Onekama gains a tent colony at Portage Lake, 100 years ago

“The reclaiming operations are under the direction of Pat Reagan, an experienced well driller formerly employed by the Standard Oil company … in Oklahoma … .

“Daylight saving just makes some people tired an hour earlier.

“The showers of the past two days were highly pleasing to the farmers, who see a fine boost to their crops. 

“Noah Little says:  Don’t be afraid of what people will think, as people don’t think about you half as often as you think they do.

“Only a dressmaker can make figures lie. 

“Fools and children tell the truth, and generally at the wrong time. 

“All small boys favor making the hole in the doughnut smaller and that in the baseball fences larger. 

“The old school bell for a number of young men is about to turn over to the 7 o’clock whistle. 

“This is about the time of year when the woman of the house, rather than wait any longer, buys a brush and a bucket of paint and goes after the porches and the porch furniture.

June. 10, pg. 1

“ANN ARBOR, June 10. — The state Friday filed answer in circuit court here to the suit brought by Miss Alice Tanton, of Detroit, who was suspended by the Ypsilanti Normal college authorities some time ago. 

“Miss Tanton is charged with giving out interviews to the press censuring the college authorities and holding them up to ridicule.

“The reply further states that Miss Tanton openly charged the college authorities with being prejudiced against her because her hair was short, blond and curly and she characterized Bessie Leach Priddy, dean of women, with being a spy and snoop, inquiring into her private life. 

“The state also charges that the student, contrary to the prevailing social order and conduct pertaining to persons fitting themselves for the important duties of teaching in the public schools, privately and publicly indulged in the use of cigarettes. 

Pg. 2

“Coming to the Lyric … The Road to Romance — or The Road to Ruin?  Could she take it?  Could she live down, as the wife of the man she loved, her identification with her background — the cafes of Paris?  Could she go back to it, knowing that her single frailty must sooner or later yield to the menace of men?  Such is the girl’s dilemma in the resplendent screen drama … MAE MURRAY in ‘Peacock Alley’ … .

“The rain yesterday ceased long enough to permit high school students to stage their pretty May Day event … on the east lawn of the high school building under the canopy of the huge maple … attended by a large audience … .

“DO YOU REALIZE How Much Gas Ranges Have Improved?  To enable the public to understand and appreciate the vast differences between modern ranges and old style stoves, we offered a prize for the oldest stove in town.  Mrs. F. L. Cuningham, 461 Fourth St., was the fortunate one to win the prize — a beautiful modern gas range.  We now have this old-fashioned stove (an 1898 model) on display in our window.  Beside it, in contrast stands an up-to-date wonderful DIRECT ACTION Gas Range with ‘Lorain’ Oven Heat Regulator … United Appliance Co. At Consumers Power Co. — ’Phone 42.  

Pg. 3

“An expert says 70% of all talk is wasted.  Which leaves the men’s 30% perfect. 

“Most people have a certain amount of intelligence, but the skill some have in concealing it amounts to genius. 

“The American people are tumbling over each other to buy radio sets, but garden tools aren’t selling any better than usual. 

“As Noah Heap puts it:  Some people don’t know how badly they are hurt in an accident until they talk to their lawyers. 

“A woman may not know the difference between the constitution and a bank balance, but if she feeds her family properly she has little trouble managing their superior minds.

“A marriage license was issued this morning to Edward T. Kimball, R. 1, Manistee and Miss Martha A. Erdman, Onekama.  This is the seventh June marriage license to be issued this year.  A year ago nine licenses were issued during the first nine days of June, a total of 22 licenses being issued during the month.  The month of June in 1920 has the best record in recent years, 40 licenses being issued. 

“The canine days are rapidly approaching.  Hot dog!

“Every June bride will as usual kid herself into the idea that her marriage was the result of a thrilling romance. 

“City Manager John Shields again calls attention to the fact that all sprinkling must cease when a fire alarm is sounded.  The engineer of the water works has discovered that this regulation is being violated. 

June 12, pg. 1

“That Manistee today is not out en masse cleaning up ruins instead of going about its customary routine affairs, can be considered almost a miracle after passing through three days of the most serious rainstorms in recent years. 

“Dead and injured … and property damage … is the toll of the storm in other sections of the country.  Locally, the railroads were the most severely hit (from washouts). 

“Flooded basements and accumulation of sand at the foot of hills is the only damage reported in the city, in spite of the fact that several staggering crashes of lightning accompanied the storm. 

