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Arenac County
June 22, 1864 — Corwin Keeney, the son of Marvin D. and Sally Keeney of Omer, served with Company H of the 5th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. He was captured June 11, 1864, during the Battle of Trevilian Station in Virginia. Military records say he was sent to the Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, Georgia, on June 22. Keeney died there of scurvy on Jan. 11, 1865, and was buried in grave 12,431.
June 26, 1918 — The Arenac County Independent reported that Tom Lamoria returned to Saganing after serving overseas during World War I. Lamoria came home with a commission as a second lieutenant and a French bride.
June 25, 1930 — A contract for construction of the Omer-to-Au Gres road was scheduled to be awarded June 25. By July 9, the reported value of the project was $326,000, a major public investment during the early years of the Great Depression.
June 24, 1936 — Rose Thaut was selected to reign as Arenac County’s Onion Queen. Highway crews also began pouring concrete for the new US-23 between Bay City and Standish.
June 25, 1952 — Water near Meeks’ Cabins in the Au Gres area reportedly rose more than 2 feet. At the same time, the temperature reached 96 degrees in the shade.
June 27, 2024 — State legislation was introduced to allow the former Standish Maximum Correctional Facility to be sold through a competitive process at fair market value. The prison had been vacant since closing in 2009.
Crawford County
June 28, 1883 — The June 28 edition of the Crawford Avalanche encouraged residents to “Come to Grayling on the Fourth.” Plans included a parade led by famed local woodsman and guide David “Chief” Shoppenagon.
The same issue reported that a new dwelling owned by Mr. Ormsby had been completed and that several buildings were going up on the south side of town. Grayling’s school term had ended the previous Friday with student exercises and a meal at the Grayling House.
planned parade, but commanders reported that morale remained strong.
June 22, 2022 — More than 200 people attended a public meeting at Kirtland Community College to comment on a proposed expansion of Camp Grayling’s training area. The proposal generated questions about public land, environmental protection, recreation and the military’s future presence in Northern Michigan.
Iosco County
June 24-30, 1962 — East Tawas held a weeklong centennial celebration from June 24-30, 1962. The observance marked 100 years since the community’s early development along Tawas Bay and celebrated its lumbering, railroad, shipping and resort history.
June 24, 2020 — State and federal officials held a coordination meeting concerning environmental cleanup at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Participants included the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, the U.S. Air Force, local government representatives and community organizations.
June 22, 2021 — Michigan environmental officials sent a formal letter supporting an interim cleanup alternative for the Ratliff Park area near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base.
Ogemaw County
June 25, 1842 — Burnham P. Barber was born June 25, 1842. He later served with Company H of the 22nd Michigan Infantry during the Civil War. After the war, Barber lived in the Piper and Foster Township areas and became a charter member of Grand Army of the Republic Post 442 in Rose City. He died in 1913 and was buried in Rose City Cemetery.
June 22-28, 1975 — A letter written June 22, 1975, recorded events surrounding West Branch’s centennial celebration. Residents dressed in period clothing, and a large parade was held June 28. The parade was led by a horseback rider representing Chief Ogemaw, the Native American leader for whom the county was named.
The letter was placed in a time capsule and rediscovered during West Branch’s 150th anniversary activities in 2025, connecting two major community celebrations held 50 years apart.
Oscoda County
Oscoda County’s official history describes a Mio public water system that operated from about 1890 to 1910. Hydraulic rams moved water from Wolf Creek through wooden pipes to a reservoir and then to homes and businesses.
Roscommon County
June 27-28, 1995 — Roscommon County recorded tornadoes on back-to-back days. An F1 tornado touched down at 5:45 p.m. June 27, traveling approximately 3 miles with a path about 50 yards wide. A second, much shorter tornado touched down at 6:13 p.m. June 28 and traveled about one-tenth of a mile.
June 22, 2022 — Residents expressed concern over a proposed sewer system for portions of Gerrish and Lyon townships around Higgins Lake. The estimated $115 million project was intended to reduce the effect of dense septic-system use on water quality. Residents questioned how the system would be funded and how much property owners would be required to pay.
Resources and archive notes
Resources for This Week in Northeast Michigan History include: Arenac County Historical Society, Crawford County Library, Iosco County Historical Museum, Tawas Herald archive, Iosco-Arenac District Library, Clarke Historical Library, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Detroit Times, Bay City Times, Saginaw News, Alpena News, Arenac County Independent, Ogemaw County Voice, Ogemaw County Herald, Houghton Lake Resorter, Oscoda County Herald and Iosco County News-Herald, along with reports from WNEM, UpNorthLive and Interlochen Public Radio.
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