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This Week in Northeast Michigan History: May 11-17
Roscommon County
May 12, 1939 —A Michigan fisheries research report notes that the first northern pike fingerlings were moved into Houghton Lake from nearby ditches on May 12, 1939, about 10 days after hatching. The work was part of early state research into northern pike spawning and fish management at Houghton Lake.
May 14, 1980 — Gerrish Township Fire and EMS history records show the township purchased a Horton ambulance on May 14, 1980, for $36,000, with four-wheel drive added for $3,720.
Crawford County
May 13, 1919 — Michigan legislative records show a Camp Grayling-related law was amended with immediate effect on May 13, 1919. The legislation addressed the ability of military personnel encamped at Camp Grayling to take fish from Lake Margrethe.
May 9-13, 2022 — PFAS-related public and field work meeting connected to Camp Grayling and Lake Margrethe surface and spring water was held at Kirtland Community College.
May 15, 2024 — Camp Grayling town hall
A town hall was held at the Grayling Township Hall to discuss Camp Grayling investigation updates, municipal water extensions, EGLE grant funding and a proposed treatment effort to reduce PFAS discharge near the Army Airfield.
Ogemaw County
May 17, 1891 — Henry M. Ammond Sr., a Civil War veteran who served as a private in Company C, 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, died May 17, 1891, in Cumming Township. He later was listed with West Branch’s Grand Army of the Republic post and is buried in Campbell Corners Cemetery in West Branch Township.
May 14-17, 1968 — Ogemaw County was the center of a major hepatitis outbreak in May 1968. State health officials requested federal assistance on Friday after 61 cases of jaundice cases were reported in and around West Branch. Later research linked the outbreak to glazed pastries from an infected worker at an unnamed local bakery.
May 13, 2012 — On May 13, 2012, firefighters battled two wildfires in Ogemaw County. The first fire was off Grass Lake Road near Clear Lake in Foster Township and it burned more than 125 acres. A second fire about four miles away had burned about 250 acres by 8 p.m., with nearby homes evacuated before residents were allowed to return.
May 12, 2022 — Meijer opened its West Branch supercenter.
Oscoda County
May 11, 1887 — A newspaper item from the Alpena Argus, dated May 11, 1887, described property connected to the Potts Logging Company, including a large frame circular sawmill in the village of Potts, Oscoda County.
May 13, 1851 — The Kirtland’s warbler was first identified by Dr. Jared Kirtland near Cleveland while the birds were migrating north from Bermuda. The bird later became linked to northern Michigan’s jack pine country, including the Oscoda County region.
Iosco County
May 11, 1950 — A Tawas Herald item from May 1950 listed the final Parent-Teacher Association meeting of the year for Tawas City, scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the auditorium.
May 15, 1974 — Lloyd Samuel Little of Tawas City died in Tawas City. Little served in the Michigan House of Representatives from the Iosco District during the 1923-24 session and worked as a telegraph operator and in the life insurance business.
Arenac County
May 15, 1930 — The Arenac County Historical Society noted that Mrs. Mary Ann McTaggart celebrated her 90th birthday.
May 11, 1938 —, Dr. Harry Berman had left Omer the previous week to practice medicine in Detroit.
Editor’s note: Resources for This Week in Northeast Michigan History include the Arenac County Historical Society, Wiki, Chat PT and the Iosco County Historical Society
