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Boyne River in winter
Boyne City photographer Gary Osterbeck specializes in pictures of the Boyne River, and he snapped this nice one for the Friends of the Boyne River on January 21 near Dam Road.
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Inside this issue:
- 96-unit Court Street housing plan moves ahead
- Boyne City Schools close amid extreme cold
- Senior centers open to all during cold spell
- Heritage Center presses for storage building
- City Planner McPherson returns part-time
- Longtime yacht broker Wes Dilworth retires
- Ice Breaker Boyne will celebrate winter on Feb. 22
- Patrick McCleary local landmarks: Shaw mansion
- News briefs, Obituaries & Municipal News
- Thanks to the donors who keep the news coming!
- Music and entertainment listings
| > Like this newsletter? Forward to a friend and help us grow. If they like it, they can subscribe here. P.S. We just hit 2,062 subscribers this week! | | |
Moxie Development presented this image to show what the apartment buildings will look like when completed.
City Commission takes step forward on 96-unit Court Street housing plan
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
A proposed 96-unit workforce housing development on Court Street is back before Boyne City officials, with a scaled-down design, a tighter timeline and renewed urgency around the city’s housing shortage.
At a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27, Boyne City commissioners agreed to move forward with drafting a land agreement for city-owned property at 508 Court St., allowing negotiations with Moxie Development to continue. The procedural step does not approve the project itself, but clears the way for further review.
The proposal - known as Flats on Court - would bring four three-story apartment buildings and 96 units to the north side of Boyne City. Moxie estimates the private investment at about $14.5 million, with construction potentially beginning as early as August if approvals remain on track.
A smaller project with a faster timeline
The revised proposal replaces a larger workforce housing plan first introduced in early 2025. That earlier version stalled amid leadership turnover at City Hall and the disappearance of several state and federal housing incentives.
Moxie representatives told commissioners they have worked with three different city managers over the past year, making it difficult to finalize details.
“This is a very different proposal than what we were originally seeking,” Commissioner Sandy Pritchard said, questioning how the project’s income targets have shifted.
Under the revised plan, the development would include 80 two-bedroom units and 16 one-bedroom units, all with on-site parking. The city would sell the property to Moxie for $50,000 under the proposed land contract.
What Flats on Court would look like
Moxie said the project is designed to blend with Boyne City’s character while providing modern, durable housing. The four buildings would feature varied rooflines, elevation changes and two-tone exterior colors in off-white with green and blue accents.
Balconies would be built into the structures to create covered outdoor spaces rather than projecting decks. An on-site property manager would oversee day-to-day operations during the week.
Inside, apartments would include granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and contemporary finishes. One-bedroom units are planned at about 725 square feet, while two-bedroom, two-bath units would measure roughly 950 square feet.
Who the housing is meant to serve
Under the current proposal, 72 of the 96 units would be designated as workforce housing for households earning at or below 120 percent of the area median income (AMI). The remaining units would be rented at market rates.
The tentative mix includes:
- 66 two-bedroom workforce units
- 6 one-bedroom workforce units
- 14 two-bedroom market-rate units
- 10 one-bedroom market-rate units
Based on this, estimated base rents in 2026 would be $1,376 for one-bedroom units and $1,652 for two-bedroom units. By 2028, projected rents would rise to about $1,600 and $1,920, respectively.
Several commissioners raised concerns that the 120 percent AMI threshold was too high and may exclude lower-income residents. Commissioner Becky Houser noted that a single person earning about $83,760 annually would qualify at that level.
Commissioner Pritchard questioned whether the revised plan still reflects the project’s original intent.
However, Mayor Bob Farrell pointed to persistent demand, noting that a workforce housing development in Petoskey reportedly has a waiting list of about 500 people. Commissioner Beano Hampton also urged action.
“We don’t have employees in this city because they can’t find housing,” Hampton said. “If we keep dragging our feet, we’re going to keep losing opportunities.”
Moxie said the project allows some flexibility in AMI levels and unit mix, and that the company will return with additional breakdowns for commissioners to consider.
Financing and what comes next
Flats on Court now relies on a single public incentive: a brownfield housing tax increment financing plan allowed under Michigan law. Recent changes permit brownfield TIFs to support housing projects serving households at or below 120 percent AMI, even on sites that are not traditional brownfields, with oversight from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
Moxie is seeking up to $10 million in captured taxes over 23 years to help finance construction, in exchange for maintaining workforce housing restrictions on qualifying units.
If the land agreement is approved following legal review, the project would move into the brownfield approval process at the city, county and state levels — a step Moxie estimates could take four to six months. Site plan approval and engineering work would follow.
Developers said their goal is to break ground in August, lease two buildings by late spring or early summer 2027, and have all four buildings available by December 2027. The company has secured the domain www.flatsoncourt.com for residents interested in future leasing.
> Moxie’s Powerpoint presentation from the City Commission meeting.
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This slide from Tuesday's meeting showed the updated site plan for the Moxie development with four three-story apartment buildings off of Court Street.
| Map shows the proposed location of Flats on Court in northern Boyne City. | |
Boyne City Schools close amid extreme cold, drawing mixed online reaction
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
Boyne City Public Schools closed Jan. 23 as an arctic blast settled over Northern Michigan, creating dangerous conditions for students traveling to school and waiting outdoors for buses.
The closure marked the district’s third weather-related cancellation of the school year, Superintendent Patrick Little said. Boyne City typically averages about six snow days per year, though totals can vary widely.
“There’s not really a normal,” Little said. “You have to just sort of take each day for what it’s worth.”
Little said weather-related decisions are especially challenging in a district that spans about 98 square miles, where conditions can change quickly and vary significantly from one end of the district to the other.
On borderline mornings, staff begin road checks as early as 4 to 4:30 a.m., driving bus routes and known trouble spots. But what looks manageable at 5 a.m. can deteriorate by the time buses begin running closer to 7 or 8 a.m., he said.
“It’s a judgment call,” Little said.
Lake effect snow can further complicate those calls.
“The south end of our district could be very different than the north end,” Little said. “Sometimes people will say, ‘Oh, my roads were fine,’ and somebody else will be like, ‘Are you kidding? It was horrible.’”
In this case, however, Little said the decision was far more straightforward.
“This one was really about the temperatures,” he said. “If it’s negative 20 during transition times, we’re closed.”
