Our archives have hundreds of photographs - professional portraits, and amateur photographs of people, events, and places. As is the case at many historical societies, museums, and archives, we often don’t have the names of the people in the photographs. Sometimes we will have a name but no information about who they were as a person, how they lived, and how they died. In these situations, I often wonder about their lives. What kind of work did they do? What local, national, and world events did they witness or experience? Did they grow up and live their lives here or did they come here as adults? And especially with late 19th-century photographs of children, I wonder if they survived to adulthood. Grim, I know, but the reality was many children died from pneumonia, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, and influenza; not to mention unfortunate accidents such as drowning.

Sometimes, the stars align. Sometimes, like in the picture below, I will have a name on the photograph and the name and place of the studio where the photo was taken. From there, I can use MHS’s Mallett & Walker funeral records, the wonderful resources at the St. Ignace Public Library, and Michigan death certificates to create a more complete picture (if you will excuse the pun) of that person’s life.

James La Fever was born on February 6, 1874. The photograph was taken at Chas. G. Agrell’s studio in St. Ignace around 1884 to 1890. Agrell owned a studio in St. Ignace from 1884 to 1907. James grew up to become a printer, an occupation he worked in until August 15, 1932. His obituary in the St. Ignace Enterprise stated that he was employed at the newspaper offices for many years and a "printer of the old school and one of the best." He lived in St. Ignace for many years before moving to Union City, Michigan just a few years before his death. One week before his death, on October 12, he had surgery to remove stones from his bladder and urinary tract. He was recovering well when he relapsed. He died at 3 A.M. on Wednesday, October 19, 1932, at the Leila Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan from chronic myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, autoimmune disorders, and some medications, or may have an unknown cause). He was 58 years old. His body arrived in St. Ignace at 9:40 A.M. Friday, October 21, 1932, and was taken directly to Lakeside Cemetery, where he was buried next to his mother. 
  

Erin Vanier, Curator/Collections Manager

The Dunham House was first built by L.H. Dunham and sold around 1885 to James M. Campbell. To the north was the Russell House, formerly called the Everett House. It is unknown when the Dunham House and Everett House were built, however, both are on the 1884 Sanborn map.

After Campbell purchased the Dunham House, the establishment’s popularity grew and in 1890 he built additions to the main building and doubled its capacity to 50 guests. The daily rate was $1.50 and weekly arrangements could be made for regular boarders. St. Ignace and Mackinac County 1895 described the Dunham house as “extremely popular” and recommended it for those “who are seeking a quiet and homelike place of abode.” Unlike many hotels of the time, there was no bar or saloon on the property “to make matters unpleasant.” The Dunham House had an excellent reputation as a first-class management and presenting a variety of food that is well cooked and tastefully served.

To the north was the Russell House, formerly called the Everett House. Sometime between 1884 and 1890, James Russell purchased and renamed the Everett House. By 1895 the business had been sold to William Spice who came from Lansing, Michigan around 1884. The Russell House had 75 rooms, offered lodging, a dining room, a billiard room, and a bar offering a choice of well-selected liquors, wine, and cigars. In the book St. Ignace and Mackinac County 1895, the Russell House was described as “a fine three-story structure of handsome appearance, and from its windows, its balconies, and airy veranda may be enjoyed an extended and lovely view of Mackinac Island and the straits. It furnishes accommodations for 150 guests, and under the careful supervision of Landlord Spice, the comfort of each individual…is assiduously attended to. The cuisine at the Russel is unexcelled [with] amply supplied and exquisitely served tables…the rooms are large and airy.”

Between 1901 and 1907, the Russell House came under the management of Bruno LeClerc who changed its name to the LeClerc Hotel. In 1912, J.M. Campbell sold the Dunham House to C.H. Stannus. Soon after he transferred the house to O.P. Welch and Valentine Hemm who, at that time owned the LeClerc. The Dunham House and LeClerc Hotel merged in 1921 and became the Northern Hotel.

By the 1950s the hotel had been renamed the Nicolet. The southern portion which was previously the Dunham House was destroyed by fire.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps get their name from surveyor Daniel Alfred (D.A.) Sanborn, who founded the Sanborn Map Company in 1867. After the Civil War, there was an increased demand for the fire insurance mapping because of huge population growths and urbanization resulting from factors such as railroad construction, the Second Industrial Revolution, the Homestead Act, and immigration to the U.S. The company’s system of standardized mapping quickly led Sanborn to becoming the largest map company in America. 

Sanborn maps primarily focused on business districts, although occasionally residential areas were mapped. Uniform and detailed information about each building was required for an accurate risk assessment. The maps detail the function of each building, its dimensions, and building composition. Sanborn maps also included business names, street names, railroads, property boundaries, and locations of fire hydrants. Because of the detail in the maps, they are an excellent resource for genealogists, historians, researchers, architects, historic preservationists, and demographers. Sanborn maps of St. Ignace dating from 1884 to 1907 are available on the Library of Congress website.

