WWI Emmet County Military
July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918
~With Connections To The Town Clock~
July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918
~With Connections To The Town Clock~
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
The First World War Inductees (Draft) stood in front of the Emmet County Court House building on the corner of Lake Street and Division Street. Names of some of the men in the September 1917 photo above were: Chet Smith, Pete Maryhue, Sam Feldman, Johnny Clapper, George Dean, Cecil Boss, Jay MacMullen, Forrest Diches, Ralph Crawford, Clarence Brown, Floyd Hopper (with flag), George DePew, Ed MacDagin, Frank Winters, Claton Eppler, ?Krussell, with Emmet County Clerk Allen C. Madlem.
The 1917 newspaper photo below is the same as the original photo above...
with identifications of the men in the photo.
with identifications of the men in the photo.
The Emmet County seat was changed from Harbor Springs to Petoskey in 1902. That year Petoskey built a $40,000.00 court house and leased the building to the county for fifty years. Offices for the city and the county were divided. Headquarters for the fire department were located in the basement of the building.
1911 Article Below: Peter L. Seifert had been a Petoskey resident for 35 years having come from Canada. He followed the building and contracting trade during the entire period of his life in Petoskey, having built the city hall as well as other public buildings and numerous residences in the city and at Bay View.
Photo Above Left ~ Accompanying Text: "Early Photo of the old court house just after it was completed in 1902. The intersection of Lake and Division-sts. are dirt while the original clock faces are black with white Roman numerals on it. At the far left can be seen the old double folding wooden doors of the fire department while the building at the far right (same photo above left) is believed to have been a church."
The text from another article described the Emmet County building: It is red pressed brick and gray sandstone trimming and is of pleasing exterior detail. The interior throughout is of polished oak, excepting the basement which is occupied by the fire department and a modern steel cage jail with excellent sanitary appliances. The main floor is devoted to office rooms, large, high and well lighted. Above are still more large offices and the court room. This chamber will be one of the finest of its kind in the northern half of the state. From its windows is afforded one of the magnificent panoramic views we have ever seen, overlooking as it does, the entire length of Little Traverse Bay. The building is a credit to northern Michigan.
Emmet County became an organized county of Michigan in January of 1853. The Mormon King, James J. Strang was responsible. County business was first transacted at St. James on Beaver Island and Mormons were, surely, the county officials. However, no official records exist on this episode of county government. In April of 1857, after the boundaries of the county were changed to exclude the Beaver Islands, Little Traverse [Harbor Springs now] was officially designated the county seat. In 1868, when Charlevoix County was still a part of Emmet County, a vote on location changed the seat from Little Traverse to Charlevoix. A year later Charlevoix County was organized, most of its area being taken from Emmet, and the county records went back to Little Traverse. A favorable vote in 1902 changed the county seat from Little Traverse [Harbor Springs] to Petoskey. County business has therefore, been transacted in Petoskey since 1902."
The text from another article described the Emmet County building: It is red pressed brick and gray sandstone trimming and is of pleasing exterior detail. The interior throughout is of polished oak, excepting the basement which is occupied by the fire department and a modern steel cage jail with excellent sanitary appliances. The main floor is devoted to office rooms, large, high and well lighted. Above are still more large offices and the court room. This chamber will be one of the finest of its kind in the northern half of the state. From its windows is afforded one of the magnificent panoramic views we have ever seen, overlooking as it does, the entire length of Little Traverse Bay. The building is a credit to northern Michigan.
Emmet County became an organized county of Michigan in January of 1853. The Mormon King, James J. Strang was responsible. County business was first transacted at St. James on Beaver Island and Mormons were, surely, the county officials. However, no official records exist on this episode of county government. In April of 1857, after the boundaries of the county were changed to exclude the Beaver Islands, Little Traverse [Harbor Springs now] was officially designated the county seat. In 1868, when Charlevoix County was still a part of Emmet County, a vote on location changed the seat from Little Traverse to Charlevoix. A year later Charlevoix County was organized, most of its area being taken from Emmet, and the county records went back to Little Traverse. A favorable vote in 1902 changed the county seat from Little Traverse [Harbor Springs] to Petoskey. County business has therefore, been transacted in Petoskey since 1902."
