https://www.cityofstignace.com/our-community

Agriculture was also a big part of St. Ignace's economy, in the late 1600's. The Huron and Odawa tribes planted and harvested Indian corn, beans, pumpkins, and watermelons. The French provided the tribes with peas, potatoes, and fruit trees. Sharing food supplies gave them a consistent food supply and more variety in their food.

https://ruralinsights.org/content/the-french-regime-in-the-upper-peninsula-part-two/

In 1681 After Father Marquettes death, Fort Buade complex was established. It was named after their governor Louis de Buade de Frontenac. It became an important area for fur trading and distribution point for arms and munitions during the war

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_de_Buade

In 1694, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Sieur de Cadillac was appointed commandant of Fort Buade in 1694. During the war Cadillacs goals were to keep alliances with the western tribes, help the people live in harmony with other, and induce them to wage war on the iroquois. Cadillac generated a lot of income through the fur trade. During this time the English entered into French territory which affected Cadillacs fur trade.

Since the English were beginning to take over, Cadillac wanted to move to Detroit where he could continue to monopolize the fur trade. When Fort Pontchartrain d' Étroit was established in 1701, Cadillac encouraged the Hurons, the jesuits and Odawa to leave their homes and migrate to Detroit. However, since the demand for fur declined, many of them refused to migrate.

Throughout the 1700's the Metis population became more prominent (people who were a mix of French and Indian). The Metis continued to farm. The Metis people played important roles in the colonial period and the American period. The two most prominent families were the Langladed and the Cadottes, there were a lot of prominent fur traders, entrepreneurs and military leaders in those families. They played an important role in maintaining good relationships among the Native Americans, the British, and the Americans.

In the late 1700's the Ojibwe tribe dominated most of the Native American territory in St. Ignace. During the Seven years war, the Ojibwe sided with the French and against the British. After the British won the war, they took over the French territory in North America including New France (the French territory in St. Ignace). In 1783, St Ignace was included in the United States. It was now part of the Northwest Territory.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Ignace,_Michigan

From the late 1700's to the mid 1800's the fur trade industry continued until it began to decline in the 1830's when the US banned trade with the British.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Ignace,_Michigan

In 1882, the construction of the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette railroad began which connected the straits to Detroit. The construction of the railroad helped St. Ignace's economy. It easier to export farmed goods and lumber. On February 23rd 1882, St. Ignace was incorporated as a village. In 1883, St. Ignace became a city.

From the 1800's to the 1900's, St. Ignace became an attraction to tourists because of its connections with Mackinac Island.

Today, St. Ignace has a city council which manages the cities budget and determines city laws and policies. St. Ignace's City council consists of a mayor (Willian Lalonde) and six other city council members who each serve a four year term.

https://www.cityofstignace.com/mayor-council

The Strait of Mackinac did create quite a bit of water traffic. After they evolved over time amongst the arrival of the Roman Catholic missionaries, the French, and the British explorers and fur traders. The joining of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan at the straights generated water traffic, therefore an establishment of an outpost was created during the occupation of the French. The outpost was named Fort de Buade this became the seat of Lous XIV's authority. St.Ignace was among the largest steelentmen pertaining to new france. The British then arrived in St.Ignace with the defeat of the french during the seven years war.

Fur Trade played a very big role in the city of St.Ignace. Once this industry began to slow, by the mid-1800's the financial importance of commercial fishing started to slow down the fur trade industry.

https://mynorth.com/2021/07/native-americans-settlers-car-shows-st-ignace-mi-turns-350/

https://stignace.com/historic-st-ignace/

Marissa Nowicki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Orontony

Marissa Nowicki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_Fitch

Marissa Nowicki

https://www.mlb.com/player/les-sweetland-123047

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Sweetland

Marissa Nowicki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Coxe

www.nhl.com/player/craig-coxe-8446210

Marisa Nowicki

https://www.nfl.com/players/joe-ostman/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Ostman

We provide both indoor and outdoor exhibits which allow you a glimpse into the Ojibwa culture and the lifestyles of the Huron. This is also where the French Jesuit Mission was located where Father Marquette resided and is is the final resting place for Father Jacques Marquette.