“Records at the postoffice show 5.31 inches rainfall for the three days, a record in the memory of the present officials … The heavy downpour of Saturday night registered the highest, 3.4 inches … 

“If the rain would have ceased before Saturday, farmers would now be contemplating on their certain fine crops.  But the continued downpour … flooded many sections of lowland and tore away the hilly sections, thereby causing damage where benefit was needed.  Rural roads were gutted in many spots … . 

“Fred Klimec, a farmer living 1 mile south of Tanner was killed by lightning during the storm Saturday afternoon about 5 o’clock, being struck while leaning against the chimney in a two room shack adjoining his place.

“Klimek, with two of his sons, left the house to collect the cattle.  While on the way they took shelter from the rain in (a) shack, the two boys going into one room and the father remaining in the other. 

“A bolt of lightning struck the chimney and going down, hit Klimek, who was killed instantly … 

“He was 38 years old and had been a resident on the farm for only three months, coming there from Chicago, where he is said to have traded some property for the farm.  He is survived by a widow and four children … .

Pg. 3

“In marked contrast to their sloppy exhibition of the previous Sunday, (the Independents) played brilliant baseball at Frankfort, defeating the strong team of that town 6 to 0 in five innings, before the game was stopped by rain … .

“To give variety to its summer program, the Exchange club, during the vacation months will hold meetings each two weeks, instead of weekly, at evening luncheons instead of at noon, and at various resort and social centers instead of at the Chippewa … 

“Exchangeites enjoyed a talk by Miss Helen Ramsdell on her successful work in vocational training as director the past two years of the department of retail selling in the Canton, Ohio, schools … Miss Ramsdell has had such success that she has been promoted for the coming year to statewide work as superintendent of a department, with headquarters in Columbus … .

“Are girls as bad as they are painted? A magazine asks.  Those who are painted probably are. 

“There would be more people at the top if it wasn’t so easy to slide back again.

“Noah Little says:  Nothing is as high as the high cost of loafing. 

“Here we are ‘knee deep in June,’ with the longest daylight of the year close at hand.  Summer officially begins June 22, shortly after midnight. 

“This story is told of a local motorist who had the misfortune to exterminate a chicken on his trip into the country Sunday.  His sense of justice impelled him to stop and make amends to the bird’s owner, and the following dialogue ensued:

“‘I’m sorry I ran over your hen, sir,’ said the kindly disposed motorist.  ‘I’ll pay you for her.’

“‘She was a pet hen, sir.  She always came to me when I called her, and she laid an egg every day.’ 

“‘Would a dollar be alright?’

“‘You’d better make it two, sir.  I also have a pet rooster.  He thinks a lot of that hen, and when he finds out she’s dead it wouldn’t surprise me if the shock killed him.’

June 13, pg. 3

“Announcement was made today by Mrs. M. A. Smithson, who has been re-engaged as manager of Portage Point Inn, that this popular resort hotel will open its season Saturday, July 1 … 

“In addition to the general redecorating throughout … an orchestra will be engaged to furnish music during the dinner and supper hours and also for the evening dancing in the pavilion … .

“Noah Little says:  One fool bigger than a big fool is the man who argues with one. 

“In fairness let it be said that a barber never used the kind of talk to a customer that a man uses to his razor when he shaves himself. 

“As Noah Heap puts it:  It’s not what others know about us that bothers us so much as having to keep secret so many things that we know about ourselves. 

“Nature takes her time because it’s hers. 

“‘An optimist is one who laughs to forget.’  Yes, and a pessimist is one who forgets to laugh. 

“A man can spend too much time in his garden.  The neighbors get the idea that things are not just as they should be inside the house.

“It is estimated that American women spend more than a million dollars a week on their faces, not including soap, which some of them still use. 

June 14, pg. 1

“CINCINNATI, June 14. — Asserting that the Supreme Court of the United States is now ‘the actual ruler of the American people,’ Senator LaFollette, in a speech to the American Federation of Labor convention, today proposed the passage of a constitutional amendment giving Congress power to nullify any decision of the high tribunal. 

“The court, the senator declared, has assumed power over the laws of the country which the framers of the constitution never intended it should have … .

Pg. 2

“The Junior class, which will be host to the graduating seniors and members of the faculty and board of education, is making final preparations for the dinner and dance to be given Friday evening at the Country club. 

