Empire, Michigan 49630
December 1994
DEAR ISLAND FRIENDS:
As the weather changes around us, another year draws to a close. One of the ideas that was brought up during this years Annual Meeting was the idea of changing the name of the Society to include or incorporate North Manitou Island. The Executive Board is currently looking into some of the details necessary to do this. I would really like to hear from more of the membership regarding your thoughts on this issue. I have heard from some, both pro and con. I would like to hear from the members who could not attend the Annual Meeting, but would still like to voice their opinion.
Please send your comments or concerns regarding this idea to:
Paul Rocheleau
5437 S. Crawford
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Thank you.
Paul Rocheleau
President
and
BEST WISHES
for a
JOYOUS NEW YEAR!!!!!
Sleeping Bear Dunes
The long awaited and much anticipated Historic Structure Report for the South Manitou Island Lighthouse was begun the week of October 3rd when seven individuals represented by three architect and engineering firms arrived on the island to begin surveying the site. The firms are headed by architectural firm Quinn—Evans of Ann Arbor, Michigan, with engineering support being provided by Robert Darvas Associates also of Ann Arbor, and Robert Stellwagen of Farmington Hills, Michigan.
An historic structure report provides basic historical and architectural information, through specialized research, that is required before restoration work can begin on significant historic structures. This historic structure report will not only include the lighthouse and attached dwelling, but will also include the surrounding site, structures, remaining building foundations, and features associated with the history of the U.S. Lighthouse Service.
The firms have completed initial field surveys and will spend the winter months reviewing park files, and researching libraries, archives, and private collections to discover more information pertinent to the final interpretation and restoration of the South Manitou Island Lighthouse Complex. The firms will be back on site in the spring to complete additional
field work.
The researchers are particularly interested in finding interior photographs of the structures. If anyone has photographs that show some aspects of the finishes and features present inside of the structures, please contact Park Historic Architect, Kimberly Mann at 616—326—5134.
The researchers are also interested in individuals recollections of the out-buildings surrounding the Lighthouse. Especially those that are no longer present. Photographs, drawings, or recollections of the Bell House, Carriage House, Privy, gardens, walkways, stairs, etc. are also appreciated and can be shared by calling the Park Historic Architect, as well.
The University of Wisconsin—Madison, College of Landscape Architecture is also working on an Agricultural History of South Manitou Island. Graduate Student, Brenda Williams, has contacted a number of the members and South Manitou Island families concerning their knowledge of the farming activities associated with the island. This report will focus on the agricultural features that make up the Cultural District unique to the is1and.
The graduate student is particularly interested in locating and identifying fields where Rosen Rye and Michelite Pea Beans were grown. If anyone has information or photographs they would like to share please contact Park Historic Architect, Kimberly Mann at 616—326—5134.
submitted by Kimberly Mann
Historic Architect
Sleeping Bear Dunes N.L.
ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
— JULY 30, 1994 —
EMPIRE METHODIST CHURCH, EMPIRE, MICHIGAN
36 people present.
Meeting called to order by Paul Rocheleau, President, at 9:30 a.m.
Those present introduced themselves and their relationship to the island.
Minutes of the meeting of the July 31, 1993 Annual Meeting were read by the secretary, Sandra M. Black. Motion was made by Fred Burdick to accept the minutes as read. The minutes were unanimously approved.
Zella Morris, Treasurer, presented the treasurer's report, Net worth of the Society is $23,007.57. A copy of the treasurer's report is in this Newsletter.
Fred Zaring, Chairman of the Board of the Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, presented a brief report. Friends of Sleeping Bear is a non—profit volunteer group formed to support the tasks in park conservation, preservation, education and interpretation. Membership is $10. For further information members can write P.O. Box 6344, Traverse City, MI 49685—6344.
A brief update was presented by Paul Rocheleau on the continuing restoration of the fences around grave sites on both North and South Manitou Islands.
Ray Kimpel of the National Park Service has retired. Kim Mann was appointed as the NPS representative to the Society.
A general discussion was held regarding the possible name change of the South Manitou Memorial Society. Fred Burdick indicated he would like the name to stay as it is. Johanna de Kok indicated it would require alot of paperwork to make a change. She also suggested friends of North Manitou Island start a separate group and join us later on. Laura Quackenbush mentioned our membership would probably increase if we would include NMI. Ethel Stormer and Glenn Furst both stated they has ties to both islands. There was some concern as to how money would be spent in the future. An open invitation and welcome was extended to all NMI friends to continue on with the SMI Society, however most members felt we could work with NMI individuals and gather more information regarding any change of the name. It was left up to the Board to look into the matter further.