Meteorologist Joe DeLizio with the National Weather Service in Gaylord said Jan. 23 marked the beginning of the coldest stretch of the winter so far in Northern Michigan, with the most dangerous conditions occurring during the early morning hours.
In Boyne City, air temperatures early Jan. 23 were around 2 degrees below zero, DeLizio said, but wind chills dropped into the minus 20 to minus 25 range around the time students would typically be heading to bus stops.
Similar conditions were recorded in Charlevoix, where air temperatures were closer to zero but wind chills were comparable, DeLizio said.
In parts of East Jordan and more rural areas east of Lake Charlevoix, readings were even colder. One observation site near East Jordan recorded air temperatures near minus 30 degrees for a brief period early that morning, DeLizio said, likely due to calm winds and localized conditions.
“No matter how you slice it, once you get below minus 20, it’s certainly dangerous,” DeLizio said, especially for anyone standing outside with exposed skin.
At those temperatures, frostbite can begin to develop in as little as 15 to 30 minutes, DeLizio said, underscoring the risk for students waiting outdoors.
Because the extreme cold was forecast across the entire district, Boyne City Public Schools was able to cancel classes the night before — something Little said is unusual, but allowed families additional time to plan.
The fact that Boyne City did not close school on Jan. 22 - the day before closing on the 23rd - sparked debate on Facebook, including the local community group Boyne City News and Buzz, where commenters expressed a mix of support and criticism.
“That post is a great snapshot for all of us about the reality of snow days,” Little said, referring to the hundreds of comments generated on a single post from the Boyne City News and Buzz. “There’s just as many people saying you should have had a snow day as you shouldn’t.”
Michigan school districts are required to provide 180 days and 1,098 hours of instruction each year. Under state rules, districts are allowed six “forgiven” days for snow, ice or other emergencies without losing state aid. If a district exceeds those six days, it may request a waiver for up to three additional forgiven days from the Michigan Department of Education in extraordinary circumstances.
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The Boyne Area Senior Center and others in Charlevoix County were opened to anyone needing a warm place to go on Jan. 23 and again this Thursday and Friday, Jan. 29-30.
Bitter cold means senior centers open for all; Senior citizens urged to stay safe
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
As temperatures dropped across Northern Michigan, Charlevoix County senior centers opened their doors Friday, Jan. 23, offering warmth and urging senior citizens to plan ahead. That situation is being repeated Thursday and Friday, Jan. 29-30, according to an announcement at 6 p.m. Wednesday by the Charlevoix County Emergency Management Office.
"In light of the forecasted colder temperatures, the following Charlevoix County Senior Centers will be open to provide a warm environment and meals during their standard operating hours," on Thursday and Friday, the announcement said, listing the Boyne City, Charlevoix and East Jordan Senior Centers. The Boyne City temperature dropped to -10 at 6 a.m. Thursday.
The centers opened Jan. 23 in coordination with the Charlevoix County Emergency Management program and welcomed anyone needing a warm place to go — including people experiencing homelessness.
“The nice thing is that the Commission on Aging working with emergency management really enables us to reach out through the Be Alert system to let people know what resources are available in emergencies, including for seniors,” said Amy Wieland, executive director of the Charlevoix County Commission on Aging.
Senior centers are located in Boyne City, Charlevoix and East Jordan. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Boyne City and Charlevoix centers, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Jordan center.
Beyond meals, Wieland said the centers offer something many seniors need in winter: connection.
“It really helps address the — I mean it’s an epidemic — loneliness and isolation,” she said.
The centers serve lunch daily, with a $3 recommended donation for seniors 60 and older and a $10 fee for those 59 and younger. Lunch includes hot and cold options, soups and frozen meals. The Charlevoix center also offers a salad bar and wrap station.
Wieland said senior turnout on Jan. 23 was lower than usual — which she considered good news.
“Numbers were lower than usual, which I said was very good,” she said. Seniors knew the centers were available, but many chose to stay home because of the bitter cold. She said the centers most likely helped members of the homeless population that day.
Wieland encourages seniors and caregivers to sign up for Be Alert, the county’s emergency notification system, so they can plan ahead when storms or cold snaps are forecast.
Having seniors sign up is “really key for them to know where to go in the case of an emergency,” she said.
Residents can register online at smart911.com, and staff at any senior center can help seniors sign up in person. Wieland said early alerts help seniors stay off icy roads and prepare ahead — including grabbing an extra meal the day before severe weather.
“If their house is warm, being in their own home safe and sound and not on the road and not going out into bitter cold, falling or any of that is just really important,” she said.
Transportation is another challenge in winter. Wieland said the Commission on Aging partners with Charlevoix County Transit to provide free rides for residents 60 and older, including trips to senior centers.
Those needing a ride can call the day they want transportation, but Wieland encouraged seniors to plan ahead when possible.
“The sooner you call,” she said, “the better.”
Wieland encouraged families unsure where to turn to contact the Commission on Aging.
“If we don’t do it, we might know who does,” she said.
Wieland said coordination with emergency management — including Emergency Management Coordinator Sienna Wenz — has strengthened the county’s readiness, especially since last year’s ice storm.
“It’s not new, but it has definitely been enhanced,” Wieland said. “The nice thing (working) with Sienna is that we talk before the emergency instead of reacting to the emergency.”
Wieland also emphasized that senior centers are a resource, not a last resort.
“Nobody thinks that they’re old and nobody thinks that they need help,” she said. “But that’s not what this is about. This is a resource that needs to be utilized. It’s available.”
Charlevoix County Senior Centers
Boyne City Senior Center
411 E. Division St., Boyne City
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
Here is the February lunch menu and the February activity calendar.
Charlevoix Senior Center
13513 Division St., Charlevoix
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
East Jordan Senior Center
951 Mill St., East Jordan
Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays
> For more information, contact the Charlevoix County Commission on Aging at (231) 237-0103. The Commission on Aging office is located at 13513 Division St., Charlevoix.
> Charlevoix County Transit can be reached at 231-582-6900.
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Historical artifacts are stored inside the Boyne City Water Department facility, where high humidity, chemical exposure and poor security raise concerns about continued damage to the city’s collection.
Historical artifacts seek stable home as Heritage Center presses for storage building
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
For nearly a decade, much of Boyne City’s history has been living in limbo — tucked into closets, scattered across city buildings and stored in conditions supporters say are quietly damaging irreplaceable artifacts.
That concern brought members of the Boyne City Heritage Center before the city commission Tuesday, Jan. 27, where they urged officials to fund a dedicated storage building to house the city’s historical collection — a step they say is essential to preserving the past and finally bringing the city’s long-promised museum to life.
