee.
Pine Lake
one of the original lumber carriers to be steam powered, laid the first
telephone cable to Beaver Island
Thomas Friant
free
built 1884 at Grand Haven, Michigan. In January 1924 she encountered
ice, was holed and sank near Knife River, Minnesota.
Beaver
island steamer, lost in 1915 by fire while at dockside
Lou A. Cummings
built 1883 Grand Haven, Michigan Renamed the City of Boyne in 1910
City of Boyne
renamed the America in 1917
America
renamed the Bay Port in 1931
Bay Port
dropped from the documentation rolls in 1944 after being partially
burned while in the port of Bay City, Michigan.
Gazelle
sank near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Fountain City
first large steamer to enter Lake Charlevoix in 1882
City of Grand Rapids
built in 1879 at Grand Haven, Michigan. Discovered to be on fire at her
dock, she was set adrift and finally sank at “Big Tub” Tobermory,
Ontario in 1907
Lawrence
built 1868 Cleveland, Ohio Sister ship to the Champlain, sank off Point
Betsie, on the Michigan side, in 1898
T. S. Faxton
built 1874 at Clayton, New York. Destroyed by fire at Marine City,
Michigan in 1901
Clara belle
S. S. Vernon
Wisconsin.
built 1886 Chicago, Illinois. Lost, October 29, 1887 off Two Rivers,
R. J. Gordon
built 1881 at Marine City, Michigan. Destroyed by fire at Chicago Dockside in 1899
Erie l. Hackley
built in 1882 at the Arnold boat yard Muskegon, Michigan. Sank in a
large gale while traversing Little Bay Denoc, off Menominee In 1903
Topinabee
built in 1899 at Charlevoix, Michigan. Abandoned due to her age in
Erie, Pennsylvania.
Minnie s.
Chicago Club ferry boat, fell into disarray and later scrapped by
Charlevoix local.
Champlain
lost June 16, 1887 to fire off Fisherman’s Island, Charlevoix, Michigan.
City of Charlevoix
replacement for Champlain Built 1870 burned at the dockside in 1924 at
Manistee, Michigan.
Barges
Note: a barge is a vessel which was designed or converted intended to be towed by another.
Bissell
lost, November 28, 1905 off Presque Isle, Mich.
Blaine
lost, July 8, 1908 off Oswego, New York.
Schooners
(known at that period as “lumber hookers.’)
Note: a schooner is a sailing ship designed with two
or more masts. All of these masts being
rigged as fore and aft. The typical commercial schooner on the great lakes was a topsail rigged
giving her an upper and lower set of working sails.
West Side
built 1870 at Noswego, New York. Lost, October 10, 1906 off Parry
Ontario.
Oneida
built 1857 at Ashtabula, Ohio. Lost, Lake Michigan
Petrel
floundered while leaving Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 1883
Sound,
Penchara
Vega
built 1856 Erie, Pennsylvania. Wrecked while at dockside in a gale that
pitched her against her pilings. Ludington, Michigan, October 20, 1905
Golden Rule
lost in Lake Michigan Near bolder park, Charlevoix,
Ottawa
floundered in a storm off Sturgeon Bay, Michigan, in 1911.
Michigan.
Fearless
built at Ferrysburg, Michigan. Lost Lake Ontario November 14,
1875
Peoria
built 1854 Black River, Ohio. Lost in a storm near Bailey’s Harbor
Wisconsin, in 1901.
Chippewa
Emeline
lost in a storm near Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin, in 1896.
Squaw
one of the last Mackinaw class boats
Snora
Kate Howard belle.
built in 1856 Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Lost, December 12, 1908 off
Big Sable Point, Mich.
Three brothers
built 1874 as a three masted schooner in Black River, Ohio.
Abandoned to the Gilmore’s Bone Yard, 1916, Toledo, Ohio.
John mee
Coats
Burton - Washington
York state
floundered in Georgian Bay in 1886.
Lomie a. Burton
lost, November 17, 1911 off South Manitou, Mich.
G. V. Taylor
Black Hawk
disappeared with all hands on Lake
Michigan in November of 1887.
Vagabond
John S. Waters
Charlie Marshall
Lyle R. Paesser
Ebenezer
derelict on the bottom of the bay in Oyster Bay area
Rosa belle
lost October 30, 1921 in Lake Michigan
Elida
D. E. Parks
Scow schooner Lottie Mason
Note: The scow schooner was a sailing vessel designed with a shallow draft and of narrow
beam.
This allowing them into shallow waters and to navigate lake tributary waters un-open to
larger
sailing vessels.
Jelly gasses are just 20 a dozen at Gardner’s emporium.
The Stage Line between Wildwood and Boyne City is a great success and a blessing to the area
residents.
A three room house and a lot in Boyne City sold for $148.00.
The Boyne City Electric Company gives notices that a reconnection charge of $1.00 will be levied
when the power is disconnected for nonpayment of a previous electric bill.
A new three story red brick building, erected east of the existing white brick school building,
adds more room for the expanding school requirements. This will remain occupied by the
school system until 1961. The cost of $25,000.00 was considered as astronomical by the
residents at that time.
The organization of Buick Motor Company marks the beginning of auto manufacturing in Flint
on a large scale.
Western State Normal School (Western Michigan University) opens in Kalamazoo.
State Highway Department organized.
Railroad depots in Michigan reach an all-time maximum of 1,776 buildings.
Michigan begins registering motor vehicles.
In Boyne approximately 600 students are registered at this time. They nearly fill the two brick
buildings and the frame structure located across the street.
At this time it is common practice for the area preaches to baptize the parishioners in the River
Boyne. From the citizen;
“A little girl who had seen a river baptism is imitating the rites with a tub of water and
her dolly. Her mother overheard the little one say, ‘I baptize thee in the name of the
father, the son, and in the lake she goes,’ sousing the doll under.”
Boyne City is the largest City in Charlevoix County with a population of 2,453. East Jordan has
1,144 and Charlevoix 2,395.
George M. Kerry and Hulbert open the Kerry, Hulbert and Company that serve the community in
all areas of expertise from blacksmithing to the manufacture of broomsticks.
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1905 through 1906
The census figure for Boyne City is 6,995 residents.
The Boyne City Clay Products Company is incorporated with $25,000 of capitol.
G. H. Atherton is Secretary and Treasurer of the company.
Three men, observe the completion of their building in down town Boyne City. This
building, first named Hyslop’s Drug then the Central Drug Store, is later to become
known as Gerrie’s Drug and Jewelry Store. The men are William A. Hyslop, Dr. W. H.
Marshall and Kennard Gerrie. They all later became Master Masons of Boyne City lodge
# 391, F. & A. M.
The Ruegsegger Insurance Agency is licensed when Judge Ervan A. Ruegsegger is
appointed as local Agent for the Western Fire Insurance Company and the Scottish
Union and National Insurance Company. Ervan and his wife, Mary operates the agency,
until 1934 when they turned the reigns over to their son E. Dudleigh Ruegsegger. The
agency since then has transferred to Dudleigh’s daughter Sandra and her husband
William H. Stanley.
The Boyne City and Southeastern Railroad is sold to the Boyne City, Gaylord, and Alpena
Railroad Company.
The first American Rotary Club if founded in Chicago.
The Springfield rifle is developed and issued to the American troops. The M1903
Springfield, formally the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, Model 1903, Cal. 303 (19031906) and Cal. 30-06 (1906-end) Springfield.
Is an American magazine-fed, service rifle 5-shot rifle used primarily during the first half
of the 20th century. In service 1909-1949. There were many variants’ of this fine rifle
and many sub-variants as military collectors will attest to.
It was officially adopted as a United States military bolt-action rifle on June 21 1905, and
saw service in World War I. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the
faster-firing, semi-automatic 8 round M1 Garand, starting in 1937. However, the M1903
Springfield remained in service as a bolt-action rifle and as a standard issue infantry rifle
during World War II, since the U.S. entered the war without sufficient M1 rifles to arm
all troops. It also remained in service solely as sniper rifle during the Korean War and
even in the early stages of the Vietnam War
This much needed addition to the modernization of our weapons is designed by General
Odus C. Horney, San Antonio, Texas. Many of our Boyne Veterans are well familiar with
the intrinsic actions of a Springfield!
The Boyne City Gaylord and Alpena Railroad are incorporated with a capitalization of
$1,000,000 dollars, owning 110 miles of track from the South Arm of Pine Lake East to
Boyne Falls, Alba and then East to Alpena. This is operated under the direction of
William H. White.
Major manufacturing companies located in Boyne City are:

The American Charcoal and Iron Company

The Elm Cooperage Company

The Boyne City Tanning Company

The Boyne City Chemical Company

The Boyne City Brick Company

W. Sampson’s Planning and Sawmill

Kerry and Hulbert Planning and Milling

The Boyne City Lumber Company

Von Platen’s Sawmill

White Brothers Mill

E. Brooks Cigar Company

The Boyne City Electric Company

White’s Shingle and Tie Mill

BC. G. & A. Railroad

Ward Bros. Broom Handle Factory

Piano Factory

Olson’s Ashery Business
Applications are taken for the building of a power dam on the Boyne River.
Boyne City and surrounding area ladies gathered in Boyne and founded the Monday
Study Club. Their first President is Mrs. Jessie Grosenbaugh. This club is to become the
longest lasting club or non-fraternal organization, exclusively for women, in the history
of Boyne City.
Methodist Church parishioners, having out grown the church built in 1894, sell the
smaller building, which is moved from the site, and erect a new and larger church. This
building is the basic structure we see today (1996) on the corner of Park and Pine
streets.
December 12th Gardeners Mercantile Store opens in the Odd Fellows Building.
Note; 5 of the baby carriages are on snow runners.
Street lights in Boyne are lit each night and the globes are taken home to be washed by
the wives of the Boyne Lamp-lighters. The Lamp-lighters of note are;
Felix Jubbenville
David S. Kuhns
Henry Hall
A. Thompson
Boyne Hospital Company purchases the James White property at 214 State Streets,
between Park and East Streets to build a hospital.
Timbering of second-growth forests begins in the Upper Peninsula.
W. K. Kellogg Cereal Company is organized in Battle Creek.
The Boyne River Power Company is building a hydroelectric power dam on their 16
acres of land up river of Boyne City between Boyne City and Boyne Falls.
Western Union opens a telegraph office in Boyne City.
The Boyne City Publishing Company is started with the investment of $5,000, having
Charles E. Ramsey as President.
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1907-1908
Brick-layers wages are increased to .50 per hour.
Boyne City receives a gift from the United States Navel Yard in Philadelphia. An 8-inch x
42 lb. Civil War canon, weighing 18,000 pounds, is donated and proudly displayed in the
City Park. The piece, numbered 8481, was manufactured in 1865 by the S. Mc M & Co.
Today this is located in Veterans Memorial Park facing the water as if she is still ready to
defend our country. Few remember today that this is secured for the City by the effort
of Alonzo J. Stroud, Boyne Cities Charlevoix County Judge.
The cement block business operated by J. I. Gee has one machine running and is capable
of producing 200 blocks a day. This is a new enterprise and while in some competition
with the brickyard will soon be accepted as a major source of a quality building material.
Michigan’s third constitution is drafted (approved by electorate in 1908).
President Theodore Roosevelt addresses joint session of legislature and visits State
Agricultural College (now Michigan State University).
John H. Lewis operates a meat market at 106 East Water Street.
Boyne City school rolls show that there are 896 students being educated. The total cost
of employing 22 teachers is approximately $10,000 a year.
The Boyne River Power Company’s dam is complete and generating power.
Michigan’s third constitution is drafted (approved by electorate in 1908).
Oklahoma becomes the 46th. State to enter the Union.
The Detroit Tigers, led by Ty Cobb, win the first of three consecutive pennants.
Notice in the local paper, “this is to notify all those who have spoken for lots in the new
resort ‘Glenwood Beach.’ unless they closed the deal and make payment on or before
April 15th, the price of all lots with lake frontage will be raised from $100 to $125.”
At a meeting held in the Odd Fellows building the City businessmen gathered and the
Boyne City Board of Trade is organized.
Officers are:
President,
J. E. Converse
First vice president,
W. H. Mathews
Second vice president,
W. H. Marshall
Third vice president,
W. S. Shaw
Firth vice president,
W. I. Martin
Secretary,
George W. Baxter
Treasurer,
S. C. Smith
The streetlights in Boyne City are replaced with arc lights due to the power now
available from the new hydroelectric power dam on the Boyne River.
William Capelin has a bakery in Boyne.
The Boyne City Post Office is located on the Northeast Corner of East Water and North
Park Streets, at 201 East Water Street.
There are four horse drawn rural mail routes:

Rout no. 1 Van m. Newville, 21 miles long

Rout no. 2 C. C. Chew, 23 miles long

Rout no. 3 John Bricknall, 17 miles long

Rout no. 4 J. R. Richardson, 20 mile long
Boyne’s infamous and sometimes discreetly overlooked “Saloon Row” the site of many
bar room brawls runs from the East Side of Lake Street to River Street. This is the area
that no lady of good, proper and socially acceptable statue in the town is ever seen.
Saloon row was in its prime when spring came, the lake was open to the schooner trade
as the ice withdrew from winters grip and the men returned from the woods.
A rather large frame house located in the area near where the present day Catholic
Church is located was well known by the more adventurous male citizens of Boyne. The
B.C.G. & A. Railroad trainmen were frequently obliged to stop for the exchange of
adventurous passengers who were frequenting this house of ill repute.
The towns most well organized brothel was known as the “Notch.” Many other bars had
their upstairs cribs and freelance ladies of the evening along with their respective pimps
were in good supply.
Wallace Bailey purchases the old Presbyterian Church on the corner of Park and Ray
streets. The lower floor is converted to a drug store and the second floor to an athletic
hall.
For the period when lumber was king Boyne was a wild and open town. But very typical
of the Northern Michigan towns during the lumber era when Northern Lower Peninsula
was settled.
William garland operates one of Boyne’s notorious places for male entertainment at 210
South Lake Streets.
The officers and brethren and the ladies of Boyne City Lodge host the “first annual
reception and ball” for the members of
Boyne City Lodge no. 391 F. & A. M.
The formal invitation is as follows;
Boyne City lodge
No. 391, F. And A. M.
Request the presence of yourself and ladies at
Their first annual
Reception and ball
To be given
March 15, 1907
In Odd Fellows’ Temple
Bill $1.50 reception, 8 to 9
Executive committee
Dr. R. E. Watson, chairman
J. F. Fairchild
Dr. J. R. Furman
M. Cunningham
T. W. Cunningham
Reception committee
Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Furman
Mr. and Mrs. I. R. Mclean
Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Cunningham
Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Boylan
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Harris
Reamer Wigle, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Bibby
Hattie Silverstein
Note: this beautiful embossed and engraved invitation was sent to
brother, Charles Moore being addressed in an envelope simply typed
written to:
“Mr. Chas. Moore, City.”
It was sent for the, unbelievable by today’s standards, cost of
1 cent. It was post marked (canceled) as “Boyne 6 Mar 1907 7 pm”
This information was given me by the grandson of
Brother, Ralph Moore, Kevin Moore in 1997.
Fraternal clubs and organizations flourish in Boyne City and immediate surrounding
area:

Free and Accepted Masons, Boyne City #. 391, F. & A. M.

Royal Arch Masons

Knights Templar

Knights of Columbus

Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Knights of the Maccabees

Modern Woodmen of the World

Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks

Knights of Pythias

Loyal Legion

Orangemen (orange society, orange order)

