Will Montgomery and the “Sunday Sun”

William F. Montgomery, Editor of the “Sunday Sun” Photo courtesy of Susan Cucchiarella

William F. Montgomery, Editor of the “Sunday Sun”
Photo courtesy of Susan Cucchiarella

           During the late 1880’s Will Momtgomery and the Sunday Sun, provided an alternative newspaper voice to that of the more established Semi-Weekly Pioneer. The spirited newspaper rivalry between the Sun and the Pioneer lasted just four years, but was one of the strangest ever recorded.

           Will Montgomery was born on August 31, 1857 in Kokomo, Indiana—the eldest of four children born to Seymour and Elizabeth Montgomery.  Montgomery’s father was a respected newspaper editor in Mishawaka, Indiana. By age 11, Will had joined his father’s business as a typesetter at the Mishawaka Enterprise. Read More...

Somewhere In France – October 25, 1918

Sgt. Arthur Danielson (right) somewhere in France (1918-1919)

Sgt. Arthur Danielson (right) somewhere in France (1918-1919)

Somewhere in France

Oct. 25th, 1918

Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Danielson

Dearest Bro. and Family—

           Will try to write a few lines to you today and let you know that I am still on earth and very much alive.

           Have been on this front just a month now but it seems a year since we moved up here.

           Have seen what war is like now and I will say like Sherman said “War is hell,” only more so.

           Have seen many prisoners go by, and many wounded but those dough boys never make a whimper as they come by, some walking, others riding in ambulances and big trucks. Read More...

Manistique’s U.P. Championship Baseball Team – October 1923

The above photo of the Manistique championship baseball team by E.O. Brault appeared in the October 4, 1923 edition of the Pioneer Tribune.

The above photo of the Manistique championship baseball team by E.O. Brault appeared in the October 4, 1923 edition of the Pioneer Tribune.

           Manistique had a marvelous baseball team back in the early 1920s. During the summer of 1923 the team played a total of 31 games and finished with a record of 22 wins and 9 losses. Twenty-five games were played against Upper Peninsula teams and 6 games were played against traveling African American teams including the Illinois Giants from Chicago and the New York Royals.  The Manistique club won 19 of 25 games played against the Upper Peninsula teams and went 3-3 versus the traveling teams from New York and Chicago.   Read More...