History

Visiting the Pere Marquette 1223

October 2, 2024

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief GRAND HAVEN — Much of my historical research over the last year has been focused on the rail industry (including carferries). Typically, my focus is on the impact of that industry on Mason County. Mason County is blessed to have a historical locomotive, a 2-6-0, on display at Mason County Historical Society’s Historic White Pine Village.…

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Did Hemingway spend the night in Scottville?

September 29, 2024

This is a repeat of a Mason County Press History article that was originally published on April 15, 2021 on MCP. Since that original posting there have been some updates/corrections to the article.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. In the summer of 1917, 17-year-old Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), along with his parents, Dr. Clarence “Ed” Hemingway (1871-1928) and Grace Ernestine (Hall) Hemingway…

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MCP History: The Wallace family’s theaters.

September 14, 2024

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. There was a time when Mason County was home to several movie theaters. This story is about the legacy of the Wallace family, which owned the 4-Star Theater in downtown Scottville and also the Star-Lite Drive-in in Pere Marquette Township. The first and only movie theater in Scottville was located at 111 S. Main St. The…

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Sept. 9, 1910: The sinking of the PM 18, the worst disaster to strike Ludington carferries

September 9, 2024

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief The worst disaster to ever strike the Ludington-based carferry fleet occurred on Sept. 9, 1910 when the S.S. Pere Marquette 18 sunk 20 miles southeast of Sheboygan, Wis., resulting in the death of 29 people. History will rank it as the second worst carferry disaster on Lake Michigan and the third worst on the Great Lakes.…

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1898 triple murder/suicide among Mason County’s most brutal crimes

May 2, 2024

This article is presented by the Mason County Historical Society in partnership with Mason County Press.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief FREE SOIL TOWNSHIP — Ron Chappel is a fifth generation resident of Free Soil Township. He and his wife, Thelma, live right on Michigan Street, the main street, in the village of Free Soil. His family has made a mark…

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