by Jan Terrill
MHS Class of 1957
Who came up with the idea to have the Bluegill Frolic and where did the name come from?
The first Bluegill Frolic was June 24, 1939, sponsored by the Marcellus Commercial Club so that is probably where the name came from.
Just a few feet to the south of the current post office there was an old foundation. We always referred to it as the popcorn factory. What’s the history of the foundation? Was there ever a building located there?
The brick building south of the current Post Office was constructed in 1891 and had three stories. The Marcellus Milling Co. produced flour from locally grown wheat and from wheat brought to the rail siding beside the mill. It closed in 1929 and some years later a firm making popcorn used it for a few years. That is why it is now known as “the Popcorn Factory.” As kids we found a way to get inside and played cops and robbers, carefully staying away from the open elevator shaft. In more recent years Gordon Lofts used it as a grist mill and I believe Myron Shutes did also.
The long narrow concrete slabs that were there must havebeen a base for corn cribs to store the popcorn.We used to play tag on them and because they were above ground level by a couple of feet and had a 3-4 foot space between them you could get a very nasty shin bruise if you misjudged your jump from one to another.
The large steel tank that still stands on south Centre at the tracks was a good target for rocks from the railroad tracks to make a sound like a chime.
Who are some of the more notable people who have ever passed through Marcellus?
My thoughts on some of the more notable people to have ever passed through Marcellus include:
Michigan governor in the 50’s, G. Mennen “Soapy” Williams, who it was said, “seemingly enjoyed coming to the celebration.” After the parade he usually went into both taverns to shake hands, schmooze, and perhaps quaff a few. In 1953, state treasurer Hale Brake attended the frolic.
Local celebrity Colonel Don Compton sometimes Grand Marshalled.
In the 1920’s Marcellus businesses sponsored the Midland Chautauqua to come to town for a week. One of the featured speakers was Helen Keller who spoke on “Acres of Diamonds.”
Around 1919, when wrestling was real, a few wrestlers came to town to take on local tough guy Leo “World’s Iron Man” Ryerson in Centennial Hall. Most notable was Hungarian champion Jim Cizmadya. Admission was .55 cents or $1.10 ringside, and ladies were free with an escort The winner was to take all receipts. Ryerson was victorious, throwing his opponent twice while only being thrown once himself.
Leo also contested with Mr. Thurnbul of Great Lakes Training Station. Each succeeded in throwing the other one then in the scuffle, Mr. Thurnbul fell off the platform, breaking a rib andwas unable to wrestle so the decision was given to Mr. Ryerson.
The last match of the season featured Leo Ryerson versus Chief Stro(–?) from Oshkosh.
An extra added match was Dean Brown from Wakelee versus Gordon Hooper from Marcellus.
Many famous vaudeville stars came to Marcellus when, in the summer, the theaters were closed due to not having air conditioning. They stayed at the Hayes Hotel at Big Fish Lake while fishing and playing golf.
Three of them took up residence here. Most memorable being Floyd Workman, better known by his stage name as Al Bayes. Al met Harvey Speck in Chicago in 1910 who had an act with his wife known as “Two Specks in a Spot” and they started an act of song and dance known as Bayes & Speck that lasted 25 years. Harvey MC’d the Frolic queen contest and one year Al joined him in their routine and it “brought the house down.” Harvey sprinkled sand on the floor and Al held onto him at the hips. They would do a little shuffle like a train moving then Harvey would pull on Al’s tie and he would make a sound like a train whistle. Then Al would reach into his pocket and pull a little atomizer with powder in it, give a squeeze or two for the train smoke and then exit into the wings.
Al wanted to open a tavern on Cedar Lake after the road between the lakes was completed but that wasn’t allowed so he built a home and three cottages, then a concrete block building was built on the bank at lake level, and he operated a store. When you went in for a soda pop, he would like to tell his old vaudeville jokes which were very “corny.”
The Specks built a house on Cedar at Becker Beach to stay close to Al.
One other showbiz couple remained here, that being Fred and Mae Wadell who lived to the north of the Fish Lake Tavern (now The Rock). Mae was a very short lady and a friend of mine who used to ride into town with her said she always drove with her legs crossed.
Pokamon, the chief of the Potawotamie tribe that once resided near by could be considerd to have some fame. He is [was] pictured on the large steel tank at the railroad tracks.
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