Photo Below: Emmet County Supervisors and Officials in 1902 sat on the steps of the county building.
Emmet County Court House
Notice the clock face in the two photos above. When did the clock face change? AND The clock face that is on the clock tower at the waterfront in 2015, was supposedly from the Emmet County Court House. Questions had been raised if the waterfront clock tower clock face was truly from the Emmet County Courthouse. What is the timeline of the Emmet County Courthouse clocks? (SEE ANSWER BELOW)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rick Wiles, of Petoskey, found the answer to the mystery of the changing of the clock face in the 22 November 1974 Petoskey News Review! See below:
"Carter told how the late Mrs. [William] W. L. Curtis purchased the town clock in 1903 from the Buffalo Exposition. At that time it had a black face and white hands and frame and wasn't lighted. In 1916 she [Mrs. Curtis] got permission from council to have the clock illuminated and paid for the replacing the black four eight foot high faces with light ground glass. The hands of the clock and the frame were then painted black."
Rick Wiles, of Petoskey, found the answer to the mystery of the changing of the clock face in the 22 November 1974 Petoskey News Review! See below:
"Carter told how the late Mrs. [William] W. L. Curtis purchased the town clock in 1903 from the Buffalo Exposition. At that time it had a black face and white hands and frame and wasn't lighted. In 1916 she [Mrs. Curtis] got permission from council to have the clock illuminated and paid for the replacing the black four eight foot high faces with light ground glass. The hands of the clock and the frame were then painted black."
Both items below came from the 20 June 1908 Petoskey Evening News report of the City Council meeting. Evidently, W.H. Seibert had been the one in charge of caring for the city tower clock, and because he was no longer going to be in the jewelry business, he would be turning the care over to Mr. H. M. Collins. The council acknowledged receipt of the communication.
The Emmet County Court House clock needed repair in the early 1930's. So the services of Fred Reusch, a Petoskey Jeweler, and Leonard Paige, of the Petoskey Ironworks Shop on State Street, borrowed tools from Bremmery-Bain Hardware Store, to repair the timepiece... as the webpage for Reusch Jewelers explained, the clock "had been repaired by a plumber and a blacksmith".

Photo Left ~ Accompanying Text: "Emmet Court House, built as a city hall by the city of Petoskey in 1902 at a cost of $40,000, is to be torn down starting in a few weeks to make way for the new city-county building which will cost $1.5 million. The county will pay $1,050,000 the city $450,000 as its share through payments and rentals to the building authority which will build and operate the building until it is paid for. The old town clock, and striking bell, purchased by Mrs. William M. Curtis from the E. Howard Watch and Clock Co., of Boston from the Buffalo Exposition of 1902 for $700, is to be taken apart with the clock faces and saved. The clock has been electrified, but once required a man to climb the 87 foot tower and hand crank the heavy weights back up the shaft. The bell was made by the McNellian & West Co., of Troy, N.Y., and carries an inscription of the 1902 gift. A 40 pound hammer hits the bell. Note the slab above the entrance ---it still says 'city hall'. Petoskey firemen will be moved from the present location to the former Resort-Bear Creek fire hall on Elizabeth-st., until the new building is ready.
(News photo by Fred Lovelace.)
(News photo by Fred Lovelace.)
Click on the photos in the gallery below to enlarge them. They are from the noted dated Petoskey News Review issues. It appears to be the beginning on 19 October 1965 of tearing down the Emmet County building (previously Petoskey's city hall) in preparation for a new $1.5 million county building in the same location. The photos and text describe the removal of the old town clock, and striking bell, purchased by Mrs. William M. Curtis in 1902.
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The May 1967 Petoskey News Review Above is viewable by clicking on it as "full screen". The 7 page Supplement was devoted to the Dedication of the City-County Building, and includes information about the court house clock.