“The marriage early in July of Miss Helen Jentoft and Henry Meier will mark the culmination of an ideal romance begun in childhood days.  Both residents of Manistee from birth, the gallant Henry escorted his little playmate Helen to her first day of school and saw her safely home. 

“Miss Jentoft has resigned from her appointment as teacher in the Grant school and will make her future home in St. Petersburg, Florida, where Mr. Meier is already located in a well established business … In addition to proven ability as a teacher, (Miss Jentoft) has had valuable library experience.  She has endeared herself to the many pupils who have passed through her grade … 

“Both young people have a wide circle of friends here, who wish them the fullest measure of happiness and success … .

Pg. 3

“Justice Greve had a busy morning today dishing out fines and costs to five autoists who were arrested last night, three for speeding and two for driving without an operator’s license in their possession at the time of their arrest, by police officers who are trying to put a stop to speeding and reckless driving within the city limits.  

“Attention has been focused particularly upon the First Street drive, which has become popularly known as the best speedway in the city and is being used for that purpose with absolute disregard for the speed laws.  Speeding there is so common that any protest by a motorist who happened to be caught will avail him nothing, because the police, small as the force is, will spare no one, once he is seen breaking the law … .

“A generous display of flags was in evidence today throughout the city in commemoration of Flag Day.  Red, white and blue bunting was especially noticeable on River Street, where nearly every store was decorated with the American flag. 

“Fitting Flag Day exercises were held in the individual rooms of several of the schools of the city … .

“Deeply resenting the indignity of arrest by Officer Dahlke last night on a charge of driving without a driver’s license, U. A. Luelleman, a Detroit tourist, appeared at The News-Advocate office this morning to voice his sentiments regarding Manistee’s treatment of summer visitors.

“Mr. Luelleman, who was one of a half-dozen motorists taken last night, paid a fine and costs of $9.05 in Justice Greve’s court this morning, notwithstanding that upon being permitted to return to his room at the Chippewa he produced from another coat Michigan driver’s license No. 553,649, made out in his name, which he says he exhibited to the arresting officer last night as well as in court today.

“‘Manistee is certain to suffer by such treatment of tourists,’ Mr. Luelleman said.  ‘I came here upon the recommendation of Mr. Frank Filer, who told me the roads were a boulevard and the city delightful, in both of which I fully agree with him.  At the hotel I simply changed my coat. Neglecting to transfer my checkbook, in which was my license.  Then, driving out First Street to the beach, I was halted by the officer, who demanded to see my license and would accept no explanation.

“‘I have driven cars for the past eight years, all over Michigan, and this is the first disagreeable experience of the kind that I have had.  In Detroit with its many thousands of automobiles the officers invariably are more courteous than in this case, and if a driver is suspected of not having a license he is told to appear in court the next morning if he cannot show it when stopped.  Then if he hasn’t one he is severely dealt with.

“‘It is not the small amount of the fine to which I object so much as the unfairness of the treatment.  We are Manistee’s guests for the time, spending our money for hotel accommodations and other necessities and trying to comply with the city’s traffic requirements.  My driver’s license was not three blocks away and no one was using it when I was stopped.  We come here for pleasure, for relaxation, and our pleasure is marred at the outset by a most distressing incident.  Although I have had a driver’s license ever since it was required, this is the first time I have ever been compelled to produce it. 

“‘Reports of such treatment are going to cause many motorists intending to visit Manistee to change their itinerary.  After my experience I cannot consistently counsel any of my friends to visit your city, for fear they might be subjected to like treatment.’

June 15, pg. 3

“Miss Alice Geyer of this city won the gold medal offered by the district organization of the WCTU for the best essay on law enforcement, written by pupils of the seventh and eighth grades, it was announced today … .

“‘And Home Came Ted,’ the play chosen this year by the high school seniors for presentation during commencement week, will be given Tuesday evening in Ramsdell theatre.  It is a comedy in three acts and is said to be a sprightly play of mystery in which there is an abundance of fun, intermingled with a number of dramatic situations which easily hold the attention of the audience during the full two hours which it takes for presentation … 

“Tickets are being sold by members of the Senior class … .

“Considerably improved and enlarged over previous years, Camp Delight, popular tent colony on the south side of Portage Lake, is ready to open Saturday … 

“Of the noticeable improvements … is the installation of new model tent-houses … These tent-houses are said to be absolutely water- and bug-proof … with facilities for closing up on a cool night or a rainy day.  Each is equipped with shutters worked from the inside … giving as much or as little ventilation as desired.

