February 20, 2025 | Issue #23 | Past issues

"It's Always a Good Time!"

Here’s a blast from the past! Remember when Pure Michigan produced a video visiting 50 cities (including Boyne City at the 2:35 mark) in 2012 with everyone singing “Good Time” by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen? Everyone loved it, but Pure Michigan had to pull the video after a very short time due to copyright issues. But of course nothing ever dies on the internet, and we came across this version that’s still out there. 

Inside this issue

• 3 City Commission seats up for election in November
• Artificial intelligence in our local schools
• Readers rate the Boyne Citizen in online survey
• BC Winterfest cancelled; Walloon event is Saturday
• Heritage Center exhibit grand opening is Feb. 27
• Tickets on sale for Mamma Mia & Paint The Town
• News briefs, Municipal News, Obituaries
• Patrick McCleary history: 1890 school photo
• Thanks to the donors who keep the news coming!
• Music and entertainment listings

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3 City Commission seats up for election in November; Lasater will not run

By Jim Baumann, jim@boynecitizen.com

OK, who wants to run for Boyne City Commission? If you’ve ever thought you’d like to help run the city, now’s your chance to throw your hat in the ring for a four-year term.

City Clerk-Treasurer Jessica Puroll last week issued a notice with all the details about how to become a candidate for the non-partisan election. The main thing a prospective candidate has to do is file an Affidavit of Identity and get at least 20 signatures of city residents who are registered voters on a nominating petition and turn it in to City Hall by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22. 

There are three commission seats up for election this year, and incumbent commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem George Lasater has told the Boyne Citizen that he will not be seeking reelection. The Citizen also contacted Mayor Tim Nemecek and Commissioner Marty Moody to ask about their plans, but they have not said whether they will run for reelection. 

Asked about his plans, Lasater sent an email to the Boyne Citizen saying, “It has been a humbling honor to serve the citizens of Boyne City in the capacity of Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem this past term. I am proud of the accomplishments we have achieved, the hard work of the city staff and the dedication of the public in helping us guide the city.

“My full-time job as the Antrim County Undersheriff puts great demands on my time and energy, and the increasing demands for time and energy on the city commission has made it clear that I will not be seeking re-election for the Boyne City Commission. I am grateful to the public and fellow commissioners for their hard work and guidance, and I hope that future commissions continue to make Boyne City a great place to live, work and play.”

Lasater’s statement mentions the “time and energy” required, and city commissioner is not an easy job. The commission has regular meetings twice a month, and they often last three hours or more. Additional meetings and work sessions are often scheduled, sometimes two or three in the same week. And the pay is meager - $3,200 per year for commissioners and $3,750 for the mayor.

The city’s Facebook page says the election “offers you the opportunity to shape the future of our community. If you’re passionate about local government and want to make a difference, consider running for office.” 

Lasater, Moody and Nemecek swept into office in November of 2021, defeating incumbent commissioners Ron Grunch, Dean Solomon and Sally Page by a wide margin after being endorsed by the administrators of the Boyne City News and Buzz Facebook group. 

One reason petitions are due more than eight months before the Nov. 4 election is that there will be a primary election on Aug. 5 if more than six qualified nominees turn in petitions. After the primary, the top six candidates will advance to the November election. If there are six or less candidates, there will be no primary.

Learn more about the candidate nomination process here. If you have further questions, you may contact Puroll at 231-582-0334 or jpuroll@boynecity.gov or Deputy Clerk Becky Pennington at 231-582-0341 or bpennington@boynecity.gov. Information can also be found on the city website.

Kyle Maginity, Boyne City: "On the positive side, AI can help us with time-consuming rote tasks that free up teachers' time to do what’s most important – work with kids."

Cindy Pineda, Boyne Falls: “AI is so new – a whole new frontier. Here at Boyne Falls Schools we are still trying to wrap our minds around it."

Local educators are still figuring out how to deal with ever-evolving artificial intelligence

By Bob Wollenberg, wollenb31@hotmail.com

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. It did not exist back when I moved to Boyne City 53 years ago. Back then the way to gain information regarding what was truly going on around town was to go to Robert's Restaurant, order breakfast, a cup of coffee, and just listen.

Today, life is a bit more complicated. AI has become an important issue all over the world. It has permeated our lives in many ways, and we wanted to look into how it is being used in our schools.

