35th Annual
North & South Manitou Island
Reunion & Potluck Luncheon
Saturday, July 30, 2005
10:00 AM ~ 4:00 PM
Empire Township Hall
Empire, MI 49630
17th Annual Meeting
Manitou Islands Memorial Society
Saturday, July 30, 2005
1:00 PM
Empire Township Hall
Empire, MI 49630
13th Annual
South Manitou Island Excursion
Sunday, July 31, 2005
9:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM
Fishtown Dock
Leland, MI 49632
Please see page 7 for more information about these events. 
Mishe-Mokwa Reservations
Space is Limited ~ Buy Your Tickets Today!
Transportation for the Island
Excursion is provided by
Manitou Island Transit. The
voyage takes 90-minutes,
departing Leland at 10:00 AM
and leaving the Island in the
afternoon at 4:30 PM.
The Mishe-Mokwa carries 133. At this writing, 46 seats have
already been sold for Sunday, July 31. The July/August hump
is right at the peak of the visitor season, so the boat is likely to
be sold out on that day. If you plan to come along to the Island
... and we hope you will ... please consider making your
reservations today. Tickets are $25 ($14 for kids 12 and
under). You can reach Manitou Island Transit by calling 231-
256-9061. They’re open daily, 8AM to 6PM. Credit cards are
accepted over the telephone, or you may mail a check or
money order to confirm your reservation.
Visit www.leelanau.com/manitou/ for more information.
Worried about Sea Sickness?
Seasickness is thought to result from the brain’s difficulty in
coping with confusing balance signals, but it is also known to
be highly psychological. Studies show that everyone is
susceptible to seasickness. If you’re among the estimated 40%
who are most vulnerable, you probably feel ambivalent about
island crossings. Here’s some good
advice ... have a light meal no more
than three hours before sailing, but
avoid dairy products, rich foods or
salty snacks. Stay upright, keeping
your head up. Concentrate on the
horizon to provide the brain with a
frame of reference. Avoid activities
such as reading, watching movies or
playing video games. Occupy your
mind with in conversation, or thoughts
of something other than how lousy
you’re beginning to feel. If feeling ill,
don’t be embarrassed and try to
pretend you’re not affected; that only
adds to the discomfort.
Many now swear by a set of wristbands called Sea Bands, or
Acu-Straps. They work via acupressure points on the wrists,
and are actually government approved for the relief of certain
type of nausea. Look for these at Meijer, Wal-Mart or your
favorite pharmacy. Price; about $4 to $8 per set.
As an exciting new initiative, MIMS, MIT and Health
Enterprises Inc have instituted a pilot project, making a test
quantity of this drug-free, one-size-fits-all sea sickness remedy
available aboard MIT’s boats. They’ll be dispensed by the
crew as needed, on a complimentary basis. If the results are
favorable, the Memorial Society may adopt this as a
permanent promotional public service.
Membership Audit Envelope
The bylaws require that the Secretary audit the membership
roles annually coincident with the annual meeting. The
purpose of the audit is to keep the mailing list up to date, to
assure that everyone can be notified of opportunities and
important events in the life of the organization. A mailer is
enclosed for that purpose. You can also do this online at
There is no need to RSVP in order to attend the annual
reunion/meeting and island excursion. Indicate what your
plans are if you can. Otherwise, don’t worry about it. Just
come and enjoy some good times with old friends, or soon-to-
be old friends.
Manitou Islands
Memorial Society
V16 No 2 Newsletter Summer 2005
Where to Stay ~ Lodging Assistance
Affordable accommodations in the area of the Lakeshore are
typically difficult to come up with on short notice. On the
other hand, nearby Traverse City offers a wealth of choices,
and usually has only a light calendar of activities the last
weekend of July, when our events are always scheduled. Trips
between Traverse City-Empire, Traverse City-Leland or Empire-
Leland are all about 25 miles, or about 40-minutes driving time
Finding a place to stay in Traverse is easy ... the Traverse City
Convention & Visitors Bureau offers a free area-wide Central
Reservation Service, with travel counselors who will assist
you in checking room availability, rates, and in making a
reservation. Just dial 1-800-TRAVERS (1-800-872-8377). Or
visit www.mytraversecity.com/accommodations/ to see what’s
available and to make reservations online.
