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In 1853, brothers Archibald and Carl Newton purchased the Island of Saint Helena near the Straits of Mackinac. They developed the island into a fuel and supply stop for passenger, cargo and fishing ships traveling through the straits. Being successful in this endeavor, they then used their profits to establish businesses in Cheboygan. One of these businesses was the first hemlock extraction facility on Mullett Lake, where the juices from hemlock bark were extracted for use in tanning leather. In 1870, Archibald Newton was the first elected village president. He then constructed this house in 1871 as a wedding present for his second wife, Cornelia Allaire. After the deaths of Archibald in 1892 and Cornelia in 1916, the house was willed to Cornelia’s brother, Joseph Allaire Jr. The house remained in the Allaire family for 127 years, until it was purchased by the great-great grandson of Archibald in 2013.The interior of the home remains almost completely intact. The cupola on the roof is the same where Mr. Newton used to watch for his boats entering the Cheboygan harbor. Many of the furnishings in the home are original pieces. The piano as well as the paintings in the parlor had belonged to Mrs. Newton.There have been several ghost sightings reported at the home by the Allaire family and residents of Cheboygan. Multiple instances involve flickering lights, room that become ice cold, and objects that mysteriously move on their own.

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Built in 1871, the Newton-Allaire House is a private residence that holds historical significance in Cheboygan. The house was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979 and was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1983. This 8-bedroom, 2 ½ bath Italianate, 2-story red brick house includes a wrap around porch, wide eaves and rounded arch windows. The house is a wonderful representation of affluent life in 19th Century Cheboygan. 

Newton-Allaire House

Founded in the mid-1800s, Cheboygan has a fascinating history and is filled with landmarks. This historic walking tour will take you to some of the most important locations in Cheboygan’s history, including the Paper Mill, the Old Jail, the Opera House, and the Kingston Theatre. 

When Cheboygan County was first established in the mid 1850s, a log building was used for a county jail in Duncan City. Later, a log jail was built on Huron Street. By 1879, Cheboygan County’s population reached almost 6,700 and the log jail was inadequate. A new jail and sheriff’s residence were built on these grounds in 1880 for around $5,000. There was one entrance for both the residence and the jail, with a passage to the left which allowed prisoners to enter the jail separate from the house. The sheriff’s wife was responsible for the cooking, cleaning, and laundry for the prisoners. Ten different sheriffs and their families lived and worked in this building over the next 89 years. The jail was deemed inadequate and condemned by the State Board of Public Corrections and Charities in 1911. A two-story addition with eight cells on each level was added in 1912. Due to fire safety regulations, the upper level was never finished or used. The jail continued to be used until the current county building on South Main Street was constructed in 1968. The building was then deeded to the Historical Society of Cheboygan County and has remained a museum ever since. Visitors will also find a Native American cabin on the premises. The cabin was one of three remaining cabins after the historic “burnout” of a settlement on Burt Lake. The settlement was known as “Indianville” and they believed they owned the rights to the land. A timber speculator named John McGinn believed that the property belonged to him after purchasing a section of land. In October of 1900, McGinn went with the sheriff and a few deputies to the settlement. They arrived in the daytime when most of the men were working in the lumber industry. McGinn and the others took the possessions of the residents and dumped them in the nearby road. They then doused the houses with kerosene and set fire to the village. About fifteen buildings were engulfed in flames. This cabin is the only one left in existence from the village. It was moved from its original location in 1923. It was then donated to the History Center and restored in 1976. The Spies Heritage Hall, also located here, was dedicated in 1997. This building includes exhibits such as logging in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a one-room schoolhouse, military exhibits and early twentieth century tourism. The Old Cheboygan County Courthouse is located right across Huron Street from the museum. This courthouse was built in 1869 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The History Center of Cheboygan includes different buildings that help exhibit Cheboygan’s history. Originally the location of the old jail and jailer’s residence, this location has been an important part of Cheboygan’s history since 1880. On these grounds, visitors can find the old jail and jailer’s residence building, an exhibit building and a native American log cabin from the late 1800’s.