The city’s historical artifacts have lacked a permanent home since the former City Hall building was demolished in 2016 to make way for the current municipal complex, which was initially envisioned to include administrative offices, emergency services and a museum. While exhibit space exists in the new building, the museum component has yet to fully materialize, leaving hundreds of artifacts displaced and dispersed.
“The photos we have shared show the current state of the collection, revealing how over the past eight years the collection has been degraded and many pieces destroyed,” said Michelle Cortright, a Heritage Center board member, describing what she called the city’s “priceless historical collection.”
According to a memo submitted to commissioners, the city currently uses about 2,800 square feet of city-owned space across multiple locations — including the Department of Public Works building, the city Water Department and storage rooms in City Hall — none of which meet museum standards for temperature, humidity, security or preservation.
Board members said some artifacts have already deteriorated due to exposure to moisture, temperature swings, salt-laden air and chemical fumes.
“We are really concerned that the artifacts are being ruined,” said Kecia Freed, a Heritage Center board member. “They need to be off the floor, in a dry, secure space and fully inventoried so they can actually be used.”
To address the issue, the Heritage Center is asking the city to allocate funds in the 2026 budget to construct a 32-by-48-foot pole building on city property, designed specifically for artifact storage and management. The estimated cost of the fully finished building is about $100,000.
The proposed building would include insulated floors, walls and ceilings; climate control with humidity regulation; secure access; shelving; a small office; a restroom; and separate spaces for artifact conservation and storage. Heritage Center leaders said the goal is to bring the collection into compliance with the city’s collections policy while freeing up space in other municipal buildings.
“This is a problem we have been trying to solve for over eight years,” Freed said.
Heritage Center leaders emphasized that storage is not separate from the museum mission — it is foundational to it.
“Most museums only have about 10 percent of their collection on display at any given time, and we are hoping to have a little bit more than that,” Freed said. “Having a storage area is absolutely necessary.”
The city’s main exhibit space measures about 1,600 square feet, but once walking space and display components are accounted for, only about 800 square feet remains available for artifacts at any one time. Based on the size of the stored collection, Heritage Center leaders estimate each artifact could rotate into public view roughly three times over a full exhibit cycle — but only if proper storage is available.
Right now, that rotation is difficult, if not impossible.
“The way things are now, it’s hard to even know what we have,” she added, noting that some items are stacked, inaccessible or stored in unsafe conditions.
The Heritage Center’s presentation included photos documenting snow intrusion at the DPW building, high humidity at the Water Department and exposure to fumes, composting vegetation and temperature extremes — all factors that accelerate deterioration.
Beyond preservation, the group said a centralized storage facility would allow volunteers to properly catalog artifacts, assign them to exhibit themes and expand programming tied to the museum space.
City commissioners did not vote on funding the building at the meeting, but listened to the presentation and are expected to weigh the request during budget discussions that start in March.
| | Historical artifacts are stored at the Boyne City DPW facility, where snow intrusion, humidity and lack of climate control threaten their condition. | |
City brings back former planning director McPherson to fill staffing gap | |
By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com
With an assistant planner now out on medical leave and a growing backlog of zoning enforcement, Boyne City commissioners moved this week to temporarily bring back longtime planning director Scott McPherson to steady the department.
For years, Boyne City’s planning office operated with McPherson as planning director, supported by an assistant planner. When McPherson retired in late 2024 after more than two decades with the city, officials did not hire a direct replacement, instead shifting to a model built around two assistant planners.
Kyle Smith was hired shortly before McPherson’s departure and for a time served as the city’s primary planning staff. In late 2025, the city added Abdul-Azeez Lawal to the department, bringing GIS and technical planning expertise.
At their Jan. 27 meeting, commissioners unanimously approved an as-needed consulting agreement allowing McPherson to return up to one day per week at $75 per hour, with a two-hour minimum, not to exceed $10,000, plus mileage reimbursement.
Commissioners emphasized the move is temporary. Commissioner Bridget Foltz described it as a “stop-gap measure” while the city reassesses its long-term staffing needs.
Concerns about enforcement gaps surfaced during public comment, when Evangeline Township board member Michelle Cortright said the township — which contracts with Boyne City for planning and zoning services — has gone nearly a year without enforcement support.
Commissioner Sandy Pritchard said she was “appalled” by the lapse and criticized the city’s earlier decision not to replace McPherson, calling the planning director role “a huge need.”
City Manager Sam Demel said McPherson will focus on development reviews - in particular the upcoming northside workforce housing project - and enforcement issues. Commissioners said they plan to revisit the arrangement once there is more clarity on Smith’s medical status and the department’s workload.
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Yacht broker Wes Dilworth retires after 49 years | |
By Jim Baumann, jim@boynecitizen.com
After a 49-year career, Wes Dilworth proudly called himself the longest serving yacht broker in Michigan until he retired this month.
Now 72, Dilworth grew up in Petoskey and started working in the boat business at age 16 at Irish Boat Shop in Harbor Springs - washing boat bottoms, cleaning, sanding and repairing boats. “I did everything in the boat business except mechanical, which you have to go to school for.”
All in all, he worked for Irish for 17 years, taking time out to attend Western Michigan University, where he earned degrees in business and economics. After college, he returned to Irish to run the ship’s store, and he became a broker at age 23, selling his first boat in 1977.
In 1980 Irish promoted him to sales manager in Charlevoix, and continued until 1987, when he “decided nobody's paying enough attention to the brokerage and started my own company.”
He formed Dilworth Yacht Brokers and based it in Boyne City because there was too much competition in Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs. “Boyne City was the natural place to go,” he said. “I did business within an hour of Boyne City, which got me into Mackinaw, Cheboygan, and Traverse City - lots of boats in those markets.”
Dilworth became highly involved in Boyne City, serving on the board of directors and president of the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce, and he was involved in establishing the Boyne City Yacht Club in 1988. He led that group, which is still going strong today, and served a year as commodore.
He partnered with boat dealer Pat Lally on North Lake Street until 2016, when Lally retired, and then Dilworth opened an office in a storefront on Water Street.
When Dilworth’s wife Donna developed Alzheimer’s disease, he moved his office into his home so he could take care of her. Working from home wasn’t a problem because most business meetings were held on clients’ boats. His business slogan was “We see every boat we list. We don't list every boat we see.”