Equitable Fraternal Union

Fraternal Order of Eagles

Independent Order of Foresters

Daughters of Rebekah

Royal Neighbors

Order of Eastern Stars, Evangeline Chapter # 95

Rebekahs

Loyal Order of Moose

National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry

Grand Army of the Republic
A bill is signed by the State’s Governor incorporating Boyne City. The area of North
Boyne, formerly referred to as Bay Springs, became Ward #. 1.
W. H. Marshall, M. D. Is president of the Boyne City Sanitarium.
Bay Springs or North Boyne becomes Ward # 1. With it, a fine two story, four rooms,
school house which was erected about 1902. This being located on Court Street near
the present gravel pit.
Boyne City school system is accepted on the State University listing.
Boyne City Public School received accreditation by the University of Michigan. This has
been in effect and proudly held ever since, 1907 to date.
Byron J. Quick and his brother open a furniture store fronting South Park Street. The
store is in part of the Boyne City State Bank building.
Three sheets of “Tanglefoot” sticky flypaper cost 05.
William L. Martin is the secretary for the Boyne City Chemical Company.
The new Deer Park is being completed with a special area having a cement floor for the
black bear donated by William Garland.
W. D. Chaddock and Hylon J. Heaton operate a saloon in Boyne.
Edward and John Bergy build a new two story brick building, in which to operate a store
merchandising bazaar goods, locating at 120 Water Street.
The upper floor houses the new Masonic Temple of Boyne City Lodge #. 391 F & A. M.
The Lodge will meet in this location for the next several decades.
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1908 - 1911
The Nicklo Amusement Company of Chicago leases the Bellamy Theater. 5 motion pictures
are shown in Boyne City.
The Bolted Basket Company is incorporated in Boyne with a capitol of $12,000. George M.
Kerry is the company president and manager with Ira B. Mclean as secretary.
W. W. Bailey dissolves his working with J. L. Handy and ventures on, in his own drug store
located in a corner of the Maccabee building.
The First National Bank of Boyne City accepts deposits of 25 or more and gives 3% interest,
compounded semi-annually.
Michigan’s population is 2,810,173.
Harriet Quimby, born near Arcadia in 1875, becomes America’s first licensed female pilot.
Theodore J. Boylan operates a hardware store in Boyne.
The Howe Leather Company is processing almost 200 hides daily.
The W. H. White lumber mill, the largest in town, burns to the ground.
The Boyne City State Bank building burns and shortly after a new and refurbished State Bank is
reopened at the same location.
Turkeys are selling for 16 a pound at C. H. Tooley’s.
Local Carpenters Union # 205 labor scale will be 30 per hour.
The first model “T” production line motor car is produced by Ford Motor. This basic unit sells
for $850.00.
Fisher Body Corporation is founded.
William C. Durant of Flint organizes the General Motors Corporation. This combines the assets
and talents of the Buick, Oldsmobile, and Oakland companies.
Thaddeus Bissell is the agent for the Boyne City Gaylord and Alpena railroad and also the agent
for the Adams Freight Company.
Michigan lake perch sell for 3 a pound.
George W. Bailey is the village assessor.
Free mail delivery is inaugurated in the City.
George W. Baxter is the secretary for the Board of Trade.
The old Union School is razed to make way for the new and expanded West Wing.
June 25th. Boyne City Chapter # 154 Royal Arch Masons is granted dispensation to hold Chapter
meetings in the Boyne City Masonic Lodge Temple.
Note: the York Rite is one of the oldest Masonic bodies, in both legend and authentic Masonic
history. She traces her time of conception to the 10th. Century and the time of King Athelstan.
This Masonic system of degrees came to the colonies in about 1753.
July 3rd, Boyne City Chapter # 154 Royal Arch Masons is instituted by Grand High Priest, George
Armstrong, Grand Lecturer, Horace S. Maynard and Companion Charles J. Gray from the
Petoskey Chapter.
Many a young man of Boyne was known to frequent an establishment known as “The
Commercial House,” located where the present day Eagles is found. The notorious lady, who
owned a financial interest in the business, was known, to respond to proper inducement and
dance nude among the customers and along the bar top. With our area schools having a much
more puritanical doctrine than todays, many areas young men were given their first look a
female anatomy in this manner.
The Boyne City Board of Trade has W. H. Marshall M. As president, S. C. Smith treasure and
George W. Baxter serves as secretary.
The census figure for Boyne City shows 5,218 residents with an additional estimated 300
transient workers. Boyne City is shown by the U.S. Census bureau as being one of the fastest
growing towns in the Mid-Northwest.
The Citizen reported Boyne church membership as;
Presbyterian
175
Catholic
50
Baptist
150
Methodist
300
German Lutheran
56
Evangelical
50
Latter Day saints
50
May 20th. The legend of “Dead Man’s Hill” located in the area known as the Jordan Valley is
established. While working for W. H. White & Company from Boyne City, “Big Sam,” 21 years
old, is killed in a logging accident as he drove a set of “Big Wheels”. Legend has it they went
over the hill overlooking the Jordan Valley where he perished.
Reality from an eyewitness to the incident, Anthony Wojciechowski, a fellow
lumberjack/teamster/logger who was working another team and set of wheels at the same
location. Related that “Sam” passed him with a load of logs on his wheel using a log drag while
walking ahead of the whipple trees between the load and the team. Sam was later seen to fall
before the wheels and the outboard wheel passed over his chest. Three men Anthony
Wojciechowski, Pete Dobrziewski and John Waszak all went to Sam’s aid but to no avail. Sam
was interned in the St. Thomas churchyard, Elmira, Michigan.
The details of this story were gathered by Ed Hartnell from the Boyne City Conservation
Department and preserved for all times.
Note: Samuel Groezyk or “Big Sam” was full of life and a happy young Polish man. He had just
received word that he had been accepted as a fireman on the Grand Rapids and Indiana
Railroad and was recently betrothed. At the time of his death, he was, engaged to my wife’s
grandmother or Martha (Wanek) Behling’, (married name) sister Christina Wanek. The wedding
was to be the day after he died.
John J. Bibby serves in a dual role as Alderman for the Fourth Ward and bookkeeper for the
Boyne City Tanning Company.
Chase S. Osborn becomes first and only Governor from the Upper Peninsula.
Thaddeus Bissell is the agent for Adams Express Company.
Jake Shagney operates one of the finer saloons at the approximate location of 110 South Lake
Street. He later built a beautiful brick home on the corners of South Lake and East Cedar
Streets. This house would become remembered as the “Conkle House.”
Carpenters Local # 205 will be set at 0.30 cents per hour.
The new West Wing of the school is finished. The East Wing is for the High School and the West
for the Elementary. This addition cost approximately $ 20,000.00 dollars. The old white brick
school building is raised and goes in the memory of many Boyne City residents.
G. H. Atherton is secretary and treasurer for the Boyne City Clay Products Company.
Under the guidance of L. H. White and Joseph Adendifer the Boyne City Publishing Company is
formed and purchases the Daily Evening Journal and the weekly Boyne Citizen.
Two areas of Boyne are well remembered for their bathing (swimming) and for the attire worn
both in and out of the water.
The slip at the foot of Water Street was the gathering point for boy, or young men, who were
known for their daring-do as they went skinny dipping in plain sight of the majority of the
business district.
At the western end of Division Street the ladies were well known as they wore the latest
fashions in bathing caps, bloomers, jersey tops and swimming or wading shoes. This location
was known as Tooley’s Icehouse and is entrenched in the memory of many a resident.
The Boy Scouts of America is founded.
Brother, Russell C. Leavenworth runs his photography studio from his building at 306 South
Lake Street. Many of the old Boyne City Town and resident’s photos are his pictorial legacy to
the people of today.
To the best of the town’s knowledge, Boyne City has the only lady Police officer in the state.
Mistress Fred Curtis has appended to the force.
The Reverend Jay Mark Gleason moved to Boyne City to tend the needs of the Presbyterian
Church congregation 1911 – 1917
August 24th, the drug store of Wallace W. Bailey, located on the Southwest Corner of Park and
Ray Streets, is destroyed by fire during the evening hours.
The fire department reported but found they had water but no water pressure. Bailey is on the
fire
department and stood by as the building burned to the ground. Also consumed in this tragic fire
is the John Redpath building.
The assessment of real and personal property for Boyne City is listed as;
Real, $1,117,148.00;
Personal, $614,978.00
Rendering a total assessed value for Boyne City of $1,732,126.00 dollars.
At this time the total assessed value of personal and real value of Charlevoix County is
$7,351,156.00 dollars.
The population of Boyne City is, by 1910 census:
Ward #1, 819;
Ward # 2, 1,177;
Ward # 3, 1,828;
Ward # 4, 1,394
Total population of 5,218.
The population of Charlevoix County is 19,157 persons.
September, the first authorized United States Airmail is flown between Garden City and
Mineola New York.
May 31, the blacksmith shop belonging to Campbell and Rouse at the corner of Pine and Front
Street burns to the ground.
Israel Nurko and John M. Harris serve as members of the Boyne City School Board.
August 26th, the “hand-bomber” S.S. Chief Wawatam is launched at the Toledo Shipbuilding
Company, Toledo, Ohio.
This ship is a vessel of 2,990 gross tonnage, length 338 feet, breadth 62 feet and a depth of 20
feet. She is well remembered by residents of Boyne City and Charlevoix County as the only
method of transportation, for many years, across the Mackinaw Straits.
Many persons has related the story books like details of waiting for the ferry during deer
hunting
season and having traffic backed up for miles on both sides of the Straits of Mackinaw. The
Wawatam would see service in the Straits of Mackinaw until the late 1980’s when she was
decommissioned and later sold to the ship breakers.
Note: the unusual design of the Wawatam will later be used in the design and building of the
United States Coast Guard icebreaker “Mackinaw.” The Wawatam had a spoon shaped bow
section allowing her to ride up on the ice when acting as the area icebreaker. This along with
three engines and three propellers. Two were utilized as port and starboard propellers located
conventionally aft under the stern section and one facing forward under the spoon shaped bow
section for added assistance when engaged in ice breaking.
E. C. Goodwin manages the Badger Wooden-Ware Company.
The owners of the Boyne City Hotel Company are looking for a name to give their new
enterprise. A special meeting is called at the offices of John M. Harris to address this issue. A
suggestion is made to consider the name “Wolverine."
Michigan adopts her new state flag. The inscriptions shown thereon are in Latin and translate;
“e. Pluribus” unum (from many, one) “tuebor” (i will defend) si “quaeris peninsulam amoenam,
circumspice” (if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you).
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1912 The stockholders of the Boyne City Hotel Company name the new facility the Wolverine
and hold a grand opening. Hotel rates are $2.50 per day American Plan and $1.00
European Plan. Businessman’s lunch .35 cents weekdays.
Edward Chase runs a barber shop in town.
For rent, 6 room house, electric lights and City water $5.00 per month.
The song “It’s A Long, Long Wait To Tipperary” will become famous in it’s relationship
with troops, both American and foreign, engaged in the First World War.
Clarence C. Schaub sells his meat market business, at 215 South Lake Street, to William
Sacks.
The Western Bloomer Girls, a Michigan State champion girls baseball team, play at
Boyne City for the first time.
A. F. Hays is the Alderman for the Third Ward and Superintendent of the Elm Cooperage
Company.
The Second Ward school near the corner of East and Bailey, at 411 Northeast Street, is
completed.
Prior to the completion of the two additional ward school building the overflow of
students again met at various building in Boyne City.
Some temporary locations were:
The old store building at the corner of Lincoln and Pleasant Avenue
The Salvation Army Hall located between Olson’s Corner and the river on Lake Street
The Helfrich Grocery store on Main Street between Park and Lake Streets
Enrollment in the Boyne City school attains a high of over 1400 hundred students.
$9,500 dollars is allotted for a school building on North East Street and $12,000 dollars
for construction of a Fourth Ward school building, on Morgan Street.
Fred A. Cook is owner and operator of a local grocery store.
March 7, Teddy, the black bear in the City Park, died from an unknown illness.
“Arrangements for the funeral are not made as of this time, but the bear is being
skinned this afternoon.”
Efforts are made to start a county YMCA program in Boyne City.
Ashbel F. Herron and his son, Clinton J., run the Herron & Son Hardware Store.
March 29th. Michigan Grand Lodge dedicates the Michigan Masonic home in Alma.
New Mexico becomes the 47th. State to enter the Union.
Arizona becomes the 48th. State to enter the Union
December 13th, from “The Evening Journal.”
“April 14th, the RMS Titanic, a leviathan vessel, 882 feet in length and the uppermost of
the Edwardian Era sinks while on her maiden voyage. She shipped with a manifest of
passengers and crew number over 2,224. Only a few, 711, of the more fortunate
managed to survive one of the worst maritime disasters known to occur during
peacetime.”
“
Many of the lost are prominent members of society from both sides of the Atlantic
Ocean. The percentage of male deaths due to the sinking was very high! The old adage
of “Woman and Children First” applied when loading the life boats that were available.
Note: my father had shipped out of the East Coast of the United States, rated as an Able
Seaman and was sailing on a tramp freighter that was less than 75 miles from the Titanic
when she struck the ice and was lost. They did not know of the sinking until they were
once again dockside in Europe. His vessel had no wireless, as at that time a radio
operator and the related wireless equipment was not required as per the maritime laws
do today.
During that period the wireless was mostly used to find the Stock market reports and the
latest in sporting events. The Marconi System was turned of when not needed.
My apologies as time and age have robbed me of the vessel name and country of
registration on which he was sailing.
The Panama Canal opens and the United States of America is granted the right of
protection.
1913 The Boyne City Publishing Company is founded merging the efforts of three Boyne area
publications, The Times, The Bee, and The Evening Journal.
The three story, 30 room, Hotel Wildwood, owned by the Batchellor Brothers burns to
the ground at Wildwood Harbor.
During 1913 and 1914 the Masonic Hall on Water Street, home of the Boyne City Lodge
No. 391 F. & A. M., is used by the school for sporting activities and other events.
The Second and Fourth Ward schools are opened with four classrooms in each.
W. S. Davis is the Doctor of Veterinary medicine in town.
The only child of Leslie and Dorothy Gardner King, Ford was born July 14, 1913, in
Omaha, Nebraska, and was originally named Leslie Lynch King Jr. His parents were
divorced when he was two years old, and his mother moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan,