"Petoskey's Colorful Past: A Historical Sketch of the City" with an unpublished date had written a description that seems likely for the photo below: “The second story houses the 1902 Old Town Clock, saved from the City Hall when it was torn down in 1965. The LTRHS installed the clock, faces and bell in 1975 and it is currently running 24 hours a day. Maintenance on the clock is supplied by members of the historical society.”
The OLD City Hall clock and the bell both have been incorporated into
the 62 foot tall clock tower that graces the waterfront at the focal point of the Midway.
Click HERE to access additional information about the old town clock being on the waterfront.
the 62 foot tall clock tower that graces the waterfront at the focal point of the Midway.
Click HERE to access additional information about the old town clock being on the waterfront.
Andrew Kag-a-be-tang, an Indian from the ancient village of L'Arbre Croche, was the first soldier from Emmet County in World War I to give his life for his country, while quite recently the remains of several Emmet County Indians have been returned from the battlefields of Europe and the South Pacific islands.
(page 100 from Mrs. Ethel Rowan Fasquelle's 1950 book titled
When Michigan Was Young)
(page 100 from Mrs. Ethel Rowan Fasquelle's 1950 book titled
When Michigan Was Young)
BUYING A BOND
... important WWI support by the people, as advertised in The Petoskey Evening News below.
~ 5 June 1917 ~
National Registration Day Celebration & Parade In Petoskey
National Registration Day Celebration & Parade In Petoskey
Postcard Below: This postcard belonged to my Great Grandmother Marion Mackie Wood who had hand written on the back of the postcard... "June 5, 1917". The photo was taken on Lake Street in Petoskey with the City/County building with the clock tower showing on the corner of Lake and Division streets. The other building closer to the left was the Elk Club. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
Article Below: Sounds like Pennsylvania Park had more than one cannon in it in 1917????
This copy, below, of the history of the Draft Board of Emmet County was found in the vertical file of the Petoskey Library. It has no author noted.
The postcard above pictures the happening as described in the 5 June 1917 The Petoskey Evening News article below. The holiday was described as "one of the most momentous days in the history of the country." "Outpourings of patriotism" were held all across the country, as an outpouring was held locally in Federation Park on the corner of Division and Bay Streets in Emmet County's Petoskey MI (photo above).
1917 ~ Petoskey's Roll of Honor
Nine Postings Below: As listed in the 6 June 1917 Petoskey Evening News according to Wards
WWI Local Civilian Effects
Copies of Petoskey's local songwriter, J. Will Callahan's song "There's a Little Home in My Land" were passed out in 1917. Does anyone happen still to have a copy of this music?
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Memorial Day, 31 May 1917, had a tremendous effect on the local people in Petoskey,
with their show of old soldiers and young troopers
as chronicled in the Petoskey Evening News (below) of that Memorial Day.
The article below describes the postcard photo posted farther below this article.
with their show of old soldiers and young troopers
as chronicled in the Petoskey Evening News (below) of that Memorial Day.
The article below describes the postcard photo posted farther below this article.
The 1917 photo/postcard farther below shows the WWI soldiers standing in front of the Petoskey Post Office. The 1883 Petoskey City Record news article directly below gives a vivid description of the Petoskey Post Office. The location of this mentioned Post Office is not given so it is not known that this is the same post office as the one located on the corner of Mitchell and Petoskey streets.
The 1883 Post Office is quite possibly NOT the Post Office in the 1917 photo/postcard... especially if the 1909 article below is read where the Post Office property was being discussed for purchase.
The 1883 Post Office is quite possibly NOT the Post Office in the 1917 photo/postcard... especially if the 1909 article below is read where the Post Office property was being discussed for purchase.