Donna Dilworth died in 2020, and Wes met his current wife Velma a year later. They’ve been together for four years and married for two and a half years, now living in rural East Jordan.
Wes announced his retirement by mailing a postcard to his past clients and friends, saying he looks forward to spending time with Velma, his mechanical engineer sons Jim and Ted, “their teacher wives Jen and Lindsey, and my favorite 5-year-old granddaughter Kate.”
He ended his farewell message with this: “I am available to you for brokerage advice, any boating question, and to have a great chat about my favorite subject … boating!”
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Ice Breaker Boyne will celebrate winter on Feb. 22
A group of Boyne City business people are encouraging locals to “Embrace the snow, beat the winter blues, and celebrate winter in Boyne City” with a new community winter festival called Ice Breaker Boyne from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, February 22. Their social media announcement says the family-friendly festival is designed to “get you out of the house and into the heart of winter — with shopping, strolling, picture taking, creating, discovering, and warming up along the way.”
First, the organizers suggest that you reserve your passport online here. Passport books are free, but there is a limited supply, so don’t delay. After you preregister, participants are advised to start at the Artisan Market at Veterans Park Pavilion to get your map and passport book. Then, visit each of about 12 participating shops, get your passport stamped at each location and turn in your completed passport to be entered to win prizes.
Here are some of the event highlights:
- Artisan Market at the Veterans Park Pavilion
- Fire & Flow Outdoor Sauna
- Downtown Passport Walk
- Outdoor Photo ops
- Passport Drawing at 3 p.m.
> Details on the Facebook event page.
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Donate here or mail a check to
Boyne Citizen, P.O. Box 83, Boyne City MI 49712
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FULL MOON NORDIC NIGHTS - You're invited to the first-ever Full Moon Nordic Nights at the Boyne Mountain Cross-Country Center, this Saturday, January 31 from 7-9 p.m. Their event announcement says, “Experience cross-country trails in a way that's rarely possible, glowing with lights and the full moon overhead - whether you're gliding on skis or snowshoeing through the woods.” After your adventure, gather around the bonfire for hot cocoa and s'mores while Dave Cisco plays live fireside music. All skill levels are welcome. Call to reserve your spot today. Details. Call 855-888-1044 to reserve your spot.
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - The Boyne District Library and Kiwanis Club of Boyne City are sponsoring a “Happy Feet” Family Movie Night event at the Boyne City High School Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. This event is free and open to all. A snack will be provided during a brief intermission in the cafeteria area. No food or beverages are allowed in the Performing Arts Center. Youth 14 and older may attend without an adult. Those 13 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Details on Facebook.
SPRING TREE SALE order forms and catalog are now available from the Charlevoix Conservation District. Visit their website or stop into the office at 303 North Street, Boyne City to pick up a copy of the catalog. Orders are due April 1, and district officials encourage you to get your order in early to ensure you get the species and quantity you are looking for. Pick-up day is April 25 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 231-582-6193 with any questions, or to be added to the catalog mailing list for next year.
BLOOD DRIVES - Several local organizations are sponsoring blood drives in February. Versiti blood center says, “The need for blood is urgent and constant. One in seven patients entering a hospital requires the availability of blood for various medical reasons.” Here are the upcoming blood drives in Boyne City and Boyne Falls:
- Boyne City High School - 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3
- Boyne Falls School - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12
- Boyne District Library - 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17
> To register, click here and enter your zip code for nearby locations.
IRELAND TRIP MEETING - The next community meeting for the Boyne Heritage Center October 2026 Community trip to Ireland will be Thursday, January 29 at 6 p.m. at the Boyne District Library. The Heritage Center encourages people to send their questions in advance to keciafreeddesign@gmail.com, so answers can be provided at the meeting.
BOYNE AREA SENIOR CENTER is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and serves daily lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For seniors ages 60+, the lunch donation is $3, for ages 59 and under, $10; and for children 12 and under, $8. Here is the January lunch menu, and the January activity calendar, and here is the February lunch menu and the February activity calendar.
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Regional News
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| City of Boyne City Municipal News | | |
Apply for openings on boards & commissions
The City of Boyne City has openings on several boards and commissions, and we encourage residents to get involved in shaping our community. Current openings include:
- Three seats on the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) - applications due 2/23/2026
- Two seats on the Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) - applications due 2/23/2026
- Two seats on the Planning Commission
- Two seats on the Main Street Board
- One seat on the Airport Board
- One seat on the Parks & Recreation Commission
- Two seats on the Zoning Board of Appeals
Each city board is unique in its number of members, roles, duties, and extent of decision-making and authority. Click here to review all of the board descriptions.
TO APPLY, please complete the application Board/Commission Member Application, and return to City Hall, attention Jessica Puroll, or email to jpuroll@boynecity.gov.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you’re interested or have questions, please contact City Hall at 231-582-6597.
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QUICK UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN SNOW REMOVAL - The snow blower attachment on the Kubota tractor used to clear snow in front of downtown businesses has failed and is being evaluated. This attachment normally allows crews to clear closer to the concrete surface. In the meantime, the Trackless with a V-plow is the best available option, even though it is not ideal for this area. Staff will continue doing the best they can with the equipment on hand. Thank you for your patience as we work to keep downtown safe and accessible.
PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS - Boyne City Main Street/Downtown Development Authority is seeking qualified contractors for landscaping improvements and irrigation installation at two downtown public parking areas - the Fochtman Lot and the Ray & Lake Lot. RFP deadline: February 4, at 2 PM.
Full project details and submission requirements.
WORKING THROUGH THE COLD - A big thank you to our DPW, Water/Wastewater, Fire, EMS, and Police departments for their work during these bitterly cold conditions. While many of us are able to stay indoors, these teams are out in the elements 24 hours a day keeping essential services running and responding when needed. We appreciate the long hours, tough conditions, and dedication it takes to keep our community safe and running. Thank you for all you do.
SIGN UP FOR CITY ALERTS - The City of Boyne City has launched a new Alerts feature on our website to help you stay up-to-date on projects, notices, and other important things happening around town. It’s designed to be a quick, easy way to get real-time updates, as they become available, directly to your email or phone. Sign up at: https://www.boynecity.gov/enotify/index.php.
CITY MEETINGS – Click here for board information, agendas, and minutes.
> City Commission's next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 10. Agenda page.