What To Do With Grandma’s Old Photo
Albums and Scrapbooks ~ Free Scanning
Offered at the Annual Reunion.
Over the years, grandma lovingly collected photos, newspaper
clippings and other memorabilia about family, friends, home
and significant events in the family’s life. Then one day her
life’s work is passed on for safekeeping to a next-of-kin.
Chances are, they’ll also pass it on, and within a generation or
two, few remember, or ever knew, enough about grandma’s
generation to appreciate all the things she so carefully saved.
What to do with those aging albums and scrapbooks, with
their fading pictures and brittle pages? Chances are, they’ll
eventually be discarded, and what a tragic loss that might be!
If you have an “at risk” collection, please consider donating it
for permanent safekeeping under professional care. Leland’s
Leelanau Historical Society and Museum is our official
collection agent. Contact LHS directly, or if you would prefer
to have the Memorial Society act as intermediary, feel free to
contact any Board member.
You might wish to browse through your collection to identify
as many items as you can. Laura Quackenbush, MIMS
member and LHS curator advises marking items lightly on the
back with a regular pencil, either with a brief description or a
number that can be indexed to a longer written description.
Bring your unidentifiable items to the reunion. We’ll provide a
table where you can display them for possible identification by
other members and visitors.
Meanwhile, Barbara Siepker, proprietor of Glen Arbor’s The
Cottage Book Shop, and Cynthia Dougal, who is affiliated
with LHS, will set up scanning systems at the annual reunion
in Empire to convert your pictures and other island-related
memorabilia to digital form. This service will be provided free
for those willing to sign a release, authorizing the unrestricted
use of the scanned images. Barbara is working on a pictorial
history of the Glen Arbor area, and might wish to use certain
historic images in that work. Meanwhile, the MIMS web site
maintains a searchable online archive of such material and will
be eager to add your collection to the index.
Interest in “the Crib” Continues
On Thursday, June 16th, Paul Rocheleau and Gene Warner
drove to Drummond Island for the annual meeting of the
DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society. DRLPS came into
existence about six years ago, as a grassroots initiative to save
their lighthouse, which marks the southern end of the passage
between lakes Huron and Superior. The DeTour Reef Light
was in about the same run-down condition as the present state
of the North Manitou Shoal Light, which most of us know as
“the Crib”. With no previous experience, local residents
organized a nonprofit corporation, then launched an ambitious
campaign to raise contributions and solicit grants. At this
point, they’ve come up with upwards of $1.6-million, and are
very near completion of the restoration project. With the
exception of work yet to be done, the light once again stands
proudly at the entrance of the DeTour Passage, having been
authentically restored to its original majesty.
On the way, Paul and Gene also called on BM1 Kris Nyland,
the ATON Petty Officer at the St Ignace Station. Kris’ group
is currently responsible for the Crib. He shared pictures taken
by his crew on a recent trip to the light, which confirmed its
rather sad condition. Worst, according to Kris, is the “guano
situation”. Resident cormorants have left their mark ... inches
thick in some places.
Besides raising the money, the challenges are two ...devising a
“public use” (required by the Light Preservation Act) and
visitor transportation. Since the DRLPS project preceded the
Act, they have been able to come up with some innovative
uses, including dinners and weekend “Lightkeeper” stays.
They’ve decided to purchase and operate their own special
purpose boat to solve the transportation dilemma.
Kris’ team will be making a scheduled maintenance visit again
July 27th. Pending our ability to arrange transportation, the
Board will accompany them for a “hands on” inspection tour.
Other key people will be invited, including legislator’s local
reps, lighthouse restoration experts, local tourism officials and
other interested third parties. When we go to the island, we’ll
ask the Captain to pass by the Crib as closely and slowly as
possible so you’ll be able to have a good first-hand look.
Manitou Islands Memorial Society Page 2
SMI Schoolhouse Project
The schoolhouse preservation project is now well underway.
The work is being done as a cooperative effort by the
Lakeshore and the Memorial Society. The Lakeshore is
providing professional advice
and direction, treatment of
LBP (lead based paint)
issues, transportation for
volunteers and materials,
housing for volunteers, and
refuse collection and
removal. The Memorial
Society is furnishing the
elbow grease (volunteers),
and is funding the cost of
materials, supplies and other
expenses incidental to the preservation project. Once the job is
complete, the Lakeshore will feature the building as a regular
interpretive stop on the motor tours offered by Manitou Island
Transit.
