Roscommon Sesquicentennial Celebration

Village of Roscommon, Michigan

Sesquicentennial Celebration!

1872-2022

A history of Roscommon Information compiled

by Mark Constance

Roscommon was founded about 1845, according to records at the Roscommon Historical Society. It has been the county seat of Roscommon County since 1875 and became incorporated as a village in 1882.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.66 square miles. The current population is 963, down from 1,100 in 2010 Roscommon County was formed when it separated from Midland County in 1875. The area which included Roscommon County was originally called 'Mikenauk' for Chief Mikenauk, a member of the Ottawa Indian tribe. He was referred to as a “chief of the first class” in the 1836 Treaty of Washington.

Mikenauk was officially changed to Roscommon County in 1843 by

State Rep. Charles O’Malley and / or Jim Nolan, who collaborated with the surveyors. Each man had ties to Roscommon County, Ireland.

It was later settled by Detroit’s George Robinson.

In 1872, the Jackson, Lansing Saginaw Railroad established the Roscommon Station and lumber was the leading freight. The old railroad depot was torn down in 1969. Lake State Railway is the current owner of the rail line, and the depot was eventually replaced by what is now the AuSable River Center.

Roscommon was founded in part because of its proximity to what was at the time, prime stands of White Pine. The Mackinaw Branch of the Michigan Central railroad ran a line through the village to take advantage of the resource.

In the 1800s Roscommon was ▪ See HISTORY on page 8

One of Roscommon’s original drug stores was AuSable Drugs.

Roscommon was located on the Mackinaw Branch of the Michigan Central railroad. The old depot was torn down in the 1960s. The rails are now owned by Lake State Railroad.

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History told through photos

History Continued from page 7

a large lumbering area and, in its heyday, the village boasted one hotel and 14 saloons. “Green’s” located at 107 N. Fifth Street, is the oldest tavern in the county. It opened shortly after the end of prohibition in 1933.

The Roscommon post office was established on January 9, 1873 with Alfred Bennett serving as the first postmaster. In 1876, Robinson donated block 11 of the village to be used as the site of the original county courthouse. It was accepted by the county in 1879 and Roscommon became the county seat and incorporated as a village in 1882.

Churches The oldest church in Roscommon is the First Congregational Church, founded in 1875. The original church building was constructed in 1880 at a cost of $500. That building burned down in 1926 and was replaced with a stone church in 1928. That building was torn down in 1961. The current church is located at 105 South Main Street.

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church is currently located at 149 West Robinson Lake Road. The original church was built in 1880 and dedicated on Dec. 12 of the same year.

St. Michaels Catholic Church is currently located at 104 Sixth Street. The church began in 1885 as a mission, changing its name to St. Michael’s in 1946.

The original Lutheran church was founded in 1910 with services exclusively in Swedish. In 1935 it became Messiah Lutheran and services were held in English. The church is located at 1470 Maplehurst.

Education

The first school in Roscommon was established in 1880. Isaac Silsby constructed the building. The first teacher was Ellen Moiles.

In 1882, a new school was built on Lake Street in Roscommon. It held students in first-tenth grade.

A box of old negatives, stored buildings. in hundreds of envelopes, found its “These books show the history way to the office of the Up North of Roscommon County through the Voice a number of years ago. They pictures the reporters took,” Theresa came from the said. “A snapshot in old Roscommon time, if you will.”

Herald News She hopes building. Theresa these photos and Ekdom scanned information can these negatives assist those who into digital photos, are looking into the then searched the genealogy of their archives of the family, as well as Roscommon Herald provide a look into to determine who what was happening and what was in the county over pictured. Two years 40 years ago. of these negatives, Snapshots of 1980 and 1981, Roscommon County were compiled into 1980 and 1981 are two Snapshots of available at Art-YTheresa Ekdom Roscommon books. Theresa Facts in Roscommon or on added some national news along with Amazon.com. some current updates to people and

Fishing has always been a common activity of Roscommon resident. Agove: Lester Royce is pictured in his canoe. Below: These men show off the results of a great fishing day on the river.

▪ See HISTORY on page 9

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History

The Colonial Hotel was located on Federal Highway, was torn down several years ago and replaced by Subway.

