Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~ PUBLICLY SPEAKING ~
(EXERCISING my right to speak publicly can be a real workout!)
I am a Flag-waving Patriot Niece of my Uncle Sam! ~ Karla Buckmaster
with compliments to my distant cousin Johnny Cash for the sentiment...
[Listen to Johnny Cash sing "Song of the Patriot by clicking HERE]
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2017.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
Click HERE to watch a video of Connie Francis singing "The House I Live In"
which sums up and expresses to me what it means to live in a FREE LAND
where I may Publicly Speak!
which sums up and expresses to me what it means to live in a FREE LAND
where I may Publicly Speak!
Click HERE to view the 1835 Tourist’s Pocket Map of Michigan, by S. Augustus Mitchell, drawn with the entire Tip O’ The Mitt being one county... Michillmackinac.
Then, after the 1840 Michigan survey, Washington’s Office of Indian Affairs agent in Michigan, Henry Schoolcraft, gave Native American names to nine newly created counties. The names used Native language, along with Greek and Latin words such as Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Iosco, Kalkaska, and Leelanau. In the Tip O’ The Mitt area, Schoolcraft came up with the name of “Tonedagna” (later Emmet) and “Kishkawkee” (later Charlevoix) and, also the names “Cheboygan” and “Wyandot.”
It was the Michigan legislature in Detroit that had the twenty-eight counties laid out in northern Michigan during their 1840 session [See Below Left]. It was the first time that all of the lower peninsula of the former Michigan Territory, now state, had been entirely subdivided. A total of 65 Lower Peninsula counties and two Upper Peninsula counties, Chippewa and Michillmackinac existed. In the 1843 session of the legislature [See Below Right], major changes to the original 1840 Henry Schoolcraft suggested county names took place.
Map Above: "A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Emmet County as Tonedagana, the county's name from 1840 to 1843. Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.
To confuse matters even more, especially for local area historians, two more counties in the Tip O’ The Mitt area (besides Michilimackinac and Wyandot) were created, and then later dissolved. One of those counties even contained its own Monarch and Kingdom. By 1850, Emmet, Cheboygan, Wyandot, and Charlevoix counties were still unorganized, not having enough white European population for the state legislature to recognize it.
By 1850, a group of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) had taken up residence in the Beaver Islands group of Gull, High, Beaver, and Garden. Most others on the islands were Native Americans or French and Irish fishermen. The leader of the religious group was James Jesse Strang; a New York state born attorney, debater, newspaper editor, scientist, land developer, king, and two time elected member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He had first arrived on Beaver Island from Wisconsin in 1847. Beaver Harbor village was later named in his honor, St. James, and there he set up a Lake Michigan steamboat wood trade (for their boilers) and a salted fish trade via barrels.
In the November 1852 election Strang won a plurality of the vote to become a Michigan State House of Representatives member. In a four man race, Strang won all 165 votes from the Beaver Islands; enough to send him to Lansing where he was seated by his fellow legislators. In the early session of 1853 Strang was able to have a bill passed that removed the Beaver Islands from the jurisdiction of Mackinac County. Once that was accomplished a bill was passed creating Emmet County which also included the absorption of Charlevoix County, and, of course, all of the Beaver Islands. The 1853 bill also eliminated the county of Wyandot. Prior to 1853, the boundaries of Cheboygan County extended west of the village of Mackinaw City, and only as far south as the northern tip of Lake Cheboiganing (Burt Lake). The new boundary lines of 1853 gave the western section of Cheboygan County to the newly formed Emmet County, and all of the former Wyandot County to Cheboygan.
From 1853 until 1869 Charlevoix County was actually only a township of Emmet County. For the first two years after organization, Emmet County governmental affairs were being run out of the village of Beaver Harbor (St. James). The gentile locals of the Mackinac area strongly opposed the Strangites and thus, presented petitions to the Michigan legislature to detach the Lake Michigan islands from the mainland. A bill passed on February 13, 1855, reorganizing Emmet County.
A new county named Manitou was created and consisted of all the Beaver Islands, the two Fox Islands, and the two Manitou islands of northern Lake Michigan. The Michigan legislature wanted to name the new county Beaver Island, but second term Michigan House of Representative’s member from the area, James Strang, suggested they call it Manitou County. After Strang’s assassination in 1856, the population of the islands quickly diminished. Manitou County then existed until 1861 with the county seat being located at St. James, Beaver Island. From 1861-1864 the islands were part of Mackinac County, and in 1869 they were split up and attached to Leelanau and Charlevoix Counties. In 1895 the Michigan state legislature legally dissolved Manitou County from any form.
Since 1897 the three Tip of the Mitt counties of Emmet (named for Robert Emmet, the Irish patriot, who was hanged as a traitor by the British government), Charlevoix (named for Father Pierre Francois Xavier deCharlevoix), and Cheboygan (Cheboiganing – “passageway”) have maintained their present boundaries, and thus, kept the same borders as shown in the 1901 Plat Book of Charlevoix County shown on the following page. The only suggested change to this arrangement came in the late 1970’s when northern Michigan resident Karl Waldner led a petition drive to create the State of Superior out of the 42 most northern Michigan counties. The fifty-first State Movement of the 1970’s had its roots in earlier secessionist movements centered in the Upper Peninsula. As early as 1858, a movement in the far western counties of the U.P had begun an effort to form its own state.