The “hands on” began June 6th with a site inspection and
planning session. Island maintenance chief Bill Osterhaus ,
SLBE historic architect Kimberly Mann, and volunteer project
coordinators Gwen Glatz and Anna DeCoster spent the day
together at the schoolhouse to come up with the best approach.
The first crew of nine volunteers spent the weekend of June
23rd thru the 27th.on the island. After getting the site organized,
they completed the demolition of the remaining plastered
walls. Furring strips were then installed for new drywall,
which will be hung next trip, and the rotted floor was repaired.
After having finished at the schoolhouse, the team split up to
do several other tasks elsewhere on the island, including
cemetery maintenance, fence repairs and erosion control.
The second workshop is scheduled for the same weekend as
our annual island excursion. The “blue shirts” (our volunteer
team) will be on hand to show you what they’ve accomplished
so far, and they’ll also be participating
in that day’s activities. The final
workshop for this season will be the
weekend of Aug 26th thru 29th. By that
time most of the “heavy lifting” will
have been accomplished, and we’ll be
able to begin thinking about the
finishing touches.
This project started as an exercise in
grant writing, the focus of our first
grant application. Had we won the
award, we intended to make a
concerted effort to finish the project in
a single season. If not, “Plan B” was to do the job over two
seasons, funding it from ordinary revenue. So it’s your
generosity that is finally making this dream come true. But
there’s yet another way you can participate ... blow the
dust off those old boxes and see what you can find by way of
artifacts, or information that will help the Lakeshore
interpreters do the newly preserved place justice. The above
picture, marked “My seventh grade Class – April 1934” was
found in a box of pictures saved by the late Myrtle
(Kelderhouse) Warner, and donated to the Memorial Society
by her daughter Janet Frascato. Do you know who these two
are? Myrtle taught at the schoolhouse between 1933 and 1935.
It was her first teaching assignment. What have you?
Whatever you can contribute or loan is sure to be valued.
Partnering with PHSB & Cherry Republic
Paul and Mike Rocheleau, Gene Warner and Lynn Roe met
with Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear Chairman Lanny
Sterling and Project Coordinator Michael Matts in Empire on
May 27th to discuss opportunities for working together on the
islands. PHSP won an $8,000 grant for historic preservation
from the Historical Society of Michigan. We’ll help with the
match, then part of the funding will be used to restore the
chicken coop on the
Conrad Hutzler
farm, and some of
the farm’s historic
fields.
To help get those
projects under way,
PHSB’s Kima
Kramer joined in
the June 6th trip to
South Manitou, and
checked these sites out with Maintenance Supervisor Bill
Osterhaus. As this picture shows, there’s not much left of the
chicken coop. Kim and PHSB are not deterred however.
They’ll reconstruct the building in a historically accurate way,
using as much of the original planking as possible.
The large field adjacent to the farmstead has been taken over
by scrub and small to medium size trees. Using tractors and
volunteers, PHSB will reclaim the rolling farmland. A small
orchard nearby is also in need of pruning and maintenance.
This will be the first of an ongoing work project to clear and
then assist the National Park in maintaining this cultural
landscape. Glen Arbor-based Cherry Republic has adopted
this endeavor, and will support the ongoing maintenance needs
as a corporate work project.
Manitou Islands Memorial Society Page 3
President Carries On Founder’s
Personal Mission
Over the Memorial Day weekend, permanent markers were
placed at the North Manitou Island cemetery on the graves of
Andrew Paetschow, (died in 1896) and John Paetschow (died
1922). The crosses are handmade, consisting of reinforced cast
concrete, with an engraved brass plaque.
This continues a
tradition begun some
twenty years ago as a
personal initiative by
Memorial Society co-
founder Glen Furst. He
passed the torch to Paul
Rocheleau in 1993, the
year Paul was elected
President for the first
time. In fact, Paul is still
using the wooden mold
Glen originally created
in casting the crosses.
Paul usually makes the
crossing alone in his
own small outboard when on such a mission. In recent years,
the graves to be marked have been on North Manitou. A unit
of the Sierra Club traditionally holds a volunteer workshop on
North over the Memorial Day weekend, and willingly assists
with the grave-marking project.