Continued from page 8

11th grade was added to the school in 1910 and 12th grade in 1912. It later became the Masonic Temple.

The Richardson School opened in 1914. It closed in 1955. The building is now located on the grounds of the Roscommon Historical Society, where it holds desks, books and other artifacts from the period.

The Gerrish-Higgins Consolidated District was formed in 1931, The school was located in what is currently the CRAF Center, located at the town square on Lake Street.

In 1951 a new elementary school was built on County Road 100. It was followed by Roscommon High School (1974) and Roscommon Middle School (1993) near the same location.

In 1966 Kirtland Community College was established to serve Crawford, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Roscommon Counties. Classes began at the St. Helen campus in the Fall of 1968. That campus was abandoned in 2019 when the college built a new campus on 4 Mile Road in Grayling.

The West Branch satellite center was closed as well.

Civilian Conservation Corp

The Higgins Lake Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum and Nursery is located across the street from North Higgins Lake State at 11747 North Higgins Lake Drive.

The museum tells the story of CCC during the Great Depression.

The site was home to thousands of young men enrolled in the federal Depression-era CCC. The nursery portion was established in 1902 with the goal of reforesting the state.

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Farmers Market, Live Music w/ Derek Boik

3-5 p.m.

Free Hot Dogs, Kids Activities, Live Music w/ Off Beat

5 p.m.

Village Presentation

5-9 p.m.

Food Trucks

5:30-7:30 p.m. Live Music w/ Detroit Memories 7:30-9:30 p.m. Live Music w/ The NDS Blues Band

Newspapers

Multiple newspapers have covered Roscommon over the past 150 years.

The first was the Roscommon News, established in 1875 by Robert Ward. It was followed by the Roscommon County Pioneer, owned by Amedius Zahn in 1885; The Democrat, owned by Albert ▪ See HISTORY on page 10

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History Continued from page 9

Sly in 1894; and the Roscommon Herald, founded by Eugene and Ray Matheson in 1907. The Roscommon News and Roscommon Herald merged in 1907.

There are currently two newspapers located in Roscommon County: Up North Voice (formerly the Roscommon County Voice) was established in 2010 by Mark and Tracy Constance; and the Houghton Lake Resorter, first printed in 1940.

The Resorter was purchased by Robert and Alice Hamp in 1961 and has remained in the family since.

After the retirement of Robert’s son, Tom, in 2012, his sons, Eric

(publisher) and Bryan (production manager) became the third generation of the Hamp family to oversee the operation.

Resources: The story and photos in this 150th celebration of Roscommon were gathered with the assistance of the following: • Roscommon Historical Society • Carol Garlo • Linda Cherven • Pure Michigan • Arthur Rosenau • Ned Curtis • Wikipedia • Michigan.gov • Up North Voice

A 1920s photo of downtown Roscommon.

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Roscommon Area Public Schools, or RAPS, was originally knows as GerrishHiggins. The CRAF Center, located on Lake Street was the old high school before the current building was constructed just off County Road 100 in Higgins Township. This photo of the 1944 includes (front, l-r) are Cliff Anderson, Roger Hartman, Forrest Wycoff, Ralph Ostling, Cal Zettle, (back) Fred Campbell, Bob Meyer, Dan Knapp and John Steele. Photo was donated to the Roscommon Historical Society by Mr. Champion.

Roscommon had several undefeated football teams over the years. Pictured are teammates celebrating in 1975.

Roscommon held a number of alumni football games in the 2000s with its cross-county rival Houghton Lake

Roscommon Area Historical Society

ROSCOMMON – The to “gather, preserve & protect Roscommon Area Historical Society, for present & future generations, is located at 404 Lake Street. historical items & data pertaining The source for everything to the exploration, settlement & about Roscommon, It’s comprised development of the Roscommon, of three separate Higgins Lake and buildings, including St. Helen areas; the Gallimore House, & to create public which is decorated awareness of the with household items area's history & to and furniture from the co-operate with the 1930s. It also features Michigan Historical the Richardson society in collection School and another & preservation of smaller building used significant materials & as a visitor resource information.”

Pharmacy collection center, where people The society is open can research their families or the on Saturdays from Memorial Daycommunity at large. There is a vast Labor Day, and all day during the array of photos, documents and oral Christmas in the village celebration histories available, including items held the first Saturday in December. such as this old Sears catalog.