Delving into such a massive topic as Artificial Intelligence, one must narrow it down to something manageable. First, bringing AI down to the “local level,” so to speak, might help. It seems there has to be some basic understanding of AI and the educational situation with which we are presently confronted. We need to understand ChatGPT and other mechanisms that make up AI.

Teaching English classes at Boyne City High School for 38 years, the building block of my classroom and of our school system was “truth.” What you write, say, or present had to be backed up by verifiable evidence to be reputable. What are your sources? Are they reliable? When stating information, you had to show where it was obtained. You couldn’t just present material or data, and when asked where you obtained it, just say “I don’t know…” Or, one of my favorites, “Someone told me.”

The old-fashioned term for untruths was “hearsay.” A more updated common term now used for such unverified information is “fake.” Massive amounts of fake information are everywhere and that’s now a serious problem. Saying someone said something that’s not true is one thing, creating a “fake” world is another. For example: “Jimmy said the Rubbles sold their house.” is one thing – “All Michigan grocery stores sell poisoned food” is another.

Where you draw the proverbial “line in the sand” regarding truth is now an imperious question in our extremely complicated environment. You can’t just make things up or create a fictional tale and call it “fact.” A bibliography of these credible sources must be put together and included with any formal presentation. This then can be fact-checked – verified – to be true by acceptable establishments such as the International Fact-Checking Network launched in 2015 by the Poynter Institute. There is also Duke University’s Reporter’s Lab and Reuters Fact Check, which is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network’s codes of principles, to name a few. This, of course, all sounds complicated but is necessary today and made more important with the advent of AI.

What does all this have to do with our schools? My child’s elementary education? A teacher in the classroom? Is it pertinent to my middle school or high school students? All good questions. Many, many answers.

Erin Mastin (Fry) has been a third-grade teacher at Boyne City Elementary school for 21 years. She’s also part of Boyne Schools Apple Technology Committee, which manages many aspects regarding computers and curriculums in grades K-12. Mastin said, “AI at the elementary level is used more with building curriculum – sorting what’s available – finding what’s the best curriculum fit for a given student. There’s not a lot of negatives at the elementary level. This changes once you take a look at middle school and high school curriculums and subject matter.”

Boyne Falls Public School Superintendent Cindy Pineda said, “AI is so new – a whole new frontier. Here at Boyne Falls Schools we are still trying to wrap our minds around it. We are nowhere near clarity on how its use would be helpful or how its use might deprive students of critical thinking and writing skills.”

Boyne Schools’ Kyle Maginity, director of instructional technology, commented, “We are thoughtful and deliberate in our policies and procedures around AI. While our existing acceptable use agreement covers most things that are impacted by AI, we are in the process of developing further policies to address AI usage specifically. We’ve put together a committee of teachers/administrators to develop policies around using AI in the classroom. We know that AI is going to be a part of the world our students are going out into, so we’re actively exploring how best to teach students how to use AI responsibly and understand its power and limitations.”

Everyone I talked to while writing this article agreed: There are both positives and negatives that come with AI. Maginity added, “Ensuring academic integrity and original student work is not a new problem, but AI adds an additional layer and challenge. AI is also growing exponentially, so staying on top of new developments can be difficult, but also means that new tools are becoming available for education all the time.

"On the positive side, AI can help us with time-consuming rote tasks that free up teachers' time to do what’s most important – work with kids. We’re also excited about the use of AI in differentiating instruction for students, making sure each student gets what they need at their own level,” Maginity said.

ChatGPA, as mentioned earlier, is a “bot” or technical mechanism that can create exciting things such as letting a student spend time talking about the Civil War with Abraham Lincoln or discussing mathematical theories with Albert Einstein. The sky’s the limit. How exciting!

On the other hand, Maginity also talked about “deep fakes” which is a combination of the words “deep learning” and “fake.” This is the ability to use AI to appear real. A recent reel airing on television featured Seth Curry explaining how he was going to buy his way onto the Los Angeles Lakers pro basketball team. None of it was true. The images were all fake… troubling.

AI isn’t perfect. We’ve got a lot to learn. Many worry, because with the preponderance of information “out there,” some of it is fake, and it can be hard to tell the difference. An AI expert recently made this point on the Real Time with Bill Maher show: “If we keep feeding AI without checks and balances, it will become out of control.”

Seems the more I learn about AI, listening to small town scuttlebutt over ham and eggs in 1972 might have had more truth to it.