History Center of Cheboygan County / Old Jail

Elias S. Flaglor was in the glass business but was also an automotive tinkerer. Around 1912 the cyclecar craze started to take shape and many manufacturers began to produce small economical vehicles that were roughly the size of early motorcycles but twice as wide. Flaglor started to develop a prototype for production just a year earlier and in 1913 informally established the Flagler Cyclecar Company out of his house in Chicago.In short order the company was in a temporary factory which was also located in Chicago and in January of 1914 the first fifty cars were assembled. Flaglor was soon in talks to bring the company to Cheboygan, MI and a great investment would be made by many of the town’s residents. In April of that year the company was formally incorporated and were developing both a passenger car and a light delivery vehicle.The factory was ready in June and the prototype light delivery vehicle was shown around town rendering great reviews. Sidney Flaglor took examples to Detroit to be shown and raced in the International Cyclecar Races in July gaining even more exposure for the company. By August it was said that the company was producing a car a day and the future was looking very promising.

Elias S. Flaglor was by trade a glass worker but was also an automotive tinkerer. Around 1911 he started to develop a prototype of a cyclecar which was the size of an early motorcycle but twice as wide. He started the Flagler Cycle Car Company out of his house in 1913 and quickly moved to a new temporary location. By 1914 he had moved the company to Cheboygan occupying an old pea canning factory. Trouble with design delayed the car but by April the company was incorporated and was slowly producing vehicles. A regular cyclecar and light delivery vehicle would be the beginning models and orders began to pour in. The vehicles received great reviews and were taken to Detroit to be shown and raced to prove their durability. Although the future seemed bright very few vehicles were made and by 1914 the company was in receivership. Flaglor continued to perhaps produce and sell them out of his house in Chicago where he started but by 1917 the company was officially bankrupt. Flaglor continued in the glass business and doesn't seem to have entered the automobile business in the years following. This stop on the tour is pinned at the Historical Cheboygan County Museum where one can learn more about Flaglor and auto manufacturing in this part of the state.

Flagler Cyclecar Company

In 1844, Alexander McLeod, a resident of Mackinac Island, built the first sawmill at this location. The area was great for lumber, as there was an abundance of tall, straight pine trees and a river to be able to handle the processing and transportation of the lumber. Logs could be cut upstream at the logging camps, then floated down the river to the sawmill. The lumber could then be transported using the rivers and the lakes. The W &amp; A McArthur Lumber Company later operated a huge mill on this site. They sold the mill in 1902 to the American Bag and Paper Company. It was at this point that the local lumber economy began to decrease. The mill was then bought in 1915 by the Cheboygan Paper Company. The Union Bag and Paper Company operated the mill from 1917 until 1929. The site then sat idle for 27 years until it was bought by Charmin Paper Products in 1956. This company was bought by Proctor and Gamble the next year and the facility made major improvements until 1990, when the facility shut down again. In 1993, the Great Lakes Tissue company opened up here and they now produce 100% recycled towels and tissues. One interesting aspect associated with the mill is that it created what was known at one time as “The Worlds Largest Sawdust Pile”. When the McArthur Company owned the sawmill, it would produce huge amounts of waste. In 1871, the preferred method of disposing of sawdust was to dump it into the river. This was problematic in that it clogged the river, polluted the waters, and affected the ships. Eventually, the mill built a bridge over the river and began transporting hoppers filled with sawdust to an undeveloped plot of land. The sawdust pile grew immensely. It is estimated to have been 50 feet tall and covered ten acres, weighing roughly sixty million pounds. After the McArthur company left in 1902, the sawdust pile sat, unchanging, for decades. A local tradition in the town would be sledding on the sawdust pile in the Winter.  The pile remained until 2000, when it was transported away and disposed of.

This location has been an important part of Cheboygan’s history since before it was first settled. Currently the site of the Great Lakes Tissue Company, this is the location where the first sawmill was built in Cheboygan. As the first business to be set up in the area and because of the important history the area has had with the lumber industry, this site has been crucial to the development of Cheboygan.