~ Written and Submitted by Rick Wiles, Local Area Researcher... “breaking myths”
By 1850, a group of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) had taken up residence in the Beaver Islands group of Gull, High, Beaver, and Garden. Most others on the islands were Native Americans or French and Irish fishermen. The leader of the religious group was James Jesse Strang; a New York state born attorney, debater, newspaper editor, scientist, land developer, king, and two time elected member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He had first arrived on Beaver Island from Wisconsin in 1847. Beaver Harbor village was later named in his honor, St. James, and there he set up a Lake Michigan steamboat wood trade (for their boilers) and a salted fish trade via barrels.
In the November 1852 election Strang won a plurality of the vote to become a Michigan State House of Representatives member. In a four man race, Strang won all 165 votes from the Beaver Islands; enough to send him to Lansing where he was seated by his fellow legislators. In the early session of 1853 Strang was able to have a bill passed that removed the Beaver Islands from the jurisdiction of Mackinac County. Once that was accomplished a bill was passed creating Emmet County which also included the absorption of Charlevoix County, and, of course, all of the Beaver Islands. The 1853 bill also eliminated the county of Wyandot. Prior to 1853, the boundaries of Cheboygan County extended west of the village of Mackinaw City, and only as far south as the northern tip of Lake Cheboiganing (Burt Lake). The new boundary lines of 1853 gave the western section of Cheboygan County to the newly formed Emmet County, and all of the former Wyandot County to Cheboygan.
From 1853 until 1869 Charlevoix County was actually only a township of Emmet County. For the first two years after organization, Emmet County governmental affairs were being run out of the village of Beaver Harbor (St. James). The gentile locals of the Mackinac area strongly opposed the Strangites and thus, presented petitions to the Michigan legislature to detach the Lake Michigan islands from the mainland. A bill passed on February 13, 1855, reorganizing Emmet County.
A new county named Manitou was created and consisted of all the Beaver Islands, the two Fox Islands, and the two Manitou islands of northern Lake Michigan. The Michigan legislature wanted to name the new county Beaver Island, but second term Michigan House of Representative’s member from the area, James Strang, suggested they call it Manitou County. After Strang’s assassination in 1856, the population of the islands quickly diminished. Manitou County then existed until 1861 with the county seat being located at St. James, Beaver Island. From 1861-1864 the islands were part of Mackinac County, and in 1869 they were split up and attached to Leelanau and Charlevoix Counties. In 1895 the Michigan state legislature legally dissolved Manitou County from any form.
Since 1897 the three Tip of the Mitt counties of Emmet (named for Robert Emmet, the Irish patriot, who was hanged as a traitor by the British government), Charlevoix (named for Father Pierre Francois Xavier deCharlevoix), and Cheboygan (Cheboiganing – “passageway”) have maintained their present boundaries, and thus, kept the same borders as shown in the 1901 Plat Book of Charlevoix County shown on the following page. The only suggested change to this arrangement came in the late 1970’s when northern Michigan resident Karl Waldner led a petition drive to create the State of Superior out of the 42 most northern Michigan counties. The fifty-first State Movement of the 1970’s had its roots in earlier secessionist movements centered in the Upper Peninsula. As early as 1858, a movement in the far western counties of the U.P had begun an effort to form its own state.
~ Written and Submitted by Rick Wiles, Local Area Researcher... “breaking myths”
In 2022 Emmet County includes 16 townships, two cities and three villages.
~ A Rock Cairn in recognition of Michigan's 83 counties includes Emmet and Charlevoix counties. ~
Representative boulders are included from each of the 83 counties,
except for Wexford's cube of rubber manufactured at a local tire plant.
Representative boulders are included from each of the 83 counties,
except for Wexford's cube of rubber manufactured at a local tire plant.
Pictures were taken 2 September 2010, when on a drive from Petoskey, Michigan, on the way to Traverse City, a slight detour was driven onto Cairn Highway (just north of Kewadin) to view the State County Rock Cairn outside Elk Rapids built in 1938 by Hugh Gray; close to the 45th Parallel, with rocks engraved with each of Michigan’s 83 counties. The 45th parallel actually lies 3 ½ miles north of the present tiny roadside park. The main highway has been relocated since this cairn originally was built.
The Hugh J. Gray (FIRST Director of the Western Michigan Tourist & Resort Association) photo/text plaque on one of the four sides of the obelisk rock cairn states:
The Hugh J. Gray (FIRST Director of the Western Michigan Tourist & Resort Association) photo/text plaque on one of the four sides of the obelisk rock cairn states:
Hugh J. Gray
Dean of Michigan's Tourist Activity
1938
State Committee:
Governor Frank Murphy, Hon. Chairman; U.S. Senator Arthur H. Vandenburg; U.S. Senator Prentiss M. Brown; Bruce E. Anderson, Gen. Chairman; J. Lee Barrett, Vice-Chairman; Don C. Weeks, Secretary; Murray D. Van Wagoner; P.J. Hoffmaster; Thomas F. Marston; Lee Wilson Hutchins; Geo E. Bishop
This point is halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.
Dean of Michigan's Tourist Activity
1938
State Committee:
Governor Frank Murphy, Hon. Chairman; U.S. Senator Arthur H. Vandenburg; U.S. Senator Prentiss M. Brown; Bruce E. Anderson, Gen. Chairman; J. Lee Barrett, Vice-Chairman; Don C. Weeks, Secretary; Murray D. Van Wagoner; P.J. Hoffmaster; Thomas F. Marston; Lee Wilson Hutchins; Geo E. Bishop
This point is halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.
CLICK "PLAY" BELOW IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE SLIDESHOW'S MAIN PHOTO TO VIEW
THE COUNTY ROCK CAIRN...
THE COUNTY ROCK CAIRN...
Click HERE for additional information about the 45th Parallel County Rock Cairn.