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The home of William S. and Edith (Pratt) Shaw, as it appeared when located where the Harborage tennis courts now sit. The Shaw Mansion, as it was referred to even at that time, was by far the grandest scale home to ever be built in Boyne City. Photograph courtesy of the Patrick McCleary Collection.
THROUGH THE HISTORIAN'S LENS
The William S. Shaw mansion and its gardens
By Patrick McCleary
The Charlevoix County History Preservation Society
This week, we take a closer look at a Boyne City landmark that, sadly, no longer exists. Like so many of our more opulent homes it became a tragic loss to the Boyne City landscape.
In the year 1900, Boyne City industrialist William H. White began correspondence with William S. Shaw of Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. He informed Mr. Shaw, who owned a leather tanning company and possessed a lineage in the tanning industry dating back to the Revolutionary War, that the endless supply of tree bark (a byproduct of the White and other milling operations), could provide a fortune to anyone willing to relocate to an ever-growing Boyne City and build a tannery from the ground up. It was the tannin, extracted from hemlock bark, which allows leather to be treated and processed. A pre-determined location was already being proposed on Front Street (where the Harborage is now located.) The only thing missing was a “man with the vision and a work force.” In 1901, Mr. Shaw stepped up to the challenge and reestablished his tannery operation in Boyne City. With him he brought five of his factory foremen and their families. Later that same year, his own family would follow, as well as his in-laws, Mr. & Mrs. Josiah Pratt.
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Portrait of William Sutherland Shaw.
Photograph courtesy of the Patrick McCleary Collection.
William S. Shaw first established Boyne City Clay Products, providing himself with the necessary brick for his building endeavors. The first homes to be built were the three large homes located on the south end of Elm Street. Next, “row houses” were constructed down Front Street and the remainder of Elm. Several years later, more homes for workers were constructed on Terrace Street. Nearly all of these homes were designed by William C. Naylor, an architect and builder. Mr. Naylor’s son would later marry Mr. Shaw’s eldest daughter, Eleanor. During all of this residential construction, the colossal tannery structure was rising in the background.
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In this image, taken from an early real picture postcard (RPPC), we see the Shaw mansion and the construction of homes taking place on Elm Street. Photograph courtesy of the Patrick McCleary Collection.
The culmination of W.S. Shaw’s residential building enterprise was the Shaw family mansion. Constructed where the Harborage tennis courts now sit, it was by far the grandest scale home to ever be built in Boyne City. While early Boyne had many large and remarkable homes, only one would boast the title of “mansion” - even in its day. The Shaw and Pratt families were said to have been an upper class of people, yet they were community spirited and were never ones to set themselves apart. William’s wife, Edith (Pratt) Shaw had been born in Bracebridge, Ontario, shortly after her parents' arrival in Canada from London. Her father was a successful jeweler both in England and in Canada. Edith was well-educated and raised to appreciate and understand the aesthetics of both beauty and practicality. An avid equestrian, she had riding trails dragged and created in the wooded acreage between Front and Division Streets. The avenues of maple and poplar trees (some of which remain to this day) were her suggestion. As she explained to her husband as the home was nearing completion, “This field out front looks too forlorn and the heat in summer will be unbearable without shade trees.”
A natural spring was tapped to create a continuing flow of fresh water into a cement fountain just in front of the home. The large lower and upper verandas were said to have been floored with Burmese teak wood. At least one of the many fireplaces was marble, carved in Italy, then shipped in pieces to Boyne City through W.H. White & Company’s shipping connections. Having strong English roots, W.S. Shaw insisted that oak be the main interior wood and as in any good English household, a portrait of Queen Victoria hung on the wall of the dining room. The rooms throughout the home were opulent in size and boasted the very best of furniture, window dressings, crystal, China, and silver.
Perhaps the most remarkable features of the Shaw mansion, however, were its formal gardens. Mrs. Shaw enjoyed reading and learning and had an avid interest in horticulture. Residing in Canada for much of her life, her gardening endeavors had been somewhat limited due to the severe climate. While her new home appeared to be a much more conducive setting, creating vast formal gardens out of untouched, wooded acreage was no small feat - even with her husband’s substantial workforce to assist. A gardener was hired to attend to and oversee progress. He, in turn, hired local young men to assist with the clearing and laying out of paths, building tuteurs of various types; planting and trimming bushes into topiaries; and planting vast numbers of bulbs and bare root flowers, which were shipped from all over the world.
Early residents often commented on the rose gardens at the Shaw home - an extensive array of tea roses, topiary rose bushes, climbing roses, and also long-stemmed cutting roses in every color available at that time. More than one young lady from town made her social debut wearing or carrying roses picked and arranged from Edith Shaw’s gardens.
In a conversation with the late Mrs. Lloyd (Sally) Ellingwood, a granddaughter of William and Edith (Pratt) Shaw, she shared the following:
“My grandmother, Edith, was fascinated with bringing non-native plants and flowers to her gardens and allowing them to naturalize. Shipping was not a factor as my grandfather had vessels coming and going from all over the world. Grandmother had crates and crates of flower bulbs shipped from Holland. She adored Iris, which she referred to as “flags.” There were long columns of iris beds that she had acquired from sources in Grand Rapids, who received their shipments directly from locations in Asia. After World War I, poppies became the rage and grandmother was not satisfied with just simple red ones. There were pinks and yellows that she had obtained by writing to botanical gardens in Chicago and Washington, DC, and originated from China. Grandmother was told that the climbing vines on the front trellises would never survive the first harsh winter winds. She spoke with the gardener, who said, “all we can do is give them a try Mrs. Shaw.” I don’t ever remember when they weren’t thick, hardy, and full of flowers. They shaded one side of the home where the wicker furniture was set out for my grandmothers (both Shaw and Pratt) to host their ladies circles and luncheons. Among these was the Monday Study Club. Her mother, Mrs. Josiah Pratt, was the second President of the organization. In later years, my Aunt Eleanor (Shaw) Naylor served as President. What I remember most is that the gardens were always blooming with something. Grandmother Edith kept fresh flowers in the house all through the summer months and to my knowledge, they were always just cut from her own gardens.”
After many years away from her earliest home, Sally (Shaw) Ellingwood and her husband Lloyd returned to Boyne City. They built a new home one block away from her grandparents’ former residence. From her window, she could clearly view a lofty spruce tree that had been planted by her grandfather, W.S. Shaw, to commemorate her birth. Upon her return, she too participated in the Monday Study Club - the fourth generation of her family to do so.
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The Shaw Mansion in later years. Photograph courtesy of the Patrick McCleary Collection.