Cheboygan Lumber / Paper Mill

In 1908 Dr. Arthur M. Gerow, the Library Board President and local entrepreneur, began corresponding with Andrew Carnegie in hopes of a library grant. The former library was housed inside a dry goods store. The store was operated by Elizabeth A. Lee and was located at 307 N. Main St. There is nothing at this location currently.Carnegie was a Scottish born immigrant from humble beginnings with little education.  At age 13 he moved to America with his family. In his 20’s Carnegie became a railroad division superintendent who was making profitable investments in coal, iron, oil and railroad car companies. By his 30’s he was a very wealthy man. He co-found a steel company near Pittsburgh and within a few decades he amassed a steel empire. In 1901, Carnegie sold his steel company for $480 million. As one of the worlds wealthiest men he quickly became a philanthropist, promoting the welfare of others. Carnegie’s contributions include New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Institution for Science, and Carnegie Mellon University amongst others. But one of his most influential contributions to small town USA (and worldwide) was his grant program for public libraries. The Cheboygan Board of Education was gifted a $15,000 grant for a public library. According to the grant stipulations the city would agree to be responsible for acquiring land for a suitable building site as well as funding the general maintenance and upkeep for the continuation of the library. The Cheboygan Telephone Company had land at the intersection of Elm, Huron and Dresser streets which was gifted to the city. This site made the library conveniently located to the newly established high school. The communities that applied for Carnegie’s grants had to adhere to certain design requirements. At Cheboygan’s Carnegie Library, like many of Carnegie’s other grant locations, you’ll find a lamp post out front, many steps leading to the entrance and a domed sky light. These design features represented the elevation in learning and enlightenment upon entering. The Carnegie Free Library served the community from October 1913 until May 1966. The new library, the Cheboygan Area Public Library, is located at 100 South Bailey Street, just a short distance from the Carnegie building. The Carnegie building was used as the first historical museum for 2 years from summer 1969 until summer 1971. The museum then moved into the old county jail and sheriff’s residence located at 404 S. Huron Street. There were several different occupants after the library moved out, including the Cheboygan Board of Education, a law office, a hairdresser, a dog groomer, and a real estate office. The Carnegie Building has undergone major renovations in recent years with the assistance of many helping hands. It is currently being used as a multidimensional community center. Over 100 years later it can still be considered a place of enlightenment holding regular concerts and art galleries.

The Carnegie Library was Cheboygan’s first official free library. It was housed at this address from October 1913 until May 1966. The initial funds, $15,000, came from a grant given by Andrew Carnegie, a steel magnate who was one of the richest Americans in history. After the library closed, the Cheboygan Board of Education occupied offices in the building along with several other small businesses. The building spent some time vacant and in more recent years is being used as a community center holding concerts, art galleries and other events. 

Carnegie Library / Community Center

In 1853, brothers Archibald and Carl Newton purchased the Island of Saint Helena near the Straits of Mackinac. They developed the island into a fuel and supply stop for passenger, cargo and fishing ships traveling through the straits. Being successful in this endeavor, they then used their profits to establish businesses in Cheboygan. One of these businesses was the first hemlock extraction facility on Mullett Lake, where the juices from hemlock bark were extracted for use in tanning leather. In 1870, Archibald Newton was the first elected village president. He then constructed this house in 1871 as a wedding present for his second wife, Cornelia Allaire. After the deaths of Archibald in 1892 and Cornelia in 1916, the house was willed to Cornelia’s brother, Joseph Allaire Jr. The house remained in the Allaire family for 127 years, until it was purchased by the great-great grandson of Archibald in 2013. The interior of the home remains almost completely intact. The cupola on the roof is the same where Mr. Newton used to watch for his boats entering the Cheboygan harbor. Many of the furnishings in the home are original pieces. The piano as well as the paintings in the parlor had belonged to Mrs. Newton. There have been several ghost sightings reported at the home by the Allaire family and residents of Cheboygan. Multiple instances involve flickering lights, room that become ice cold, and objects that mysteriously move on their own.