1991
The Emmet County Board of Commissioners could not agree on accepting a free donated statue of Robert Emmet for whom the county was named... as a symbol of liberty.
In 2023 Emmet County still does not have a statue of its namesake.
The Emmet County Board of Commissioners could not agree on accepting a free donated statue of Robert Emmet for whom the county was named... as a symbol of liberty.
In 2023 Emmet County still does not have a statue of its namesake.
Emmet County;
previously Tonedagana County
and
also previously Kashkauko County
ULTIMATELY, Named after Robert Emmet
previously Tonedagana County
and
also previously Kashkauko County
ULTIMATELY, Named after Robert Emmet
I began attending Emmet County governmental meetings in 2008 or 2009 in which I was often reminded that the Public Comment [PC] section of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners [ECBOC] meetings was for just that... Public Comment, not debate,
nor in most instances, ANY reply by any of the commissioners.
It was often intriguing, however, to ponder just which of my public comments might generate a response.
Noting the minutes of the Emmet County Finance Committee meetings,
I, Karla Buckmaster, often was listed as an attending GUEST beginning in 2011.
Any comments I made at those meetings, however, were rarely, IF EVER, recorded as having transpired.
A comment I never made during a meeting, to an official, in an e-mail, or to anyone,
that I wish to make now, PUBLICLY SPEAKING... with no response needed:
In building your father's legacy... "He would have taught you better had he been granted more time."
This entire Northern Mich~Mash Preserve web site
was inspired by the following:
was inspired by the following:
I had no idea until late summer of 2017 that my personal e-mail writings/comments regarding Emmet County, Michigan, governmental issues would be of such interest to the general public. I then learned that my personal e-mails back to 2012 written to a particular Emmet County commissioner had been FOIAd (requested through the Freedom of Information Act) and made public. I never have run for a public office nor held a position on a public governmental board or committee... nor do I wish for such. I wrote, then, as I do now... as a passionate private concerned taxpaying citizen.
Evidently, my writings/comments describing my various personal concerns and personal views about Emmet County governmental issues over the years were of such interest to the general public to FOIA them, so with that in mind, I am including my e-mails here as I was, and am now, “Publicly Speaking.” The years of the following items begin about 2008/2009 when I first began attending Emmet County Board of Commissioners [ECBOC] meetings, and continue attending through the present.
My e-mails, of course, were not originally written to be publicly viewed, but any of my views, whether oral or written, concerning governmental happenings are basically summed up in an on-line supposed quote by Ernest Hemingway. When a reporter called to ask Hemingway if he could ask Hemingway questions over the phone, Hemingway replied:
Evidently, my writings/comments describing my various personal concerns and personal views about Emmet County governmental issues over the years were of such interest to the general public to FOIA them, so with that in mind, I am including my e-mails here as I was, and am now, “Publicly Speaking.” The years of the following items begin about 2008/2009 when I first began attending Emmet County Board of Commissioners [ECBOC] meetings, and continue attending through the present.
My e-mails, of course, were not originally written to be publicly viewed, but any of my views, whether oral or written, concerning governmental happenings are basically summed up in an on-line supposed quote by Ernest Hemingway. When a reporter called to ask Hemingway if he could ask Hemingway questions over the phone, Hemingway replied:
MY e-mails... when I send them off, whether "politically correct" or not, like Hemingway... I mean them for good.
After the 2016 ECBOC election where six of the seven Emmet County commissioners were replaced, I am realizing that obviously, many of my fellow county residents had the same viewpoints that I had acquired, and have voiced, and written, over the years… through Public Comments at governmental meetings and through e-mails (now public) that I have written to local county public officials. I do not stand alone.
After the 2018 ECBOC election, I am realizing that commissioners once again, needed replacement... three commissioners were replaced, although that was not enough. It may take two more years for the voters to realize they missed replacing all that needed to be replaced. Personal agendas and personal privilege should play no part in the holder of a public office... not to be viewed as a position of PUBLIC OFFICE OF POWER!
~ Karla Buckmaster (St. Epistle)
After the 2016 ECBOC election where six of the seven Emmet County commissioners were replaced, I am realizing that obviously, many of my fellow county residents had the same viewpoints that I had acquired, and have voiced, and written, over the years… through Public Comments at governmental meetings and through e-mails (now public) that I have written to local county public officials. I do not stand alone.
After the 2018 ECBOC election, I am realizing that commissioners once again, needed replacement... three commissioners were replaced, although that was not enough. It may take two more years for the voters to realize they missed replacing all that needed to be replaced. Personal agendas and personal privilege should play no part in the holder of a public office... not to be viewed as a position of PUBLIC OFFICE OF POWER!
~ Karla Buckmaster (St. Epistle)
Click below to access: TOPICS OF CONCERN...
AIRPORTS
AARF
AMBULANCE / EMS
BAY BLUFFS
BIDS & AECOM
BONDS
BUDGET
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
CROOKED RIVER AND LOCKS
EMMET COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION
ENVIRONMENT (PIPELINES)
FAIRGROUNDS
HOUSING
MARKETING AND BOAT SHOWS
NLEA ~ NORTHERN LAKES ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
ORGANIZATION
PARKS AND RECREATION
FORESTRY AND TIMBER
HEADLANDS
MCGULPIN LIGHTHOUSE
PETOSEGA
SKILLAGALEE
WAUGOSHANCE LIGHTHOUSE
PERSONNEL
PLANNING [?] THE FUTURE
PROPERTY (WHEELWAY)
PUBLIC TRANSIT
SECURITY & RECORDS
SHERIFF AND JAIL (LAW)
SLOOP WELCOME
TAXES & FUNDS
VARIOUS
WAGES
"Boy Governor" Stevens T. Mason for Terrirtory of Michigan
“All of this took place after the treaty of 1783 when the entire Territory of Michilimackinac had been ceded to the United States by the English. However, the latter held their ground at Mackinac until 1815 when the Treaty of Ghent had been signed and proclaimed by both warring parties. And so the straits country went quietly on its way again with its fish and its furs for several more decades of peace. It was not until shortly before the Civil War, some years after Michigan had become a State, that the Detroit region began to realize that there was also an upper part to the peninsula. This was perhaps just as well for that part of the state for it was providentially kept out of the frontier wrangling and intrigues that were going on in the lower country.