Kim Mann reported a contract has been awarded to complete the Historic Structure Report for the SMI Lighthouse. The funds have been guaranteed until the completion of the report and restoration — which may take up to four years.
Paul Rocheleau asked for volunteers for the four offices for next year. Anyone interested in becoming President, Vice—President, Secretary, or Treasurer should contact Paul.
Sylvia Krueger presented the Betty Kramer collection to Laura Quackenbush, Curator of the Leelanau Historical Museum. Sylvia also presented a notebook to Paul Rocheleau which contained information and copies of the items in the Betty Kramer Collection. The members extended their sincere appreciation to Sylvia for all of her efforts and work.
A brief discussion was held regarding resigning our own T—shirts and selling them as a fund—raiser.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra M. Black
Secretary
JUNE 30, 1994
| ASSETS First Chicago Corp. Bond — Perpetual Fund Empire National Bank CD's Empire National Bank Savings Account (Includes Jack Phillips Memorial Fund:$75, and Lighthouse Fund:$625.) Jack Phillips Memorial Fund CD Empire National Bank Checking Account TOTALS: |
JUNE 30, 1993 $ 10,500.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 4,520.56 $ 1,310.93 $ 0.00 $ 21,331.49 |
JUNE 30, 1994 $ 10,250.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 1,318.01 $ 1,366.93 $ 72.63 $ 23,007.57 |
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at the
LEELANAU HISTORICAL MUSEDM
It has been a long road. Twenty—five years ago or so, I would say to Betty Kramer, on South Manitou Island, "Betty, when you are finished collecting and researching, please consider giving your papers and work to a Michigan archives for permanent safekeeping and future research."
Now this has been accomplished, thanks to Roy Kramer, Betty's husband, who, first gave the materials to the South Manitou Memorial Society. The Society, at its Annual Meeting in July 1994, entrusted the collection to the user—friendly archives of the Leelanau Historical Museum.
A little bit about the Betty Kramer Collection: Its main focus is South Manitou Island. During the 1970's, Betty, along with Islander Marie Smith, avidly explored deserted island houses for left—behind papers, letters and artifacts. Betty interviewed and corresponded with Island families and descendents, acquired hundreds of Island photographs and negatives, and compiled ten notebooks of Leelanau clippings and memorabilia.
Betty had a special interest in Islander Bertha Peth, to set right her sometimes maligned image. In Bertha Peth's house they found a gold mine of over 700 letters from more than 60 people — relatives, campers, friends and neighbors who had left the island. These letters reflect an image of Bertha's character, and of island life, in a poignant way that no secondary source can do. They reflect Bertha as kind, generous, caring, healthy, fun-loving, gregarious and savy — "You were so good to us on the Island." "Thank you for the presents and money." "The graves you take care of look so nice." ... Walking 3 miles in winter snow down to Johnnie Hutzler's farm to feed his chickens and cats ... Cards, parties and music at her house ... Telling stories to campers ... Selling eggs, berries and ginseng ...
Louise Hutzler Vent always addressed her letters to "Dear Sister Bertha," tho
Bertha and Johnnie had divorced many years earlier. The letters create a written record of the nuances and details of daily life on the island.
Several other items in the Collection include:
(1) List of Island teachers, 1906—1925
(2) An issue of Farm & Family magazine,
Dec. 1925 with article and pictures
of the Hutzlers and their world—
famous Rosen rye grown on the island.
(3) Lottie Tobin's postmaster account
book for 1938—1939.
(4) Label from one of the hundreds of cans
of chicken, salvaged from the
shipwreck, Morazon.
(5) Several issues of the school
newspaper, with such items as, "Stop
at Bill Haas' for blacksmith and shoe
repairing." "Thanks to Mr. Burrill for
letting us have our program at the
[Coast Guard] station." "Keep our
rubbers all in a row, and our dinner
pails on the shelf."
Betty Kramer interviewed, taped and corresponded with other members of island families, as well as descendents. She begged and borrowed old island pictures and had negatives made. These interviews, negatives and pictures of old island families and life are part of the Collection.
The ten Notebooks are composed of letters, brochures, photographs, Leelanau Enterprise clipings, papers about North Manitou, South Manitou, Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Leelanau area.
I have written a Guide to the Collection, with introduction, contents of the Collection, notations on some of the letters, and S.Manitou contents of the Notebooks.
It was a very special experience to read these letters — one is privy to something very personal, and so to be respected. This is the uniqueness of archival material.
