Ruggs Pond is formed by a dam originally intended to generate power for what Northern Michigan community? (Hint: it forms at the junction of two tributaries of Rapid River)
Ruggs Pond Dam Powered What City?
Category Archives: Mystery Photo
Time for a treasure hunt! Can you guess where this photograph, related to a historical story in the Grand Traverse Region, was taken? Come back for next month’s issue and check your answer!
Ready to submit a mystery photo from your community? Send it to the editors of the Journal at gtjeditor@tadl.org. Remember to include the answer to your photograph in your email!
Historic Strip Mall Identified and Dated!
Congratulations to Betsy, our August “Mystery Photo” champ, who correctly identified the Eastfield Plaza on Eighth Street! As to the date, would you guess the mall opened in the 1950s?
“Preposterous!,” you might say. Well, check out our October 2016 issue for a full history of this little shopping district gem, to be written by our fellow editor, Richard Fidler. As a teaser, a real, live pony was involved in the naming of the plaza… how can that be? Stay tuned!
Historic Strip Mall, a Gem of its Era… When was that, and where is it located?
This month’s mystery photo shows two views of the first strip mall in Traverse City. The name is clearly written on one of them—but where is it? Extra credit if you can name the decade in which it was built.
Reader Claims “Mystery Photo” Kudos for Police Insignia Dating
Two virtual cigars and a tip of the hat to Charlene for getting the answer right: Our research has shown that 1970 is the likely date that the “Lex et Ordo” phrase was incorporated into the insignia. However, we were unable to confirm that with the Police Department. We have found very few other instances of the phrase in continued use on police insignias, and regard Traverse City’s as a historical relic.
Well done, Charlene!
Sewage Treatment Plant leaves Readers Puzzled
Dear Readers, perhaps June’s Mystery Photo proved too difficult, as we did not get a single answer! So, this time we will provide you with answers. Perhaps it is merely that the Sewage Treatment Plant is built “out of sight, out of mind.” Still, it is a lovely piece of architecture we encourage you to visit!
We have a few questions of increasing difficulty concerning this month’s mystery photo, all about the Traverse City Sewage Treatment Plant!
Where is this facility located?
The sewage treatment plant is located at the north end of Boardman Lake.
In what decade was it built–20’s, 30’s, or 40’s?
It was built in the early thirties.
What was done with city sewage before it was built?
Formerly, sewage was released directly into the Boardman River.
City residents rejected bonds to pay for the plant twice before the state ordered it to be completed. What were the reasons for those rejections?
Residents opposed the bond to build a sewage plant over concerns of over-all expense and how much individual citizens would have to pay. In the end, the state required citizens to construct a new plant.
Law and Order: When did it appear on TC Police’s insignia?
This month’s mystery photo is not about picture identification. Instead, it is about the history of an everyday thing: the insignia on police cruisers owned by the Traverse City Police Department. The symbol includes the Latin phrase, “Lex et Ordo,” translated as “Law and Order.”
The question asked here is, “When was this phrase most likely incorporated into the insignia?” As a hint, we will remind you that “Law and Order” was an election talking point for one of our former presidents (who won election, in part because of that slogan).
Another way of approaching the problem is to go to “N-gram,” a website that tracks the evolution of word usage. Beginning in 1800 and ending close to the present day, the frequency of words and phrases is recorded and subsequently analyzed by a computer algorithm. Ten thousand documents are included within the time frame, so it is possible to catch a glimpse of when certain locutions became widely used. By entering “Law and Order” you can see when the phrase was most popular in our recent history. Try it!
Last minute save: Reader locates Parson plaque
Congratulations to Frederick Ide who correctly located the plaque honoring John T. Parsons in front of Cone Drive on East 11th Street–on the very last day of the month! In the future the Grand Traverse Journal would like to carry a story about Parsons and his remarkable accomplishments. Would you care to author it?
What, When, Where? The Traverse City Sewage Treatment Plant
We have a few questions of increasing difficulty concerning this month’s mystery photo, all about the Traverse City Sewage Treatment Plant!
Where is this facility located?
In what decade was it built–20’s, 30’s, or 40’s?
What was done with city sewage before it was built?
City residents rejected bonds to pay for the plant twice before the state ordered it to be completed. What were the reasons for those rejections?
The Man who Began the Second Industrial Revolution
Where is this plaque on display? What company honors the memory of John Parsons?
School Library Mystery Solved!
This high school, featuring the library shown above, received honors for its design in 1959. Gordon Cornwell was the architect of the building. Which school is it?
Thanks to reader Charlene, who solved the March Mystery Photo, we know this is the Central High School Library, a place much beloved by former students… or not.