Boyne Citizen reader survey says we’re doing well but there’s always room for improvement

By Jim Baumann, jim@boynecitizen.com

The Boyne Citizen has been doing a good job in its first four months of operation, according to a reader survey. We published links to the online survey in our Jan. 23 and Jan. 30 editions and also posted it on our Facebook page, garnering responses from 93 people.

The first question asked readers to rate the overall quality of the Boyne Citizen, and 80% gave us an “Excellent” rating, 18% rated our quality as “Good,” 2% rated us “Average,” and no one said “Poor.”

Do you have any comments on our quality? This is a sampling of responses:

• Hyper focused on Boyne City. Great job! Hope to see the Citizen eventually expand to cover a larger region.
• Objective, interesting reporting overall. Summaries of City Commission meetings contain Information all citizens should be aware of in a short, understandable format, in a timely manner. 
• I only gave it a good rating despite it being an excellent effort so far. There are ways that anyone or any group can improve. I am really appreciative of everyone involved that have made this news format a reality.
• Your news is factual, seems fair and unbiased.
• Articles are well written and information documented. The areas of coverage are diverse. Photos are good.
• I appreciate covering topics that are important to Boyne City, without bias or opinion.
• Keeps me updated on all the news happening in and around BC while we are in Florida for the winter!
• Thorough and fair and professional!

Any comment on our coverage?

• Need to include more from Boyne Falls, since this is supposed to be "Boyne Area," especially the school.
• County Commission meetings and county planning/zoning would be helpful, so we know what they are considering. Commission especially. They have an important role in shaping the future - we need to know what they are up to.
• I have enjoyed the positivity in your local coverage. It is refreshing.
• More on local schools is a yes from this Rambler mom! Just not always with the sports, they get enough coverage and there is so much more to our schools worth hearing about.
• I think you're doing a great job on coverage! I read through almost all of it every time it appears in my inbox. Kudos to your team!
• Also please inform us on local townships.
• Great stories about our history.
• Knowing the area lacks many local news sources, it's so important to have "watch guards" for our community! 

What can we do to make the Boyne Citizen better?

• It would be better if it didn't come out the same time as the Chamber email as it is too much to read in a short period of time so I tend to skim them both rather than read them thoroughly.
• Perhaps do profiles on local business owners in Boyne City/Walloon Lake on a monthly basis - e.g. BRI, Cafe Sante.
• Expand your board to include the diverse demographic of the community you're reporting on to show an unbiased intent of coverage.
• Bring back a social column like Nancy Northup’s!
• I usually read it on my phone, so sometimes the articles run a little long.
• I think you are doing a great balance of various articles and broad news coverage of the local area.
• Keep shining a light on local government.
• When possible, expansion to other communities would be nice.
• Consider having a local business offer up an exclusive deal of the week for BC readers.
• I think the current product and growth are on the right trajectory.
• Two people mentioned the idea of linking the table of contents to the stories, “so that if you want to skip down to a particular story, you can just click on the title of it.” Editor's note: We would love to do this, but our Constant Contact software does not provide a way to make it happen… sorry!

Do you consider the Boyne Citizen a reliable news source?

• Nearly all responses were “yes,” “definitely,” or “absolutely.”
• One reader rated us “very credible and unbiased.”
• One person said “mostly” reliable, another said “starting to” consider us reliable, and another said “Not on the topics I keep seeing Corrections posted in.”

> We thank everyone who responded, and we are always interested in reader comments, which is why we put our email addresses in the bylines of our stories. Send your comments to our editor any time - email jim@boynecitizen.com.

Heritage Center exhibit grand opening is Feb. 27

Want to learn more about the history of Boyne City? The Boyne Heritage Center invites you to attend the grand opening of their first permanent exhibit section, which features the LaFrance Fire Truck and the Old Town Clock on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 5-7:30 p.m.

The LaFrance Fire Truck arrived in Boyne City in January, 1918. It was the city's first fire truck, making the leap from a horse-drawn fire vehicle to a motorized vehicle. The truck was equipped with suction pumps for pumping water out of the lake or river. The fire department has lovingly kept the truck in working condition and it can be seen every year in the Fourth of July parade.

On July 29, 1904, the Boyne City Village Council formed a committee to purchase a town clock. The issue had been a source of many arguments in town, as many of the town’s residents did not see the need for a central clock. The drive to purchase a clock was led by hotel owner William J. Lewis. These efforts resulted in the purchase of our clock on December 2, 1904.

