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Subject: [MIArenac] Arenac Co. Independent
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 20:38:35 EST

Hello, Arenac Co. genealogy researchers,

Those of you, like me, who do not live in the county may not have seen the
news, but on February 8, a disastrous fire struck the offices of the Arenac
County Independent on Cedar Street in Standish.

According to the newspaper's website, a passer-by noticed smoke coming from
the building in the early morning hours. He called 911 and summoned the fire
department, who had to call in additional resources to fight the fire. The
building was heavily damaged. Thankfully, it appears that no one was hurt.

As you may know, stored in the offices there are only remaining copies of
120+ years of newspapers that record the history of the county. To those of us
who trace our history to Arenac County, where little history has been formally
written, those newspapers are priceless records of our families, with bits of
their everyday lives and news of their births, marriages and deaths.

Based on the accounts of the fire, many of the archived papers survived,
though which, and their condition, is not yet known. I have tried on a handful
of occasions to encourage the Library of Michigan to microfilm the newspapers
without success. It is disappointing that the opportunity to preserve this
history may be partially or totally lost.

If anyone on the list has additional information, please share it with the
list. I will let you know if I am able to learn anything.

Regards,
Greg Knopp
County Coordinator,
Arenac Co., Michigan internet site for USGenWeb

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