Editor’s Note: Interested in free weekly updates from Northern Michigan? Sign up for the UP NORTH VOICE MAIL
Arenac County
July 20, 1911 — Barbers raised prices as Michigan targeted shared drinking cups
Standish barbers had agreed to charge 5 cents for neck shaves. The same edition reported that Michigan officials were considering a ban on shared public drinking cups. At the time, common cups were found at schools, railroad stations and other public places. The movement against them was part of a growing public health campaign against the spread of disease.
July 25, 1912 — Standish Elevator Co. planned a new hay shed
The Standish Elevator Co. announced plans for a 30-by-80-foot hay shed north of Kiley’s coal sheds.
July 22, 1920 — Delano store burned as a bear wandered through Standish
Underwood’s general store in the Delano community had been destroyed by fire. A large black bear crossed the Arenac County Courthouse yard in Standish. The unusual visitor attracted attention in a community that was already surrounded by forests and former lumberlands.
July 26, 1920 — Used automobile advertised for $600
Percy Hull of Maple Ridge advertised a Mitchell Light Six touring car for $600.
July 23, 1930 — Omer Hospital added a physician as talking pictures came to Standish
Dr. John J. McManus joined the staff of Omer Hospital as an associate physician, according to the Arenac County timeline. The same week, Standish’s Temple Theatre prepared to install equipment for “talking pictures.” Silent films were quickly disappearing as theaters across the country converted to movies with recorded dialogue, music and sound effects.
July 23, 1939 — Arenac County women competed for a regional crown
Marion Kelly, Nellie LaBrosse and Cassie Nolbock were selected as Arenac County representatives in a queen competition connected to the Bay City water carnival.
July 24, 1940 — Arenac County players entered a Bay City Times tennis tournament
Ralph McCready, Orion Johannes and Dennis Kiley traveled to East Tawas to compete in a novice tennis tournament sponsored by the Bay City Times.
July 26, 1944 — New grocery store announced in Twining
Mr. and Mrs. Owen Reid announced plans to open a grocery store in Twining.
July 20, 2001 — Arenac County received money for two school officers
The state awarded Arenac County $73,077 for two school resource officers. The officers were expected to identify students at risk and provide prevention programs for children and families.
Crawford County
July 20, 1913 — Camp Grayling was founded
Grayling lumberman Rasmus Hanson donated about 13,000 acres to the state for military training. Hanson was a major timber owner and civic leader who also supported forestry and conservation projects in northern Michigan.
Military training began the following year. The camp continued to grow and became one of the largest National Guard training areas in the country. Official military histories confirm that the camp began through Hanson’s 1913 land donation.
July 20, 2013 — Thousands gathered for Camp Grayling’s centennial
More than 4,000 military members, veterans, government officials and visitors attended Camp Grayling’s 100th anniversary celebration. The program included a 21-gun salute and displays of military equipment from different periods in the camp’s history. The Camp Grayling Historical Society helped organize the event.
Iosco County
July 20, 1873 — Solomon family arrived in Au Sable
Isaac Solomon and his family arrived in Au Sable on July 20, 1873, according to a history published by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. Solomon arrived with his wife and four children and entered a business partnership with a man named Meyers. The family became part of a small Jewish business community that developed in Au Sable and Oscoda during the lumber boom. Au Sable was growing rapidly at the time. Lumber mills, docks, railroads and stores served workers moving into the community. The city was later destroyed in the great Au Sable-Oscoda fire of 1911.
July 24-25, 2024 — Huge sinkhole opened near M-65
A large sinkhole had opened on Keystone Road west of M-65. The opening was measured at about 24 feet across and 42 feet deep. Water could be seen moving at the bottom. The Iosco County Road Commission closed Keystone Road between M-65 and Nile Road while officials studied the problem and established a detour.
Ogemaw County
July 26, 1917 — Draft lists, Chautauqua programs and local emergencies
The July 26, 1917, edition of the Herald-Times reflected a county adjusting to the United States’ entry into World War I. The newspaper carried information about the military draft, including a notice involving John Sherman Priest. Young men across Ogemaw County were being registered, examined and called for service.
A house belonging to Wildow McLean being struck by lightning. These entries come from a surviving newspaper index, so July 26 is the publication date and not necessarily the exact date of each incident.
July 20, 1933 — First producing well completed in the West Branch oil field
The first producing well in the West Branch oil field was completed July 20, 1933, in West Branch Township. Alvin Weber drilled the well on the Wilcox farm. Records show the drill reached the Berea formation at 1,191 feet and the Traverse formation at 1,714 feet. Oil and gas were found at about 1,729 feet, and the well reached a total depth of 1,732 feet. Initial production was rated at 190 barrels of oil per day.
The discovery set off additional drilling and land speculation. By July 1936, the field had 133 completed oil wells and one gas well.
Oscoda County
July 24, 1896 — Death recorded on one of the surviving Comins Cemetery markers
Mary H.S. Cauchy, wife of Peter Cauchy Jr., died July 24, 1896, at age 31. Her grave is among the small number of marked burials still visible in Comins Cemetery. The remote cemetery is believed to have served logging families living between Mio and McKinley during Oscoda County’s timber era. Only seven gravestones were visible when the cemetery was documented, making each marker an important part of the surviving record of the settlement.
July 23, 2011 — Lightning killed two people near Red Oak
Two people were killed and another person was injured by lightning in the Red Oak area.
Roscommon County
July 21, 1952 — Wildlife officials looked for ways to stop beavers from blocking a dam
A Michigan conservation chronology records that officials wrote a memorandum July 21, 1952, recommending methods to keep beavers from plugging the water-control structure at Bear Creek Flooding.
July 20, 1955 — Water-depth gauges installed at Bear Creek Flooding
U.S. Geological Survey water-depth gauges were installed at Bear Creek Flooding on July 20, 1955. The gauges allowed officials to track water levels and better manage the wetland. The original control structure had been built in 1951 and initially created about 275 acres of flooded habitat. The managed area later grew to roughly 570 acres.
Editor’s Note: Interested in free weekly updates from Northern Michigan? Sign up for the UP NORTH VOICE MAIL
###
Resources for this edition of This Week in Northeast Michigan History:
Arenac County Historical Society timelines based largely on the Arenac County Independent.
- Houghton Lake Resorter and Roscommon County Herald-News archival columns.
- Herald-Times, Ogemaw County Herald, Ogemaw Republican, Rose City newspaper and West Branch newspaper indexes.
- Michigan Geological Survey and Michigan State University historical reports.
- Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife-area records.
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy PFAS records.
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services grant announcements.
- Michigan Department of Transportation project records.
- Michigan National Guard and National Guard Bureau histories and photographs.
- Oscoda County hazard mitigation records.
- MIGenWeb cemetery and newspaper collections.
- Iosco County Historical Museum materials.
- WNEM and UpNorthLive reporting.
- Clarke Historical Library’s Digital Michigan Newspaper Portal.
- Library of Michigan county newspaper guides.