Learn more about these two pieces of Boyne City history at the Heritage Center's Glass Room Exhibit Grand Opening.

Walloon Lake Winterfest set for Saturday afternoon

The 8th annual Walloon Lake Winterfest comes to the Village from 12 noon to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Feb 22. See live ice carvings, and an antique snowmobile show on the lake. Explore snowy trails with snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals from Legacy Water Sports. Enjoy hot chocolate and bean soup with donations benefiting the Petoskey Snowmobile Club. Visit the Tasting Room featuring Michigan distilleries, wineries, and breweries. Enjoy all-day happy hour specials from Barrel Back Restaurant and giveaway prizes every hour. 

General admission is free. Tickets will be available for purchase on-site at the festival.

Saturday's Boyne City Winter Festival cancelled

The 2025 Boyne City Winter Festival has been cancelled “due to  lack of volunteers, participation, and safety personnel,” according to organizer April Colston. The event was supposed to be held Saturday with a “Polar Plunge,” pancake breakfast and chili cook-off in Veterans Park. Colston said people just aren’t in the mood to celebrate winter due to the heavy snowfall and extended cold weather the area has experienced. She pointed out that the Farmers Market will still be held in the Veterans Park Pavilion from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Tickets on sale for BCHS Drama production of Mamma Mia

Tickets are now on sale for the Boyne City High School Drama Department’s spring musical, “Mamma Mia.” Showtimes are 7 p.m. on two weekends, Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8, and March 14 and 15 at the high school Performing Arts Center.

Reserved seating tickets are $10 or $15, available online at boynehs.tix.com. Online ticket sales close at 5 p.m. each night, and remaining tickets will be sold at the door beginning at 6 p.m.

The show will feature student actors Jamie Ploe as Donna, Chelsey Hertel as Sophie, Katie Hunt as Tanya, Melody March as Rosie, Gabe Houser as Sam, Adam Frye as Bill, and Cameron Little as Harry.

Paint the Town Red fundraiser tickets now on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the Boyne City Booster Foundation’s major annual event, Paint the Town Red, held at Boyne Mountain Resort on Saturday, April 26. 

Through their last 11 events, the foundation has raised over a quarter of a million dollars. Local support drives the success of many school programs and activities, including arts, athletics, and academics. Every year the funding requests have been greater than the year before. 

Tickets are $85 per person, available at the Mark Patrick State Farm office, 219 S Lake St., Phone (231) 582-6829. Those who buy a group of 10 tickets may have a reserved table. 

Here is the event schedule:

• 6-8 p.m. - Silent and live auctions, cash bar, appetizer stations. 
• 6:30-8 p.m. - Full dinner buffet.
• 8 p.m. - Midnight - Music performed by Jedi Mind Trip, one of Michigan’s best and longest lasting 70s, 80s & today’s rock dance bands.

Hall of Fame induction

“Shorty” Smith, Class of 1953, was inducted into the Boyne City High School Alumni Hall of Fame with his family on hand to accept the honor. The presentation was made by Boyne City Booster Foundation Treasurer Dave Hautz.

Youngsters line up for the start of their mini biathlon.

Friends and neighbors organize mini Olympic biathlon

A hardy group of friends and neighbors gathered at the home of Brian and Katherine Hoyner on Saturday, Feb. 15, to compete in a mini Olympic biathlon, combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. 

Brian and Katherine organized the event, grooming several trails through their and their neighbors’ hills and fields on the west arm of Walloon Lake. 

Kids as young as 4 years old competed, along with classic skiers and spirited skate skiers and a couple of dogs. After skiing, each competitor took shots at a 30-yard target using a laser rifle, including a 5-year-old girl who was 5 for 5 hitting her target.

Friends and neighbors posed for a group photo at the "Lakeside Biathlon."

Citizen looks to expand team of freelance writers

The Boyne Citizen is looking to expand our team of paid freelance writers. Check the information below if you’re interested.

> Freelance writer responsibilities.

> Freelance writers application form

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Boyne Area News Briefs

SCHOOL BOND TALK - Boyne City School Superintendent Patrick Little will make a presentation on the upcoming school bond election at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at the high school library. The presentation will be 20 minutes plus questions. More information on the May 6 bond election is available on the school website.  