The Paetschow family was related through marriage to the
Grosvenor family. A son, John L Paetschow married Tracy
Grosvenor’s cousin, Bessie Firestone in 1906. He preceded
Tracy in carrying mail and freight between the mainland and
the islands until 1917, when his boat went mysteriously
missing from the Glen Haven dock, where he had stopped to
pick up groceries. Without a boat, he was no longer able to
honor his contract with the government, so Tracy took it over,
moving the operation to Leland. Paetschow went on to a
career in the Lighthouse Service. Grosvenor descendants have
continued in the business from Leland ever since.
A New Preservation Initiative ...
Harrison Haas’ Fish Shanty
Just behind the Haas
house (more recently
known as the Jenks
cottage) sits a real
treasure! This is one
case were permitting a
building to deteriorate
to a rather decrepit
state enhanced its
aesthetic allure. One
needs to reach deep
into the soul to quantify the feelings that arise on first sight of
this little shack. The scene instantly triggers one’s interest and
imagination ... what a great winter scene for a MIMS
Christmas Card! On closer inspection, the building’s several
unique and inexplicable little quirks only deepens the intrigue.
Saving this jewel in its present condition is Kimberly Mann’s
vision. (Kim is the Lakeshore’s Historical Architect.) It won’t
take much to freeze the building in its present moment ... just a
few hundred dollars to produce some rough milled lumber,
and a lot of elbow grease. Interestingly, the lumber will come
from the Lakeshore itself. The many CCC pine plantings are
classed as non-native “exotics”, which will gradually be
removed. Until then, Kim makes use of these logs as an
economical source of materials for stabilization and
restoration projects around the Lakeshore, having them milled
as needed for the project at hand. The Memorial Society has
been invited to fund the milling of the logs, and towards the
end of the season, volunteers will do the work at the shanty
under Kim’s careful direction.
SLBE Refurbishing South Manitou
Lighthouse Buildings
The Lakeshore has obtained funding to do some much-needed
maintenance on South Manitou’s lighthouse.
The work will include painting the exterior
of the light, roof repairs, and other exterior
and interior renovations. The tower will
therefore not be open to visitors for much
of the 2005 season. Other buildings in the
complex will be opened for inspection and
the Park has provided some temporary
interpretive displays at the site.
Lakeshore maintenance specialist Bill Love and a colleague
are working on the South Manitou Lighthouse, tuck pointing
as necessary, and repainting the tower. As of mid-June, the top
had been painted, and the area from the deck up had been tuck
pointed and made ready for painting. Naturally, while the
work is going on, the lighthouse will not be open to visitors.
Now that the top part of the tower has been completed
however, the crew has decided the lighthouse can now be
opened on weekends as a courtesy to island visitors.
Manitou Islands Memorial Society Page 4
Potato ~ “Potahto”
The Haas name was pronounced “Hase”, with a
long A. Accordingly, correspondents sometimes
misspelled the name “Haase”.
What Our Volunteers Are Worth
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the national average value of
each hour of volunteer time for 2004 was $17.55. This figure was
based on the average hourly earnings of all production and non-
supervisory workers on private non-farm payrolls, with 12%
added to capture the average value of fringe benefits. Hourly
rates differ geographically; thus the average for Michigan would
be about $18.33 per hour. Thus the value of this season’s three
scheduled weekend workshops is, at minimum, about $13,198.
Harrison Haas House Gets a New Roof
by Peter Jenks - September 2004
My father, Jack ("Gus") Jenks, bought the Harrison Haas
house in 1957 from a family friend in Frankfort who had
owned the cottage for the fishing rights around the island. In
the late 1960's, we moved to southern Georgia with my dad's
job and were able only to make yearly pilgrimages to the 90+-
year-old lighthouse keeper's house. As one can imagine, there
were always jobs to do, but it was always the high point of the
summer for us kids as we were growing up.
My wife Katy was introduced to the island in the early 1980's,
and after that she and I continued coming up together on our
annual pilgrimage from Georgia for nearly twenty years.
Having recently relocated back to Traverse City, we were
interested in helping preserve our old cottage. In 1996, we had
done some extensive structural repairs to the south side of the
roof, and re-roofed that side prior to turning the property over
to the NPS. The rest of the roof was still sound. Rolled roofing
however has a limited life span, and with little attention since
then, the roof once again needed some help.