In July of 1877, a local lawyer named George Bell brought an idea for a town hall to the Cheboygan Village Council. This wooden structure would be two stories tall and 40 by 70 feet. It would include spaces for the council chambers, a police station, a fire engine room, and an opera house. The village council members voted to approve the plan on August 4th, 1877. The building was completed on December 22, 1877 and included council rooms, an elevator for the fire hose, a jail, a stage, and a gallery. The interior had no curtains, chairs and almost no decorations. The Cheboygan Opera House has been an important part of the area’s art community ever since. On December 22, 1886, the original building was completely destroyed in a fire. Immediate plans were made to rebuild, due to its popularity. A new three-story brick and sandstone building was built at a cost of $35,000 and opened on July 30, 1888. This new building was again destroyed in a fire which occurred on October 19th, 1903. The original building plans were used for the reconstruction in order to preserve the acoustics in the theater. It reopened for a third time on December 19, 1904. Many nationally known acts performed here over the years, including Annie Oakley, Buster Keaton, The Kingston Trio, Donny and Marie Osmund, Roy Clark and Florence Henderson. As the popularity of movies increased in the 1960’s, the quality and frequency of the acts diminished. The Opera House portion of the building was condemned in the 60’s after it had fallen into disrepair. Parts of the ceiling had fallen in and destroyed the city’s police car. Ellis Olson, the founder of the Cheboygan Historical Society, worked with the city council to research what it would take to restore the building. In 1974, the city passed a 15-year millage to help restore the Opera House. With the help of a federal $1.7 million grant and $650,000 in donations, the Cheboygan Opera House opened again on April 4, 1984 and continues to be an important part of Cheboygan's community.

As a site that has focused on the arts and entertainment since 1877, the Cheboygan Opera House has had a turbulent history. This Victorian theater has been twice rebuilt after fires razed the buildings and was renovated and rebuilt after being condemned. Overcoming many obstacles, the Cheboygan Opera House has been a historically significant site in Cheboygan for over 140 years. 

Cheboygan Opera House

Cheboygan’s downtown isn’t unlike other Michigan cities, with its downtown being anchored around a grand old movie theater. Cheboygan already had an established Opera House for live performances. The Kingston wasn’t Cheboygan’s first movie theater and there have been others since. Frank Kingston had a vision of combining the two forms of art, live performances and projection movies, in one building. The Kingston not only did this, but it was more ornate and elaborate than any other movie house in the area. Originally done in Art Deco style, it had a ticket booth trimmed in white and gold, posters of movie stars, and an ornate tin ceiling in the front lobby. The stage had curtains and pulleys, a trap door and dressing rooms for live performances. There was even an area for the orchestra to play. The Kingston Theatre was considered the “finest in the state outside of Detroit”. Not only was the Kingston more beautiful than other theaters in the area it was grander in size. Originally designed with 1,063 seats, it was able to accommodate many more movie goers than other theaters. In 1911 there were no less than 3 small theaters in operation. The Kingston first opened its doors on March 22, 1920 with the movie Pollyanna, a silent film. Up until the mid 1920’s silent films were the norm, which was why there was a need for an orchestra in a theater. Cheboygan didn’t just have seated theaters, there was a drive-in movie theater located near the intersection of Highway 27 and Highway 33. The drive-in theater was open here from 1952 until 1985. At it’s peak, the drive-in had 500 car spots. The Kingston is still in operation today and is part of a chain of theaters in Northern Michigan which includes Gaylord, Petoskey and Bellaire. The Kingston has undergone many changes over the years. At one point the lobby included video rentals and arcade games. In recent years these items have been removed and the lobby has been restored to its former glory.

Frank Kingston opened his Kingston Theatre on March 22, 1920 in downtown Cheboygan. Although there were many other theaters in the area, the Kingston stood out because of its grand size and beautiful Art Deco style architecture. The original theater played movie reels and live performances. There are no longer live performances here, but the theater has expanded to 5 screens.

