Sims Township Digital Image Collection
Most of these images are only minimally identified. If you recognize any of the people, places, events or dates, please contact us. Your information and stories will help improve our archives for future generations.
Click on the photo to start a gallery. Navigate forward and backward manually. Photo captions/descriptions accompany the photos, and also are in PDF format accessed by the links below the galleries.
Ed Wise Fishery Business Card (Date unknown)
Pt. Lookout charter fishing trips, speed boat rides. Fresh, frozen & smoked fish. "The Fish You Buy In Here Today Slept Last Night In Saginaw Bay."
Documents (2)
Captions/Descriptions
1885 Steamer Round Trip Excursion Ad
2 August 1885. Advertising round trip from unstated departure site to Point Lookout on steamer "Metropolis." (Arenac County Independent)
1913 Alex Willett Boating Party
"Do You Remember" item from Arenac County Independent of unknown date. On Alex Willett's boat. Individuals identified but there is no reference of placement in photo, in which one person is missing. Frank Shotwell (Pontiac), Hazel Proulx (T[o]l[e]do), Dedia Proulx (Bay City), Dresia Dora (Bay City), Hilten Badour (Saginaw). Gus Proulx (Alabaster), Sam Good (Chicago), Herb Proulx (Au Gres). Mr & Mrs Alex Willett (Au Gres), Spencer Badour (Detroit), Kenneth Dewitt (stated as deceased).
1951 Arenac Eastern High School Seniors
Reading from left. Top/1st row: James Wainwright, Marjorie Ostrander, Kenneth Lentner, Othelia Melkie, Riga Garrison, Beverly Baikie, Mike Reinstadler, Maxine Currison, Lloyd Stamm.
2nd: Ted Strelecki, Alice McDowell, Betty Joan Brown, Joan Anderson, Celia Butts, Mabel J Schutte, Marilyn Gettel, Barbara Osier, William Bouchard.
3rd: James Bruce, Alice Case, Nellie Spencer, Erma Gingerich, Evelyn Henrich, Joseph Konar.
4th: Joe Tarnosky, Christena Payne, Clarice Schutte, Lorraine Dewald, Glen Hoyt, Larry Williams, Mona Greanya, Leona Butts, Luera Craner, Pete Boyer.
Bottom/5th row (all faculty): Bob Eddy, Floyd Locke, Leroy Melzow, Bob Earl, Doris Rancourt (principal), O E McCormick (superintendent), Freida Bidwell, Ray Williams (advisor), James Anderjeski and Dorothy Swanson. (Arenac County Independent)
2nd: Ted Strelecki, Alice McDowell, Betty Joan Brown, Joan Anderson, Celia Butts, Mabel J Schutte, Marilyn Gettel, Barbara Osier, William Bouchard.
3rd: James Bruce, Alice Case, Nellie Spencer, Erma Gingerich, Evelyn Henrich, Joseph Konar.
4th: Joe Tarnosky, Christena Payne, Clarice Schutte, Lorraine Dewald, Glen Hoyt, Larry Williams, Mona Greanya, Leona Butts, Luera Craner, Pete Boyer.
Bottom/5th row (all faculty): Bob Eddy, Floyd Locke, Leroy Melzow, Bob Earl, Doris Rancourt (principal), O E McCormick (superintendent), Freida Bidwell, Ray Williams (advisor), James Anderjeski and Dorothy Swanson. (Arenac County Independent)
1963 Ed Wise Fishery Ad
26 June 1963 Louis Wise, authorized Chris Craft sales & service rep. (Arenac County Independent )
News clippings (5)
Captions/Descriptions
Before 1901 Point Lookout Beach & Pier
Aerial view of houses along shoreline, ship at pier.
B/N 1902-05 Paddle Wheelers at Point Lookout
Between 1902-05. Aerial view of Pt Lookout pier. On near side of the dock is the “State of New York“ on other ship is "Flora”. Off the end is the “Josie.” 1st cottage on right was owned by Luther Holland. 2nd house was Dr George Stewart's (a former mayor)and remained in the family (as of 2018).
B/N 1902-05 Paddle Wheelers at Point Lookout
Between 1902-05. On near side of pier is the "State of New York" which carried freight from Detroit and passengers from Saginaw and Bay City. Far side of pier is the "Flora". Off the end is the "Josie". Long line of passengers along pier.
1909 Point Lookout Disembarkation
Passengers disembarking from unidentified ship at Point Lookout pier.
1912 Baumgartner Cottage
At Point Lookout.
1912 Waiting for the Boat
Large group of men, women & children at Point Lookout dock.
After 1918 Julius Ippel Cottage Construction
The original cottage at Point Lookout burned shortly after it was built in 1918. Men reading left to right: Douglass Larry, John Weed, () Didtmer, Charley Griffin, Wynn Bridge. Child is William Larry.
1920s-30s Sea Plane
At Point Lookout.