WOODS & WILDLIFE HIKE - Join the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy and local conservation organizations for a free, guided hike through a winter wonderland from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at the Postle Farm Preserve. Discover how local plants and wildlife adapt to the cold, and learn how you can help protect our forests by reporting invasive species like Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Sign up here.

WALLOON HISTORY - If you are the owner of a classic cottage on Walloon Lake, or if your family has been on the lake for 100 years or more, or if you have fascinating stories you would like to share, the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy encourages you to contact Lauren Macintyre at laurenmacwalloon@yahoo.com. These stories might be included in future issues of the Wallooner, or in Lauren's Walloon history book that is nearing completion.

SUNDAY BREAKFAST - The Boyne Falls Public School Class of 2025 is hosting a series of all-you-can-eat Sunday Breakfast events from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 23, March 2 and March 9. The menu includes a pancake bar, scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, sweet treats, juice and coffee. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children, and free for those under age 5. Proceeds go towards the senior class trip to Hawaii. 

EARLY LEARNERS - Boyne City Public Schools Early Learners Program registration for both summer and fall has started. For both programs, registered 4-year-olds can attend tuition-free Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program is tuition-based before and after school, and on Fridays. The summer program will run from Monday, June 16, through Friday, Aug. 15. For 3-year-olds the program is tuition-based from Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A full day costs $40 and a half day until noon costs $30. After school care is available until 5:30 for additional charges. Registration form is here. For further information, call or email Jessica Sutherland at the Early Learners Program office, (231) 439-8171, jsutherland@boyne.k12.mi.us.   

FIBER-OPTIC INTERNET is now installed at the Boyne District Library. Their public wi-fi is always free, and if you don't have your own device/computer the library has free public computers to use as well. 

City of Boyne City Municipal News

City seeks volunteer for housing advisory group

The City of Boyne City is working to expand housing opportunities, and the City Commission has identified the North Boyne area as a priority location for development. The City is seeking one community member from that area to join a Housing Advisory Committee alongside other local and City leadership. This group will help guide discussions as the City moves toward the next phase of development.

Why now? How we got here:

The Boyne City Commission has taken several steps to identify and prepare sites for potential housing development, including:

• Conducting an inventory of all city-owned property
• Selecting North Boyne and the Community Garden Site as priority areas
• Completing surveys and engineering work to assess feasibility
• Adjusting zoning and site layouts to maximize development potential
• Issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to attract developers

Now, as these efforts move forward, community voices are more important than ever.

Who we’re looking for:

• A resident from a surrounding neighborhood on the north side of Boyne City
• Someone interested in sharing ideas and perspectives on local housing needs
• Occasional informal meetings with a dedicated committee of community members

Want to get involved or learn more? Please fill out a volunteer application. Submit the completed form to City Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Puroll at jpuroll@boynecity.gov, or drop it off to City Hall by March 12, at 4:30pm.

BOARD OF REVIEW will hold their organizational meeting at 4:30 p.m., March 4, at Boyne City Hall to review the 2025 tax assessment roll as prepared by the assessor. The BOR meetings for assessment appeals of the 2025 tax assessment roll will be held at City Hall:

• Monday, March 10, from 1-4pm & 6-9pm.
• Wednesday, March 12, from 9am-12pm & 1-4pm.

Property owners and resident taxpayers may protest their assessments in person or by letter. Letters must be received by March 10, sent to: ATTN: Board of Review, 319 N Lake St. Boyne City, MI 49712. Read the full notice here.

FREE FLU SHOTS - Boyne City’s EMS Department is offering free flu shots to those in our regional service area. No insurance or other payment needed. Limited supply. First come, first served. Can’t get to us, we may be able to get to you! Contact EMS Director Brenda Willson via phone or text at 231.350.2589 for an appointment or more information. 

DRAFT MASTER PLAN - Available for a 63-day comment period through Friday, April 11. The opportunity to view the plan and comment on it are available on the home page of the City's website and through this link.

CITY MEETINGS – Click here for board information, agendas, and minutes.

> City Commission's next regular meeting is at 12 noon Tuesday, Feb. 25. Agenda page.

CITY BOARD OPENINGS - Are you interested in getting involved and having a voice on what is happening in the City? Volunteer to serve on a board! For more information and to download an application, visit the City’s website. 

