The Port Huron Years: 1971 - 1979

Upon graduating from WMU with a degree in Industrial Management, I was hired as a photographer by the Times Herald in Port Huron Michigan, a seven-day-a-week publication. It served Michigan’s eastern thumb region, from Bad Axe to Anchor Bay. Guided by award-winning Chief Photographer Ralph Polovich, my photojournalism and darkroom techniques made significant advances. I learned perseverance from the pressure of daily deadlines, acceptance of odd working hours, and being prepared to “jump and run” to a police or fire call at a moment’s notice.

Clicking on any image will open a full-screen view
shipworker
shipworker
The Peerless Cement Plant sat next to the Blue Water Bridge until about 1978
The Peerless Cement Plant sat next to the Blue Water Bridge until about 1978
Blue Water Festival Parade
Blue Water Festival Parade
Blue Water Festival Parade
Blue Water Festival Parade
Blue Water Festival Parade
Blue Water Festival Parade
Blue Water Festival Parade
Blue Water Festival Parade
He was brushed and knocked down by a car.
He was brushed and knocked down by a car.
A farmyard dog at abandoned farm
A farmyard dog at abandoned farm
One of the first 1,000 foot freighters on the Great Lakes
One of the first 1,000 foot freighters on the Great Lakes
Another 1,000 foot freighter, new
Another 1,000 foot freighter, new
H.L. Stevens, Attorney, Port Huron
H.L. Stevens, Attorney, Port Huron
A Harry Houdini imitator
A Harry Houdini imitator
Repeating a Houdini escape trick in the St Clair River
Repeating a Houdini escape trick in the St Clair River
Victim of house explosion/fire
Victim of house explosion/fire
Karl Wallenda over the Blue Water Festival grounds, mid 1970s (died in 1978)
Karl Wallenda over the Blue Water Festival grounds, mid 1970s (died in 1978)
Leatha Sayer, notorious protester in Port Huron
Leatha Sayer, notorious protester in Port Huron
Mackinac Race
Mackinac Race
Mackinac Race
Mackinac Race
Fourth of July parade
Fourth of July parade
Peerless Cement Plant
Peerless Cement Plant
New power plant construction
New power plant construction
power plant construction workers
power plant construction workers
In the Rain
In the Rain
Petrochemical refineries in Sarnia, Ontario, across the St Clair River from Port Huron
Petrochemical refineries in Sarnia, Ontario, across the St Clair River from Port Huron
Resale shop owner
Resale shop owner
A dad helper struggles
A dad helper struggles
Parade vendor
Parade vendor
Solo walker (award winning photo)
Solo walker (award winning photo)
Sonny Elliot, Alex Delvecchio, Al Ackerman (WXYZ-TV sportscaster)
Sonny Elliot, Alex Delvecchio, Al Ackerman (WXYZ-TV sportscaster)
Timing a race
Timing a race
St Clair County Jail
St Clair County Jail
St Clair County Jail
St Clair County Jail
steelworker
steelworker
After the tornado hit a mobile home park
After the tornado hit a mobile home park
Train wreck
Train wreck
Hit by a truck
Hit by a truck
Waiting for Pres. Richard Nixon motorcade to come by their small town in the thumb
Waiting for Pres. Richard Nixon motorcade to come by their small town in the thumb
We won!
We won!
Cold Boy Scouts
Cold Boy Scouts
Following instructions
Following instructions
Car-bus collision
Car-bus collision
Murderer of young woman, convicted, 20 years
Murderer of young woman, convicted, 20 years
Car-train collision
Car-train collision
Detroit Lions at Tiger Stadium
Detroit Lions at Tiger Stadium
NFL game at Tiger Stadium
NFL game at Tiger Stadium
Detroit water intake tunnel after methane explosion killed many workers
Detroit water intake tunnel after methane explosion killed many workers
The Detroit water intake tunnel under construction
The Detroit water intake tunnel under construction
The Edmund Fitzgerald outbound, Mac Race boat returns from stormy start
The Edmund Fitzgerald outbound, Mac Race boat returns from stormy start
The Detroit water intake tunnel under construction
The Detroit water intake tunnel under construction
Her little brother, killed by a car
Her little brother, killed by a car
Halloween House fright
Halloween House fright
Rural house fire, total loss
Rural house fire, total loss
jackhammer shakes
jackhammer shakes
A dirty job on Gratiot
A dirty job on Gratiot
hockey fans
hockey fans
hurdler injured
hurdler injured
Amtrak train conductor, Port Huron terminal
Amtrak train conductor, Port Huron terminal
Early morning on the St Clair River at Port Huron
Early morning on the St Clair River at Port Huron
Double yellow lines
Double yellow lines
Apartment explosion
Apartment explosion
Charity bike races
Charity bike races
After the rain: won 2nd place MI State Newspaper award
After the rain: won 2nd place MI State Newspaper award
Hot cocoa at the football game
Hot cocoa at the football game
The best fun in the world, found boxes
The best fun in the world, found boxes
House fire
House fire
Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
Bill Munson & Greg Landry watching the 3rd string QB, Joe Reed
Bill Munson & Greg Landry watching the 3rd string QB, Joe Reed
Pals forever
Pals forever
Ouch.
Ouch.
Their school
Their school
Someday, that'll be him out there
Someday, that'll be him out there
Delight at the Christmas tree farm
Delight at the Christmas tree farm
Appx. 1977
Appx. 1977

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