where she met and married a business man named Gerald R. Ford, who formally
adopted the young boy and gave him his name. This young man would later become a
Masonic Brother, Gerald R. Ford and later be sworn in as President of the United States
of America.
The Boyne City Bolted Basket Company is destroyed by fire.
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1914
The first scheduled passenger airplane service begins in the United States. This was in a
biplane flying boat between St. Petersburg and Tampa Florida.
The upper floor of Dow’s Barn served the Boyne City school children as a temporary
gym. Floyd Alldread played basketball there when he was a sophomore.
Henry Ford offers the unprecedented wages of $5.00 per day to men working in his
automotive factories. This represented a raise from $2.40 for a 9-hour day to $5.00 for
an 8-hour day. This causes a migration of many talented trades’ men to Michigan. This
bold step helped to make the State of Michigan the automotive center of the United
States.
Roy J. Furman is Alderman for the Fourth Ward and a dentist of good report in Boyne
City.
July 28th, World War 1 starts in Europe when Austria declares war on Serbia.
August 1st. Germany declares war on Russia.
August 3rd. Germany declares war on France.
August 4th. Great Britain declares war on Germany.
August 14th. Japan declares war on Austria.
August 23rd. Japan declares war on Germany.
Boyne City school enrollment is over 1,500 students.
The Sault Saint Marie shipping lock is open for operation. The North Canal is called
Davis Lock and opens for navigation 1914, the second, called Sabin will open in 1919,
the South Canal, called MacArthur in 1943 and the Poe in 1969.
The Boyne City Marine Band wins honors in competition at the state championship in
Pontiac.
Wages in the Detroit area automotive factories are $2.50 - $5.00 an hour.
S. Elliott Edelstein is the proprietor of a local dry goods store.
1915 Charles W. Moore moves his hardware store to the building previously owned by J. L.
Handy. This is in effect, keeping the building and site in the family. The Handy’s are the
maternal Grandparents to Charles’s son Ralph Moore. In 1946 Ralph bought the former
Silversteen building next to the old Handy Building and expanded his hardware
operation. Ralph will keep the family business going at that location, 102 East Water
Street, until he retires.
The Boyne City Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches all gather their manpower
and erect a massive tabernacle at Boyne City will, for a five week, Evangelistic Revival is
the order of the day. This structure, located near the Wolverine Hotel, is 86 feet Wide
by 146 feet long seating 2000 people. After five week period the tabernacle is sold and
raised. The effort reportedly rendered over 1,200 converts to the various religious
denominations involved.
The old roller skating rink area is purchased for additional school needs. This is located
on the South West corner of East Main and Grant Street.
A legend is born into the Boyne City school system. By clandestine means, known to
only unto a few, a burro (ass), of questionable parentage and undesirable temperament,
is sequestered on the upper floor of the Boyne City School building in the assembly
room.
The voluminous eviction or scholarly expulsion of this recanting animal is spectacular
and render a tale well augmented in future telling. The cleaning and subsequent
removal of the refuse left by this clandestine visitor to the school proper is said to be
worthy of being a tall tale all unto it’s self.
Is this possibly the miscreant animal in question?
Did the leg injury occur ascending or descending the stairs?
Note: this particular breed of animal, The Donkey or Ass, Equus africanus asinus, is a
domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is
the African Wild Ass, E. africanus often mistakenly referred to as an “Ass” will ascend a
flight of stairs, winding or otherwise, very willingly. But when asked to descend they
become the proverbially immovable object and are known to balk and bray considerably,
become excessively flatulent and expulsive when this proposition is presented for their
consideration.
Brother, and later a high school teacher, Floyd Alldread is ringing the school bell at the
time of the burro’s discovery. He remembers well the findings with much glee and
enjoyment.
This prank led to the nomenclature of “AssiniBoyne” which is well known in the
school vernacular for many decades to come.
With the sinking of the ocean liner RMS Lusitania, by a German U-boat, the United
States Enters the First World War.
Note: my father, Edward May Jr. Served as an Able Seaman on this ship. He signed off
one sailing prior to her final voyage.
Italy declares war against Austria and Hungary.
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1916 through 1918
1916 A Carnegie Library is approved for Boyne City. The location is not announced yet.
An add appears in the local press, “I will insure your new Ford automobile for 12 month
for $4.00. S. A. Urquhart.”
The school system sells to the City of Boyne City the frame school building located on
Park and Main Street, which is then moved to the Southwest corner of South Park and
Ray Streets. There it was refurbished and served for many years as the Boyne City, City
Hall.
The first Boyne City Parent Teachers Association is founded.
The Civil War monument, depicting a Union Solder at rest, is located on a lot in Maple
Lawn Cemetery. This, in memory of men lost in the War Between the States, it is
directly due to the efforts of the Women’s Relief Corps. The estimated cost of the
thirteen foot marble monument is $900 dollars. The inscription reads;
“Erected in the year 1916
In honor of the defenders
Of the Union, 1861 - 1865,
By the patriotic citizens of
Boyne City and community,
Under the auspices of the
Woman’s Relief Corps No. 195,
Dept. Of Michigan.”
Boyne’s school enrollment is approximately 1,425 students in this year, 1,260 in grades
K - 8 and 165-in high school. 45 teachers are gainfully employed at this time.
W. A. Porter, lumberman from East Jordan, addresses the Boyne City Businessmen on
the pending loss of the lumber industry and what paths may be taken to maintain local
prosperity. His dissertation proves to be very true and unfortunately is unheeded by
many in attendance.
December, excerpt from the local Boyne City newspaper:
“When your Lodge meets
Masonic Lodge F. & A. M.
Organized 1888
Membership: one hundred eighty three
Meetings: second Wednesday in every month at Masonic Temple, Water Street.
Officers: J. E. Bacon, W.M.: C. T. Sherman, S.W.; J. H. Santos, J. W.;
Sabin Hooper, Treasurer; R. Barnes, Secretary.
Odd Fellows
Organized in this City about thirty years ago.
Present membership about two hundred.
Meetings every Tuesday night at Odd Fellows Temple.
Building erected and owned by the Order.
Officers: Roy Winegarden, Noble Grand, Chas. Spees, Vice Grand; Ed Davis, Reporting
Secretary.
Eagles
Organized 1907
Meetings: second and fourth Thursdays of every month at Odd Fellows Temple.
Present membership 250.
Officers: President, Mr. Burnett; Vice President, Mr. Steinfadt, Secretary, I. Nurko.
Moose
Organized February 1912.
Present membership between forty and fifty.
Meetings; first and third Mondays of each month at Odd Fellows Temple.
Officers: Dictator, J. Harvey; Treasurer, Charlie Spees; Secretary, C. Friedly.
Mystic Workers
Organized in 1907.
Meetings held first and third Thursday of each month at Odd Fellows Temple.
Leo Wilson, Prefect; Mrs. Rose Harvey, Monitor; Mr. Atwood Shaeffer, Secretary.
Royal Neighbors
Organized 1909 but constitution not drawn until March 1911.
Meetings: second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Odd Fellows Temple.
Membership: sixty-one Beneficials and nine Social.
Knights of Maccabees
Organized March 30, 1892
Meetings: first and third Wednesdays of each month at Quick Hall, Water Street.
Membership sixty four.
Officers: S. Buschert, Commander; Lewis H. Heller, Finance Keeper;
C. C. Burnett, record-keeper.
Order of the Eastern Star
Organized in Boyne City, October 11, 1900.
Present membership one hundred and forty six.
Meetings: first Friday of each month at Masonic Temple.
Officers: Worthy Matron, Mrs. Johnson; Patron, Mr. Edwin Abbott; Treasurer, Mrs.
Elizabeth Gill; Secretary, Mrs. Lourinda Tuttle.
Rebekahs
Organized twenty six years ago.
Present membership over two hundred.
Meetings: second and fourth Fridays of each month in Odd Fellows Temple.
Officers: Noble Grand, Lena Bovee; Vice Grand, Mrs. Ethel Dickhout; Secretary, Mrs.
Vern Ormsby.
Lady Maccabees
Myrtle Linwood Hive was organized in 1895.
Charter members fifty three present membership ninety.
Meetings: second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.”
1917 April 6th. The United States declares war on Germany.
December 7th. The United States declares war on Austria.
December 22nd, with a two-third majority the 18th, amendment of the United States
Constitution is passed. Probation becomes the law of the land on January 16, 1919.
Many local county families are to make their fortunes as smugglers of whiskey and other
restricted items from Canada to the United States. Boyne City, while not a major
location, is not without her bathtub gin activity. The area resort community supports
more than a few speakeasies of great renown. These are located both inside and
outside of the City limits.
Reverend Ray W. Merrill moves to Boyne City to serve as the Methodist minister of the
Boyne City Charge, from 1917 - 1923.
The first Selective Service Act of World War I became effective in May of this year. The
end of the war sees more than 2,800,000 men inducted into military service of the
United States.
Palestine is established as a Jewish state on land recently liberated from what is the old
Ottoman Empire.
Presbyterian minister, Jay Mark Gleason, formally of Boyne City, is assigned unit
Chaplain, commissioned a Lieutenant, and attached to the field artillery.
The president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, in an unprecedented move, seizes
control of the country’s railroads.
The United States purchases the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million dollars and
builds a naval base in order to protect the Panama Canal and to prevent Germany from
seizing the islands.
The Royal Order of Jesters is formed in the United States.
Captain Eddie Rickenbacker becomes a World War I flying ace after shooting down 22
enemy planes and 4 observation balloons. He would later become president of
American Airlines. He became a Brother Mason being raised to the sublime degree of a
Master Mason in Palestine Lodge no. 357. Detroit, Michigan, June 26, 1922.
The Von Platen mill and all of his various enterprises are closed. He retires with his
family to Grand Rapids where until his demise he remained a very prominent member
of society.
Edward May III
Curmudgeonly Historian
1918 – 1919
Boyne City accepts delivery, by rail car, of her first fire truck. A brand new 1917 La
France chain drive ladder and hose truck.
April 20th, a Carnegie Library is erected and formally opened on the corner of South Park
and Main Streets. The funding for this landmark project came two fold. A $15,000.00
dollar donation from the Carnegie Foundation and a $3,000.00 dollar loan from the
Boyne City school district made this edifice to knowledge possible. This fine building will
be a landmark and fixture in Boyne City for many decades to come. Miss Myrtle White
is the first liberian.
July 11th, the first eagle class boat, a sub chaser, 204 feet long, with a 33 foot beam,
driven by two 3,000 hp engines, displacing 600 tons and a range of trans-atlantic is
launched at the Ford Plant at River Rouge. These ships were built to combat the threat
of the German U-boat which raised havoc during the First World War.
This class was designed in a manner that allowed them to steam to the Atlantic Ocean
via the New York State Barge Canal. A total of 60 eagle class sub chasers were
commissioned and saw service in our armed forces.
June 28, a fire destroys the large mill of W. H. White Company. Lost is the 8 year old mill
and all the lumber processing machinery that it contained. The estimated loss is
$200,000.
Note: this mill is located at the mouth of the Boyne River where the Powder Puff stands
today. For all purposes the docks, tram-work and wooden structures hid the river mouth
from site. The river seemed to flow from under the structures.
The new fire truck, aided by two tugboats from Charlevoix, is unable to subdue the
raging fire. All efforts are then directed toward containment and protecting the other
buildings.
The Ford Motor car dealership is first established in Boyne at 224 Water Street by a
horse jockey named Heaton and a banker named Hooper.
Boyne’s lumber industry never seems to recover from this tragedy. The era of timber
being king is drawing to a close.
Area farmers combine their effort, financial resources and the Boyne City Co-Op comes
into existence. Harold A. Arnold is its first manager.
The Boyne City Silo Company is founded, unfortunately, with little success.
Mystic Lodge, located at East Jordan, changes its name to East Jordan Lodge. This is
done to better relate the Lodge to the area.
Spanish flu causes the City to close all schools rendering a four week unscheduled
vacation in December. Churches, theaters and any large public meetings canceled until
further notice. Some area churches are pressed into temporary service as hospitals.
November 8, “the war is over.” This timely, but early, announcement appears in the
local, Boyne City, Citizen News Paper. Editor Roy Howard’s information is a few days
premature.
The Traction Engine Company, at 5 West Main Street, is incorporated in Boyne City. The
engine is superb but the market is not available. I am unable to find that any units
remain in existence today.
M1918 Browning automatic rifle
The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was a family of American automatic rifles (or
machine rifles) and light machine guns used by the United States and numerous other
countries during the 20th century. The primary variant of the BAR series was the M1918,
chambered for the .30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge and designed by John Browning in
1917 for the U.S. Expeditionary Corps in Europe as a replacement for the French-made
Chauchat and M1909 Benet-Mercie machine guns.
The BAR was designed to be carried by advancing infantrymen, slung over the shoulder
and fired from the hip, a concept called "walking fire" thought to be necessary for the
individual soldier during trench warfare. However in practice, it was most often used as a
light machine gun and fired from a bipod (introduced in later models). The original
M1918 version was and remains the lightest machine gun to fire the .30-06 Springfield
cartridge, though the limited capacity of its standard 20-round magazine tended to
hamper its utility in that role.
My good friend Lyle Ross, who didn’t weight more than 150 lbs., ringing wet, carried at
BAR in combat which just goes to show that the weight- the weapon size was not always
in due proportion. The Browning weighed 19 LBS without and auxiliary equipment
attached.
Lyle was decorated and a holder of the Purple Heart award. He once told me he forgot to
duck, but knowing Lyle that was not the case!
November 11th. An armistice is signed at Compiegne between the German Army and the
Allies and World War 1 comes to a close.
November 14, the war is really over, this time. Boyne City celebrates the ending of
hostilities in Europe.
United States president and Masonic Brother, Theodore Roosevelt passed on to the
Supreme Architect of the Universe.
In Michigan the records are cloudy on how many are drafted to serve and how many
volunteered. Records show that six men from Boyne City lost their lives in the conflict.
A total of 2,500 from the State of Michigan lost theirs. These figures are approximate
Lost from Boyne City are the following men who gave their all that we might be free
today:

Ray George De Butts

Thomas M. Johnson

Ernest W. Peterson

Herald J. Cole

Richard Furman Harvey

Ralph Ernest Gerred
Note: the Boyne City American Post, 302 South Lake Street, is named after
Ernest W. Peterson.
The plaque on the legion hall reads;
American U.S. Legion
“For God and Country We Associate.”
Ernest Peterson
Post # 228
The formal opening of the Boyne City, Gaylord, and Alpena railroad is held. In
attendance from Boyne City are Frank Barden, Lysle White, J. M. Tompkins, Charles
Sherman, Judge Harris, Ray Merrill and Charles McCutcheon.
1919 – 1920
Dr. Guy C. Conkle, with his wife and son, move from Boyne Falls to the Boyne City in old
residence of E. S. Matthews on the Southeast corner of South Lake and Cedar Streets at,
501 South Lake Street.
February 11th, the young mans or young boys group of the Masonic fraternity is founded
in Kansas City with the formation of the “DeMolay” program. This being named after
the last Grand Master of the medieval order “Knights Templar,” Jacques de Molai. This
Grand Master was burned at the stake March 11, 1314 in France.
Thompson submachine gun
The Thompson is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919
that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight of the time,
being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals. The Thompson was also
known informally as: the "Tommy Gun," the "Trench Broom," the "Trench Sweeper," the
"Chicago Piano," the "Chicago Typewriter," and the "Chopper."
The Thompson was favored by soldiers, criminals and police alike for its ergonomics,
compactness, large .45 ACP cartridge, and high volume of automatic fire and among
civilian collectors for its historical significance.
The United States Congress charters the American Legion. The organization of the
United States Veterans of War is primarily for the membership of men who served in;