FINAL DAYS
The Shaw Mansion remained the home of the W.S. Shaw family until the mid-1920s. It stood as a beacon to the rise of industrial success in the Boyne City community. The home also became a bit of a tourist attraction for many years as it was a “must see” part of any travelers touring Charlevoix County. Although the home was never opened to the public, it was not uncommon to see couples and families picnicking in the shade offered by the well-established avenue of maple trees.
Around 1940, during the Depression years, it was determined that the mansion’s upkeep would be beyond the city’s scope and budget to maintain. It was decided at that time to raze the home. Second Street was little more than a dirt road then, easily washed out by heavy rains and causing sand, dirt, and rocks to wash down into the main traffic lane of Front Street. The time had come to create a firm base and pave this steep roadway between Front and Division Streets. The Shaw Mansion provided an easy source of base material.
Columns and porches were pulled down; window casings, the polished oak flooring and even the Burmese teak was hauled to a location near the tannery and burned. Local boys were paid a quarter a day to haul foundation pieces and fragments of the mansion’s showplace Italian fireplace into the roadbed of Second Street in preparation for a covering of paving tar. Workers wielding sledgehammers removed fencing, trellis work and garden tuteurs, trampling the ornamental flowers, plants, and topiaries into the ground. When their work was complete, Second Street boasted a beautifully paved surface, and nothing remained of the former Shaw mansion but rubble and the crumbling remnants of its foundations.
| | > Patrick McCleary is a Certified Genealogist affiliated with the Charlevoix County History Preservation Society (CCHPS), 12555 Taylor Road, Charlevoix, MI 49720. The CCHPS promotes the understanding and appreciation of the heritage of the people of Charlevoix County and its townships by seeking out, collecting, preserving, and interpreting artifacts of historical and cultural significance. For further information, contact Patrick by email: Throughthehistorianslens@gmail.com. | | |
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2026 Donors
This week's new donors are listed in bold.
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The Hill Donors
$1000 - $4999
Pat and Jane O'Brien
Avalanche Donors
$500 - $999
Glen and Gwen Catt
Hansen Family Trust
Lake Charlevoix Donors
$100 to $499
Andy Schmittdiel
Edward Jones
Kyle Roberts
Carole Shane
Debi O'Leery
Barbara Mendoza
Robert Kirk
Don and Laurie Owen
Bekah Rutz and David Osterhouse
Kathleen Warner
Mary Jane Cargill
Dave and Linda Burnham
Thomas Veryser
Steve and Susan Watson
Gow Litzenburger
Shelli Duff
Karen Colburn
Christine A. Judd
Pam Cislo and Tom Schraw
Jim and Kathe Carter
Bill and Cindy Binder
Kevin and Marci Lavin
Tad Richards
Jeff and Kari Streelman
Miriam Hollar
Lucy Hartlove
Jake Snyder
Judith White
Nancy Hannan
Ronald and Joanne Danczak
Terry and Betty Desmond
Cheri Leach
Holly and Tony Sasso
Judith Goodchild
John Hoffman
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Lake Charlevoix Donors
$100 to $499 continued
Barbara Mathes
Michele Nickel-Frasz
Mark Martin
Carl VanDomelen
Sharon Kuethe
Steve and Carole Drake
Ronald VanHorn
Liesel Meijer
Richard and Gayle Bouters
Gary and Sylvia Cofer
Jane Burger
Bill Aten
Barbara Bryant
Nancy Cunningham
Broc and Lynne Johnson
Paga Family Dentistry
Sunset Beach Donors
$60- $99
Jack Laurent
Monica Peck
William Cousineau
Jay E. Vanderwall
Mitchell and Carly Klooster
Joel and Nancy Epstein
Don Stolt
Peninsula Beach Donors
Under $60
Leisa Ratu
Christy Weaver
Marc Ressler
Didi Brown
Bob Niemi
Caroline Sottrel
Larry Bernhardt
Margaret Fitzpatrick
Edward and Colette Geck
Barbara Wulff
Tom Shifrin
John George Martin
Sheldon and Karla Buckmaster
Henry and Donna Erber
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Founding Donors
$5000+
Charlevoix County Community Foundation Geographic Enrichment Grant
Cortright Family Community Fund
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The Hill Donors
$1000 - $4999
Kirk and Lynne Jabara
Pat and Jane O'Brien
Anonymous
Andrew Smith
Jeff and Dawn Caine
X and Mary Gaudard
Carl and Vicki Janssens Charitable Fund
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Avalanche Donors
$500-$999
Stowe Family Fund
Frank and Chris Carleton
Lynne Ross
Bud and Nancy Shear
Ashley Cousens
Richard Bergmann
Jim and Jamie Baumann
Howard and Marcia Newkirk
Paula Larson
Sally Hara
Steve and Jean Van Dam
Martin Tuck
Brienna Roberts
Lake Charlevoix Donors
$100 to $499
Bekah Rutz and David Osterhouse
Karen Colburn
Monica Peck
Karen S. Mertz
Betsy and Steve Schnell
Gary Coffer
Robin Stanley
Brett Binkley
Andy Schmittdiel
Gow Litzenburger
Ken Schrader
Terry and Marilyn Neilsen
Leslie Neilson
Lawrence Organek
Kyle Roberts
Gregg and Dee Smith
Ward Collins
Jo Ellen Rudolph
Gayle Harbaugh
Kristine Brehm
Christine A. Judd
Kevin and Marci Lavin
John Hoffman
Glen Catt
Beverly Neville
Jim and Kathe Carter
Penny Hardy
Jeanine Larsen
Cindy and Bill Binder
Richard Wright
Bill Aten
Jo and Ron Danczak
Marilyn A. and Jock Rader