Meetings are held the third The mission of the society is Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

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Roscommon County Sheriff’s Department

Protecting Roscommon for 150 Years!

Office

Counter

Sheriff Ollie Britton

Sheriff Murphy

Sheriff Britton

Sheriff McKindles

Sheriff Stevenson

Sheriff Glassford

Sheriff Meyer

Sheriff Staley

Sheriff Stern

Sheriff Pappy Glassford Years in Office

Sheriff

1876

Albert Denton

1877-1878

James McCabe

1879-1880

James Roach

1881-1884

Charles S. Blanchard

1885-1888

Thomas Mackin

1889-1892

Arthur H. Blanchard

1893-1894

Hugh L. Cox

1895-1898

Lawton W. Knapp

1899-1902

Alexander H. Johnston

1903-1904

George W. Sackrider

1905-1908

Frank H. Richardson

1909-1912

Leo D. Belleville

1913-1916

Walter Gardiner

1917-1920

Alexander H. Johnston

1921-1922

Jane Johnston

1923-1926

Robert Ogden

1927-1946

Francis T. Murphy

1947-1956

James Gardiner

1957-1962

Ralph L. Glassford

1963-1972

Oliver W. Britton

1973-1988

Garth A. Meyer

1989-2000

Thomas L. Mckindles

2001-2008

Francis “Fran” Staley

2009-2015

Randall Stevenson (1)

2015-

Edward Stern (2)

NOTE: Roscommon County was originally designated as MIKENAUK. (1) Resigned June 30, 2015 (2) Appointed July 1, 2015

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Snapshots

By Theresa Ekdom

AMES IGA - Formerly Ames IGA, in 1980 Northern Supermarkets took over the building at 903 Lake Street in Roscommon. But first, the building was remodeled, included laying new flooring, painting, and repairing the roof. Northern Supermarket featured a full-service meat case, a delicatessen, fresh produce, beer and wine. The store was managed by Tim Laverty; the produce manager was Ron

POLICE - In May 1980, Richfield Township police confiscated 33 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop. Estimated street value at the time was about $400/

Baerlocher By 1983 the store had become Gavin’s Food Center. William Gavin had owned and operated Gavin’s Food Center in Lansing from 1968 to 1983 and Gavin’s Food Center in Roscommon from 1983 to 1993.

After Gavin’s closed the building was sold and became the Lake Street Mall, a consignment store. It currently (2022) is the location of St. Vincent DePaul store.

pound for a total of $13,000. Pictured are (l-r) Richfield Police Chief William Massey, with Officers R. Wood and Holliday.

OLIVERS - April 23, 1980 Oliver’s House of Carpet in Houghton Lake was completely destroyed by fire. Firefighters from Denton, Roscommon and Markey Townships battled the fire which was reported by a passing motorist who saw flames in the back of the building. During that spring and summer, the business was rebuilt.

The 10,500 square foot building was reopened in August, 1980.

The business closed in 2013 and was listed for sale in 2014. It sold in 2017. In 2019 Morning Glory Mercantile rented a portion of the building and relocated there from 3269 W. Houghton Lake Drive.

▪ See SNAPSHOTS on page 14

518 S. 5th Street Roscommon, MI 48653 P: (989) 275-5791 F: (989) 275-2812 www.hullbuildingcenter.com BUY WHERE THE BUILDER’S BUY! LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

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Snapshots Continued from page 13

This postcard was sent to Blaine Rutledge, who was stationed with the United States Air Force in 1946. The back of the card didn’t have a specific message, but was signed by many people from the Roscommon community.

TERNEY HOUSE -In June 1980 there was excitement in the village of Roscommon as the office building of attorney Earl Townsend was designated as one of (at the time) only 700 historic sites in the state. Townsend was quoted as saying, “Roscommon has arrived.

It’s got a history now.” Townsend researched the building in order to have it designated as a historic

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site, and paid $800 himself for the metal sign. Unfortunately, in 2012 the Terney house was demolished, the sign disappeared, and by 2013 a Dollar General was erected on the site. The only remaining part of the Terney house is a section of the porch spindles which were installed in the pedestrian bridge by the (old) Village Hall.

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