Let's Go Back for June 11, 2011

40 Years Ago, June 9, 1971

Residents oppose doctor's office

An unwanted neighborhood doctor, and an unanswered question made Monday's Town Board meeting a lively and strongly vocal one.

The public hearing was set up when Dr. Willard Ruth, who moved to the Island recently from Dearborn, Mich., requested that his home at 2975 Baseline Road be rezoned so that he could use it for an office. Ruth's home, being in a residential area under the town Master Plan, would need to be rezoned to allow the doctor to practice there. A large number of the overflow audience attended to oppose this action.

After the argument, which lasted 85 minutes, Supervisor Raymond P. Griffin referred the request by Ruth to the Planning Board. "This could go on forever," declared Griffin.

Main arguments against Ruth were that his practice would endanger further home building there, devalue their property, open the door to further rezoning, and threaten the residential character of the neighborhood.

30 Years Ago, June 5, 1981

More children being bused off-Island

An increase in the number of children going off the Island to school is one of the main reasons influencing the school administration's decision to increase cumulative bus driver hours by 18 hours a day in the new school budget. Scheduled hours for 1981-82 were "too tight," according to school personnel director William L. McGee, speaking at Tuesday's formal budget hearing.

The administration also said at Tuesday's meeting that 150-160 students are bused to off-Island schools using 15 buses, and the number of different schools students are bused to on the mainland has increased from 43 to 49 for next year.

Resident students K-12 going to private school off the Island number 434, according to administration sources.

20 Years Ago, June 7, 1991

Old Trinity taking on a new look

The bell on the steeple of the Old Trinity United Methodist Church is continuing to call the congregation to Sunday services, even though they are held in the new Trinity as they have been since 1965.

The recent electrification of the bell is just the beginning of the first phase of restoring the 83-year-old landmark on Whitehaven Road, says Shirley Luther, a member of the committee whose efforts saved it from demolition last year.

Work now under way on the exterior of the building includes replacing the roof, installing vinyl siding on Fellowship Hall and painting the chapel and east wing. The next step will be renovating the interior.

"We've only just begun" has been adopted as the restoration theme, Luther said.

The first Trinity Church, built in 1867, was destroyed by fire in 1885, rebuilt in 1886 only to go up in flames again in 1906. Old Trinity was dedicated in 1907.

10 Years Ago, June 15, 2001

Beaver Island Casino waits in wings

Original plans to replace the casino at Beaver Island State Park, which burned down in 1992 have been put on the back burner in recent months. The state has recently pledged more money for the project.

The state has extended the period to accept bids from contractors and concession operators for the new casino for six weeks. In addition, Gov. George E. Pataki has pledged an additional $1.8 million in new funding.