During the years in southern Michigan Territory, Lewis Cass was growing in political stature. Following the governors and judges era, Cass did a splendid job for several years as territorial governor, more than doubling the territory’s population and procuring numerous concessions from the federal Government. But no effort on his part could procure statehood for Michigan. The new Democratic president, Andrew Jackson, wanted to appoint Cass his Secretary of War and so in 1830 John M. Mason, a Kentucky lawyer, was made secretary to Cass and moved to Detroit with his family. The plan was to groom Mason to become governor of the territory and release Lewis Cass for the secretaryship at Washington. Mason was a Virginian, with all the old conservative ideas of the colonial state, and he hated politics. He had been compelled to accept the position offered him by Jackson because of financial needs, but he had no taste for it. His son Stevens T. Mason, a remarkably brilliant boy of nineteen, acted as his secretary. Cass was in Washington most of the time and the two Masons virtually ran the territory. Finally John T. grew restless and at last persuaded Jackson to permit him to retire in favor of his young son Stevens, known to his family as Tom.
In 1831 Lewis Cass became Secretary of War, and John M. Mason shook the dust of Detroit off his feet and cut the entire political mess, and presently the Territory of Michigan found itself entirely under the guidance of Stevens Thomson Mason, a youth of twenty-two, as territorial governor. Though known as the ‘Boy Governor,’ young Mason did a man-sized job both as territorial governor and later as governor of the state, for he proceeded at once to lay his plans carefully for the eventual statehood of the territory. But it was uphill work.
There had been a commission sent out from Washington to investigate the claims of Michigan, and its report was to the effect that the territory was all one great bog, altogether too swampy to ever hope to be made into good farming land. Their advice was to let it alone as it was, which was in a way somewhat similar to the situation of Alaska today, for its distance from Washington at that time was fully as great, owing to the round-about journey by way of New York, and its isolation even greater owing to difficult travel. The Territory had one representative in Congress and no vote, and no school or road bounty. And so Governor Mason set to remedy these evils by starting road building and creating a public school system, and setting up plans for a state university.”
~ When Michigan Was Young by Ethel Rowan Fasquelle (1867-1987) of Petoskey, Michigan, published in 1950 when Fasquelle was 83 years old ~ Pages 42 and 43
During the years in southern Michigan Territory, Lewis Cass was growing in political stature. Following the governors and judges era, Cass did a splendid job for several years as territorial governor, more than doubling the territory’s population and procuring numerous concessions from the federal Government. But no effort on his part could procure statehood for Michigan. The new Democratic president, Andrew Jackson, wanted to appoint Cass his Secretary of War and so in 1830 John M. Mason, a Kentucky lawyer, was made secretary to Cass and moved to Detroit with his family. The plan was to groom Mason to become governor of the territory and release Lewis Cass for the secretaryship at Washington. Mason was a Virginian, with all the old conservative ideas of the colonial state, and he hated politics. He had been compelled to accept the position offered him by Jackson because of financial needs, but he had no taste for it. His son Stevens T. Mason, a remarkably brilliant boy of nineteen, acted as his secretary. Cass was in Washington most of the time and the two Masons virtually ran the territory. Finally John T. grew restless and at last persuaded Jackson to permit him to retire in favor of his young son Stevens, known to his family as Tom.
In 1831 Lewis Cass became Secretary of War, and John M. Mason shook the dust of Detroit off his feet and cut the entire political mess, and presently the Territory of Michigan found itself entirely under the guidance of Stevens Thomson Mason, a youth of twenty-two, as territorial governor. Though known as the ‘Boy Governor,’ young Mason did a man-sized job both as territorial governor and later as governor of the state, for he proceeded at once to lay his plans carefully for the eventual statehood of the territory. But it was uphill work.
There had been a commission sent out from Washington to investigate the claims of Michigan, and its report was to the effect that the territory was all one great bog, altogether too swampy to ever hope to be made into good farming land. Their advice was to let it alone as it was, which was in a way somewhat similar to the situation of Alaska today, for its distance from Washington at that time was fully as great, owing to the round-about journey by way of New York, and its isolation even greater owing to difficult travel. The Territory had one representative in Congress and no vote, and no school or road bounty. And so Governor Mason set to remedy these evils by starting road building and creating a public school system, and setting up plans for a state university.”
~ When Michigan Was Young by Ethel Rowan Fasquelle (1867-1987) of Petoskey, Michigan, published in 1950 when Fasquelle was 83 years old ~ Pages 42 and 43
Muh-quh-Se-bing OR The Bear Walks
“Many, many years before white men came to live in the great forest of northern Michigan the beautiful blue lake several miles southwest of La Petit Traverse was called Muh-quh- Se-bing by the Indians who hunted for game in the forest. These Indians were Ottawas and Ojibways, friendly tribes who had lived together in peace for more than a hundred years. They also gave the winding, twisting creek carrying the overflow water from the lake to La Petiti Traverse the same name because to them it was where ‘the bear walks,’ literally where there were plenty of bear to be had for the hunting beside the running water.