It is my hope that other South Manitou families and their descendents will consider leaving their family histories, pictures, memorabilia to the archives of the Leelanau Historical Museum. This would create, with the Betty Kramer Collection, a rich permanent resource for South Manitou family and historical reasearch.
Please feel welcome to go see and use the materials of the Betty Kramer Collection.
For more information, call Curator Laura Quackenbush, 616—256—7475.
by Sylvia B. Kruger
Sylvia Kruger presented the Betty Kramer Collection to Laura Quackenbush, Curator of the Leelanau Historical Museum, at the Annual Meeting in July. For those of you who could not be present at that Meeting, Sylvia detailed much of the contents of the Collection. She read some "excerpts" to members present at the Meeting. She has written an informal Guide to the Collection, outlining its contents, and with notations on some of the letters. The Leelanau Historical Museum and the Society will have a copy of this Guide. The following is a portion of her presentation to the membership: "There was concern that the Society wouldn't have it (the Collection) anymore, if the Collection were given to an archives. That's not true - the whole purpose of giving papers to an archives is for permanent safe keeping and availability for research. As I promised Glenn (Furst), I have zeroxed selected letters from the mammoth number of them, and selected articles from the notebooks. —"A Taste of the Betty Kramer Collection"— I will first give these to Glenn Furst — as founder and first President of our Society — then perhaps it can go from President to President — or however the Society sees fit. It was also suggested that certain materials be available to the Park — perhaps to help the Rangers, perhaps to be in the Island Museum to give present—day campers a better idea of an early time when the Island was a community. Perhaps this book can be placed in the care of Linda Henry (who is also doing Island research) of the Park. Let me suggest that other Society members consider leaving their family histories, pictures and paper memorabilia with the Leelanau Historical Museum for preservation and research. In this way, their already in depth collection of Leelanau history
will become an even greater resource for Island research.
In conclusion, certain thanks are due: Betty, I hope you are smiling down from heaven and blessing this work. Marie Smith, thanks again to you, for being co—detective with Betty. Thanks again to Leroy Kramer, Jr. for giving Betty's materials to the Society, charged with its appropriate disposition. Thanks to Glenn Furst, for entrusting me with the Collection for the past year, to prepare it for the archives. Thanks to Society member Joanna Smith, who spent days at the zerox machine, and also to my friend Rosemarie Turke. Thanks to Margaret Braden, Kathy Bietau and our President, Paul Rocheleau who undertook the task of selecting the appropriate home for the Collection. You have read their criteria in the Newsletter, so we can feel assured that Betty's papers will have a safe permanent home in the archives of the Leelanau Historical Museum. Where they will be available to all for research.
Betty Kramer collected, interviewed, researched — She never got to write her book. There is a saying from a biblical commentary: (R.Tarfon — Ethics o/t Fathers Talmud) "It is not your task to complete the work — Neither are you free to desist from it" Maybe one of you will write the book."
Thank you
Sylvia B. Kruger
We all owe Sylvia a great—big heartfelt thank you for a job extremely well—done!! I'm sure Betty's smiling down from heaven and feels proud of her place in South Manitou's history — thanks to some of her very special friends!!!! We should all feel proud of our role in this life—long project... .that has just begun.
Consider helping out YOUR Memorial Society! We all have memories of the Island that occupy our minds on cold wintery days ... Put those memories to paper and submit them to your Newsletter Editor!!
Thank you!!!
Kathy Bietau, Editor
Daylight arrived with overcast skies on this Sunday, August 1, 1994. Passengers began gathering at the boatdock for the annual trip to SMI. Approximately twenty—three members of the South Manitou Memorial Society made the trip.
Two members of this special group were living memories of a time and life style of long ago. Fred Burdick and George Thompson were both born on SMI. Several individuals on this trip were children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren of the descendents of the island. Families represented were Beck, Carlson, Furst, Haas, Hutzler, Johnson and Thompson. The lone northerner (NMI) with us was Paul Maleski.
During the trip over, George Thompson recalled the many trips he made with his uncle Theodore Thompson on the mailboat "Beatrice." George was allowed to steer the mailboat and his cousin, Floyd Thompson, acted as the engineer.
Paul Rocheleau, and his group were literally all wet! They stood on the bow of the boat until the spray from the cold waves drove them inside.
Shortly after arrival on the island, we sat at the picnic tables in front of the Coast Guard Station and enjoyed our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. After our short break, we climbed aboard the "tour buses" with Molly Grosvenor and Judy Fogle as our drivers. The first stop was the old schoolhouse. Fred Burdick recalled the small stage where students had to recite their lessons and where the Christmas pagaent was held. George Thompson told us about an incident involving Ralph Thompson, Walter Hutzler, and Walter Barnhart. The older boys were chewing tobacco and when the teacher turned her back, the boys would spit the tobacco out the open window. As the story goes, the wind blew the tobacco back against the side of the schoolhouse. The teacher found the evidence and the boys were put to
work washing the side of the schoolhouse!
