Tag Archives: 1922

Manistique’s Civil War Cannon Mystery

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Manistique’s Civil War Cannon on the Courthouse grounds. Photo Courtesy Mary Riley

     

     In 1896, the United States Navy Department donated a Civil War era cannon to Manistique’s George F. Fuller Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. The cannon had seen service on the James River in Virginia during the years 1861-65. After it arrived in Manistique, the cannon was placed on the Courthouse grounds where it soon became an honored emblem of national pride. The cannon played an important role in the life of the community. It was paraded through the streets of the city on Decoration Day and on the Fourth of July.  Its thunderous boom could be heard on National holidays and on extraordinary occasions, such as at the death of President McKinley in 1901, when the Presidential Salute was given. It took two men to fire the cannon, and the duty fell to Civil War Veterans, Henry Brassel and John Gayar. Read More...

WWI Memorial Dedication – Aug. 13, 1922

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The World War Memorial at its present location on the courthouse grounds

          The dedication of the World War I soldiers’ memorial took place on Sunday, August 13, 1922. The memorial stone replaced a temporary monument which had been erected at the intersection of Elk and River Streets in 1919.

          The granite obelisk was ordered from New Hampshire at a cost of $2000, with $1000 being appropriated by the county and $750 being donated by the city of Manistique. The remaining $250 was raised by the Manistique Women’s Club through small donations given by local citizens. Read More...

Artifacts from the Haywire Line – M. & L.S. R.R.

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Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad conductor hat badge donated by Gregory R. Miller (2015)

Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad conductor hat badge donated by Gregory R. Miller (2015)

The Story of the Hat Badge

            The above pictured hat badge was generously donated to the Historical Society by Gregory R. Miller in 2015. Mr. Miller writes: “Shortly before the demise of the M. & L.S. R.R. [in 1968], I was taking pictures of the recently painted snow plow. The boxcar color had given way to a bright fire-engine red. I was noticed by an employee of the railroad who asked if I wanted to see the inside. Of Course! He proceeded to show me the snowplow and gave me a tour of their still standing engine house. I was also told of the railroad’s history, shown pictures and given the conductor’s badge as a souvenir.” Read More...

Manistique Water Tower And The Efforts To Save It

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The historic water tower was built in 1921 and 1922 by a local contractor Fridolph Danielson. A native of Sweden, Danielson came to Manistique in 1897.

The historic water tower was built in 1921 and 1922 by a local contractor Fridolph Danielson. A native of Sweden, Danielson came to Manistique in 1897.

From 1922 to 1966, the historic water tower and pumping station served Manistique. The new pumping station station was located at Intake Park. With some renovations, the water tower became the home of the Manistique Hall of Justice from 1966 to 1968.

In 1968, the Chamber of Commerce installed a circular drive around the tower and made it their home for only a couple of years. The tower began its down-hill slide with a leaky roof and episodes of vandalism.

The first effort to get it names to the National Register of Historic Building’s began in 1979. It was names to the state register of historic sites in 1980. Read More...