Muhquh Sebing was only a small part of a larger country called at times Tonadagona, and at other times Kashkauko, by the white men many miles away who settled such matters and made the maps....
Well that’s the way it must have been about the name they gave to this northern forest. The old chief, Kashkauko, never lived in the Muquh Sebing country, though some of his relatives did. But they were good Indians, while Kashkauko was a very bad man whom the white judges had decided would have to be hung, but the legend is that he took his own life instead. However, it was not long before Kashkauko too was changed for another name.
This time another man who lived on an island in Lake MIchigan called the Big Beaver, where he attempted to form a permanent Mormon colony, decided that he wanted to call the forest Emmet, because he was an Irishman and was fond of the poet Robert Emmet. As he had gotten himself elected to the Michigan legislature he persuaded the people at Lansing, the State capital, to call the forest Emmet County, including most of what are now known by several other county names bordering on the present Emmet County. This man was the first real politician in Emmet County. His name was James J. Strang, but he called himself King Strang, and he really wanted to found a kingdom instead of a colony. The project was defeated by his assassination by a follower whom he had flogged for disobedience.”
~ When Michigan Was Young by Ethel Rowan Fasquelle (1867-1987) of Petoskey, Michigan, published in 1950 when Fasquelle was 83 years old ~ Pages 138 and 139
Muhquh Sebing was only a small part of a larger country called at times Tonadagona, and at other times Kashkauko, by the white men many miles away who settled such matters and made the maps....
Well that’s the way it must have been about the name they gave to this northern forest. The old chief, Kashkauko, never lived in the Muquh Sebing country, though some of his relatives did. But they were good Indians, while Kashkauko was a very bad man whom the white judges had decided would have to be hung, but the legend is that he took his own life instead. However, it was not long before Kashkauko too was changed for another name.
This time another man who lived on an island in Lake MIchigan called the Big Beaver, where he attempted to form a permanent Mormon colony, decided that he wanted to call the forest Emmet, because he was an Irishman and was fond of the poet Robert Emmet. As he had gotten himself elected to the Michigan legislature he persuaded the people at Lansing, the State capital, to call the forest Emmet County, including most of what are now known by several other county names bordering on the present Emmet County. This man was the first real politician in Emmet County. His name was James J. Strang, but he called himself King Strang, and he really wanted to found a kingdom instead of a colony. The project was defeated by his assassination by a follower whom he had flogged for disobedience.”
~ When Michigan Was Young by Ethel Rowan Fasquelle (1867-1987) of Petoskey, Michigan, published in 1950 when Fasquelle was 83 years old ~ Pages 138 and 139
Figures from a 1938 edition of the FIRST Michigan Gazeteer stated that this area of Emmet County was part of Mackinac County which included 17.7 million acres of the state's 38 million acres. "Almost half of the state was in this county yet its total state tax was only $191.00 for the year. It is interesting to note that taxes for the rest of the state amounted to $45,926.00."
The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future. ~ Theodore Roosevelt
Articles Above: It is interesting to note that when Emmet county was first organized under the present name of Emmet County, three townships already existed… Bear Creek, Little Traverse and LaCroix, or Cross Village as it is now called…. under the leadership of Theodore Wendell, of Mackinac, and John S. Dixon of Charlevoix, a bill was passed in the legislature which organized the county of Emmet, leaving out the islands where the Morman’s held sway and the FIRST election was held at Little Traverse in June 1855.
"By Act number 67 of the session laws of 1843, page 145, entitled 'An act to change the names of certain counties," the name of the county of Tonedagana was changed to that of Emmet, and the name of the county of Reshkanko [Kashkauko] to that of Charlevoix.'" This quote is from The Evolution of Emmet County Feb. 23, 1914 ~ written by B.T. Halstead and read to the Emmet County Historical Society on February 23, 1914. Halstead's book may be found in the Michigan Room at the Petoskey District Library in Petoskey, Michigan.
Article Below: Originally The Independent Democrat of 14 May 1875 reported this article...
here republished in 1981 in the Harbor Light; telling the origins of Emmet County.
here republished in 1981 in the Harbor Light; telling the origins of Emmet County.
TOP
Photo Below: The Emmet County Court House building was located on the corner of Lake and Division streets, the same as its location in 2022. Additional information about the Emmet County Court House building may be accessed on the Charlevoix Emmet History website by clicking here.
Notice in the two pictures below that the court house clock face was FIRST BLACK... then, later, WHITE. The county court house clock that was preserved, and now in 2023 mounted in the midway at the Petoskey water front are the four WHITE faces.
Early Petoskey in the Late 1800s Actual Photo Below of Squires Saloon:
The location of Squires Saloon became the location of the Petoskey City Hall.
Eventually, the city moved their offices away, so only the county offices are housed in this location.
In 2023 this is the location of the Emmet County Building
on the corner of Lake and Division streets, Petoskey, Michigan.
The location of Squires Saloon became the location of the Petoskey City Hall.
Eventually, the city moved their offices away, so only the county offices are housed in this location.
In 2023 this is the location of the Emmet County Building
on the corner of Lake and Division streets, Petoskey, Michigan.
Photo Above Left: The EARLY clock faces on the county building were black. Those faces were replaced by the white faces as in the photo above. The white faces were preserved when the OLD court house was razed. The faces, with the bell hanging below, were later installed into the clock tower at the waterfront where they can be viewed today as seen in the 2008 photo below.