Last month we offered some clues to identify next year’s Bridging History Celebration honoree. Did you figure it out? The Michilimackinac Historical Society is pleased to announce Janis Holle as the 2025 MHS Bridge Award for Historical Impact recipient.

Janis Holle has dedicated decades to the preservation of Straits of Mackinac history. Her name is practically synonymous with the Sacred Heart Mission (Gros Cap) Church. As the Moran Township Clerk she worked diligently to document and record the history of Moran Township, including its cemeteries, in the book “Moran Township When the Moon is High” the sesquicentennial edition. As the event approaches we will share more about Janis and what inspires her to preserve this region's history.

Mark your calendars. The annual Bridging History Celebration is July 16, 2025. The honoree has been chosen, which will be announced later. Here are some clues. This person is best known for their dedication to restoring a historic structure. They led the efforts to document and publish a book about a historic landmark, other notable sites in Mackinac County, and area families. Last, this person has strong ties to the St. Ignace and Mackinac Island communities. Any guesses?

Last month marked the end of 334 N. State Street’s life as Fort de Buade Museum. So how about a little history? The building was constructed by Chester Wing in 1910, becoming the 1st car garage in St. Ignace. It operated as the Wings Garage until 1956. Ten years later, Dr. Donald Benson, DDS founded the Mighty-Mac Broadcasting Company and licensed the 940 AM radio station WIDG, “Widge by the Bridge.” The station went dark on July 30, 1979. During the 1980s, the building housed a State Farm Insurance office and an ice cream shop. Eventually, the Wings Garage building was transformed into the Fort de Buade Museum, founded by Donald Benson and displayed his personal collection of Native American, Fur Trade, and historic firearms. Items were purchased at flea markets, trade shows, auctions, and even garage sales. A few years after Benson’s death, the recently reorganized Michilimackinac Historical Society began managing the museum and helping it grow. After 100 years, the building started showing its age and became a hazard for people and the collection. Today, the building is awaiting its next incarnation. Now we say good-bye to a place that held so much history.

Last week’s moving sale included items that were once part of the museum’s permanent collection. So what does “deaccessioning” mean? Is it ethical to remove an object or objects from the museum collection to sell it? What can the money from the sale be used for?

Deaccessioning is the formal process by which accessioned museum objects and materials are permanently removed from the Permanent Collection. It is normally followed by disposition by sale, transfer, or exchange. Deaccessioning is a best practice in the museum field used to improve overall collection quality through thoughtful assessment and redesignation.

The items for sale have been deaccessioned from the MHS Permanent Collection. Objects proposed for deaccessioning were assessed by the Collections Committee which included two Board of Directors members, two staff, and a historian with expertise in early tools.

MHS follows museum best practices and standards when disposing of deaccessioned items. Our top priority is to transfer as many objects as possible to other historical organizations in the region. Some objects were given to the Sugar Island Historical Society and Hartwick Pines State Park. There are strict rules and ethical guidelines for selling objects removed from the collection. Funds earned through the sale of objects are restricted to the direct care of the remaining museum collections. The funds will NOT be used for operations.

The details of the deaccessioning process are detailed in our Collection Management Policy which is available upon request or on our website in Annual Reports under the “About Us” tab.

For any questions or concerns about deaccessioning or the museum collections, please contact me Erin Vanier, Curator and Collections Manager at evanier.mhs@gmail.com or 906-984-2234.

A message from the Executive Director

Join us for a one-night event at the Hessel School House - a presentation and exhibition of the McKenney and Hall lithographs. Thomas McKenney was the Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the 1820s and 30s. During his tenure, he commissioned artists James Otto Lewis and Charles Blackbird to paint portraits of Native American Chiefs and dignitaries who came to Washington D.C. After leaving his position with the War Department, McKenney partnered with lithographers and funded by James Hall to produce lithograph prints of the portraits. Learn about Thomas McKenney, James Hall, artists, and the Native Americans who sat for the portraits.

The construction of the Straits Cultural Center is progressing smoothly. The new windows are almost completely installed and the welcome area inside is taking shape. You can follow the construction on our Project Status and Construction Photographs pages, but if you would like to see the work first-hand, we invite you to join us for a Hard Hat Tour, a Business After Hours event from the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday, August 15 5:30 to 7 pm.

Our summer line-up of presentations, programs, and workshops begins tonight with Great Lakes Freighters by David Lyle. Join us for this free presentation at the St. Ignace Public Library at 7 pm.

We held a construction kick off meeting on March 13. In attendance were MHS staff and directors, our architect from WTA, the project manager of Serenus Johnson Construction, and several sub-contractors who will be working on this project. The below article was published March 27.

At long last, construction has begun to transform the former Walker Furniture building into the Straits Cultural Center. This project began in 2016 when we acquired the property and much work has been completed to bring us to this point, including: environmental assessment; WTA Architects and Split Rock Studios retained through competitive bidding, environmental remediation, building interior demolition, and exterior painting completed. 