As fall drew near, Katy and I found ourselves facing a tough
choice. Having been out to South Manitou Island twice during
the summer, we had noticed that the roof of our old cabin had
fallen into disrepair. Water was getting in and sitting on the
floors; that’s never a good sign. Knowing how the Michigan
weather takes it's toll on a structure, the choice was this: to
either let winter have it's way and take a chance of possibly
not having materials available the next year, or to get it done
then while the materials were available and we had the time.
With intentions of developing a spirit of cooperation with the
Park, we mentioned to some of the park staff that we thought
the roof might not last another winter. As everyone knows,
budget money for such projects is non-existent these days, so
we thought this might be a good time to consider volunteering.
If the park could provide materials, perhaps we could round up
a group to go out and re-roof the old Jenks-Haas cottage;
indeed, there had been a lot of interest expressed around the
campfire earlier in the summer. Kimberly Mann and a group
of volunteers had put up a temporary patch to try to get
through the winter, but with labor and material available now,
we felt this was the best time. The Lakeshore agreed, so all we
had left to do was round up our group of eager volunteers and
make it happen.
Well the best of plans can run afoul of realities, and campfire
zeal somehow gave way to the obligations of work, families
and all the other things that get in the way. It was down to
Katy and me. Fortunately, we were able to enlist the help of
my dad's only brother, Terry Jenks, who came up from
Rockford IL. Uncle Terry had been instrumental in helping
my dad get the water system installed, digging septic fields,
painting, plumbing and lots of other thankless tasks back in
the late 1950's and early 1960's, and he really knew the place
better than I did. After a long absence, he had returned
recently and began spending time with his family on the
island, So the three of us, Uncle Terry, Katy and I, were on
for a two-weekend ordeal to take off the old roof and install
the new one.
The weather was perfect … the last two weeks of decent
weather that we had, in fact. The first weekend out we
shoveled off three layers of old rolled roofing and cleaned off
all the debris. We found that the deck needed some patching,
and began to worry whether we would get it covered before
Sunday's boat. Just as we began to tire and doubt our strength
and stamina, help arrived in the form of "The All-Star, All-Girl
Roofing Drywall Painting And Rescue Party". Our friend
Gwen Glatz had been working on the schoolhouse with her
friends Anna DeCoster, Emilie Korpi, Sarah Wendt, and
Debbie Dekker … a crew who quickly became our new
friends. They came scurring up the ladders and began patching
and nailing … and before we knew it, we were "dried in".
With their help, we had the felt down and were all buttoned up
in case of rain.
The weather held through the following weekend, so we
headed back out to finish what we started, once again with no
takers from the campfire circle. Katy and I were on our own
this time; we had committed to the job and were bound to
finish it! As we hauled the rolled roofing up to the ridge, we
really began to feel our age. But, heads down, we just kept
nailing … until Sunday's sudden boat announcement. He was
coming early! We had just enough time, without a minute to
spare, to pack up and haul out our gear.
The boat ride home was a chance to reflect on our two-week
project. We felt fortunate for having received the Lakeshore's
permission and support, and especially Kimberly Mann's
advice and assistance. It felt good to give something back and
to know that we had helped to preserve one of the island’s
historic assets and a small piece of our family's history. We
were also grateful for my Uncle Terry ... for all his help, and
for sharing his memories of island times from years ago.
It was also good to have made so many new friends! We will
not soon forget the gallantry of Gwen and her crew. We are
grateful for their selfless acts of generous heroism, and look
forward to an opportunity to somehow repay their kindness
this coming summer.
Manitou Islands Memorial Society Page 5
News from the Nominating Committee –
Prospective Candidates Seem Reluctant to
Step Forward
Up for election at this year’s annual meeting are the positions
of Vice President and Secretary. Each new Board also makes
its own appointments, so the appointed positions of Media
Director and Hospitality
Director are also available.
The Vice President’s position
is as active or passive as the
person holding that office
wishes it to be. The Vice
President’s only function
under the bylaws is to stand
in for an absent or disabled
President. However, the
Board of Directors operates
as a team, and there is always plenty of opportunity for anyone
who wishes to be engaged.