Marcia and Howard Newkirk
Velma and Wes Dilworth
Gail and Ron Van Horn
The Frykberg Family
Tom Schraw and Pam Cislo
Richard M. Hodgson II
Miriam Hollar
Don Ryde
Catherine Bowers
Carl and Sally VanDomelen
Nord and Pat Schroeder
The Tosch Family
Jodie Adams and Bruce Janssen
Carol Ross
Roger and Pat Jacobson
The Tripp Family
John and Jan Bennish
Steve and Carole Drake
Caren Peltier
Al and Susan Newville
Linda Knibbs
Donald and Laurie Owen
Judith Gardner
Linda Burnham
Cynthia Boal-Janssens
Ann Knutsen
Dawn Ebersole
Yvonne Looze
Heaton Veterinary Hospital
John Princing
Jeff and Kari Streelman
Mike Sheean
Julie Hermann
Lynn Smith
Cynthia Tonkavich
Bruce Krauskopf
Bill and Barb Bryant
Dean and Fran Solomon
Scott and Jane MacKenzie
Meryl and Louis Hankey
Kevin and Diane Krenn
Randy Parker
Mark and Pam Mathisen
John and Jane Rozycki
Jane Burger
Matthew Blandford
Jane Stieber Amato and Tony Amato
Leon W. and Wendy J. Stadt
Richard and Paula Paul
Jim and Nancy McKinstry
Corine and Craig Babb
Gary and Kim Roberts
Randy and Betty Hackney
Catherine Pumford
Patti Jasper
Carol and Steve Persons
John Van Etten
Nancy Blandford
Anne Nemes
Charles Gremel
Mike and Liz Durbin
Rachel and Rocky Swiss
Ralph Gillette
Kathleen Warner
Karen Reynolds
Kimberly Altobello MacNaughton
Mike and Cheryl Delahanty
Diane M. Winchell
Nancy Cunningham
The Spang Family
Bob and Jackie Wollenberg
Stephen Wickens
John G. Jessup
Lisa and Ian Whitelaw
Susan Coyle
Elizabeth Jensen
Betsy and Steve Schnell
James Richman
John Stimpson
Larry Taylor
Carol Hanes-Nason
Skip Simms
Rob and Danielle Swartz
Carolee and Jeff Macfarlane
Richard and Maureen Shipley
Peter Moss
Gregory Damman
Polly Stillson
Anonymous
Rolf Bates
Robert SontagLauren MacIntyre
Cameron O'Keefe
Cheryl and Joe Wald
Ralph and Kathleen Galbraith
Tom and Debbie Neidhamer
Linda Burgert
Lynda Christensen
Ed and Cindy Grice
Mary Jane Cargill
Scott and Kelly Kennedy
Karen and Glenn Mertz
Christopher Jones
Brian and Charlotte Battjes
Kyle Marshall
Dave Skornia
Barbara and George Ellwanger
Beth and Jeff Freeman
Nancy and Steve Weber
JoEllen Rudolph
Derek & Michelle Shankland
Janice Salisbury
Mary Foucard
John and Jane Rozycki
(continued next column)
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Lake Charlevoix Donors (continued)
$100 to $499
Ruth and Dave Skop
Diane Carmony
Ali Cain
Jerry and Donna Swift
Kathleen Hoffman
Mindy Weigel
Linda Yudasz
John and Meg McClorey
William and Pam Gnodtke
Mindy Weigel
John and Jan Bennish
Anonymous
Thomas Smith
Sharon MacJennett
Gary Cofer
Patrick Turcott
Marilyn Cousineau
Carol Ross
Jim and Kelly McKee
Jeffery and Julie Bradford
Nancy Hellman and Glenn Hindbaugh
Carlin Smith
Denise M. Brown
Robert Kirk
Melissa Herbst
Craig and Terri Reynolds
Sunset Beach Donors
$60- $99
Linda Larsen
Jack Laurent
Annabelle Hay
Kecia Freed
Kirk Kujawski
Vera Post
Polly Stillson
William Conklin
Marilyn Cousineau
Rebecca Miller
JoEllen Rudolph
Lynn Hall
Hylon Heaton III
Cheryl J. Leach
Julie Haase
David J. Graham
Julie Tokar
James Graves
Ken Allen
Clarence Rivette
Pat and Emil Nelson
"Friends of the Boyne Citizen"
Wirt-Rivette Group & MOXIE Development
Terry and Betty Desmond
Kathy Breedlove
Louis Califf
Paige Crim
Linda Wallace
Eleanor West
Bill and Dee Kelly
Dana Lorian and Ryan Hoenicke
Sharon Kemp
John Betts
Capt. Bob Goodenough
John Nantau
Aaron Nemec
Rob Stout
Monica Ross
Gary and Nicolette Blakeslee
Ashley Nosek
Paul and Colleen Kuehl
Mary Kaselitz
Kevin Wolfe
Matt and Maribeth Janer
Monica Peck
Pat and Nicole Little
JoEllen Gilbert
Gow Litzenburger
Alison and Jeff Williams
Perry Irish Hodgson
Julie Tokar
David Graham
Peggy and Jim Anthony
Eric Gold
Lynn Hall
Sam DeCamp
Cynthia McSurely
Ron and Kristen Lahner
Peggy Kerr
Bill & Diane Conklin
Alice Wright
Becky Nohel
Richard and Vera Post
Anita Hill
James Churchill
Peninsula Beach Donors
$5 to $59
Deborah Schira
Sheri Rhoads
Joel Epstein
Brian and Emily Tappan
Elizabeth Brett
Cheryl Alger
Carole Shane and Michael Shell
Lucy Hartlove
Mitchell and Carly Klooster
Michelle Archer
Josephine Roberts
Kathy Fruge
Rodger and Janet Smith
Mark Christensen
Janice Salisbury
Jim Nielsen
Lynne Johnson
Richard and Gayle Bouters
John Miett
Alex Dailey
Ron Pool
Babette Stenuis Stolz
William H. Gilbert
Mary Jean Larsen
Jeanine A. Larsen
Nancy Newman
Clark and Jill Vellis
Candy and Bob Greene
Marc Ressler
Ken and Nancy Visser
Philip Conklin
Bob and Bedonna Perish
Steve and Erin Zucker
Don Kaegi
Karen Jarema
Zachary Shalz
Jenell Kelsey Pawlus - A Storage Closet
David Mengebier
Stephanie Bovee
Mary Clare Glabowicz
Lesley Pritchard
Cindy Simpson
Diana Winchell
Shelli Duff
JoAnn M. Smith
John George Martin
Nancy Dwan
Cheryl Tournaud
John McCahan
Mary Grayson
Jeanne and Denny Phelps
Joan and Vasco Zucchiatti
Kenneth Graham and Eileen Couchman
Frances Wolf
Lisa and Randy Zipp
Richard Persiani
Nancy Newman
Bill Schumann
Ronald and Susan Ludgin
Sharyn and Doug Bean
Karla and Sheldon Buckmaster
Michelle Mitchum
Jerry Mann
Suzanne Skubick
Brigit Anthony
Rodger and Janet Smith
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MUSIC, ARTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT
Please email your special events and music information to jim@boynecitizen.com.