World War 1,
1914 - 1918

World War 11,
1939 - 1945

The Korean War,
1950 - 1953

Vietnam War,
1959 - 1975

Conflict in Lebanon,
1983

Conflict in Grenada,
1983

Invasion of Panama,
1989

Persian Gulf War,
1991
The census figure for Boyne City; 2,650.
The Detroit news operates the state’s first radio station.
November 5th, Godfrey Von Platen donates land to Boyne City. 90 acres, located North
East of town, formerly known as Horse Point, comprise this prime parcel. This, along
with property from Mr. A. Young of Charlevoix will later, after the City acquires the farm
belonging to Pat Harris, be given to the State and become known as Young’s State Park.
The Boyne City Chemical Plant closes its doors as the lumber needed for operation
becomes scarce.
The Order of Job’s Daughters is formed in the United States.
1920 The Stackus Funeral home utilizes a new Maxwell motor car-hearse in Boyne City. This
is the first of its type seen in Northern Michigan.
The Boyne City Railroad and the Tannery each cut their labor forces. The beginning of
“hard times” is upon Boyne.
The Boyne City Gaylord and Alpena Railroad reduce its work force by one third.
Extraordinarily heavy snow accumulation, exerting its cumulative weight, causes the
school gym roof to collapse on Christmas morning. The weight caused the structures
sidewalls to move out and the roof came down.
Veterans from Boyne City apply for a charter for a Legion Post at Boyne City. The Post
to be called Ernest Peterson Post, Department of Michigan No. 228.
The chartering members are:
Oris l. Chance
William D. Fairchild
O. B. Mccutcheon
L. R. Barnes
James H. Quick
James R. Dean
Lewis W. Tooley
R. F. Barden
Tracy M. La Croix
Carl L. Agan
Max M. Harper
L. A. Simpkins
William H. Lanz
Worth A. Johnson
Howard Carl Middleton
Under seal on the 29 day of July 1920.
1920 The formal charter reads, “The American Legion at Boyne City, to be known as Ernest
Peterson Post No. 228, Department of Michigan, first day of October, 1920.”
The old stave mill, near the lakefront on South Lake Street and owned by the R.E.A.., is
pressed into service as a temporary gym and area for basketball practice.
Later, the east side of the Odd Fellows building is used for the school sport program.
This became known as the Water Street Gymnasium.
During the 1920’s the school population declined along with the timber business. Area
employment waned as people began to move elsewhere.
After a study of the health of Boyne City school children and a finding returned that
some are suffering from improper diet and basic malnutrition, a hot lunch program is
initiated. The school and some parents of the community share the cost. Later a charge
of 0.03 cents is levied for a hot bowl of soup or cocoa.
Local county population figures as compiled by the Washington Bureau of Census;
Years
Charlevoix county
1920 1910 1900
15,788 19,157 13,956
Cities
Boyne City
4,284 5,218 912
Charlevoix
2,218 2,420 2,079
East Jordan
2,428 2,516 1,205
Townships
Bay Township
378
466
503
807
952
1258
Boyne Valley Twp.
Including Boyne Falls Village
Chandler Township
259
397
273
Charlevoix Township
101
207
178
Evangeline Township
226
228
342
Eveline Township
594
768
847
Hayes Township
708
854
780
Hudson Township
209
673
255
Marion Township
694
636
681
Melrose Township
466
675
620
Norwood Township
292
366
652
Peaine Township
243
370
372
St. James Township
536
695
420
South Arm Township
744
910
1,634
Wilson Township
601
806
945
1921 through 1925
1921 Local advertisement, “pure fresh milk delivered to your home every morning, 12 a
quart, 7 a pint. Every cow in our herd has been tested by Dr. Thomas P. Pomeroy and
pronounced free from TB. S. Clover Dairy.”
Annual dues to the Boyne City Royal Arch Chapter are $2.00.
The Traction Engine Company becomes bankrupt.
The Boyne City Silo Company (Frank Coleman’s Silo Plant) closes its doors.
Labor rates are lowered from $1.00 to 75 per hour at the State Street Garage.
A proposal to raise $40,000 dollars for a much needed gymnasium is set before the
people and severely defeated.
1922 Boyne City’s Rotary Club is sponsored and organized by members of The Petoskey
Rotary Club.
Frank Orin Barden, Sr. and his business partner, Louis Behling, starts the Barden Lumber
Company. This will later remain in the Barden family hands and become the oldest
lumber supplier in Boyne City. Brother, Barden had previously been the superintendent
and general manager of the Boyne Lumber Company mill.
A founder of Boyne City, George F. Beardsley, passes away in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
on Friday January 13th.
Boyne City schoolteacher salaries are cut by $100.00. The estimated 1922-1923 school
budget is cut from $126,098 to $102,159.
The Boyne City Parent Teachers Association is formed with Jacob A. Hall as the first
president.
The United States of America American Legion Auxiliary, maintained at Boyne City, an
auxiliary unit attached Ernest W. Peterson No. 228 department of Michigan. 13th. Day of
January 1922.
The formal charter reads, “American Legion Auxiliary at Boyne City. Ernest W. Peterson
Post No. 228, Department of Michigan, 23 August 1922. Signed in Jackson, Michigan
September 2, 1922.
December 30th. The Union of Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR) including Russia, the
Ukraine, White Russia and the Trans-Caucasus is established.
September 18th. The largest crowd of Masons and other people from Michigan and the
greater Midwest gather and are present at the laying of the corner stone for the new
Masonic temple in Detroit. It is estimated that over 40,000 Masonic members were
present and an additional crowd of 100, 00 was on hand to witness the ceremonies.
The tool used was the same as previously used by Masonic Brother, George Washington
when he presided at the laying of the cornerstone for our nation’s capital. Masonic
Brother, Warren G. Harding was supposed to be the guest speaker by due to his wife
illness the secretary of the US Navy, Honorable Edwin Dendy was on hand in the
president’s behalf.
1923 On property purchased from the Wangeman family the Pine Lake Golf Course is started.
Since then the name has changed to “Ye Nyne Olde Holles Golf Club." This is located at
06386 Ferry Road between Advance and Ironton, North and West of Whiting’s Park.
Godfrey Von Platen, living in Grand Rapids, still interested in the welfare of his former
town, gives the Boyne City school system a lot located on North Street between Park
and Jefferson Streets. The board of education accepts his gift and uses the land as a
playground.
Due to continuing concerns for the health and welfare of community children, the
Boyne City school system employs its first full time school nurse. Miss. Annesser is thus
employed.
Again, the school asked the residents of Boyne City for the needed funding to build a
new gymnasium. The request for $70,000, for a new gym and auditorium, is soundly
defeated.
Wiley R. Vought and George L. Lamb then young school students, portrayed characters
in the school play “Hurry, Hurry, Hurry” which is showing at the Boyne City Opera
House.
Frank Orin Barden Sr. Purchases the lumber business from his partner and opens as F. O.
Barden and Son. The son is his son, Russell F. Barden.
The Charcoal and Iron Company closes its doors. The area can no longer support the
raw material requirements of its furnaces.
Adolf Hitler leader of the German Nazi party authors the book “Mein Kampf” (My
Struggle or Fight) while imprisoned in landsberg.
For a true historian this is good reading. But be sure you are confirmed in your
convictions before you read!
1924 Again, a special meeting is held to seek funds for a combination community building and
school gym. The request is for the sum of $25,000. The construction site will be where
the old gym had previously been located. This mileage request passed at special
electors meeting on October 21.
This proposal is rejected by the Department of Public Instruction, as building plans
submitted do not meet their requirements. At a later meeting, March 24, 1925, revised
plans are approved. The new plans call for an additional $15,000. The request for these
funds is passed as well. The new school building has its needed funding and credentials.
1925 Boyne City businesses continue to reevaluate their work forces. Some are forced to let
men go due to the slowdown of the lumber era and the economic decline, which
prevails.
The Fascist’s Government bans Freemasonry in Italy.
Walter Chrysler starts the car company, which will become known as the Chrysler
Corporation. The last of the “big three” but, not the least.
The new and more economical to operate gasoline fueled train cars start to operate on
the BCG&A railroad line.
Lysle H. White announces to the public that unless there is more support of the local
railroad lines, we will see the railroad system, as we know it, cease to exist. Further,
that the freight, which has previously supported the railroad, is being hauled by trucks
belonging to Boyne City area merchants. No one heeds his sage advice. His thoughts
foretell events to come.
The Reverend Edward P. Linnell moves to Boyne City to tend the needs of the
Presbyterian Church congregation (1925 - 1929).
The school building in North Boyne, or the First Ward, is closed due to declining
enrollment. Students from the First Ward are sent to the Second Ward School building
for education. This First Ward school building is sold and later torn down. Ruth Cornell
and Grace Atkinson were the last teachers to serve there.
The new gym, close to the central building and facing East Street, is 60 feet by 120 feet,
erected of brick, and has a capacity of 1,000 persons. Cost, without furniture, is
approximately $40,000.
October 26, the new school gym and facilities are dedicated by a large gathering of
people.
The 1925 - 1926 senior high school graduating class presented the school with stage
curtains for use in the new gymnasium complex.
Miss Caroline Geiken became the Third School nurse. She will serve in this capacity until
retiring in 1950.
Edward May III
Boyne City Gazette
Curmudgeonly Historian
1926 through 1929
1926 The last railroad carload of lumber is hauled away from the Boyne City Lumber Company
siding. Thus marking the end of Boyne’s lumber era.
October 6, the name of the lake on which Boyne City resides is changed, by order of the
US Geographic Board, to alleviate growing confusion to area tourists. The old name,
“Pine Lake,” is changed to “Lake Charlevoix.”
School enrollment is under 1000 students.
The 1926 - 1927 senior high school graduating class presented the school with a
beautiful wooden trophy case for use in the new gymnasium complex.
The Boyne City Electric Company and all its assets are purchased by the Michigan Public
Service Company.
Boyne City experiments with the installation of the first traffic signal to be within the
City limits. This is located at the intersection of Water and Park Streets. Instructions
about this novelty are printed in the citizen.
“The red signal always denotes ‘stop,' the yellow light permits traffic to proceed with
caution. The green light is the clear signal permits a vehicle to proceed without
stopping."
The magnificent Masonic temple, located on Temple Avenue in Detroit, is dedicated by
all the Grand Lodge Officers, on Thanksgiving, November 25, to the tenets of Free and
Accepted Masonry. This undertaking started in 1920, when completed is the primer
Masonic structure in the Midwest. It contains 1,037 rooms and comprises of over
12,000,000 cubic feet of space in all. It is an architectural wonder and the most complex
Masonic temple in existence.
A parade of over 40,000 Masons assemble and march from Woodward Avenue, turning
left onto Temple Avenue and then assembling at Cass Park where the formal dedication
is held. This event is broadcast over radio with a live hook up from coast to coast. This
is the largest known gathering of the Craft and the most celebrated Masonic dedication
know to have accrued in the United States.
Note; unfortunately, as with many old edifices to the Masonic fraternity, time and the
expense has eroded the desire to maintain and utilize this structure to the purpose that it
was designed and dedicated. Many Lodges have removed themselves from the big
temple and the area surrounding the temple block has fallen into disarray. In modern
vernacular it is a ghetto.
Only time will show us the outcome of this landmark in the middle of down town Detroit.
I personally hope it can be saved and utilized for Masonry accordingly. I have spent
many a beautiful hour engage in Masonry and her tenets there.
June 11th, with the world press and other assorted dignitaries in full attendance the first
all metal constructed tri-motored airplane takes her maiden flight at Ford Airport. The
Ford tri-motor affectionately known as the “Tin Goose” would become part of American
folklore and history.
1927 Two area banks are consolidated. The First National and the Peoples State Bank merge.
They remain doing business until 1931.
The three operational outlying Ward school buildings are closed and all the students are
unified in the central school buildings in the 200 block of East Main Street.
Joseph Earl Brotherston is the new athletic coach and mathematics teacher at Boyne
City High School.
The old Boyne City Lumber Mill, located on the North side of Front Street between
Pleasant Avenue and Maple Street burned down. It has been inactive since 1923. A
land mark, on what is now prime waterfront property, is lost to fire.
Eight Boyne City schoolteacher positions are eliminated this year due to declining
enrollment and weakening economic conditions.
The estimated school budget is $90,000.
Henry O. Wiles purchases Forest Lake. This is to give him a location to grow minnows
used as bait by the local anglers.
The first non-stop flight by a single pilot from the United States to Paris France is
accomplished by Brother, Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. flying his single engine plane
he departs from Roosevelt Field at 7:52 am on may 20th and arrived at Le Bouget Airport
near Paris 33 hours and 32 minutes later.
His plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, resides today (1998) in a Washington D.C. Museum.
Parker Motor Freight is founded by Harry A. Parker of Boyne City, with terminals
originally in Boyne City, then Petoskey and later in Traverse City
1928 Boyne City Lodge No. 391, F. & A. M. Attains her maximum number of member
brothers. Two hundred and seventy-five (275) Michigan Masons are members in Boyne
City’s Lodge. This small town, in Northern Michigan, is the nucleus of the fraternity
North of Grand Rapids.
The first paved runways are installed at a civilian commercial airport at Newark, New
Jersey.
Reverend William H. Helrigel moves to Boyne City to serve as the Methodist Minister of
the Boyne City Charge, (1928 - 1931).
The Philalathes Society is formed in the United States of America.
Freemasonry is suppressed in Spain.
At a later date the Boyne City High School football field will be named after our school
coach and called Brotherston Field.
1929 The barge Keuka, originally a merchant schooner, sails into Lake Charlevoix and ties up
at the railroad dock.
This is one of the last times a freighter will sail, under the power of the wind, into Boyne
City. The end of an era is fast approaching.
Max Harper operates a filling station where the price is known as “right.”
October 29th. The New York Stock Exchange crashes. Many men lost their savings and
many companies cease to exist. This marks the beginning of the era known as the Great
Depression which reigns supreme over the United States for many years to come.
The Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland come to agreement that the volume
of the sacred law, square and compasses constitute the “Great Lights of Masonry.”
Masonry in Russia, suppressed by the dreaded secret police, and outlawed by the
Stalinist polices becomes basically nonexistent. The majority of remaining Masons who
were not executed for their views and beliefs stop attending their Lodge or remove
themselves to other countries in Europe. Many join the two Grand Lodges of France.
The Irregular Grand Lodge of France and the French National Grand Lodge.
Note: France while a bastion of the Freemasonry way of life has been a melting pot of
irregularities and a point of fraternal consternation for many years. It, in the opinion of
this author, will, in all probability, remain so.
Two brothers operate a joint venture. Hylon J. Heaton and Sabin Hooper run the
Heaton & Hooper garage.
The county game wardens remove, for the third time in a week, a large gill net from the
waters of Lake Charlevoix. This will prove to be a trend of hard feelings for many
decades to come.
Edward May III
Boyne City Gazette
Curmudgeonly Historian
1930 through 1935
1930 Census figure for Boyne City; 2904.
James R. Dean serves the Boyne City area as Postmaster.
The Boyne Citizen carries 8 pages of delinquent tax notices.
Walter M. Boylan is an area physician.
At a meeting of the Boyne City Chamber of Commerce a note is made that the Chamber
is an unneeded burden on the City and should be dissolved.
Hylon J. Heaton is manager of the Boyne City Theater.
William Sutherland Shaw, founder of the Boyne City Tannery, sells his business to the
Howe Leather Company and moves out of state.
Lester C. Fox is the proprietor of Fox Variety Store.
At Ironton there is a great feeling of unrest on the thought of charging a toll for ferry
services. The Michigan Attorney General said, “He could find no precedent allowing for
the application of a toll on any part of a county road system.”
Ray H. & Dwight B. Herrick ran a family jewelry store together, known as Herrick
Brothers.
William Fultz has a barbershop of good report in Boyne.
July 2, Charlevoix County Bank will open in Boyne City.
Boyne City’s only bank, the First National Bank is closed due to lack of business, not for
any improprieties or financial irregularities.
The new Michigan Masonic home in Alma, Michigan is dedicated in due form by all
officers of Michigan Grand Lodge. This is a 60 bed hospital connected by a 670-foot
tunnel to the power plant and laundry facilities.
May 21st. By resolution of the Michigan State Legislature the “Robin Redbreast” is
adopted as the Michigan State Bird.
Note: this was made possible by an election of and for a state bird sponsored by the
Michigan Audubon Society.
Freemasonry is suppressed in Portugal.
Boyne City’s only remaining railroad, Boyne City Gaylord and Alpena, is placed in
receivership to protect remaining tangible assets from creditors.
BCG&A at the Boyne Depot
Israel Nurko places his store building complete with living quarters above, at 100 Water
Street, for sale at $600.
Balconies are added to both sides in the school gymnasium which greatly adds to
seating for spectators.
Elmer Coblentz is a milk truck driver and area lumber grader.
Boyne City’s railroad, Boyne City Gaylord, and Alpena is placed in the hands of the
Circuit Court.
Charles C. Friend operates a local Boyne City store selling shoes and groceries.
1932 August 14, the Barge Keuka sinks while laying off of the Belvedere Hotel in Charlevoix.
All that is visible is the top of the cabin and mast.
Note; The converted lumber barge Keuka served as a blind pig and speakeasy and sailed
nightly between Boyne City and Charlevoix, hosting its guests in relative comfort. A
murder aboard the ship and the pressure of US Treasury Department surveillance,
however, forced the owner to scuttle the vessel in Lake Charlevoix.
The estimated Boyne City school budget is $51,000.
The National Recovery act mandates that the working week is cut back to no more than
32 hours per individual worker. This has some effect in the area of Boyne City as more
people are able to fill the few jobs that are available.
William M. Healey operates the area vulcanizing concession under the name of Healey
Tire and Vulcanizing Company.
1932 July 31st, the new post office building is completed and dedicated in due form. It is
located on the corners of Water and East Streets. Cost at this time is $65,000. Our
country’s colors are proudly raised by John Newville, oldest surviving Grand Army of the
Republic Post member.
1933 Elias Fisher is in partnership with William Nulph, operating a grocery store.
The United States deviates from the gold standard, adopting a modified standard, due
to economic pressure being generated by the depression.
January 30th. Adolf Hitler becomes the Chancellor of Germany.
Hitler’s open persecution of Free Masonry begins in Germany and spreads to all areas
occupied by the German war machine.
Boyne City teachers agree to a 30% cut in pay, aggregating $4,500, in an effort to assist
the board of education in raising the needed funds to finance the balance of the school
year.
At the close of the summer 1993 school year all married schoolteachers are terminated
from their teaching position. This drastic cut, made to save much needed monies, is
rescinded prior to the start of school in the fall of 1933.
Teacher pay checks are small and do not see distribution on a due and timely basis.
When the yearly school budget is finalized, the figure is set at $38,000. Teachers receive
a 25% cut in salary.
July 2nd, the Charlevoix County Bank opens its doors for business in Boyne City.
Henry Kaden operates a grocery store. The garden variety products are of good report.
1934 The local Michigan Bell Telephone Company is managed by Walter R. Earl.
October 26th, the Charlevoix County Bank closes its Boyne City branch, transferring all
accounts to the State Bank of Boyne falls. It will be many years before Boyne City will
have a banking institution return to town.
C. A. Moses has a garage in Boyne City catering to both wagon and automobile.
1935 The Boyne City, Gaylord and Alpena railroad is sold to the Boyne City Railroad Company.
The Boyne City Railroad Company is sold to Earling J. Strangstead and Henry B. Lee.
Boyne City’s annual Lodge dues are lowered to $5.25.
Gill coon opens his store at 116 Water Street. He first started by selling stoves and then
expanded his services by becoming a full service furniture store.
The UAW (United Autoworkers) union is formed in the automotive factories located in
lower Michigan.
August 15th. Will Rogers and Wiley Post are killed as their monoplane was flying over
Point Barrow, Alaska.
Note; I have seen the memorial erected at the crash site, while it was in anchorage being
refurbished. It, in its simplicity, is a very fitting tribute for these departed men.
In Germany, the Nazis decree all Masonic Lodges and Grand Lodges dissolved. The
German Government conscripts their property.
The Wolverine Hotel is transferred to Wesley F. Dilworth of Horton Bay.
Harold A. Silverstein is a practicing dentist in Boyne City.
Charles T. Mccutcheon operates a reality firm advertising reality, resorts, farms and city
dwellings. He also offers a sideline of automobile insurance.
W. W. Bailey and Keith Waggoner go into business together. The name of Bailey Drugs
and the location are unchanged. The exemplary service will be by both young and old,
alike.
Edward May III
Boyne City Gazette
Curmudgeonly Historian
1936 through 1938
1936 Margaret Mitchell publishes the historic novel called “Gone with the Wind.”
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand (officially the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1) was the first semiautomatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. Called "The Greatest
Battle Implement Ever Devised" by General George S. Patton, the Garand officially
replaced the bolt-action M1903 Springfield as the standard service rifle of the United
States Armed Forces in 1936 and was subsequently replaced by the selective fire M14 in
1957. However, the M1 continued to be used in large numbers until 1963 and to a lesser
degree until 1966. Produced 1936-1957. There were approximately 5.4 million
manufactured.
The M1 was used heavily by U.S. forces in World War II, the Korean War, and, to a
limited extent, the Vietnam War. Most M1 rifles were issued to American Army and
Marine troops, though many thousands were also lent or provided as foreign aid to
America's allies. The Garand is still used by drill teams and military honor guards. It is
also widely sought by the civilian population as a hunting rifle, target rifle, and military
collectible. It is now available to civilians in the original .30-06 chambering, as well as in
.308 Winchester.
1937 Final payment is made to the depositors of the now defunct First National Bank of
Boyne City. The repayment is approximately 82% on the dollar.
The German built Hindenburg, after making 10 successful transatlantic flights, crashes
and burns at Lakehurst, New Jersey, killing 36 of her 92 occupants.
General Motors recognizes the UAW. (United Auto Workers union)
Roy Scott has a dry goods and grocery store in the center of Boyne City.
The Deer Lake Rural School District consolidates with Boyne City. It is with great
trepidation and adjustment on the part of the Deer Lake children and their parents that
this change and mini-merger is accomplished.
July 2nd. Amelia Earhart and her and her navigator, Fred Noonan, flying in a Lockheed
twin engine Electra, model 10e; take off from the small island of Lae in the South Pacific.
They are headed for another tiny island called Howland Island.
Instead of reaching their destination they flew into aviation history and are never seen
nor heard of again. Their disappearance will, for the coming ages, bring speculation into
the minds of many and greatly added to the mystic lore of aviation.
A new school athletic field is purchased. The old Shaw Field on Boyne Avenue is
acquired and later renamed Brotherston Field, in honor of Boyne City’s long time coach
and supporter of the athletic programs, Earl Brotherston. He is the school’s head coach
and will serve as such from 1927 through 1950.
Top of Michigan Rural Electric has grown from a fledgling idea in 1937 to one of the
largest REA’s in the United States.
1938 June 16th. The idea of the school consolidation has taken root and by election of the
people the following school districts merge into the Boyne City school system.