The Secretary position is probably the most labor-intensive
and time-consuming position on the Board. If you’re actively
employed in a full-time job, you probably should not consider
this position. If you’re retired and looking for something
challenging and meaningful to do with all your spare time, this
job is for you! Communication skills, organization skills and a
practical level of computer literacy are essential.
As Media Director, you’d be responsible for all printed and
online communications. These include the newsletter, the web
site, special mailings, and media promotion activities. To do a
good job here, you’ll need good communication skills, a knack
for graphic arts, computer skills and a meticulous attitude
towards details.
The Hospitality Director is responsible for arranging
accommodations for meetings and other corporate activities.
This includes the annual reunion, island excursion, and
outfitting workshops on the islands. This is a great opportunity
for someone with good organizational skills, and a background
in the hospitality business ... or for anyone who enjoys the
challenge of hosting successful affairs.
These are all Board positions. Serving on the Board of
Directors is rewarding and fun. It doesn’t pay anything, but
will look great on your curriculum vitae. Want to know more?
Ask for a copy of the booklet MIMS, Inc”. Or if you think
you’re a good fit for one of these opportunities ... or know
someone whom the Nominating Committee should be talking
to, let them know at 877-842-7658 (toll free), or
nominations@manitouislands.org.
Riker Memorial Service
The interment observance for Edward and Esther Riker at the
South Manitou Island Cemetery has been indefinitely
postponed, pending the release of Mr. Riker’s remains by
University of Michigan’s willed body program.
Secretary’s Notes ...
The following data is current to 6/30/2005. Our fiscal year is
August 1 through July 31. “Interested Third Parties” are
elected and appointed officials, NPS staff, other organizations,
vendors, etc. “Receipts” include only funds received by mail
and electronically through our online payment processor.
Donated expenses or contributions that might have been
tendered in some other way are not included below.
Since the Spring newsletter:
New Members:
.............................8
Other Contributions:....................
25
Cash Receipts:.........................$930
Fiscal Year to date:
New Members:
...........................
42
Other Contributions:....................
82
Cash Receipts:......................$3,317
Database Statistics
Total Members
.........................
394
Member Households..................
272
Removed by Request.....................0
Died
............................................3
Interested Third Parties................
38
New Members:
Anna DeCoster
Mary Lou Haynes
Stephen L Hope
James & Gretchen Kudlack
Carl & Mary Luther
Sarah Wendt
Markers for “Unknown” Graves ...
Kimberly Mann has provided a diagram of the South Manitou
Island Cemetery drawn by Lakeshore sign-maker Kevin Kelly,
showing the location of two unmarked burial sites outside the
fence. Legend has it that these are the graves of two black men
who were either working as wooders, else were possibly
cholera victims removed from a passing ship. Kim suggested
that marking these burial sites would be a worthy project, and
would protect them from future foot
and vehicular traffic.
While we ordinarily provide crosses
with bronze plaques, it's not clear that
would be appropriate in this case.
Alternatively, a plain, vertical marble or granite slab, as used
around the turn of the century, will be used. Although difficult
to come by today, granite "stair treads" are common and their
"rustic" appearance would work out quite well. Two have been
ordered from a Massachusetts quarry. They’ll be engraved
with the single legend, "UNKNOWN", and placed by our
volunteers under the Lakeshore's direction. Rocks of an
appropriate size will also be gathered to mark the perimeters
of the graves in the traditional fashion. When you visit the
cemetery, you’ll find these graves just outside the gate.
Manitou Islands Memorial Society Page 6
Schedule
Annual Reunion/Meeting
Empire, MI – Saturday, July 30th
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Arrival and check-in at the Township
Hall. Time to socialize ... renew and make new acquaintances.
Bring photos to scan; help others identify theirs. Coffee, tea,
and soft drinks will be provided.
10:00 AM – ?:00 PM: “ ... on the Beach” ... Weather permitting,
younger members of your family might prefer to play at
Empire’s beach park. It’s within easy walking distance of the
Township Hall (food, pop), Deerings Market (candy) and
Tiffany’s (ice cream cones.)
12:00 PM – “Quasi” Pot Luck Luncheon. Deerings will be
catering a baked ham and roast turkey this year. Bring your
favorite side dish or desert to share if you can.