• EDC 1 seat. Applications due 3/11.
• LDFA 2 seats. Applications due 3/11.
• Main Street Board 1 seat. Applications due 2/20.
• Airport Board – 3 seats open
• Zoning Board of Appeals – 3 seats open

Obituaries

Mary Louise (Nathan) Ecker

March 24, 1948 ~ February 16, 2025 (age 76)

James J. Stanhope

April 20, 1937 ~ January 11, 2025 (age 87)

Said to have been taken in 1890, the teacher (seated in the center) was Miss Sara Louise Jones, later Mrs. James McNeal. She is being photographed with her rather large class of students. The photo’s backdrop attributes it to Boyne City photographer Walter Ware. Photograph courtesy of the Patrick McCleary collection.

THROUGH THE HISTORIAN'S LENS

More on the BC School photograph from 1890

By Patrick McCleary, Throughthehistorianslens@gmail.com

The Charlevoix County History Preservation Society

In last week’s article, I included an early class photograph, shown above. Among the children pictured was William Riley “Riley” Calbert, the son of one of Boyne City’s earliest black settlers, William and Lucinda (Jones) Calbert. Since that article appeared, I have received a number of inquiries in regard to the teacher and who the other children in the image were. 

Several years ago, during my tenure as President of the Charlevoix County Genealogical Society, a member of the group shared this class photograph with me. The novelty of the image is not only how early it is, but that it depicts the children of many of Boyne City’s founding families. Several of the surnames will sound familiar, but a few have also been lost to the annals of time. While I do not know which of the students originally had possession of the photo, a notation on the reverse read, “My school in Boyne City – 1890.”

As a historian, genealogist and the curator of many collections over the years, my job is to not simply take a photograph at face value. Instead, I take the “clues” that are available, work with and research the details provided, until full (or at least better) documentation can accompany the imagery. This is done in the hope that a previously undocumented photograph will not only be enjoyed but referenced by both current and future historians.

Top row (left to right):

• Henry John “Harry” Webster, January 31, 1878, son of John & Helen (Hobbs) Webster.
• Maude C. Webster, born July 17, 1875, daughter of John & Helen (Hobbs) Webster.
• Blanche D. Newville, born June 25, 1877, daughter of Robert E. & Florence C. (Hill) Newville.
• Frank Edwin Russ, born January 13, 1874, son of Charles C. & Ellen (Mikesell) Russ.
• Arthur David White, born September 26, 1876, son of William & Annabelle (Clements) White. 
• Unknown Kay. Thought to be Elizabeth Daymon Kay, born February 8, 1876, daughter of Dr. Joshua R. & Elizabeth A. (Ramege) Kay. 
• Leroy Omar “Omar” Wilcox, born April 13, 1878, son of Albert & Martha (Buktall) Wilcox. 
• Harvey Bert “Bert” Carmichael, born January 8, 1877, son of Alexander & Matilda (Gay) Carmichael. 
• Unknown Kay. Thought to be Frank Ramege Kay, born November 27, 1878, son of Dr. Joshua R. & Elizabeth A. (Ramege) Kay. 

Center row (left to right):

• Harvey Edney McLean, born September 10, 1877, son of Archibald L. & Sarah A. (Livingston) McLean. 
• J. Frank “Frank” Sudman, born October 11, 1877, son of John L. & Henrietta D. (May) Sudman. 
• William James McWain, born May 29, 1878, son of Lewis & Emma O. (Lewis) McWain. 
• Floyd E. Newville, born November 20, 1879, son of Robert & Florence (Hill) Newville. 
• Sara Louisa Jones, teacher, born September 7, 1866, daughter of George W. and Samantha (Preston) Jones. She married James S. McNeal on June 21, 1891, one year after this photograph was taken, which most likely ended her teaching career. Except on very rare occasions, married women were not considered “suitable” teachers. A common belief at that time was that when a woman “is married, she is no longer in need of the salary that she draws from the schools.”
• Unknown Girl
• Sarah Louise “Sadie” Newville, born June 18, daughter of James “Frank” & Clara (Hill) Newville.
• Martha Nugent, born February 3, 1878, daughter of Henry & Martha (Sufferin) Nugent. 
• Unknown Girl
• Florence Beardsley, born February 5, 1879, daughter of Alfed & Emeline (Williams) Beardsley.      

