This collection, 6.25 cubic feet (in 14 boxes) 1849-1925, and undated, was donated over a period of time by one or both of the Trelfa brothers and is divided into six series. The series were established by accession number and topic matter. For a more detailed listing see the Box and Folder Listing. Overall the collection is in good physical condition.
Series 2 consists of 0.75 cubic feet (in 2 boxes), Acc#3074, Voegel Fish Hatchery/Boulton Collection. This collection consists of 277 film negatives, varying in size, all undated, 6 black and white photographs, undated, and 6 postcards, 1925 and undated. Some of the original sleeves of the plates in Box 1 noted “See Boulton album.” Topics in Box 1 include home interiors, cemeteries including Green Hill Mausoleum, street, farm, and outdoor scenes, fishery operations views, Mammoth Spring Roller Mills, woods, fences, lumber, vehicles, etc. Topics in Box 2 include landscapes, places, fields, equipment, people, vehicles, boats, animals, cemeteries, etc. Out-of-state locations documented include Mammoth Springs, Arkansas; Frisco Station, Oklahoma; Devil’s Saddle, Utah; Martinsburg, West Virginia; Friers Point, Mississippi; Northville Hatchery, San Marcos, Texas; the Mississippi River; and Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Fred R. Trelfa, born April 9, 1886 in Strathroy (Ontario), moved to Alpena, Michigan, in 1895. He had a brother, Tom C. Trelfa, of Detroit. On September 16, 1914, Fred married Mable C. Hagen. She died on August 19, 1974, after 60 years of marriage. They had two children, Mable and Richard T.
Fred R. Trelfa attended public schools until 1902 when he began working with the Alpena City Water Co. He worked for Holmes & Kelsey Wholesale Grocery Co. from 1905 to 1908 and at Alpena County Savings Bank from 1908 to 1919, as a bookkeeper and bond teller. In 1919, Fred R. Trelfa began work at Fletcher Paper Co., from which he retired in 1959 as secretary-treasurer and director of the company.
Fred R. Trelfa was active in school organizations, the Masons, and historical societies. He was a community leader interested in preserving Alpena’s history, including hundreds of photographs and manuscripts that he collected and organized. Numerous paper and photographic collections documenting Alpena, Michigan, and Michigan history were donated to the Clarke by the Trelfa brothers.
On March 27, 1979 Fred R. Trelfa, age 92, died in Alpena. (This information is from Fred’s obituary.)