Category: Historic Elberta
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The Lights Are On …
A report on the regular council meeting of December 18, 2025 EMILY KAY VOTRUBA DEC 22, 2025 In December, if I can, I like to spend quality time reflecting on the year. For me this involves transferring perennial information (birthdays, holidays, meeting dates, important anniversaries and milestones) from this year’s…
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Sign Sale Today: So Far Successful
UPDATE: Here’s an updated list of the remaining sign inventory. Call or visit the Village Office during regular office hours or schedule an appointment. http://villageofelberta.com/elberta-used-street-name-sign-sale/ It’s 11 am and there’s been good turnout for the antique street sign sale at the Village Office. Each corner array costs $50, with some…
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Historical Photos Related to the Elberta Mercantile Co.
In their June 23, 2016 edition, the Betsie Current published my story about the new Elberta Mercantile Co. and the history of its location, the Gilmore Township Library building at 704 Frankfort Avenue. If you missed the paper copy, you can read the story, “Everything Old Is New Again,” online…
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In Memoriam: Lawrence W. Crane
The man was one of the most important figures in the history of Elberta, and Andrew Bolander was unable to find an obit for him aside from a half paragraph in the Free Press and a mention of his passing in the Benzie Banner. So, on the anniversary of his death, Bolander thought it would…
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Who Were Elberta’s First Settlers?
By Andy Bolander A proposal has recently been presented to the Village Council to honor John and Caroline Greenwood’s contributions to the development of Elberta. The proposal includes the installation of a sign under each of the village limits signs stating: “First Settlers John and Caroline Greenwood 1855.” A second…
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Friends of Elberta Meet Tonight at Mayfair
A new NGO, formed in late January, meets for the fourth time tonight at the Mayfair Tavern at 7 pm. The mission is “to preserve, promote, celebrate, and enhance the quality of life in Elberta.” All are welcome. Agenda items for this meeting include a recap of the Fire &…
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A Soaring Letter regarding the Financial Crisis
The Alert received this letter and photo from Mr. Embertson on October 12. Note that Elberta does not in fact own all of the beach area in question, and so far the Village Council has not proposed to voluntarily sell any beach access to satisfy the Treasury Department. Dear Alert…
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A New Life for Perry’s Place
Art and Joan Moseler fulfill their dream of a return to Elberta. By Rebecca Hubbard “I was sitting in the front room after school one day and we had an early TV. I was watching Howdy Doody, and I looked out the window. The library [building, at that time] was…
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What Do You Think of Our Plan?
The final draft of the Village of Elberta Parks and Recreation Plan for 2009–14 is now up on the Village website. As soon as the official notice is published in the Record-Patriot this Wednesday, the official five-week public comment period begins. This is a very important document for the Village…
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Council Contemplates Selling Old Library…And Much, Much More
It was another nearly three hour meeting, with lots of decisions made and some deferred. President Reggie Manville was back, after a three-meeting absence. Employee benefits were discussed and a vote was taken on Linda Manville’s proposal that employees begin contributing 20% toward their health-care premiums. This motion was voted…
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A Brefe, Tempestuous Historie of Lakeside Shakespeare in which Our Brave Players—and Manye Volontiers—Battle the Elementf, with Engineering Mofte Civill
Lakeside Shakespeare’s last performance of the season, The Comedy of Errors, takes place tonight on Tank Hill at 7 pm. On July 5, Emily Votruba interviewed Janet La Rue Buck, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Amy Daniels Moehle, and Peter Dully, on the porch of the La Rue House Bed & Breakfast, where the Bucks…
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Ann Arbor Railroad Retirees Convene Again August 4
Hey everyone, the Ann Arbor Railroad Retirees gather again, for the 28th year in a row, at the Blaine Township Hall on White Owl Road August 4, to celebrate their years of service in Elberta’s unique industry. All are welcome (bring food!), and the Alert encourages younger and non-railroad/car ferry…
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Blast from the Future: Clara Reed
Alert readers love the writing of our area kids. If you or someone you know has a story to tell, send it our way! elberta.alert@gmail.com.
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Parks and Rec Meeting Wrap-up
July 11, 2013 The Parks and Recreation Commission held its July meeting in the Duck’s Head this evening because the Library was in use for a rescheduled meeting of the Gilmore Township Board. Gilmore normally meets in the Library on the second Tuesday of the month, but this month that…
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Talk Time with Mabel Little
Back in December, Alert youth editor Merren Garber interviewed Mabel and Allen Little. Today, June 29, the venerable Elberta couple celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. UPDATE 6/30/13: Patricia Little, Morris’s daughter, wrote on Facebook to say that her mother was called Patsy, and that her grandfather Al did work in…
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Elberta Odd Jobs: The Saw Filing-Man
If you have an idea for a story in this series on the amazing careers of your fellow Elbertians past and present, let us know at elberta.alert@gmail.com. By Pat Moyna My father, Earl Moyna, the Elberta rural-route mail carrier from 1920 to 1953, being a civil-service employee, was subject to legal…
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Tombstone Tourism: Exploring the Past Through Gravestones and Monuments
By Mary Link Al Bryant, a local taphophile (someone who studies gravestones) gave a presentation for the Benzie Genealogical Society monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 8. Showing pictures of tombstones of the famous and infamous, including his distant cousin, Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie and Clyde fame), Mr. Bryant explained the…
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March Elberta Council Meeting Report: Holier Than Thou
By Emily Votruba VILLAGE COMMUNITY BUILDING March 21, 2013—Sharyn Bower announced that the County Board of Commissioners would be holding their regular meeting at the Village Community Building on April 16 at 6 pm as part of their tour around the county. The Planning Commission will hold two public hearings…