Seated on floor (left to right):

• Charles Judson Jackson, born August 23, 1876, son of Amos I. & Sophia (Blackall) Jackson.
• Leolin Harman “Leo” Cook, born December 31, 1878, son of Malcom G. & Louisa A. (Maring) Cook. [Note: Leo Cook would later marry Miss Lena Bovee, long-time librarian at the Boyne City Public Library.]
• George Arthur “Arthur” Jones, born March 16, 1881, son of George & Samantha (Peterson) Jones.
• William Riley “Riley” Calbert, born August 31, 1878, son of William & Lucinda (Jones) Calbert.
• Charles Corbette
• Roy Edwin Hodge, born March 22, 1882, son of William R. & Nellie Hodge. 
• Unknown Girl
• Palmer Boy
• Emma Louise Bachman, born July 29, 1880, daughter of Charles A. and Fredericka (Roso) Bachman. 
• Unknown Girl

What else can we learn from a photograph like this? Perhaps the most important detail is that it was taken in a photographer’s studio and not in a classroom, as we would expect to see. In this case it was the studio of Walter Ware. It was initially thought to have been taken during the years when Walter Ware and another Boyne City photographer, George A. Black, were working together- under the moniker “Black & Ware - Photographers.” However, upon further research, this joint venture did not occur until nearly 1900. Although it may seem trivial to some, determining the name of the photographer from an age where photos were seldom fully marked, is an additional, documentable detail.

> 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.

OUR READERS WRITE

Lillian Taylor of Ada, Oklahoma, made contact after a Boyne City reader shared last week’s article content with her. Thank you, Lillian, for taking the time to reach out via email. While I was unable to pinpoint the relation that Lillian was hoping to locate, it was her inquiry that prompted me to expand on last week’s article.

If you have additional information or questions pertaining to the articles and photographs that appear in this column, please take a moment to reach out using the e-mail address provided. Your shared memories and even notes of correction are vital to the preservation of our local history. By working together, we can take Boyne City history to an entirely new level.

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(continued next column)

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MUSIC, ARTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT

Please email your special events and music information to jamie@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 at 8 p.m.

BARREL BACK. 4069 M-75, Walloon Lake, (231) 535-6000.

> Live music 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays with music and trivia on Thursdays.

Mondays - Sean Bielby

Tuesdays - Lara Fullford

Wednesdays - Pete Kehoe

Thursdays - Trivia & music by Holly Keller

BC LANES/THE VENUE BAR & GRILL. 1199 M-75 S, Boyne City, (231) 582-6353.

> Open bowling 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays, 3-10 p.m. Fridays, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays.

> LIVE MUSIC

Saturday, Feb. 22 - Yankee Station, 8-11 p.m.

Saturday, March 1 - Country Thunder, 8-11 p.m.

Saturday, March 8 - Johnny & The Sundogs, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, March 15 - Derailed, 8-11 p.m.

Saturday, March 22 - R.P.M., 8-11ish p.m.

Saturday, March 29 - Sandy & The Bandits, 8-11 p.m.

BOYNE CITY FARMERS MARKET. Indoors in the pavilion at Veterans Park, 207 N. Lake Street, Boyne City. (231) 582-9009.

> Open Saturdays 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM. 220 S. Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 459-4487.

> MY CLUE TRIVIA - Mondays at 7 p.m.

> SINGO BINGO - Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

> LIVE MUSIC at 7 p.m.

Thursdays - Adam and the Cabana Boys

Fridays & Saturdays - Patrick Ryan

BOYNE MOUNTAIN. 1 Boyne Mountain Rd., Boyne Falls, (855) 688-7024.

> Weekly schedule of events and entertainment at all Boyne Mountain venues.

> Local Love Nights - Boyne Mountain is showing some local love to residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, and Otsego counties with discounted fun every Thursday through March 13. Details.

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS. 05325 US 131 S, Petoskey,. (231) 373-2090.

> LIVE MUSIC - Saturdays 2-6 p.m. Free snowshoes for customers to use.

Saturday, Feb. 22 - Michelle Chenard

Saturday, March 1 - TBD

Saturday, March 8 - Two Track Mind

Saturday, March 15 - Chris Calleja

Saturday, March 22 - Michelle Chenard

Saturday, March 29 - Chris Calleja

CAFE SANTE. 1 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 582-8800.

> LIVE MUSIC

Mondays - The Shifties, 6-9 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 21 - Chris Calleja, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22 - The Fridays, 7-10 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 28, - Brian McCosky, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, March 1 - Lavender Lions Duo, 7-10 p.m.