“Full details on the condition of roads between Manistee and Ann Arbor can be obtained from Otto Kieling, freshman medic at the University of Michigan, and Chas. Hargrave, of Detroit, a junior engineer, who is visiting with him.  The two arrived in Manistee yesterday afternoon, having walked up from Ann Arbor, where they left early Tuesday morning. 

“‘Of course we didn’t walk the whole way,’ said Otto.  ‘We never refused a ride when it was offered to us, and when you consider that we made the trip in a little less than two days, you will understand that we had quite a number of offers.  And it sure was great stuff.’ 

“This was Otto’s second experience at ‘bumming,’ he and Merle Gerred having bummed their way from Ann Arbor to Columbus, O., to attend the Michigan-Ohio football game a year ago last fall.   

“It is better to do your best and expect the worst than to do your worst and expect the best. 

“On the one hand, a coal miner can go to work, and on the other hand, he can strike.  He takes his pick. 

“Aren’t the roses sweet?

“Draining the hose doesn’t satisfy the motorist buying gasoline now.  He insists that it also be squeezed. 

“As Noah Heap puts it:  Lots of folks that won’t kick a man when he’s down don’t mind walking all over him. 

“Noah Little says:  If some men didn’t talk as much as they do about the vacation they had nobody would ever know they were off the job. 

“E. R. Goldberg of the Goshen Shirt Mfg. company announced this morning that due to the increase in the company’s business, the plant at Cadillac, which has been idle for some time, has been reopened. 

Pg. 4

“Every now and then a new era comes along, but we get over it.

“Scientist says the world will be crazy in 2122.  Others, however, look for a change before then.

“(Editorial) A SANE FOURTH.

“No plans have been formulated for a formal Fourth of July celebration for Manistee this year, and apparently this city is going to forego such festivity. 

“Public sentiment seems to be pretty much divided between a ‘celebration’ and more quiet observance of the day, each one to his liking.  Some business men feel that the city, as the hub of an extensive trading area, should make plans to entertain the people roundabout. 

“On the other hand there are those who feel that Manistee has had a surfeit of ‘noisy demonstrations’ on the nation’s birthday, and they point to the fact that no neighbor communities are planning any extensive doings.  Finally, they assert that the burdens of the work always fall upon the shoulders of some half-dozen already overworked but public-spirited citizens, upon whom it is hardly fair to call year after year.

“If Manistee wants to celebrate, the plans should be laid early in the spring.  The city is big enough and experienced enough in handling such affairs to put across a ‘big’ celebration, but it can’t be done on short notice.  It takes time and money to make such an event a successful advertisement for the city, and if these two elements are lacking the day might much better be spent quietly. 

“The entire character of the national holiday has changed, anyway, since the coming of the automobile.  People can now go where they will without depending on railroad excursions, so the shores and streams and picnic grounds now entertain people who, a dozen years ago, sat along the streets for hours waiting to view a parade.  For this reason alone it is more difficult to arouse interest in a flamboyant celebration.  A lot of people would rather get away from fire works’ acrid fumes and the turmoil of a crowd than to plunge into a welter of noise and excitement. 

June 9, pg. 4

“(Editorial) THE SCHOOL EXAMS.

“School and college pupils who have been taking their studies in an easy going way are realizing about now that they are up against the exam proposition, and they are trying in a few days or weeks to make up for the idle hours.  They are not the only ones who are worrying.  Many conscientious students who are well prepared also distrust their own powers. 

“Many educators feel that examinations furnish a rather superficial test of scholastic merit.  But though poor students sometimes slip through them by bluff, and good students often fall down through nervousness, yet they furnish a test of self possession.  The student who can collect his thoughts enough to tell what he knows on short notice has acquired mental power that will help him in many tight places.

June 13, pg. 1 (A Flag-Day Special.  This is quite long, but I found it interesting and thought you might, too.  It is presented unedited and unabridged. — T. K.)

“(Article) ‘American Citizenship — Its Aims, Ideals and Responsibilities’ By HARVEY KEERAN.  (Harvey Keeran is a Manistee high school student. — T. K.)  

“The following essay won first prize in the contest conducted by the Manistee Knights of Pythias, and it is published not only because of its merit, but that it might throw a clearer light on the duties and obligations each person owes to his community and to his country. 