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For additional information and photos of the town's clock visit my website titled
"Charlevoix Emmet History" on the WWI Emmet County Military "With Connections to the Town Clock."
"Charlevoix Emmet History" on the WWI Emmet County Military "With Connections to the Town Clock."
TOP
~ County Seal, Design, or Logo ~
In 1965 both the city and the county shared facilities on the corner of Lake and Division streets
when it was proposed to build a new county building.
when it was proposed to build a new county building.
Photo/Text Above: The county seal picked by the judges showed a profile of Emmet County showing the inland lakes, cities and villages, with symbols of the plowshare, passenger pigeons, pine tree, lumber area, axe and cant hook, a skier, fisherman and deer.
1965
~ City-County Building Combined ~
~ City-County Building Combined ~
Photo Above: Left Side of SEAL Above:
Outline of the shape of Emmet County Photo Right: Right Side of Logo Above: Emmet County Images from top... 1) Logging cant hook and axe 2) Pine trees (Lumbering Era) 3) Mackinac Bridge and freighter 4) Skiing 5) Religion 6) Passenger Pigeon Extinction |
Over the years... two colored versions of the Logo have been in use as shown below:
Three choices below were presented to the Emmet County Board of Commissioners on 10 May 2021 by the Communications Director Stacy Cox. After taking a recommendation from the county's Historical Commission, the ECBOC chose the center seal to be the approved design for use on all official county documents and e-mails. The new seal design was meant to be a refining of the design, not a redesign.
The new seal design was meant to be a refining of the design, not a redesign,
as can be viewed in the before (left) and after displays (right) of the elements below.
as can be viewed in the before (left) and after displays (right) of the elements below.
During the 17 June 2021 Emmet County Board of Commissioners,
with the recommendation of the Emmet County Historical Commissioner,
voted to approve the blue outline rendition of the seal as shown in the center two photos above.
with the recommendation of the Emmet County Historical Commissioner,
voted to approve the blue outline rendition of the seal as shown in the center two photos above.
~ New Emmet County Building ~
Postcard Below: New Emmet County Court House with the fire department still to the west (left)...
Photo Below: New Emmet County Court House with the fire department building property vacant...
1967
~ Independence Day Parade ~
Photo Below: The Colwell Brenn-Hofbauer Contractors won the prize for the best industrial float...
"Latest Listing"
~ Independence Day Parade ~
Photo Below: The Colwell Brenn-Hofbauer Contractors won the prize for the best industrial float...
"Latest Listing"
~ The Country's Bicentennial ~
Celebrated 1975
The history of Petoskey and Emmet County was depicted in the quilt below.
Celebrated 1975
The history of Petoskey and Emmet County was depicted in the quilt below.
5 April 2022
Makings of Poor Decisions By the ECBOC
Letter address to Emmet County Board of Commissioners (White, MacInnis, Koontz, Ahrens, Wargel, Bachelor, Drier) and Administrator Mike Reaves and Assistant Administrator David Boyer.
Written by Karla Buckmaster
Makings of Poor Decisions By the ECBOC
Letter address to Emmet County Board of Commissioners (White, MacInnis, Koontz, Ahrens, Wargel, Bachelor, Drier) and Administrator Mike Reaves and Assistant Administrator David Boyer.
Written by Karla Buckmaster
As a taxpaying Emmet County resident, I am appalled at the MAKINGS OF POOR DECISIONS by the ECBOC which have encompassed some pricey county projects… the ORIGINAL DECISIONS and the associated CULMINATING DECISIONS are both poor, although it is difficult to say just which decisions have been poorest. Are ECBOC decisions poorest which 1) spend exorbitant “start-up” amounts of money, OR 2) take huge monetary losses to get out of the original decision. It is next to impossible to totally understand reasoning for the poor decisions at either end of the process.
All, I can fathom for the poor decisions is a lack of individual topic/project research by MOST, but not all, commissioners (Drier usually goes above and beyond in her pre-meeting research) on each and every single topic upon which they will make a decision and vote; I’m not wanting to think that “ill”, or “personal intentions” influenced some of these decisions, but I have witnessed such, perhaps egregiously, in one particular case. Think of how many topics/projects you commissioners have voted to spend money, in which you have not researched for a total understanding of what you even are voting. That is inexcusable.
Oh, my goodness; I only am asking each of you commissioners to do your own research on EACH of the topics that you will make decisions, and not totally depend on some “special-interest group," the administrator, or the assistant administrator, to totally spoon-feed their information, or lack thereof, to you. YOU commissioners were voted by the people to represent the people’s interests, to make an informed vote not only on a topic only of your own interest, but topics of interest to others as well; you also represent ALL of the people in the county, even if not in your specific district. Your decisions affect ALL county residents. Do your homework, and quit costing, and losing, taxpayer dollars for the county.
Below... you will find examples of POOR DECISIONS such as I am trying to address with you. Take heed. Most of you still have at least 8 months left to serve. Please do a better job.
DONATED DOME TRANSPORTATION & STORAGE:
2011
Donated Dome’s transportation from Cranbrook for about $10,000.00 (plus, airport hangar storage rental loss of unknown monetary loss)
February 2022
Dome sold for $1600.00 (yes… just $16 hundred)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SLOOP WELCOME:
11 November 2013
Hired a crane to lift Welcome from Traverse City waters. Road movement from TC to Headlands, not to exceed $10,000.00, travel expenses for staff to Traverse City several times
1914
New $150.000.00 storage building specifically constructed in the Headlands for 55 foot long Sloop Welcome storage from the non-voted $15,000,000.00 bond.