Tainter School District no. 4, Evangeline Township

Advance School District no. 1, Evangeline Township

Knop School District no. 1, Wilson Township

Deer Lake School District no. 3, Wilson Township

Boyne City Public School District no. 1, Evangeline Township
The new school board members, as elected, due to the consolidation are:

Douglas D. Tibbits

Dr. James R. Furman

Moses Bergy

Dickinson W. Dicken

John Kujawski
In the fall of 1938 three Boyne City school busses are in operation.
The Boyne City Public School System through consolidation, merger and meeting of
required educational criteria, becomes officially known as:
“Boyne City Rural Agricultural School District no. 1.”
Dr. Albert F. Litzenburger and his family move to Boyne City.
1938 The United States Lighthouse Service is merged with the United States Coast Guard. The
Light House Service was the former tender to all the Great Lake lighthouses, did the
required servicing, transporting of men and supplies for the summer and winter when
many of the lighthouse keepers and their families were almost captives in the various
stations throughout the great lakes and coastal waters of America.
“Kristallnach,” the Night of Broken Glass, occurs in November throughout Germany. All
known Jewish homes are pillaged. Synagogues are set afire. Open looting against any
that are on the Nazi party’s undesirable list is allowed to run unchecked.
Books and volumes of irreplaceable information are burned in the streets. Windows are
broken in many homes and businesses. Thousands of Jews are arrested. The beginning
of the holocaust is at hand.
Note: many residents, Hebrew, and non-Hebrew alike, in Germany and throughout
Europe at this time are Masons. The German persecution of the semantic people is open
to more than just an individual secular religion. Masonry, targeted for her allowance of
individual thinking and toleration, is and remains prime target of the German Reich.
November 23rd. Edward May III, the author of this history is born in THE Parish of
Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana.
1939 through 1942
1939 Freemasonry is suppressed in Austria.
Freemasonry is suppressed in Czechoslovakia.
Boyne City’s annual Lodge dues are lowered to $5.00.
April 9th, Boyne City’s “Smelt City” Post No. 3675, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States, is chartered. Chartering members are:
Harvey H. Eustrom
Andrew J. Lutz Thalman Brudy
Clyde R. Patrick
Roy Zinck
Alton H. Avery Peter F. Droz
Elwood Peterson
Joseph A. Topolinski
Joseph A. Wheaton
Martin E. Wicker
Charles F. Amesbury
Lloyd F. Ballard
Claude Talboys
Fred J. Buckhart
Fred Martin
Vern J. Kuhns
Walter G. Hampton
Howard C. Middleton
The Boyne City public school receives accreditation by the North Central Association of
secondary schools and colleges. This will be in effect and proudly held ever since. (1939
- to date.)
September 1st. World War II begins between the Axis and the Allies as German troops
invade Poland.
Note: the allies include the United States, Great Britain, France, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Poland, Russia and Yugoslavia.
The axis powers are Germany, Austria, Italy, and japan, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria and
Finland.
During this period of time in Charlevoix County, Boyne City, the State of Michigan, and all
across the United States people from these European countries were looked upon in
question. Many ethnic gropes did not know about nor trust the people of other ethnic
backgrounds.
September 3rd. England and France declare war on Germany.
September 5th. The United States declares her neutrality in the European war.
Rosie the Riveter, a fictional character and symbolic poster girl of World War II (1939 1945) is contrived. She was invented to assist war bond drives and build moral at home
in theses United States. Also, for a part of the publicity campaign to encourage women
join the service and the industrial war effort.
During the time of this great conflict many Lodges predominantly located on the East
Coast and near military embarkation points were rendering courtesy degree to many of
the service men shipping out. The degrees were divided up by special degree teams
working concurrently in as many Lodge room as were available.
1940 Under the Selective Service Act, men between 21 and 35 years are required to register
for the draft. On October 17, 293 men have registered at the Boyne City, City Hall.
Boyne City Lodge No. 391, F. & A. M. Membership is at 140 brothers.
Boyne City’s population is slowly increasing to 3,000 people.
August 12th, Freemasonry is condemned and prohibited by the Vichy Government, a
German Reich puppet, holding power in France. One of the cabinet members is quoted
as saying “all Masons should be burned at the stake!” All known Freemasons were
arrested. Many of these were murdered or sent to the infamous concentration camps
where hundreds died.
June 4th. The Allied Forces retreat from Dunkirk across the English Channel to England.
Some 338,000 men from the Allied Military were saved and taken by boat, ships, barges
and private yachts from the French port of Dunkirk across the English Chanel to safety.
Many would return to fight again.
This was the greatest military evacuation recorded.
October, the first group of conscripts, called Selectees, are called up by the Selective
Service. By the end of World War II, approximately 45 million men in America will have
been registered. More than 10 million American men, representing more than 66
percent of the total Armed Forces, will have been inducted into military service of the
United States of America.
Worshipful Brother, Charles T. Sherman, Past Worshipful Master of Boyne City Lodge
No. 391, F. & A. M. In 1917, 1918 & 1919, is elected and installed as the Most
Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in the State of Michigan.
November 11th. A secret and unknown vehicle, code named “quad” is delivered to the
US Army compound at Camp Holabird, Maryland for testing and field evaluation. An
order was promptly forthcoming for 1,500 more. And at that moment the United States
army jeep was to start making vehicular history.
1941 Frank Kaden sells his store, at 125 East Water Street, to his daughter, Florida and her
husband Ira Bowman.
Ford Motor Company recognizes the UAW.
March 11th. The United States Congress passes the lend-lease acts and the US President
is empowered to send aid to many European Nations.
The world’s largest bascule bridge built, to date, is constructed, and opened at Sault St.
Marie, Michigan. This feat of engineering spans the Saint Mary’s River, which separates
the United States and Canada, flows easterly between the Great Lakes of Superior and
Huron. This bridge, similar to the construction of the Tower of London Bridge, has an
opening span of 335 feet which remains horizontal and opens with a vertical motion
assisted by massive counterweights located at each end of the opening span.
M1 carbine
The M1 carbine (formally the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1) is a lightweight
semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm in the U.S. military during World
War II and the Korean War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by
U.S. and foreign military and paramilitary forces, and has also been a popular civilian
firearm. Designed 1938 - 1941, produced 1941 - 1945 Commercially 1945 to date.
Number produced over 6.5 million
In selective fire versions capable of fully-automatic fire, the carbine is designated the M2
carbine. The M3 carbine was an M2 with an active infrared scope system.
Unlike conventional carbines, which are generally a version of a parent rifle with a
shorter barrel (like the earlier .30-40 U.S. Krag rifle and carbine and the later M16A1
rifle and M4 carbine), the M1 carbine has one part in common with the M1 rifle (a short
butt-plate screw) and fires a different cartridge.
December 7th, the residents of Boyne City and the entire world are shocked to hear that
the Japanese have attacked the United States pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Note: Japanese bombers attacked the fleet in Pearl Harbor and at the same time period
invaded the Philippines, Shanghai, Thailand and Hong Kong.
December 8th. The United States congress declares war between the United States of
America and the Nation of Japan.
December 11th. The United States declares war on Germany.
December 11th. Germany and Italy declare war on the United States of America.
The Dilworth Hotel of Boyne City, formally the Wolverine Hotel and owned by Wesley
Dilworth, is sold to Henry Marshall of Detroit. The hotel will be managed by a Boyne
City man Don Sheets, son-in-law to Henry.
Serbia, under Nazi occupation, issues the only known set of stamps designed for strict
anti-Masonic purposes. These stamps depicted Masonry as an evil and despicable
institution.
Today, 1996, these are very rare and truly a collectable item for members of the
Masonic Philatelic Society.
1942 The large Masonic Temple in Detroit is host to the military. Two of the United States Air
Force’s training schools, teaching the repair and maintenance of the Rolls Royce
airplane engines, manufactured at the Packard Motor Company, are billeted at the
Detroit Masonic Temple.
A special assessment is charged to all Michigan Masonic Brothers to answer the
“financial emergency” occurring at the Michigan Masonic Home.
M3 submachine gun
The M3 was an American .45-caliber submachine gun that entered U.S. Army service on
Dec. 12, 1942, as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. 45, M3 and began to replace
the .45-caliber Thompson series submachine guns: the M1928A1, M1 and M1A1 that
were slowly being withdrawn from use.
The M3 was designed from the outset as a more cost-effective alternative to the Thompson,
optimized for mass production. The M3 is commonly referred to as the "grease gun", owing to its
visual similarity to the common mechanic's tool.
Due to its folding stock, compact size and light weight it became a favorite among the Airborne
Troops.
1943 through 1946
1943 Boyne City’s “Smeltania, City on ice for many year a major economic boost to the area,
sits in a posture of unused decay. The smelt runs are basically a thing of the past. This chapter
of our town’s history will fade away. The last of the wiring used at the Smetania Town, which is
erected yearly on the ice at the Boyne rivers mouth or at Horton Creek, is stored at the home of
James Karlskin. (Today few remember that there were more than one Smeltania.)
1944 After an absence of 14 years a bank is to open in Boyne City. A branch
Of the East Jordan State Bank will open in Boyne under the guidance of Howard C.
Darbee. This is in the old bank building located on the southwest corners of Water and
Park Streets. In later years the colloquial expression, known only unto the people of
Boyne City will come to be, I am going to the bank “to get a little Darbee.”
The Masonic Lodge Secretary is instructed, that by unanimous consent of the Lodge
membership, to issue membership cards, at no cost, to all Brothers serving in the Armed
Forces.
April 23rd, the name Jeep is coined and affixed for ever-more to the Willy's army vehicle.
It is not known where this nomenclature came from. Some give credit to the Popeye
comic strip character “Eugene the jeep.” Others allow it as a bastardization of the
military term “General Purpose” vehicle.
June 6th. “D-day” Allied Troops under the command of, General Dwight D. Eisenhower
invade Europe via the Beaches of Normandy.
Michigan Masons working through their Grand Lodge war work fund contribute too
much worthy and worthwhile organization that assist our many brethren serving our
country both at home and overseas.
Contributions are given to:

Masonic Service Association

American Red Cross

Kalamazoo Red Cross canteen

Rehabilitation

Percy Jones hospital

Michigan Mothers of Sons in the Service Club
A contribution of $1.00 per Michigan Mason is requested. Over $60,000.00 is raised and
put to good use in 1944 by our Brothers in Blue Lodge alone.
The lodge secretary is granted a $25.00 stipend for his services the
past year.
The Lodge receives a post card from the Army-Navy Masonic Service Center, Masonic
Temple at Newport, Rhode Island informing us that our Brother, John E. Fegley has
visited there.
The members of the Presbyterian Church file application to form a Boyne City Chapter
of the SPEBSQSA (society for the preservation and encouragement of barbershop
quartet singing in America) to be located in Boyne City.
A request for a blue slipper, used in conferral of Masonic degrees, is refused by our
supplier of Masonic regalia. This due to the shortage of leather and the rationing of all
“war related materials.”
1945 William Casper and wife, Inga purchases the old dry cleaning establishment, at 211 East
Water Street, from the late Gil Lindsay. The town and surrounding area are well served
ever since the business is to move to the former Turcott Building at 112 South Lake
Streets in 1951. The Casper’s dedication to the community has been without question.
It is common place for the Casper’s to render their cleaning services free of charge to
the local police, Boy Scouts of America and other community service groups.
Editorial note: I know this only too well. As a former Scout Master of Boyne City Troop
49 and Assistant Council Commissioner for the Scenic Trails Boy Scout Council, I was a
recipient of their, much appreciated, generosity. Bill and Inga Casper, “thank you!”
The Lodge membership is 171 brothers.
United States President and Masonic Brother, Franklin Della Roosevelt passed on to the
Supreme Architect of the Universe.
May 7th. The European war campaign of World War II draws to a close and German high
command, General Alfred Jodl, acting for Admiral Doenitz, representing all the German
forces in Europe, signs an unconditional surrender at Eisenhower’s headquarters in
Reims.
May 8th. The United States and British governments declare May 8, 1945 as “V-E day.”
(Victory in Europe)
August 6th. At the order of Masonic Brother, Harry S. Truman, President of the United
States, the first atom bomb is dropped, buy the US Air force, on Hiroshima, Japan.
August 8th. Russia declares war on Japan.
August 9th. The second atom bomb is dropped; buy the US Air Force, on Nagasaki, Japan.
This signals the termination of the war in the pacific.
August 14th. World War II ends in the Pacific Theater as the last combatants surrender.
The formal signing of surrender, September 2nd. On the Battle Ship Missouri in Tokyo
bay, is under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur. This date will be known as “VJ day.”
The cost in dollars and in lives of men and women will never be truly known. From
Boyne City, approximate figures show that 250 men are called up or volunteered. Of
these our loss to Boyne City is 10 service men.
The Lodge presents retiring Tyler, Brother, J. H. Lewis, with a letter of thanks
commending him for his many years of faithful service.
1945 Michigan Grand Lodge, in deference to the Office of Defense’s transportation’s
regulation, the limits traveling of Michigan Masons, more than 50 in number, to
Masonic meetings. The importance of the meeting is prorated and the related travel
expense and use of gas must be approved in advance.
The Grand Master of Michigan places severe constraints on the number of Masons, their
travel and per diem compensation for the 1945 Grand Lodge meeting and annual
communication.
The Ivanhoe Commandery No. 36, Knights Templar, is host to an All-Masonic body
memorial service held at the Petoskey Presbyterian Church. This service will honor all
departed members of our fraternity who have paid the supreme price to allow our
country to be the home of the free!
June 16th. The Willys Corporation changes the designation of their US Army jeep and
starts selling the new Willys Universal Jeep to the public. At the close of hostilities, and
the repatriation of our military troops, other army style units are sold to the American
public.
Partiality was given to servicemen mustering out. Brother, Revilo Gerrie was one of the
first men from Boyne City to bring a jeep into our area. At this present time the old
army military unit belongs to, William Stanley who is looking forward to restoring it to
its original configuration.
The Lodge Brothers are invited by Evangeline Chapter O.E.S. to attend a hobo party at
the temple on November 28th.
Boyne City’s annual lodge dues are $6.00
Brother, Hal Hill gives a report on his visitation to lodges in England and presented the
Lodge with copies of English meeting notices.
Brother, Charles T. Sherman, former member and Past Master of Boyne City’s Lodge, is
appointed by the Grand Master to fill a vacancy on the Grand Lodge finance committee.
1946 through 1950
1946 Jack Dickhout returns to Boyne City, buys the business from his uncle, Herbert J.
Schneider, and starts his first business. “Jack’s Super Service,” on the corner of East and
Water Streets.
Sister Leah Waggoner is elected president of the Boyne City Monday Study Club.
Many Boyne City veterans who hold membership in the American Legion Post No. 228
gather and form a volunteer honor guard squad. Many of these men are veterans
having seen service in the Second World War. A few having served in both the First and
Second World War.
Members of the original squad as formed were:
Gilbert Lindsay
Dale Spencer
Eugene Kurchinski, Jr.
Robert Harbaugh
William Kirby
Larry (Huck) Amesbury
Jim (Junior) Colley
William Kirby
Robert Cook
Devere Middleton
Milan Hardy
Carlton (Bud) Hutton
George Durina
Ray Green
Robert Kurchinski
William Benser
Jasper Goen
Wiley (Bunt) Vought
George Zink
Cebert (Cebe) Gillespie
The Boyne City Council offers the county free property, located near the REA building,
on North Lake Street, for the use of the Court if the County will allow the County Seat to
return to Boyne City. This is, alas, to no avail. Old wounds sometimes never heal.
Approval is given by the Michigan Masonic Home Board to proceed with a 50 bed
addition to the existing home.
Brother, Claude Green reports, as chairman, that the Lodge and Chapter pinochle
tournaments are still a success and are assisting the temple revenue.
A new vacuum cleaner is purchased. The lodge paying one third of the cost or $18.33.
New lights are installed in the billiard and card playing rooms. The R.A.M. Chapter and
Lodge each paying half the cost or $21.75.
The average monthly electric power bill for the temple is less than $10.00.
Grand Master Paul D. Strawhecker and Past Grand Secretary Charles T. Sherman travel
to Boyne City Lodge to attend a regular lodge communication on June 21st.
The Michigan Masonic War Council is actively seeking equipment and other donations
that will be allocated for use of our world war veterans. They also are attempting to
locate any orphans of veteran families being in need of assistance.
Wiley (Bunt) Vought and his wife Merla open Vought’s specialty store are carrying a line
of quality paints and wallpapers.
1947 Northland Septic Tank Services is founded by Joseph Liston in the Area called Advance, 4
miles West of Boyne City.
May 30th. A fire almost destroys the large masonic temple that houses our Grand Lodge,
in Grand Rapids. The estimated repair will be in the amount of $400,000.00.
Brother, B. Gardner, gives an informative talk and slide show and on the Michigan
Masonic Home in Alma.
The fees required for the degrees are changed in the Lodge by-laws to read: entered
apprentice degree, $20.00; fellowcraft degree, $15.00 and the Master Mason degree,
$15.00.
Boyne City’s Lodge, by resolution, authorizes the sponsoring of a Chapter of DeMolay.
The brothers assigned to the committee are;
Earl Brotherston,
A. Sarasin,
J. A. Davison,
Stanley Kent,
Howard Gould,
H. J. Heaton, Jr.
Brother, H. O. Wiles is awarded a box of cigars for his tireless work in the kitchen this
past year.
The Lodge, OES Chapter and R.A.M. Chapter sponsored a reception for Mrs. And Mr.
Frank D. Poquette.
A Brother shows a movie on the involvement of Russia in the war.
During this period the Lodge has a committee, appointed by the Worshipful Master, for
candidate instruction and entertainment.
Michigan’s first commercial television station, WWJ-TV, located in Detroit, transmits to
the state in 1947.
General Douglas MacArthur is made “a Mason-at-sight” by the Grand Lodge of the
Philippines.
During the suppression of any Masonic activities in Europe under the Nazi domination
the Grand Lodge of the Sun developed the small “blue forget-me-not flower” as a
universal sign where by one Mason could recognize another during this time of
persecution.
A blue lapel flower is available today, from fraternal supply houses that are symbolic of
the blue forget-me-not worn during the 1940’s. From this symbol and time the
“Masonic Brotherhood of the blue forget-me-not” developed.
The 1948 Lodge officers elect are duly installed by Past Master Don Herrington of
Durand Lodge No. 344, Petoskey, Michigan.
1948 Sister Juanita Erber is elected as president of the Monday Study Club.
Ground is broken and work commences on the new Boyne Mountain Lodge complex
near Boyne Falls. This, though many residents are skeptical, will bring economic
assistance and employment to the area for years to come.
Boyne City’s annual Lodge dues are $8.00
A new neon light for the Masonic temple building is approved and installation will be
done during the summer months.
Lodge and OES Chapter members celebrate saint. John’s day by attending the Methodist
Church together.
The Lodge pays $40.00 for a pool table license.
The Lodge moves to sponsor a father and son Masonic banquet.
Brother and Past Master Hyson J. Heaton is presented with a Masonic Past Masters ring
for appreciation of all his dedication and work for the Lodge and Craft.
The committee for Christmas baskets report that the program is a success this last year.
Brother, George E. Lamb is raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on June
14th. The courtesy degree work being done by Houghton Lodge No. 218, for the Entered
Apprentice, Lakeside Lodge No. 371 for the Fellow Craft and then in Duluth Minnesota
the Master Mason degree by Lakeside Lodge No. 281.
Brother, Percy E. Briggs passes on to the Supreme Architect of the Universe on October
16th.
The Lodge officers elect for the ensuing year are duly installed by Brother, Emmet
Green.
1949 Keith Waggoner’s wife, Leah Waggoner, Past Worthy Matron of Evangeline Chapter
Order of the Eastern Stars, is appointed Grand Warden for the OES of Michigan.
Doctor John C. Schmittdiel, chiropractor, opens his practice in Boyne City above the old
First National Bank building, East Jordan State Bank Boyne City branch, on the corner of
Water and Park Streets.
The Masonic Lodge sponsors a banquet for the Boyne City and Boyne Falls basketball
teams.
The new addition to the Alma Masonic Home is dedicated by Grand Lodge officers,
March 27th.
The Grand Orient of Italy is reestablished in its home country.
Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master Hugh J. Johnston, of Traverse City, Michigan is
installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Michigan.
Lodge members working together organize and sponsor a bowling team.
The lodge room ceiling is in need of repair. The ceiling will be covered with Celotex and
the rent will be raised by $10.00 a month to cover the additional cost.
Note: during this time the Lodge generally went dark for two months during the
summer.
Membership in the RAM Chapter is 74 companions.
Needed materials for the Lodge room ceiling are donated by the Boyne City Railroad.
The secretary is instructed to send a letter to the railroad in appreciation of the gift.
Note: during this period the Lodge, acting through the building association, paid a
Brother or other person to attend to the needed janitorial servicing of the temple.
The lodge officers elect for the ensuing year are duly installed by worshipful brother,
Emmet Green.
1952 through 1954
A group of prominent Boyne City businessmen gather and form the Boyne City Industrial
Committee. Their charge is to seduce manufacturing businesses to locate in Boyne City.
Cass Toton and Don Murphy purchase Boyne City’s old watering hole, “The Nighthawk”. This
pub reopens under the name of “Cass and Don’s,” and will serve the community and visitors for
many years.
Courter Products, a division of Model Engineering, opens its doors for business on the shores of
Lake Charlevoix in Boyne City. The City to draw this industry here as the town needs does a
source of steady employment this with special incentives a source of steady employment.
The old Fourth Ward school building is refurbished and opened having been renamed after two
town founders William S. Shaw and Zachariah Morgan. The building had remained unused
since the fall of 1927 when all the Ward Schools were closed until further notice.
July 27, 1953, a truce is signed at Panmunjom, Korea and the Korean War (June 25, 1950
through July 27, 1953) comes to a non-decisive close.
American losses (United States) were estimated at 34,000 battle losses, 3,000 non battle losses
and 8,000 MIA. (Referred to by some as a “Military Conflict!”)
The DNZ, Korean Demilitarized Zone or 38th Parallel is established dividing North and South
Korea which remains today 58 years later.
The Vietnamese War (conflict) starts in Southeast Asia.
A new area industry, Boyne Products, starts business in Boyne City.
Loton Wilson, a founder of the Boyne City Chapter of SPEBSQSA is elected president of the
International Harmony Society.
The famed Mayo Clinic is started in the Masonic temple in Rochester, Minnesota. Doctors
Charles H. And William W. Mayo were members of Rochester Lodge No. 21, Rochester,
Minnesota.
The new Morgan Shaw school building is dedicated. The name Morgan Shaw giving credit to
the Morgan family who built the first school building here and to W. S. Shaw who created the
Boyne City Tannery business in Boyne City.
November 4, the Boyne River is rerouted, the original bed is closed, and a new path is
excavated. This is to allow a straighter channel for the river as it passes through Boyne City
proper.
Original Boyne River through downtown Boyne
Boyne River routed through Boyne City
Boyne Products begins operations in Boyne City. From a small business with 14 employees in
1954 it will become a major employer with over 350 employees in 1964.
Edward May III
Boyne City Gazette
Curmudgeonly Historian