TheSuperAuction.net 

The Super Auction
August 24, 2013 at 10:00 AM
The Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds
Ann Arbor, Michigan 

Auctioneers, collectors and dealers from 
across the Midwest will be there. Will you?

AN END OF AN ERA
MICHIGAN’S HISTORIC TOTEM VILLAGE MUSEUM
BEING SOLD AT THE SUPER AUCTION!

In a small museum about two miles west of St. Ignace stands a small portion of the legacy left behind by Ralph McCarry. Totem poles, wooden carvings of people and animals, paintings, intricate dioramas, and a collection of artifacts make up just a slice of the art and history collection Mr. McCarry contributed to the world. Some of his work is currently on loan to the state historical museum.

Born in 1900, he worked the lumber fields of the Tahquamenon Swamp area in the Upper Peninsula until 1948, when a heart attack left him unable to do the work he once could.

In 1950, he opened Totem Village, a roadside attraction originally located on US-2 about 12 miles west of St. Ignace, which featured about 20 totem poles, several scale models, a chapel, a garden, a historic museum, and numerous scenes of Chippewa Indian life.

As an example of Mr. McCarry's commitment to historical accuracy, he spent four years -- and even more in research -- constructing a diorama of the village of Sault Ste. Marie between 1815 and 1853 called "The Legend of the Locks." Friends said he studied more than 300 historic books, documents, maps, pictures, and letters before beginning the construction of the village of thousands of individual pieces.

In 1952, he was made an honorary chief by the local tribe of Chippewa Indians and given the name "White Wolf of the Chippewas" owing to his dedication to preserving the local culture. In an aerial picture still on display at Totem Village, Mr. McCarry can be seen talking to someone in the parking lot while wearing his ceremonial Indian headdress.

Later, he wrote a pamphlet entitled "Reminiscences," which attempted provide readers with a better understanding of Ojibwa culture.

In 1956, one of Ralph McCarry's 20-foot-high totems left St. Ignace aboard a truck bound for New York, and was later shipped to a collector in France. Many more of his totems and other artwork have been spread across the country and across the world, although the largest concentration is still at the roadside attraction he started west of St. Ignace.

A painting and totem pole of Mr. McCarry's  is on display at the Michigan State University Museum, representatives of which honored Mr. McCarry's memory by naming him a local "folk artist." These items have been on display in East Lansing since then, and were recently loaned to the State of Michigan's historical museum for a Michigan roadside attractions exhibit.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE SOLD AT THE SUPER AUCTION!

THIS SESSION BEGINS AT 2:00 p.m.

TOTEM POLES: Collection of 4 3’ Totem Poles, Three 5’ Totem Poles, 8’ Sign Post, 10’ Eagle Post, 10’ Eagle, 10’ Thunderbird, 20’ Ojibwa Spirits, 21’ Red Hand Totem Pole, 19’ Genealogy Totem Pole, 22’ Tribes Totem Pole, 19’ Game of Bowl and Counter and more!

DIORAMAS TO SCALE: Fort Michilimackinac 12’ x 16’ which includes 19 buildings, 9 wigwams, 31 figures, 4 block houses and fence. Medicine Lodge 3’ x 5’ (1” to 1”) which includes; 17 figures, 1 lodge, 1 sugar camp, Fort Fon Du Lac 12’ x 14’ (1/2” to 1”) includes; 8 buildings, 1 30” sailing ship, 4 canoes, 10 figures, block houses and fence.  Original Soo Locks from 1855 Measures 6’ x 12’ (1/2” to 1’) includes; 1 building, 1 48” sailing ship, 3 teams and 12 figures.  Ice Sled 3’ x 4’ (1” to 1’) includes 1 ice sled 3’x4’. Lumber Camp 8’ x 8’ (1/2” to 1’) Includes 5 buildings, 1 horse drawn plow, 1 log loader, 1 log sled, 3 skidding teams and 12 figures.

HALLWAY DISPLAYS FROM TOTEM VILLAGE: 4’ Totem Pole, 4.5’ Totem Pole, Hand Carved Indian Boy, Grinding Stone, Water Color of Chief White Wolf circa 1958, 22 Indian Prints, Black Ash Basket, Framed Stone Points, Two Cross Cut Saws, Two Hook Anchors, Four Relig-O-Pics, 4 Record Sticks, 2 Turtle Shells, 4 Ship Spikes, 1 Fire Stove, 94 Blades, 7 Stone Axes, 1 Carved Scraper, 6” Turkey Tail, Drum, Whet Stone, Blacksmith Tools, Barn Lantern, 4 Dog Sled Harnesses, Log Measure Caliper, Bear Rug, Three Victor Traps, Newhouse Trap, Long Bow, 7 Deer Skins, Adz, Chopper, Framed Indians of Michigan Map, Blacksmith Apron, 4 Head Dress w/ Trail, Horse Blankets, Trade Axes, Bear Skin Mittens, Life Size Hand Carved Squaw and Papoose, Life Size Indian Trader, Life Size White Trader, Life Size Indian Brave and much more!

THE BIG ROOM FROM TOTEM VILLAGE: 8’ Relief Carved Totem Pole, British Soldier Whirlgig, Two Indian Whirligigs, Two Indian Whirlgigs, Four Degree Poles Set, Grave Market, Scaffold Burial Posts, Hand Carved Life Size Jesuit Medicine Man, Irquois Record Post, Oil Paintings on Wood: Pictographs, Bunyan Relief Carving, 18” Wood Paul Bunyan Doll, Three Hand Carved Life Size Indian Braves, Hand Carved Life Size Squaw with Papoose, Two Hand Carved Life Size Indian Braves, Hand Carved Life Size Sitting Brave, Hand Carved Life Size Black Bear

HISTORICAL FOLK ART NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS: Chief’s Prayer on Birch, Four Iron Kettles, Three Hand Wrought Chains and Hooks, Blacksmith Bench, Teepee with Liner, Birch Fencing, Oil on Paper Eagle, Contemporary 6’ Cigar Store Indian, 5’ Indian Brave, 10” x 18” Carved Wolf, 12” x 30” Carved Snake, 16’ Dugout Canoe, Painted Deer Skins, 5’x6’ Moccasins Painting – Oil on Wall Board, Stroller, Dolls, Bow, Bone Anvil Set with Claw Tooth, Framed Indian on horseback, Framed Indian Profile, Flower Quill Box, Bird Quill Box, Bear Quill Box, 41 Arrowheads, Pink Flower Quill Box, Indian on Horse Figurine, Indian Bark Moccasins, Invitation Sticks, Pictographs on Birch, Ralph McCarry’s Carving Tools, Quirt, Bear Rug, Horse Blinders, Ice Tons, Neck Yoke, Scythe, Bow Saw, Surveyors’ Wheel, Two Cedar Saws, Framed Medicine Bag Contents, Copper Oil Can, Miniature Log Sleg, Framed Carved Torture Ceremony, Picaroon, Ox Yoke, Hard Carved Indian 5’, Celts, Clay Toys, Antler Knapping Points, Clay Effigies, Pipe Stone Face Pipe and more!