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Roscommon County
July 15, 1928 — Members of the First Congregational Church of Roscommon dedicated their new stone church July 15, 1928.
The congregation’s previous church building had been destroyed by fire April 17, 1926. While plans were made for a replacement, worship services were held first at the church parsonage and later at the Colonial Theatre.
July 15, 1935 — The Higgins Lake Property Owners’ Association was officially established July 15, 1935, when its Articles of Association were filed with the Michigan secretary of state. The organization was formed as development increased around Higgins Lake and property owners became more involved in protecting the lake and representing the interests of shoreline residents. The association later became known as the Higgins Lake Property Owners Association.
July 14-17, 1997 — Michigan Department of Environmental Quality employees conducted a biological survey of the Au Sable River watershed from July 14-17, 1997. The work covered waterways in Roscommon, Crawford, Oscoda, Iosco and Alcona counties. Scientists evaluated aquatic insects, stream habitats and other indicators of water quality.
July 14, 2010 — The Roscommon Area District Library began packing books and taking apart shelves July 14, 2010, as it prepared to leave its former building. The library moved into rented space and reopened Aug. 21, 2010. The temporary location served the community while plans were developed for a permanent home. A new library building opened March 4, 2014, completing a transition that began with the July 2010 move.
Crawford County
July 14, 1939 — A soldier identified in Camp Grayling cemetery records as Private Laine drowned at Frog Lake on July 14, 1939. Laine became the second and final person buried in the small Camp Grayling Cemetery. Historical information from the cemetery says Laine had been a battle buddy of another soldier buried there.
July 13-16, 1978 — Thousands train at Camp Grayling
July 19, 2013 — Camp Grayling began its centennial observance July 19, 2013, with ceremonies attended by Gov. Rick Snyder and Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais, then Michigan’s adjutant general. Members of the 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment fired a 21-gun salute to begin a military pass-in-review.
Camp Grayling was established in 1913 after lumberman Rasmus Hanson donated approximately 13,000 acres to the state for military training. During the following century, the camp expanded into one of Michigan’s largest military installations and became a major part of the Crawford County economy and community.
Ogemaw County
July 17, 1924 — The Ogemaw County Herald began publication in West Branch on July 17, 1924, under publisher W.A. Crandell.
The Herald continued as a separate publication until April 18, 1963, when it merged with the Rose City News. Library of Michigan records list surviving editions of the Ogemaw County Herald from 1924 through 1963.
The county’s early newspaper record is incomplete. Ogemaw County historical researchers report that nearly all county newspapers published before 1923 were destroyed in fires. .
July 17, 1990 — Local watercraft controls for Lake Ogemaw took effect July 17, 1990. The rules prohibited operating a vessel at high speed or towing a person between 6:30 p.m. and 10 a.m.
The restrictions were intended to balance boating and water recreation with public safety, shoreline protection and the interests of people living around the lake.
Oscoda County
July 13, 1936 — Mio reached 112 degrees July 13, 1936, during one of the deadliest heat waves in American history. The temperature remains the highest officially recorded in Michigan.
Northern Michigan residents had few ways to escape the heat. Air conditioning was rare, many homes lacked electric fans and farm families still had livestock and crops to protect. The heat was especially damaging because much of the region was already suffering from drought during the Great Depression.
July 14-17, 1997 — Oscoda County waterways were included in the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s July 14-17, 1997, biological survey of the Au Sable River watershed.
The Au Sable crosses much of Oscoda County and has long shaped the county’s economy, recreation and settlement. State employees studied aquatic life and stream conditions as part of an effort to measure the health of the river system.
The survey provided information that could be used to identify pollution, damaged habitat and other threats to the watershed.
Iosco County
July 16, 1890 — Recognition services for Plainfield Baptist Church were held July 16, 1890.
The congregation had been organized Oct. 6, 1889, at the Teed School House. The recognition service formally welcomed the new church into the wider Baptist community.
Churches were among the first permanent institutions established in many rural settlements. In addition to worship, they provided meeting places, social activities and support for families living far from larger towns.
July 13-14, 1911 — Newspapers report the Au Sable-Oscoda fire
A devastating fire swept through Au Sable and Oscoda on July 11, 1911. Although the fire occurred two days before this week’s date range, some of the most important surviving newspaper reports appeared during the week of July 13-19. The Detroit News published a report July 13, while the Tawas Herald carried extensive coverage July 14.
The flames destroyed much of the neighboring lumber towns. The disaster accelerated the decline of Au Sable and left a permanent mark on Iosco County history. Newspaper accounts published that week helped spread news of the destruction across Michigan and preserved details of the catastrophe for later generations.
July 16, 1932 — Lumberman’s Monument was dedicated July 16, 1932, on a bluff overlooking the Au Sable River. The monument was created during the Great Depression and became one of the region’s best-known historic attractions. It continues to tell the story of the lumber era and the workers who drove logs down the Au Sable River.
July 19, 1984 — The Tawas Point Light Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 19, 1984.
July 16-18, 2019 — State officials held a town hall meeting July 16, 2019, to discuss PFAS contamination around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda.
On July 18, state Rep. Sue Allor toured a central groundwater treatment system with representatives from the Air Force, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, and Oscoda Township.
Arenac County
July 14, 1926 — A local Arenac County history timeline reported July 14, 1926, that Dr. Carl Fox, a Standish veterinarian, had received a contract to provide 275 horses for Army use at Camp Grayling. Horses continued to play an important role in military transportation and training during the years between World War I and World War II, even as the Army began using more trucks and motorized equipment.
July 18, 1934 — The Temple Theatre in Standish advertised the film “Mr. Skitch,” starring Will Rogers and ZaSu Pitts, for July 18, 1934. During the Great Depression, motion pictures offered affordable entertainment and a temporary escape from economic hardship. Will Rogers was one of the nation’s most popular performers, known for his humor, films and observations about politics and American life.
July 15, 1942 — The July 15, 1942, Arenac County Independent carried updates about local men serving during World War II. The newspaper reported that Pvt. Frank Kroll was stationed at Camp Bowie, Texas; Pvt. Wendell Chaltraw was at Camp Pickett, Virginia; and Pvt. Joe Olszewski of Standish was at Camp Walters, Texas.
July 17, 1976 — Arenac County held a Bicentennial Museum Day on July 17, 1976. The event was part of the nationwide celebration of the United States’ 200th anniversary. Bicentennial programs encouraged communities to preserve documents, collect artifacts and share stories about local settlement, government, agriculture and business.
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Resources:
- Arenac County Historical Society collections, historical timelines and Arenac County Independent archives.
- Crawford County Avalanche historical editions.
- First Congregational Church of Roscommon historical records.
- Higgins Lake Property Owners Association historical information.
- Ogemaw County historical newspaper records.
- Roscommon Area District Library history.
- Standish Historical Depot records.
- Tawas Herald archives.
- Up North Voice historical coverage.
- The Clarke Historical Library of Michigan newspaper holdings.
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
- Former Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
- Michigan local watercraft-control records.
- National Park Service National Register records.
- S. Forest Service historical information.
- Michigan National Guard and Camp Grayling historical material.
Newspapers and broadcast sources searched
Publicly searchable archives, indexes or reports were checked for the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Detroit Times, Bay City Times, Saginaw News, Arenac County Independent, Ogemaw County Herald, Oscoda County Herald, Lansing State Journal, Houghton Lake Resorter, WUPS, WNEM, Alpena News and Traverse City Record-Eagle