Kingston Theatre

In 1876, Dr A.N. Gerow, a prominent local physician who ventured in many different business markets in the area, had the Ottawa Hotel built. The Ottawa was the largest hotel in town being 3 stories tall. In 1884, the Ottawa received competition across the street at the corners of State and Water when the New Cheboygan Hotel was built. The Ottawa was briefly known as Fay Hall in the early 1900’s. It was listed this way in 1919 phone book. Dom St. Amour owned the Ottawa in 1927, he also owned the New Cheboygan Hotel at the time. Making the New Cheboygan Hotel an annex to the Ottawa Hotel. In 1958, at 74 years old, the Cheboygan Hotel was torn down. In the 1930s there were two bars located inside the Ottawa. The one that faced State Street was named the “Rustic Bar” because it was filled with rustic furnishings. The Algoma bar faced Main Street. Even though Prohibition was in place during the 1920s there was still liquor running through the Ottawa and New Cheboygan Hotels. According to Louis LeBlanc Jr., his father Louis LeBlanc Sr. ran liquor across the Detroit River in his speed boat from Ontario, Canada. In its early days, visitors would arrive to Cheboygan via train, then take a horse drawn coach to the Ottawa. It was a popular establishment for dining and dancing in fine surroundings. It was also known as a meeting place for local clubs and other organizations. After the arrival of automobiles, the hotel was used as a bus station. You could purchase your tickets here and wait for the bus. In the 1960s there were at least 15 other hotel/motels in the area. The Ottawa’s patronage was shrinking. By 1962, the owner, Mike Cash lost it to the bank. It sat empty for 10 years before changing hands to Allen Penoyer. He remodeled it and ran it as a hotel again until 1978. After a year of sitting idle it became a furniture store. The Ottawa was the last of the historic hotels to close. In the 1980’s Dr. Michael Bacon purchased the hotel and tried to secure financing in order to turn the old hotel into a senior citizen home. His plans never came to fruition. The building was torn down and the city purchased the property. There was an attempt to sell the property, but this did not come to fruition. The lot remained a vacant grassy area for several years. In 2004, several groups, organizations and individuals in the community had a combined vision of a park with a focus on art. With some funding from grants and support of the local community the park was opened. It has become a place for the community to not only create but to display their art.

The Ottawa Hotel was one of the grandest hotels in the area for it’s time. It sat at the corner of State and Main Street, the busiest intersection in the city of Cheboygan for more than 100 years. After being torn down, the lot where the hotel once sat now has a community park that is a modern-day outdoor art exhibit. 

Ottawa Hotel / Ottawa Art Park

Gordon Turner Park is a popular location for residents and visitors to swim, play, explore and enjoy nature. It’s hard to believe that at one time, this location was inaccessible to the community. At one time, Huron Street ended around Lake Street with the area north of there being a marsh. One of the complaints people had about Cheboygan was that, even though it was located on the Straits, there was no way to drive to the shore and have access to it. That changed when Joseph Doyle became City Manager / City Engineer. Around 1942, Joe took advantage of a government project to dredge the Cheboygan River for the purpose of deepening it. He arranged to have the fill pumped to the marsh area north of Huron Street, which allowed him to extend Huron Street about 1200 feet and begin building the beach and park. The new park and beach became very popular and continued to develop over the years. Gordon Turner Park’s namesake was a local journalist for the Cheboygan Daily Tribune. He began working for the Tribune in 1927, planning to work three months and then head for the big time. He ended up working for the Tribune for six decades. Known as “Scoop” Turner, it is estimated that he wrote around 10,000 articles for the Cheboygan Daily Tribune. Gordon Turner died on November 27th, 1995 at the age of 89. One of the great attractions at Gordon Turner Park is the Cheboygan Crib Light. This light has become a symbol for the city of Cheboygan, being used in logos for the city. This light was originally built in 1884 on an offshore crib and used to help mariners find the entrance to the Cheboygan River. The light had multiple renovations and improvements over the years, until the 1980s, when the Coast Guard determined it would be less expensive to demolish the structure rather than repair it. The light was transported and placed upon a cement foundation at the foot of the pier in Gordon Turner Park. From the end of this pier, it is possible to see the Mackinac Bridge. The park also has a boardwalk and observation tower which overlooks the 15-acre cattail marsh. Visitors come here to birdwatch and enjoy nature. Also, near the park is the Joseph Doyle Recreational Area.

Gordon Turner Park lies on the shore of Lake Huron, at the mouth of the Cheboygan River. Named after a local journalist who held special regard in the area, the park includes a large wooden playscape and other playground equipment, a picnic area, a large swimming beach on Lake Huron, a boardwalk that leads to the Cheboygan Crib Light, and a walking trail that leads to an overview of the wetlands. 

Cheboygan Historic Driving Tour

Newton-Allaire House

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