1917
Memorial Day Celebration in Front of the Petoskey Post Office
Memorial Day Celebration in Front of the Petoskey Post Office
The postcard photo below was described in the 31 May 1917 Petoskey Evening News article shown above: "In the afternoon, what was perhaps the most inspiring exhibition of its kind ever given in Petoskey, took place in front of the post office. The Dress Parade and Patriotic Review, arranged by Major A.F. Ruch, of the Petoskey City band, was witnessed by thousands of people massed on the sidewalks and in the buildings on Mitchell street. Just before the opening of this part of the Memorial day program Company 17, of the Michigan State Troops, gave their first public drill. The company was put thru the various maneuvers by the officers, surprising those who witnessed it with their fine work. The company was then formed at the head of the column and was followed by the G.A.R. Drum Corps, G.A.R., Petoskey city fire department, Boy Scout Drum Corps and Boy Scouts. The W.R.C. and the Red Cross women were seated on the post office steps, where Miss Helen Phelps represented the Goddess of Liberty. Mayor Klise addressed the column, complimenting the newly formed company on the fine showing made, assuring them of the loyal support of the whole community. He later on the program addressed the W.R.C. and Red Cross. William Schaller, of the Petoskey City band, provided one of the pleasing numbers on the afternoon program, a solo with band accompaniment. His song was 'Long Live Our U.S. of A.' and it was greeted with an enthusiastic burst of applause. While the band played 'The Star Spangled Banner,' members of the post office force raised Old Glory to the staff on the roof of the government building." |
The photo above shows the 316 Mitchell Street Property with the Bump & McCabe Hardware sign painted on the side. The five photos below show the same building with various signs from over the years painted on the side of the same building, with the sign, called a "ghost sign" as it appears in 2015. In September 2015 artist Abby Kent was hoping to raise funds to restore the sign image which is degrading. Those funds did not materialize. [See Below However]
By August of 2017, support for most of the "ghost sign" painting project was provided by the family of Henry Redder. In the 25 August 2017 Petoskey News Review, reporter Matt Mikus wrote about Henry and his wife retiring in Petoskey in 1970, from Pennsylvania. Henry's son Tom told in the article, "He (Henry) was very active in some of the veteran associations, rode in the parades, and he really loved the community. When he passed away in October, we were wondering what we could do in Petoskey to honor him. We thought of things like a mural or a bench, but then we learned about Abby Kent (the Ghost Sign artist), and it just seemed perfect, so we contacted her." Once the project commenced, others did contribute as well. Skip Dyrda of Sarasota, Florida was the co-painter. Today, Grand Traverse Pie Company, and North Woods Yoga Studio are housed in the building at 316 East Mitchell Street.
UPDATE: Soon after June of 2018 the Grand Traverse Pie Company had closed, followed by the opening of the Grain Train Market Cafe.
UPDATE: Soon after June of 2018 the Grand Traverse Pie Company had closed, followed by the opening of the Grain Train Market Cafe.
Article Below: Frank Starr (later of Walloon Lake, Michigan)
served in both WWI and WWII.
Both of Frank's sons Miles and this 1917 new born son Kenneth,
also served in the military during WWII.
Slacker Commissions
(Article Below)
First Military Marriage to Occur in Petoskey
(Article Below)
Try To Forget The War With All Of Its Grimness For a Few Hours (Article Below) |
Postcard below in the possession of the webmaster addressed to Mr. J.M. Snyder R.F.D. Boyne Falls, Mich. from Private Richard H. Calkins Company F Camp Custer 340th Inf. Postmarked Battle Creek, Mich. 12 July 1918 Custer |
Powder Plant Explosion
(Article Below)
National Guard
With lumbering in Northern Michigan having wound down, Mr. Rasmus Hanson of the Salling Hanson & Co & Louis Sands lumber company, on 2 May 1913, gave some of their Grayling MI logging land to the Michigan National Guard, where major military training has taken place ever since.
Ninety-four years after the above article was published, the 16 March 2018 Gaylord Herald Times, published an updated account of Camp Grayling as follows:
"Camp Grayling is listed as the largest National Guard training post and the largest Army training post east of the Mississippi River. It uses more than 147,000 acres, most of which are leased from the Department of Natural Resources. According to a promotional video on Camp Grayling’s website, it lists the Range 40 Complex that borders near Enchanted Forest — as Camp Grayling’s 'largest range and impact area' and that the area is mostly used for aerial gunnery, bombardment, artillery, mortar impact and live-fire missions."
