St. Ignace Eyed For Michigan Transportation Museum
By Karen Gould

The building that once housed the St. Ignace Food Pantry on McCann Street (far left) is one of three sites being considered for the proposed state transportation museum. The property borders State Street and is across the street from the St. Ignace boardwalk and the old railroad dock.

The St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority is positioning itself to operate a transportation museum in downtown St. Ignace that will house state artifacts, including items from the Mackinac Bridge and the former state car ferries. Meeting Friday, August 10, the DDA gave approval for its director, Deb Evashevski, to seek more than $1 million in transportation enhancement funds from the Michigan Department of Transportation for such a project, which is being planned by city and state agencies.

Locally, Mrs. Evashevski, Events Committee member Mark Sposito, and Mackinac Bridge Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney have been working on the project.

The city will need to study the financial feasibility of taking on the operation and management of a transportation museum, Mrs. Evashevski said, and details will be discussed during the grant-writing process.

"I can't imagine the drawbacks would outweigh the benefits," said Mayor Paul Grondin, who also sits on the DDA board.

"This is the kind of thing we need to get here," agreed Mr. Sposito, "even if we have some concerns, and then just address those as we go."

The next step is getting the support of City Council, Mrs. Evashevski said.

The DDA operates the Marquette Mission Site and Museum of Ojibwa Culture at State and Marquette streets.

Mr. Sweeney said funds still are available in the 2007 enhancement program, and any local matches would be contributed by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The state's 2007 fiscal year ends September 30.

The competitive grant program supports the historic preservation of transportationrelated projects and also provides funds for streetscape enhancement programs and the development of non-motorized pathways.

The 50th anniversary celebration of the Mackinac Bridge this year has boosted Lansing support for a transportation museum at St. Ignace, said Mr. Sweeney, who has discussed the idea with grant administrators. The city's relationship with the operation of the state car ferries prior to construction of the bridge, he noted, is also a benefit.

"They're pretty excited about it, and it sounds like it's going to meet everything they would like it to meet for a transportation museum," he said.

"The 50th anniversary opened a lot of people's eyes to St. Ignace," said Mrs. Evashevski, "and made them realize what an asset St. Ignace is."

Planners are eying the Mulcrone building on McCann Street, the site of a former automobile garage and currently used as the bus depot. The property is across State Street from the St. Ignace boardwalk and the Chief Wawatam railroad ferry dock.

Forrest "Frosty" Wyrick's 101-foot-long Erector Set model of the Mackinac Bridge that was on display in Bridge View Park during the 50th anniversary celebration during the last weekend in July is one item planners would like to see included in the museum. The Mackinac Bridge Authority also has artifacts it would like to display in the museum, and the state has car ferry items to include, said Mr. Sweeney.

"I think it would be awesome to have that bridge alone in our downtown district," Mrs. Evashevski said.

During the anniversary celebration, Mr. Sweeney said, many people offered the MBA artifacts from the bridge's construction. With no space available to house them, they were directed to contact Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center. Ms. Clark has volunteered to help with the transportation museum plans and displays, and also offered to collect artifacts for the museum, said Mr. Sweeney.

Photographs taken during construction of the bridge by a Wisconsin man, said DDA board member John Ruegg, have been in his possession for about seven years.

"I've been looking for a place to put them," he said.

More people with artifacts like Mr. Ruegg's likely will come forward once funding is in place, said DDA chairman Gene Elmer.