16 March 2017
Sloop Welcome sold for $10,111.00 to Lieghio in Mackinaw City
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HORACE PROPERTY ~ Charlevoix Avenue, Petoskey (MOST PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE THE COUNTY OWNED ~ unrestricted view!)
2006
Purchased for $600,000.00 with county’s vision for lower bluff area use by wheelway; leading to additional millions spent to purchase other properties and construction of the wheelway over "known riverines" which have led to total washouts and present problems still needing to be addressed
2018
Sold for $367,000.00 after limited advertising and a questionable “public sale” (Remember the price of property usually gains in value, NOT devalues).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIBER OPTIC CABLE ~ Mackinaw City
13 October 2016
Fiber Link contract for $107,026.00 for construction of aerial fiber connection and poles, plus expense of managing the construction
March 2022
Sold all 48 strands of fiber to Peninsula Fiber Network, Inc. for $35,000.00. County will have an ”Indefeasible Right of Use” [IRU] for 12 strands for no cost to county. So, the county no longer OWNS ANY strands, correct? The county just has the right to USE the 12 fibers for the “life of the Headlands Fiber”. The yearly maintenance had been about $2,500.00, right?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This most recent Fiber Optic Cable dealings outcome (from minutes) appeared to have transpired behind closed doors on 17 March 2022. It would seem that your decision had no historical basis, or information, for the actual value of the original investment that the county had made; otherwise I would wish that you would have made a better deal, and a better decision. The value of fiber strands, like a house/property, GAINS in value, not LOSES in value. The below 2016 fiber related items ALL are found on the Emmet County web site which you could have accessed/researched for yourselves. These items indicate a great loss of tax payer money with another POOR DECISION, in my opinion. Think about IF you did any research on this topic before voting? Considering the monetary loss to the county, the public would not think you made a good decision. Below, even Gary Appold, in the beginning decision stated the fiber “could be leased or sold” if another entity wanted it… Gary did NOT say, however, that the fiber needed to be leased or sold at a LOSS!
The county web site information also includes a “Report of Analysis of Emmet HWEC Fiber RFP Bids by John Childs” on the archived 11 October 2016 Building & Grounds Committee minutes which provided other useful information about the original fiber deal had you researched it.
~ Karla Buckmaster
Archived Minutes from Building and Grounds Committee held PRIOR to ECBOC regular meeting:
11 October 2016
All, I can fathom for the poor decisions is a lack of individual topic/project research by MOST, but not all, commissioners (Drier usually goes above and beyond in her pre-meeting research) on each and every single topic upon which they will make a decision and vote; I’m not wanting to think that “ill”, or “personal intentions” influenced some of these decisions, but I have witnessed such, perhaps egregiously, in one particular case. Think of how many topics/projects you commissioners have voted to spend money, in which you have not researched for a total understanding of what you even are voting. That is inexcusable.
Oh, my goodness; I only am asking each of you commissioners to do your own research on EACH of the topics that you will make decisions, and not totally depend on some “special-interest group," the administrator, or the assistant administrator, to totally spoon-feed their information, or lack thereof, to you. YOU commissioners were voted by the people to represent the people’s interests, to make an informed vote not only on a topic only of your own interest, but topics of interest to others as well; you also represent ALL of the people in the county, even if not in your specific district. Your decisions affect ALL county residents. Do your homework, and quit costing, and losing, taxpayer dollars for the county.
Below... you will find examples of POOR DECISIONS such as I am trying to address with you. Take heed. Most of you still have at least 8 months left to serve. Please do a better job.
DONATED DOME TRANSPORTATION & STORAGE:
2011
Donated Dome’s transportation from Cranbrook for about $10,000.00 (plus, airport hangar storage rental loss of unknown monetary loss)
February 2022
Dome sold for $1600.00 (yes… just $16 hundred)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SLOOP WELCOME:
11 November 2013
Hired a crane to lift Welcome from Traverse City waters. Road movement from TC to Headlands, not to exceed $10,000.00, travel expenses for staff to Traverse City several times
1914
New $150.000.00 storage building specifically constructed in the Headlands for 55 foot long Sloop Welcome storage from the non-voted $15,000,000.00 bond.
16 March 2017
Sloop Welcome sold for $10,111.00 to Lieghio in Mackinaw City
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HORACE PROPERTY ~ Charlevoix Avenue, Petoskey (MOST PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE THE COUNTY OWNED ~ unrestricted view!)
2006
Purchased for $600,000.00 with county’s vision for lower bluff area use by wheelway; leading to additional millions spent to purchase other properties and construction of the wheelway over "known riverines" which have led to total washouts and present problems still needing to be addressed
2018
Sold for $367,000.00 after limited advertising and a questionable “public sale” (Remember the price of property usually gains in value, NOT devalues).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIBER OPTIC CABLE ~ Mackinaw City
13 October 2016
Fiber Link contract for $107,026.00 for construction of aerial fiber connection and poles, plus expense of managing the construction
March 2022
Sold all 48 strands of fiber to Peninsula Fiber Network, Inc. for $35,000.00. County will have an ”Indefeasible Right of Use” [IRU] for 12 strands for no cost to county. So, the county no longer OWNS ANY strands, correct? The county just has the right to USE the 12 fibers for the “life of the Headlands Fiber”. The yearly maintenance had been about $2,500.00, right?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This most recent Fiber Optic Cable dealings outcome (from minutes) appeared to have transpired behind closed doors on 17 March 2022. It would seem that your decision had no historical basis, or information, for the actual value of the original investment that the county had made; otherwise I would wish that you would have made a better deal, and a better decision. The value of fiber strands, like a house/property, GAINS in value, not LOSES in value. The below 2016 fiber related items ALL are found on the Emmet County web site which you could have accessed/researched for yourselves. These items indicate a great loss of tax payer money with another POOR DECISION, in my opinion. Think about IF you did any research on this topic before voting? Considering the monetary loss to the county, the public would not think you made a good decision. Below, even Gary Appold, in the beginning decision stated the fiber “could be leased or sold” if another entity wanted it… Gary did NOT say, however, that the fiber needed to be leased or sold at a LOSS!