1:00 PM – Annual Meeting: Election of Officers, Scholarship
Award.
1:30 PM – Short Program: Gateway to Superior ~ Saving the
DeTour Reef Light a documentary video presented by the
DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society.
2:15 PM – Final announcements and adjournment.
3:30 PM – Last call for refreshments; volunteer crew begins
the “GI Party”!
4:00 PM – Hall closes.
Sunset – Join the kids, or the usual gang of Empire residents
at the beach to watch the sun go down. Cool breezes, friendly
conversation, jokes and good times. The “Green Flash
Fellowship” is a BYOB affair ... water, tea, soda pop or what
have you.
Schedule
South Manitou Island Excursion
Leland, MI – Sunday, July 31st
9:15 AM – Recommended arrival and check-in time at Leland’s
Fishtown docks. Advance reservations are advised to
guarantee space and avoid the sometimes-hectic last minute
activity on the dock ... phone MIT at 231-256-9061. Free
parking provided by special arrangement with MIT.
10:00 AM – All Aboard; Mishe-Mokwa departs for South
Manitou at 10-o’clock sharp!
11:30 PM – Arrival at the island. Welcoming
comments/orientation by the Island ranger, distribution of
handouts. Free catered picnic at the front lawn of the Coast
Guard Station immediately following.
12:30 PM – Memorial Ceremony at the Main Cemetery,
honoring those members who made the “final crossing” since
last we met. Dedication of newly placed markers for
“Unknowns” . Rev Kirby D Smith, acting Senior Minister at
Lansing’s historic Westminster Presbyterian Church, will script
this event as a purely non-sectarian, non-denominational
adaptation of an “All Souls” celebration and will officiate on the
island.
The ceremony will feature appropriate music provided by our
workshop volunteers, and the ringing of the bell as honorees
are cited. Transportation will be provided for everyone from the
Station to the Main Cemetery, courtesy of MIMS and MIT.
1:00 PM – Tours & Guided Hikes
·
Motor Tours, hosted by the Island Interpreter and
courtesy of MIMS and MIT, will continue for those
wishing to participate in that activity. There’ll be a
special tour of the schoolhouse to see what our
“Award Winning Team” of volunteers have been able
to accomplish thus far.
·
A choice of guided hikes will be offered for those
wishing to experience the Island on foot, or climb to
the top of the lighthouse tower.
3:30 ~ 4:20 PM – Rendezvous time back at the Station. Take
a load off while you enjoy the company of good friends, with
complimentary refreshments to help grease the conversation.
4:30 PM – Mishe-Mokwa departs the island, hopefully with
everyone aboard. Great photo opportunities with the sun at a
low angle behind your back! MIT’s bar is open during the return
trip ... enjoy your favorite soft drink or brewski.
6:00 PM – Arrival in Leland, and farewell for another year.
Island Excursion Attendees ~ Where to Go,
Where to Park in Leland.
If you’re going to the
island, you’ll find the
Manitou Island Transit
dock in Leland’s Fishtown
... at the end of River
Street, Leland’s main
downtown cross street.
Things are often hectic on
the dock just before sailing
time, so unless you have
things to unload, please
proceed directly to the
parking area ...
1.
Turn right (east) off Main St (M-22) onto
River Street at “The Early Bird” restaurant.
2.
Turn right on Chandler Street
3.
Turn right at either East Boulevard Drive or
Oak Street, at the “MIT Parking” sign
4.
Park anywhere on the open field in that area.
Parking is free for island excursion participants, by special
arrangement with Manitou Island Transit. Show your
membership card if asked. MIT provides transportation from
the parking area to the dock. If the red MIT truck isn’t waiting
for passengers it will soon return. If you have time, you may
wish to walk the short distance to the dock. Simply return the
way you came. But please note ...the boat leaves promptly at
10:00 AM!
Manitou Islands Memorial Society Page 7
Notes Inside the Cover
* South Manitou Isl. first settled in 1840 by Mr Burton
* Coast Guard Sta established there in 1902
* Drove well deeper at Glen Haven Nov 15, 1964
* Granpa (George Haas) settled on So. Manitou Isl. in 1856
* Built No. Manitou Shoal Crib in 1933
Letter from a Friend
ed - Mark Craw distinguished himself as a "pioneer game warden",
noted for his zealous and enlightened promotion of conservation, and
also for his fearless and unbiased enforcement of game laws. His area
of responsibility, beginning in the late 1920's, included South
Manitou Island. He died in 1962 at the age of 96.
