MICHAEL’S BAY—There are few old Island families who cannot trace a relative back to the settlement of Michael’s Bay—once the most vibrant and dynamic community on Manitoulin, but now a true ghost town in every sense of the name. To that end, Michael’s Bay holds a special place in Manitoulin residents’ hearts.
The Michael’s Bay Historical Society (MBHS) mandate is the historical preservation and development of the former townsite and its accompanying graveyards. To that end, the MBHS decided at their recently held annual general meeting that their focus would be on “cleaning up the cemeteries.”
“We would like to get the cemeteries cleaned up along with the roads so we can get in there more easily to work on things,” said MBHS chair Ben Lentir. “Right now, people are driving right through the middle of one of the cemeteries. We would like to get the other roads opened up so we have easier access and an alternate route.”
The MBHS board saw a minor change in executive this year, with Claire Cline taking on the role of treasurer. The rest of the board remains the same, with Mr. Lentir as president, Ed Sagle as vice-president and Jane Tilson as secretary.
As is the norm for small community groups focused on preserving historic sites and heritage, MBHS is always on the lookout for more volunteers. “We are a small group and many of us are not getting any younger,” admitted Mr. Lentir.
As a major lumbering centre, Michael’s Bay and its many mills provided much needed employment for the early settlers and Indigenous people of Manitoulin—a surviving early townsite map shows the location of an Odawa graveyard.
The group has a Facebook page that can act as a point of contact for those interested in getting involved in the important work of preserving and enhancing one of Manitoulin’s most important, yet lesser known, historic sites.