The county web site information also includes a “Report of Analysis of Emmet HWEC Fiber RFP Bids by John Childs” on the archived 11 October 2016 Building & Grounds Committee minutes which provided other useful information about the original fiber deal had you researched it.
~ Karla Buckmaster
Archived Minutes from Building and Grounds Committee held PRIOR to ECBOC regular meeting:
11 October 2016
Agenda item for 13 October 2016 ECBOC Regular Meeting Below:
2016 10/13/16 ECBOC Regular Meeting Minutes Below:
March 2022 ECBOC SOLD ALL 48 strands of of fiber to Peninsula Fiber Network, Inc. for $35,000.00.
JUST ONE MORE POOR DECISION!!!!!
JUST ONE MORE POOR DECISION!!!!!
"Mike Reaves announced his retirement, effective May 13, 2022. He feels that he has completed the tasks given to him by the Board. He has built a succession plan and he recommends that the Board move forward with that plan, as Assistant Administrator, Dave Boyer, has been working with Reaves for the last year. Reaves noted that he has agreed to be available as a consultant for a limited time. Most important Reaves feels that the team of Emmet County employees is strong and in a great position to be successful." AND "Motion by Commissioner MacInnis and seconded by Commissioner Bachelor to extend an offer to Dave Boyer to serve as Emmet County Administrator, effectve May 14, 2022 and authorize Administrator Reaves to enter into negotiations with the Board Chair and Human Resources Director regarding a contract with Mr. Boyer. Motion passed by roll call vote. Yes - Ahrens, Bachelor, Drier, Koontz, MacInnis, Wargel, White"
~ 11 April 2022 Emmet County Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
~ 11 April 2022 Emmet County Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes
NOTICE:
2018 – Please read the "Publicly Speaking" letter regarding the hasty vote by five of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners... (one unsuccessfully) trying to "buy" 2018 election votes!!! (CLICK, read letter top of web page...)
IN ADDITION:
2019 – At least one of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners should be recusing himself when votes regarding the NLEA (Northern Lakes Economic Alliance) are presented. During the 2018 election campaign, a paid election event for this commissioner was hosted by a very verbal NLEA member and beneficiary. Now that commissioner who wishes to attain higher political office (Chatfield will be out with "term limits" in the coming cycle) at state level, is obligated to satisfy that verbal NLEA supporter to attain future election votes, whether the commissioner's county vote is in the best interest of the entire county general public, or not. He should recuse himself in those instances. [LATER UPDATE: Finally, in 2019 the majority of the ECBOC voted to free the county taxpayers from funding NLEA in 2020! AND OOPS... a new group of ECBOC annually are paying $80.000.+ to NLEA in 2022 for a 3 year contract.]
Another sitting 2019, and still in 2021 and 2022, a commissioner has a direct connection with a housing corporation, and a fellow friend/business associate with a direct downtown Petoskey development connection, and thus should be recusing himself with ANY votes having to do with housing, Brownfields, Land Bank authority, and associated financial input to housing in which he, a friend, or business associate, stands to gain personally.
[UPDATE: Finally, in 2023 when Commissioner Dave White is on the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, he actually recused himself from particular decisions. The interesting concept, however, is WHY he even does sit on this type authority when the main focus of the group deals with "housing"?]
2018 – Please read the "Publicly Speaking" letter regarding the hasty vote by five of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners... (one unsuccessfully) trying to "buy" 2018 election votes!!! (CLICK, read letter top of web page...)
IN ADDITION:
2019 – At least one of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners should be recusing himself when votes regarding the NLEA (Northern Lakes Economic Alliance) are presented. During the 2018 election campaign, a paid election event for this commissioner was hosted by a very verbal NLEA member and beneficiary. Now that commissioner who wishes to attain higher political office (Chatfield will be out with "term limits" in the coming cycle) at state level, is obligated to satisfy that verbal NLEA supporter to attain future election votes, whether the commissioner's county vote is in the best interest of the entire county general public, or not. He should recuse himself in those instances. [LATER UPDATE: Finally, in 2019 the majority of the ECBOC voted to free the county taxpayers from funding NLEA in 2020! AND OOPS... a new group of ECBOC annually are paying $80.000.+ to NLEA in 2022 for a 3 year contract.]
Another sitting 2019, and still in 2021 and 2022, a commissioner has a direct connection with a housing corporation, and a fellow friend/business associate with a direct downtown Petoskey development connection, and thus should be recusing himself with ANY votes having to do with housing, Brownfields, Land Bank authority, and associated financial input to housing in which he, a friend, or business associate, stands to gain personally.
[UPDATE: Finally, in 2023 when Commissioner Dave White is on the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, he actually recused himself from particular decisions. The interesting concept, however, is WHY he even does sit on this type authority when the main focus of the group deals with "housing"?]
Our memories give us voice and bear witness to history, so that others might learn.
So they might celebrate our triumphs and be warned of our failures.
~ Mohinder Suresh
So they might celebrate our triumphs and be warned of our failures.
~ Mohinder Suresh
Michigan has more STATE LAND than any other state except Alaska.