On Monday, March 4, our next chapter began. Serenus Johnson along with several local, St. Ignace area sub-contractors will work to complete the interior construction of the Straits Cultural Center: new electrical wiring, entry service, new plumbing, HVAC, insulation, and new windows.

To catch up on the full project timeline, funding status, and building updates, go to our Project Status page or click here.

It’s Happening!

For those of you who live locally or don’t go to warmer places in the winter, you may have already noticed the ACTION at the Straits Cultural Center! Construction has begun! A fence surrounds the front of the building, two large dumpsters have been delivered, and a Serenus Johnson construction trailer is in place along with the all important porty-potty! So many dedicated volunteer hours have been invested in the future of the St. Ignace downtown cultural center; it will become the anchor at the south end of State Street. Thank you to all who have helped get us to this point.

There is still financial work to be done to finish the Center. We are working on a variety of funding sources and all are important – individual gifts, corporate gifts, grants, federal and state dollars, fundraising events, foundations and planned gifts. Each dollar is important, and we need $2 million more to complete the project. Your donation is an investment in your local economy.

According to “Museum Facts: At A Glance,” a document produced by the American Alliance of Museums for Museums Advocacy Day 2024, museums are vital to the US and local economy. Pre-pandemic statistics show museums support 726,000 American jobs and contribute $50 billion annually to the US economy. The economic activity of museums generated more than $12 billion in tax revenue. 76% of US travelers (leisure) participate in cultural or heritage activities and these travelers spend 60% more money on average than other leisure travelers. More people visit art museums, science centers, historic houses or sites, zoos, or aquariums than attend professional sporting events!

There are so many reasons to support your local Historical Society besides those listed above! I will share more in future issues, but we are proud that when the SCC opens, we will be a vital component of our local economy and quality of life.

Molly Paquin, Executive Director

The MHS Bridge Award for Historical Impact is given to those who inspire use with their outstanding philanthropy, community involvement, and dedication to preserving history so that others may learn from it. We are honored to celebrate the contributions of the Maurer Family and Maurer Publishing whose names have been synonymous with journalism and integrity on Mackinac Island, St. Ignace, and the Les Cheneaux Islands for more than six decades. Their impact on all of Mackinac County has been profoundly felt by many and we proudly celebrate their dedication to make their community a better place. Learn more about this year’s Bridge Award recipients, here.

On January 3, 2024 the MHS Board of Directors unanimously voted to hire Serenus Johnson Construction as its general contractor to renovate the former Walker Furniture store and transform it into the Straits Cultural Center. They were selected from three bids and will begin work later this month or early February.

Named for its founder, Serenus Johnson Construction began providing general contracting services in the Bay City, Michigan area in 1919. Some of their notable work includes the total restoration of the Marlette Train Depot in Marlette, Michigan; the historical renovation of the Bay City Times building, transforming the space into apartments (Bay City, MI); the athletic facility for the Elkton Pigeon Bayport Schools (Pigeon, MI); and the renovation of the historic Dow Gardens Conservatory in Midland, Michigan.

Serenus Johnson Construction along with mostly local sub-contractors, will join forces with the architect firm, WTA, and the exhibit design company Split Rock Studios to transform the former Walker Furniture building into the Straits Cultural Center and “must see” museum we can all be proud of.

Continue to follow this page to see renovation updates, pictures, and more.

You can learn more about Serenus Johnson Construction, here.

On Thursday, January 18 from 4:30 to 5:30pm the Michilimackinac Board of Directors will be holding their annual meeting. All members are invited to attend. The meeting will be held at the Mackinac County Airport (1220 N. State St., St. Ignace).

The MHS Board of Directors has been working diligently to bring us to the point where the Congressional Directed Spending $1 million earmark from Sen. Debbie Stabenow can be accessed.  There is much work daily behind the scenes by your volunteer board.  When you see them, thank them for their tireless passion and persistence.  We are very close to being able to begin work on the interior of the Straits Cultural Center!
 
You will be the first to know when we can begin!  We recently held a public hearing on the use of the federal dollars.  It was well attended, great questions were asked and everyone was supportive.  We have since had a bid walk through with our architects from WTA, Jason Goff and Wayne Moerdyk. Three general and 12 subcontractors attended.  Bids are due November 29 and will be reviewed in December.  It is our hope that a general contractor can be selected soon after and that work can begin in January!
 
Please watch for our annual appeal mailing coming out the week of Thanksgiving.  A follow up email will be sent on Giving Tuesday (November 28.)  Dollars raised through the annual appeal are for MHS operating expenses, not for the capital campaign.  Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
 
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude.  Everyone at MHS thanks you for your ongoing support, vision and commitment to our mission:  preserve, record and maintain the historical information of the area between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas, known as Michilimackinac.
 
I am personally grateful to be part of such an amazing organization.  Thank you!