Our beautiful building is 182 years old this year! The city-operated museum and park portray a vivid picture of life in the Straits of Mackinac over 300 years ago when Ojibwa, Huron, Odawa and French lifestyles met at this protected bay. Museum exhibits show Ojibwa Indian culture and traditions, the French contact period and the site's rich archaeology. Outdoor exhibits and a long house explain Huron life here and you are invited to pay your respects at the burial site of Father Jacques Marquette, explorer and Jesuit priest who founded St. Ignace.

Savannah Zschunke
​https://museumofojibwaculture.net/our-history/

School:

LaSalle School, with 11 grades, was built at the corner of Spring and Chambers Strets in 1888. By1908, one high school grade had been added. This school had no gymnasium nor auditorium until 1930, when an addition was built. The class of ’62 was the last to graduates from here, with the new school opening on Por4tage Street in the Fall of 1962.

Technology:

By August 1953, Dr. L.C. Shaftoe had installed “an automatic machine which records phone messages” in his absence. This machine which “is a type of wire recorder adapted by the telephone company”, was installed in his office. A patient could call number 255 and hear an explanation of his absence and a request that a message be left. Then, upon his return, the doctor could play it back!

Safety:

The first State Trooper assigned to St. Ignace was Ralph Sheehan in 1932.  These early Michigan State Police troops worked out of the county sheriff’s office.  Later, they established headquarters at the old City Hall.  The State Police Post was built on State Street in 1937, on land donated by Mackinac County, with the U.S. government contributing heavily to the building costs.  The first commander there was Sgt. Fred M. Keune.  In 1993, the troopers moved to a new site at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge.

Jobs:

In 1910, a brick and tile making plant was constructed along the DSS&A tracks about 3 miles out of St. Ignace. It was expected to make 25,000 bricks a day to start, with 40,000 per day at full capacity.  The work crew needed would be 25 to 40 men.  In February, manager Ed Reavie invited 20 local businessmen out for a tour.  Many orders were already in, for delivery to Marquette, Houghton, Calumet, “the Soo”, Laurium and Hancock.  Bricks will range from cream to brown, “according to the burning given”.  Both common and pressed bricks will be offered.  This tract is 40 acres of clay beds, sufficient to stock the kilns for 40 years.  DSS&A provided a 1000 foot long switch which traverses the land from end to end.Present life:

St. Ignace is a town in Michigan with a population of 2,233. St. Ignace is in Mackinac County. Living in St. Ignace offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In St. Ignace there are a lot of restaurants and parks. Many retirees live in St. Ignace and residents tend to lean conservative.

Savannah Zschunke

https://www.saintignace.org/tidbits-of-history/

Savannah Zschunke

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Earl

Davis was born in Marquette, Michigan. His family moved to St. Ignace soon after his birth, where he attended public schools. He graduated from LaSalle High School in 1950. He attended Northern Michigan University, Hillsdale College, and the College of Mortuary Sciences at Wayne State University. Before entering politics, Davis served as Funeral Director at the Davis Funeral Home in St. Ignace.

Savannah Zschunke

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Davis_(politician)

Royal Roderick "Scottie" Campbell (August 31, 1886 – December 31, 1951) was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Detroit—now the University of Detroit Mercy—from 1911 to 1912, at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois from 1913 to 1914, and at Alma College from 1921 to 1935, compiling a career college football record of 75–60–12. Campbell was also the head basketball coach at Detroit (1909–1913, 1916–1919), Knox (1913–1915), and Alma (1921–1935), tallying a career college basketball mark of 218–120.

Campbell played college football at Alma in 1908 and 1909. His Scottish descent inspired school's fight name, "Scots", which was adopted during his tenure as coach. Campbell spent his later years in Detroit. He suffered a stroke on December 24, 1951, and was taken to Highland Park General Hospital in Highland Park, Michigan, where he died on December 31 of that year.

^{Savannah Zschunke}

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_R._Campbell