“The great aim of a republican government is expressed in the final object for which the Constitution was established:  ‘To secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.’  It is this desire, this love of liberty which inspires the patriotism of citizens, which won the Revolution and has kept Democracy alive through every trial and emergency; and the fruit of this liberty, an embellished republican Democracy, we must preserve as a sacred trust to be handed down to our posterity undiminished by any of its superior attributes but increased by many more qualities approved by a free, liberty-loving people. 

“Every good citizen and every intelligent alien should be striving together with his fellows to maintain and better democracy — not merely the political idea popularized by Lincoln — ‘A government of the people, by the people, for the people’ — But a Democracy which is expressed in the high-sounding phrase ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’ — Liberty for the worker, equality for citizens, fraternity for man. 

“If Americans would consider deeply the nature of the elements which compose our republican government they would learn that our republic has been erected by popular will and that its power, its stability, its grandeur, in fact its very existence are a gift from the people and a sacred charge of which they are the custodians. 

“Therefore, to perpetuate its life and to secure its constant protection through the exercises of justice, truth, impartiality and honest administration of its laws, the necessary contributions of moral and physical support must come willingly from the people. Thus American citizens have certain responsibilities to preserve so that they may fully reap the blessings of freedom and liberty. 

“It has been wisely said that ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty’ but unfortunately many citizens regard our government as being impervious to the accidents of destiny and consequently requiring but little care at the hands of its citizens.  They therefore permit their patriotic vigilance to be relaxed by the confidence in the fact that it was erected by the will of the people and that it could only be dissolved by the same sovereign power, a contingence which appears altogether improbable. 

“In this fancied security the poor man finds his time absorbed by striving to keep his family from want; the man in moderate means has every moment employed in securing a fortune, and the wealthy man is unremittingly engaged in caring for that which he has accumulated, so it is that too few find enough time to devote to the cares of government. 

“Lately it has been said that citizens are becoming very indifferent to national affairs and that the average citizen of to-day would prefer to discuss the possibilities of a trip to the moon, the weather, or a photoplay, rather than talk of the important developments of the Arms Conference.  This indifference is a danger-point at which we have arrived and every citizen should know that, should the unfortunate moment ever come when vicious legislation has undermined the principles of our democratic foundation, it will result altogether from selfish absorption of the people in matters pertaining to their domestic welfare, and their failure to exercise their political duties as citizens. 

“Every good American citizen must believe in the fundamental principles upon which our government is built, must be willing to recognize the supremacy of the law and aid its enforcement, must be ready to devote life, liberty and fortune to prevent the failure of the government of which he is a part, must willingly serve his country in any capacity for which he is fitted when he is required to do so, and must learn to govern himself, to subject his self-interests to his reason, conscience and will, for one million men and women who cannot govern themselves can never maintain a self-governing community since one million times nothing equals nothing. 

“If the American citizen would only remember that he, through his vote, is an essential part of government; that his agencies, through his ballot, in directing the policy of government is as potent as that of any man in the land, he would never refrain from casting his vote but would regard it as a patriotic duty to cast his ballot at every election. 

“Moreover, the careful citizen who upholds the dignity of American citizenship, who strives to set an example of fairness, truthfully and justly cherishes a desire to labor for our country’s welfare, will disregard parties and partisanship, when voting, and support the candidates or measures which are most conducive to the welfare of the people in general, whether they be Republican or Democratic. 

“At present large numbers of citizens are extreme partisans altho their number is decreasing and it is the poison of partisanship, the blind allegiance of sensible men to what they call party that has made possible the existence of those vile and corrupt political rings which, at one time or another, have controlled almost every municipality in this country. 

“Honesty, justice and patriotism all demand the exercise of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship but a citizen need not stultify his convictions when voting for either candidate but may let his vote be a protest against the men and the measures presented for his suffrage.  If we desire to ‘secure the blessings of liberty’ to form a more perfect union, to make a union perpetual, to establish domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, and promote the general welfare, all these must be obtained by the efforts of the individual citizens acting patriotically in the interests of the united whole. 

“Abnegation of self-reliance, discarding personal responsibility with the vague expectation that someone else will have more leisure to assume the duties which we neglect, cannot promote the blessings of liberty.  The creed of individual responsibility should be emphasized and practiced.”