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.…
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…
Today’s winds are reported to be gusting about 39 mph. But, 52 years ago today, about 10:30 p.m., on Wednesday, April 12, 1972, the winds were much stronger as a tornado ripped through Riverton and Eden townships. The Mason County Press was a weekly newspaper that published on Wednesdays, so it was an entire week before the next edition came…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief Editor’s Note: On Saturday, June 1, the Mason County Historical Society will host Ghost Tour ’24: Trains, Towns, and Lumber Camps. This bus tour will explore the former Manistee & Grand Rapids Railroad along with ghost towns and former lumber camps that existed along the route. Click here to learn more. A special thanks to Mike…
On Saturday, June 1, the Mason County Historical Society will present a special bus tour exploring an abandoned railroad along with ghost towns and abandoned lumber camps of northeastern Mason County. In 1899, a group of lumber barons from Manistee and Ludington formed the Manistee & Grand Rapids Railroad. The standard gauge railroad ran from the City of Manistee, through…
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