The article told of the bombs, artillery and other noise and how they negatively were affecting the neighbors living in the nearby Enchanted Forest. The National Guard situation recently had been exacerbated by the approved clear cutting of trees, by the DNR, that would otherwise have muffled some of the sounds.
"Camp Grayling is listed as the largest National Guard training post and the largest Army training post east of the Mississippi River. It uses more than 147,000 acres, most of which are leased from the Department of Natural Resources. According to a promotional video on Camp Grayling’s website, it lists the Range 40 Complex that borders near Enchanted Forest — as Camp Grayling’s 'largest range and impact area' and that the area is mostly used for aerial gunnery, bombardment, artillery, mortar impact and live-fire missions."
The article told of the bombs, artillery and other noise and how they negatively were affecting the neighbors living in the nearby Enchanted Forest. The National Guard situation recently had been exacerbated by the approved clear cutting of trees, by the DNR, that would otherwise have muffled some of the sounds.
Those who were called...
The following information about award recipients is from Michigan in the World War:
Subtitle: Military and Naval Honors of Michigan Men and Women
(page 116)
"Charles R, Chase, 10004, private, first class, Section No. 18/70/636, Ambulance Service. French Croix de Guerre with bronze star, under Order No. 11.999 ''D," dated November 29, 1918, General Headquarters, French Armies of the East, with the following citation : "He set a fine example of coolness and courage on July29,1918. His ambulance having been disabled in the Chazelles ravine, he went on foot to the first aid station to obtain another. After having transported the wounded to the field hospital, he went back to get the first ambulance, which he brought in under a violent bombardment." Residence at enlistment: 878 Lake Street, Petoskey, Michigan."
(page 173)
"Hugh D. McPhail, second lieutenant, 339th Infantry, 85th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Russia. British Military Cross, List No. 55, dated January 9, 1920, British War Office. Residence at appointment: 807 Howard Street, Petoskey, Michigan."
(pages 222-223)
"George Van Orden, colonel, 11th Regiment, United States Marine Corps, Services of Supply, American Expeditionary Forces. French Ordre de TEtoile Noir (Officer), by Presidential Decree of September 24, 1919. (Address: Care of Major General Commandant, United States Marine Corps, Washington, D, C.). Residence at appointment: Petoskey, Michigan."
Postcard below in the possession of the webmaster addressed to Mr. Carl Clark, R.F.D. Boyne Falls, Mich. Postmarked 15 January 1919 Battle Creek, Mich. Custer BR.
Babe Ruth, the popular baseball player served in WWI.
Valuable Police Dog Decorated With Military Honors Was Killed
Physical defects prevented some from serving in the military...
While others were deserters.
~ POST WWI ~
~ Veterans Who Passed ~
Rolland Gokee passed away at his home near Wabmeme [near Petoskey] Sunday night. He was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Gokee, was born here and had spent his entire life here. He was twenty-five years of age and leaves a widow besides his parents and two brothers and four sisters. His brother Donald is at Camp Custer. Burial will be in the Clarion cemetery Tuesday afternoon. --- 15 October 1918 ~ Petoskey Evening News
Roland Gokee's death certificate stated the cause of death as "Influenza".
Roland Gokee's death certificate stated the cause of death as "Influenza".
WWI Veteran Raymond Edmonds Swam Across Little Traverse Bay Near Petoskey MI
Captain Phillip Middleditch ~ Another War Veteran Passes
Article Below: WWI veteran Horace Hungerford
husband of former Petoskey resident Margaret Saurman passed away.
husband of former Petoskey resident Margaret Saurman passed away.
Article Below:
Mr. Liberty was a drill sergeant during WWI.
Mr. Liberty was a drill sergeant during WWI.
World War I Memorial on this same website
has additional information about WWI...
has additional information about WWI...