Friday, March 7 - Chris Calleja, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, March 8 - Michelle Chenard, 7-10 p.m.

Friday, March 14 - Pete Kehoe, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, March 15 - Sean Bielby, 7-10 p.m.

Friday, March 21 - Pete Kehoe, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, March 22 - Nelson Olstrom, 7-10 p.m.

Friday, March 28 - Brett Mitchell, 7-10 p.m.

Saturday, March 29 - Peter Jensen, 7-10 p.m.

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER. 461 E. Mitchell Street. Petoskey, (231) 347-4337.

> See website for updated entertainment, Swirl, art shows, and children's activities.

Saturday, Feb, 22 - The Gasoline Gypsies at 7:30pm. Details & tickets.

Saturday, March 15 - Hatchwing Rider at 7:30 p.m. Details and tickets.

FRESHWATER Art Gallery and Concert Venue , 217 S Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 582-2588.

> LIVE MUSIC - 8 p.m. Call to reserve tickets.

Saturday, March 15 - Henhouse Prowlers. Founded two decades ago with the simple desire to play original and powerful bluegrass, this Chicago-bred quartet now finds themselves at the intersection of performance, diplomacy, and education. Onstage, the group's enthralling performances give audiences a sense of how much they love what they do. On record – including their latest offering, 2023’s Lead and Iron, released via Dark Shadow Recording – the band explores their collective life experiences through songwriting and intricate instrumentation. While bluegrass is the undeniable foundation of the Prowlers’ music, the band bends and squeezes the traditional form into a keenly developed sound all their own.

GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS. 800 Bay Harbor Dr., Petoskey, (231) 439 -2600.

> Friday, February 21 - Interlochen Arts Academy's Swan Lake, 7 p.m. Tickets.

> Thursday, March 27 - Trailblazing Women of Country, A Tribute to Patsy, Loretta, and Dolly, 7 p.m. Tickets.

LAKE STREET PUB. 202 S. Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 497-6031.

> TRIVIA NIGHT - Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

MUSKRAT DISTILLING.121 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 268-0178.

> KARAOKE - 8 to 11 p.m. every Wednesday

> LIVE MUSIC 8 to 11 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 21 - The Shifties

Friday, Feb. 28 - Lou Thumser

Friday, March 7 - Sean Bielby

Saturday, March 15 - Eric Jaqua

Friday, March 21 - Pete Fetters

Friday, March 28 - Buddha Sweet

PENINSULA PARK EVENT CENTER, 5 W. Main Street, Boyne City, (231) 881-5192, peninsulaparkevents@gmail.com. The Event Center space is available to rent for public and private events including parties, fundraisers, entertainment, classes and meetings.

> FREE WINTER MOVIES - Saturday, Feb. 15, showing “The Jungle Book” at 2 p.m. and “A Bug’s Life” at 4 p.m. Free admission; refreshments available for purchase. No outside food or beverages. 

> Flower Bouquet Cupcake Decorating Class - Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 4 or 6 p.m. Details and registration.

PROVISIONS LOUNGE. 123 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 582-2151.

LIVE MUSIC, 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays

RED MESA GRILL.117 Water St, Boyne City, (231) 582-0049.

LIVE MUSIC 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Tuesday, Feb. 25 - Ryan Luce

Tuesday, March 4 - Dave Cisco

Tuesday, March 11 - Tai Jaxx Drury

Tuesday, March 18 - Sean Bielby

Tuesday, March 25 - Keith Scott

STIGGS BREWERY & KITCHEN. 112 S. Park St., Boyne City, (231) 497-6100

> First Wednesday of the month - Open Mic Nights hosted by Nelson Olstrom, 6-9 p.m.

> Second Saturday of the month - Karaoke with DJ T-Bone Thompson from 8-11 p.m. It's a fun-filled night of singing, laughter, and craft beer. Whether you’re a pro or just want to have fun, the stage is yours.

WALLOON JUNCTION GRILL AND BAR. 4472 M-75, Walloon Lake, (231) 535-6006.

> Roller skating party 2-6 p.m. Saturday, March 8 and 15. $8 admission, $2 rentals.

> Jelly Roll performs in our log cabin event center at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, and March 15.

The Boyne Citizen

Email: jim@boynecitizen.com

Phone: 231-459-4166

© Copyright 2024 Boyne Citizen, all rights reserved