From the schoolhouse, we traveled to the cemetery. Fred Burdick reminded us that we had Glenn Furst to thank for all the work on the fences and crosses for the unmarked graves. Fred stated they worked with the Youth Conservation Corp for two years. When they started to clear the cemetery you could only see a couple stones. The cemetery is located on the Price homestead.
From the cemetery, we then headed to the August Beck farm. We saw old apple trees, farm equipment, purple thistle and black—eyed susans. The roof on the Beck home has been restored along with one of the out buildings.
Next on our tour was the George Conrad Hutzler farm. George Orbeck, the great grandson of Conrad Hutzler, led us to the burial place of Conrad Hutzler (1821—1896). The burial site has been cleared and a fence erected around it.
We then dropped off Donald Thompson and Paul Maleski at Florence Lake to check out the beaver population while the rest of us went to the Lighthouse. Myron and Ruth Brown had waited long enough, the Lighthouse was the main highlight for them.
All too soon it was time to board the boat for our return trip. What a beautiful day we had. We have many memories to reflect on during our cold winter nights.
Many thanks to Mike and Molly Grosvenor, Kathy Bietau (we missed you), Margaret Braden, Judy Fogle and our official guides, Mary and Fred Messerschmidt.
SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra (Thompson) Black
January 29, 1885 - Scarlet Fever in this Village.
Lake Michigan is completely frozen between the island and the mainland.
December 13, 1906 — The new car ferry Ann Arbor No. 4 has arrived at Frankfort, and they say, that she is a dandy.
December 20, 1906 - ABRAHAM ANDERSON of North Manitou Island is spending a few days in town.
January 31, 1906 - As a reminder of the terrible storm which resulted in four deaths off the breakwater at Holland in November comes the appointment of E. E. PUGH as keeper of the South Manitou station, filling the vacancy caused by the transfer of CAPTAIN VAN WEELDEN to the Holland station upon the dismissal of Captain Pool.
Captain Pugh, whose family has been living in Muskegon for the past two years, has been in the life saving service for more than 21 years as a surfman No. 1 at Pentwater. He joined the life saving service in 1886 at Manistee and in one year was transferred to the Pentwater station as surfman No. 4 from whence he was promoted from time to time as vacancies occurred. The Pentwater station has been recognized by the appointment of four keepers from its ranks during its twenty year existence — Lawrence, Jensen, Pool and Pugh.
Captain Pugh takes an enviable record with him to his new position. He has without aid rescued four persons from drowning by plunging into the water after them and swimming with them through a sea to a place of safety.
In addition to saving those four lives he has participated in the rescue of 41 persons from wrecked and stranded schooners and steamers with the surf boat and beach apparatus and 17 from capsized sail boats and row boats.
Captain Pugh will go to the charge of his new station February 1st.
August 1, 1907 — Thirty resorters arrived on the U. S. MISSOURI yesterday.
April 30, 1908 - CAPT. ST. PETERS, FRED BORDEAU, ED FISHER and Light keeper SAMUELSON, of North Manitou, were in town this week.
November 19, 1908 - JOHN A. JOHNSON of North Manitou island is doing the plumbing for Hans Anderson's new steam heat.
The S. S. MISSOURI made this port today on her way to Chicago. While here she took aboard two car loads of canned goods and several hundred bushels of potatoes.
March 21, 1909 — CAPT. ST PETERS has received orders to open up the U.S.L.S.S. at North Nanitou is1and next Sunday at midnight.
May 6, 1909 — THOS. LAIRD, one of the U.S.L.S. men of Racine has been transferred to North Manitou island.
April 12, 1917 — MR. DAVENPORT, second assistant lightkeeper of North Manitou light and family are here awaiting to go across to the island.
October 11, 1917 — CAPT. JOHN PACTSCHAW will move his family next week from North Manitou island to Leland for the winter and will occupy Robt. Prause Cottage.
April 26, 1917 — A card from JOHN PETERS who is second engineer of the Coast Guard ship No. 56 reports that they expect to be at anchor off North Manitou island about May 1st.
Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge were elected on Tuesday last, by the largest majority ever given to the history of the United States to a President and Vice-President. Hurrah!
The High School has been pretty well depleted during the last two weeks because of potato digging.
Copyright 1994/1995 Vol.5, No.3