This Family Collection consists of historical information about Alpena and Alcona counties, Michigan, written or collected by Marcia Simmons and baby items of Ira N. Simmons, Jr. The writings by Simmons include: Paper Trails, Jewish Community of Alpena, MI, a family history of the Meyers, Alpern, Cohen, Tumim, and Malsh families, which provide in-depth biographies of family members; Alpena County MI Navy, Marines, Coast Guard Casualties List with Burial Locations; a history of the First Park for the City of Alpena, and a history of the Malsh, Alpern, Campbell block in Alpena. A history of early members of the Alpena, Michigan, Jewish community, written by Rabbi Robert Laymen is included in the collection. A Simmons family photograph, undated, and lovely, unique baby items purchased for the donor's father, Ira N. Simmons, Jr., including a cup, spoon, rattle, and two rings, circa 1922, complete the collection. The materials are organized by format and size and alphabetically.
A 2023 addition to the collection includes: Folk stories of John Kee Smith: an interview by Marvin Skupski (copy), 1972, with Smith’s obituary, 1999; Glen Pamame, Native American of Mikado, Alcona County, MI, compiled by Marcia Simmons, 2017; and an oversized Detroit and Mackinac Railway Train Schedule, in effect June 13, 1911, a Bay City imprint. The cardboard schedule measures 22.5x14 inches, has edge and water damage, cracks. Pamame was born on September 29, 1910 in Oscoda, Michigan and died while in service in France on December 10, 1944 with the rank of private first class in the 143rd Infantry, 36th Division, US Army. He is buried in Epinal Cemetery, Lorraine, France. His mother, Susan Cloud, was Ojibwe and his father, William Pamahme, was Odawa.
A second 2023 addition (Box 3) includes Alcona County history that was collected or created by her friend Janet Higgins including: Alcona County railroad-related maps; photographic materials (mostly copies) of Alcona Village, Harrisville, Haynes Township, Mikado, and Sturgeon Point; a History of Hubbard Lake by Lucille Schooks and Virginia Seigrist, and a Civil War diary transcription and family genealogy materials of John Lafayette Reams (1837-1909) by Walter and Valerie (Reames) Joslin. Reames of Logan County, Ohio, served in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 192nd Regiment, Company D. After the death of his wife, Deborah Ann, in 1880, he moved with his six children to Greenbush, Alcona County. Higgins also donated material created or collected by other people. Dr. Carl Bajema, a biology professor at Grand Valley State University, donated his correspondence and research on Alcona County logging railroads, saw and shingle mills (1 folder). Bob Haltiner donated photographic materials (some copies) of lumber camps, narrow gauge locomotive, and a mailman, James H. Miller (1 folder). Alcona County maps (mostly copies,1 folder) are from Marv McKay. The Turtle, a newsletter of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway, volume 1, no. 1 1951-Volume 5 no.2 1955 (scattered) was donated by Dan Stock, Huron Shores Genealogical Society.