Circa 1921-22 William & Emeline "Evelyn" (Herbert) Bowden Family
Children William, Florence & James not specifically identified. William Bowden was caretaker at Sims Ranch, the house pictured which is on US-23 north of Au Gres as of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Lyle Finkle Jr, grandson of William Bowden.)
After 1940 Ed Wise Fishery
Wise's son Louie took over the fishery. Perch & herring fishing declined in the early 50s, leading to closure of the business.
After 1950 Dorothy Finkle
At Sims Ranch gas station. (Photo courtesy of Dorothy's son Lyle Finkle)
After 1950 Sims Ranch Gas Station
Sims Ranch gas station. Early model car parked off side. (Photo courtesy Lyle Finkle)
After 1950 Sims Tavern
Located at intersection of Foster Rd & US-23, the tavern was part of a complex with a restaurant and gas station. Early model car parked off drive. Caption unreadable. (Photo courtesy Lyle Finkle)
1978 Warr's Party Store
Caption reads "I asked my Mother about the Paradise store and she says that when she started going to Point Lookout it was after the war. Paradise had a store between the store that I remember and the water. However, there is an old postcard of the store I know that is captioned Paradise Store. My Mother thinks that Bert Paradise may have sold the gig store to the Sanfords and just continued to sell a few things out of his house. She says that he was the Point caretaker then, a position that was taken over by Marion Dittenber when I was a child. Bert's daughter is named Porter and lives in one of those new condos in Tawas. Previously, she and her husband lived in a house across the street (more or less) from the store (behind the cottages on the Bay)." (Provided by Jack Seaman, Oct 2005)
Cottage (Date unknown)
"Cottage Pt Lookout Au Gres, Mich." Yard with landscaping, picket-meets-rail fence. Owner unknown.
Wise Fishery (Date unknown)
3 men and a child on fishery walkway, 2 men in boat. Barrels stacked on dock in left foreground.
Wise Fishery on the Shore (Date unknown)
At Point Lookout.
Dorothy Finkel Birthplace (Date unknown)
This house was next to the Sims Ranch gas station. (Photo courtesy of Lyle Finkle)
Dorothy Finkle (Date unknown)
At house where she was born. (Photo courtesy of Dorothy's son Lyle Finkle)
Paradise Store (Date unknown)
Store that was at Point Lookout.
Point Lookout Beach Scene (Date unknown)
Man & woman sitting on chairs on beach, with Doberman. Child sitting on beach with umbrella. People in background with sailboat, children on dock.
Point Lookout Schoolhouse (Date unknown)
Man standing beside building, man at ground level.
Point Lookout Aerial View in Summer (Date unknown)
As it extends into Saginaw Bay. Ship moving in the channel between the Point & Charity Island.
Point Lookout Aerial View in Winter (Date unknown)
Looking toward shoreline. Famous house "SS Hurona" at center off shore. Foreground section of Saginaw Bay iced over.
Sims Ranch house (Date unknown)
Caption reads “Sim's Ranch House on Lake Huron, Au Gres.” (Photo courtesy of Lyle Finkle)
Steamer "City of Baltimore" (Date unknown)
Docked on Point Lookout. Man, women & children on dock. Delivery carts with luggage at lower right.
Steamer "Flora" iced in (Date unknown)
At Point Lookout.
Big Fish (Date unknown)
Tourist catch (muskellunge?) in Point Lookout Area of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron.
Photos (29)
Captions/Descriptions
1914 The Inn
Jul 1914 Point Lookout Resort was commonly known as “The Inn”, as the sign on the building testifies. Postmarked in July 1914.
The Inn at Point Lookout (Date unknown)
3 women seated on chairs, man on porch steps of Point Lookout Resort (aka The Inn) . Wood walkway in foreground between trees. Postcard distributed by John E Ferris of Saginaw, MI.
Hotel & Boardwalk (Date unknown)
"Woodland Walk, Point Lookout, Mich. John E. Ferris, Publisher, Saginaw, Mich." Hotel on right.
Woodland Boardwalk (Date unknown)
"Woodland Walk, Point Lookout, Mich. John E. Ferris, Publisher, Saginaw, Mich."
Point Lookout Hotel Annex (Date unknown)
Colorized postcard. 2 women standing at porch rail. Shows 3 story structure on stilts.
Greetings from Point Lookout (Date unknown)
Caricature of man sitting waterside throwing back large fish and declaring "I can't be bothered with such a bum fish."
Diving Off Point Lookout Resort Dock (Date unknown)
Several men diving. Large group of people sitting on dock. Cottages in background.
Point Lookout Summer Resort (Date unknown)
View from west shore of Point Lookout. Postcard made from glass negative Achsgn-020.jpg (see Glass Negative section of website.)
Town & Country Dining Room & Lounge (Date unknown)
Just north of Au Gres.
Postcards (10)
Captions/Descriptions