AMERICAN LEGION Post 228 - 302 S Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 459-4188.
Bingo every Tuesday, open to the public, refreshments provided. Doors open at 3 p.m., play starts at 5, ending around 9. The Legion also has a breakfast on the second Saturday of every month from 8-11 a.m.
BC LANES/THE VENUE BAR & GRILL - 1199 M-75 S, Boyne City, (231) 582-6353.
> Open bowling: 3-9 p.m. Tuesdays, 3-10 p.m. Fridays, 12-10 p.m. Saturdays, 12-9 p.m. Sundays.
> LIVE MUSIC Saturdays:
- Saturday, Jan. 24 - Yankee Station, 8-11 p.m.
BOYNE ARTS CENTER - 1 Water Street, Suite 203, Boyne City, (231) 622-2073.
> Upcoming classes and exhibits:
BOYNE CITY FARMERS MARKET - Indoors at the Veterans Park Pavilion, 207 N. Lake Street, Boyne City, (231) 582-9009. Open every Saturday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
> Live music 10 a.m. to 12 noon Saturdays:
BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM - 220 S. Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 459-4487.
- Mondays - Trivia
- Thursdays - Adam and the Cabana Boys, 7 p.m.
- Fridays - Patrick Ryan and Josh Raber, 7 p.m.
- Saturdays - Patrick Ryan, 7 p.m.
- Saturdays and Sundays - Sports on all screens. Food and beverage specials during games.
BOYNE DISTRICT LIBRARY - 201 East Main St., Boyne City, 231-582-7861.
BOYNE MOUNTAIN - 1 Boyne Mountain Rd., Boyne Falls, (855) 688-7024.
> Weekly schedule of events and entertainment at all Boyne Mountain venues.
BOYNE RIVER INN - 229 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 222-4053.
LIVE MUSIC:
- Thursdays in January - Nelson Olstrom performs, 7-10 p.m.
BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS - 05325 US 131 S, Petoskey, (231) 373-2090.
> LIVE MUSIC - Saturdays 2-6 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 31 - TBD
- Saturday, Feb. 7 - Michelle Chenard
- Saturday, Feb. 14 - Chris Calleja
- Saturday, Feb. 21 - Michelle Chenard
- Saturday, Feb. 28 - TBD
CAFE SANTE - 1 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 582-8800.
> LIVE MUSIC:
- Friday, Jan. 30 - Nelson Olstrom, 7-10 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 31 - Sean Bielby, 7-10 p.m.
- Monday, Feb. 2 - The Shifties, 6-9 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 6 - The Fridays, 7-10 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 7 - John Monkman, 7-10 p.m.
- Monday, Feb. 9 - The Shifties, 6-9 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 13 - Brett Mitchell, 7-10 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 14 - Lavender Lions, 7-10 p.m.
- Monday, Feb. 16 - The Shifties, 6-9 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 20 - Nelson Olstrom, 7-10 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 21 - Pete Kehoe, 7-10 p.m.
- Monday, Feb. 23 - The Shifties, 6-9 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 27 - Pete Kehoe, 7-10 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb.28 - Sean Bielby, 7-10 p.m.
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER - 461 E. Mitchell Street. Petoskey, (231) 347-4337.
> See website for updated art shows, entertainment, and children's activities.
FRESHWATER GALLERY & CONCERT VENUE - 217 S Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 582-2588.
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Saturday, Feb. 14 - Full Cord, award-winning Michigan bluegrass band.
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Saturday, March 14 - Susan Werner, Chicago singer-songwriter.
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Saturday, April 18 - Willie Nile, New York singer-songwriter.
- May concert to be announced.
GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS - 800 Bay Harbor Drive, Petoskey, (231) 439 -2600.
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See website for movies on the big screen.
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Thursday, Feb. 5 - The Acting Company presents “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” 7 p.m. (Buy-One-Get-One 50% off offer on tickets with “Great Expectations). Details and tickets.
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Saturday, Feb, 7 - The Acting Company presents “Great expectations,” 7 p.m. Details and tickets.
LAKE STREET PUB - 202 S. Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 497-6031.
> TRIVIA NIGHT - Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m.
MUSKRAT DISTILLING - 121 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 268-0178.
> KARAOKE - 8 to 11 p.m. every Wednesday
> LIVE MUSIC and events:
- Friday, Jan. 30 - Live music with Dave Cisco, 8-11 p.m.
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Tuesday, Feb. 2 - Lit with Literature: "Sunrise On The Reaping" by Suzanne Collins, 7-9 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 15 - DJ Lee Blossom, 8-9 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 16 - Lit with Literature: "The Ruinous Love Trilogy" by Brynne Weaver
- Friday, Feb. 20 - Salsa Dancing Night - Join ZoeDance for a fun, relaxed Salsa Social Night. We’ll kick things off with an absolute beginner salsa class, where you’ll learn easy, fun steps designed for total newcomers. Then stick around to dance, mingle, and enjoy the music in a welcoming, low-pressure atmosphere. No partner needed. No experience required. Simple steps anyone can learn. Social dancing, laughs, and great vibes. Come move your body, meet new people, and discover how fun salsa can be.
- Friday, Feb. 27 - Live music by Lou Thumser, 8-11 p.m.
PIED PIPER ROLLER RINK - 04454 M-75 N, Walloon Lake. Admission $8, skate rental $2. Candy, chips, soda/pop, and pizza available for purchase.
- Friday, Jan. 30 - All-ages skate event from 5-10:30 p.m. Members of the West Michigan Skate Crew will join us at 8 p.m., for skate enthusiasts who want to see and skate with some experienced skaters.
- Thursday, Feb. 19 - Christian Skate, 5-8 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 26 - Open Skate (all ages) 5-8 p.m.
- Fridays in February - Adult skate night (18+), 5-9 p.m.
- Saturdays in January and February- Family Skate (all ages), 2-6 p.m.
STIGGS BREWERY & KITCHEN - 112 S. Park St., Boyne City, (231) 497-6100. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays for the winter.
- Thursday, Feb. 5 - Open Mic Night with Peter Jensen, 6-9 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 19 - Open Mic Night with Nelson Olstrom, 6-9 p.m.
WALLOON WATERSHED - 4128 M-75 , Walloon Lake, (231) 535-6048.
Live music 6-9 p.m.:
- Wednesdays - Pete Kehoe
- Thursdays - Laura Crowe
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