Opinion Regarding the Proposed National Park
Leelanau Enterprise
October 1960
To The Editor:
I have read with interest the articles which have appeared in
this newspaper over the past few weeks concerning the
proposed National Park in western Michigan, and the
preservation of the South Manitou Lighthouse.
Regarding the lighthouse, I have a personal interest in this
structure. It was in 1892 that my grandfather, Louis Hutzler, a
native of South Manitou, began the first of his many years of
lighthouse service on Lake Michigan. His first position in that
year was as an assistant keeper of the South Manitou
Lighthouse.
I can only sincerely hope that the South Manitou Lighthouse
will not suffer the fate of many of our lighthouses the United
States over. Again and again, I have seen lighthouses
abandoned to thoughtless vandals and the ravages of the
weather. I am told that the South Manitou Lighthouse is one of
the tallest, if not the tallest, lighthouse on the Great Lakes. It
certainly is one of the most beautiful. If it must be a memorial
to anyone, let it be to those sturdy Germans and Scandinavians
who came to South Manitou when it was little more than a
primeval wilderness in the 1840's and 1850's.
If a national park must be established in this area, South
Manitou Island itself might be restored and maintained as an
early pioneer community. This area, one of the earliest to be
settled in this part of western Michigan, was 75 years ago a
booming agricultural community. Settlement was here a
number of years before there were well-developed areas on the
Michigan mainland.
The islands of eastern Lake Michigan were once the natural
stopping-off points between Chicago and the Canadian coastal
cities. With the development of the railroad in the western part
of the state and the subsequent decline of lake transportation,
eventually these islands became remote and many of their
people moved to the more convenient Michigan mainland.
Last summer, while roaming over South Manitou for the First
time and surveying the former farms and homes of maternal
grandparents and great uncles, I was amazed at the apparent
neglect and disinterest of my generation in the very things that
were so important to their grandparents. Most of their farms
lie ruined and deserted. All that remains today of their once
pioneer spirit lies buried in a few small cemeteries scattered
about the island. Their graves almost as neglected as their
farms.
It would be fitting if the Federal Government would restore
this pioneer community to its former prominence of perhaps
the 1880's and it certainly would be one of the government's
least expensive projects.
Much of the beauty of South Manitou consists of natural
beauty - her natural harbor, her high sand dunes, the hills and
valleys dotted with evergreens, the beautiful inland lake and
wild berry patches. If South Manitou must be a National Park,
or rather part of a National Park, cannot these things be
preserved for future generations of Americans?
Donald Roy
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
ed – The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore came some ten
years later. Don Roy was among the first to join the Memorial
Society. His interest in, and affection for, the island has endured ever
since. He currently resides in Whitefield, NH.
Manitou Islands Memorial Society Page 8
Dear August
I want to be one of the first to
congratulate you on your appointment
as Chief of Police of your beautiful
island. Of all the good old roughnecks
on the island, your Mayor Mr Boles
could not have selected a better chap
for the job. Having been more or less of
a pirate and rascal all your life, you
will know just how to deal with the
many desperate characters on the
island.
However, I love you all and your good
wife Rosie, and hope to get over and
see you all one of these days. Perhaps
have a meal on legal size whitefish?
Congratulations and best wishes from
one of your many friends -
Mark Craw
Traverse City
August 28, 1950
Clips from Grandma’s Scrapbook
2nd Annual Crowner Memorial Scholarship
Goes to Traverse City St Francis Graduate
The Memorial Society is happy
to award this year's scholarship
to Molly A Maxbauer, Traverse
City St Francis High School
Class of 2005.
The Gerald A Crowner
Memorial Scholarship was
established to promote interest
among young scholars in
preserving and interpreting the
historic and cultural traditions
of Michigan’s North and South
Manitou Islands. The $500
award is available to graduating high school seniors or post
high school students. The recipient is invited to participate as
“Guest of Honor” at our annual events the last weekend in
July. Applicants must write an essay, choosing one of three
general themes dealing with the importance of the islands and
the U.S. Lifesaving Service, U.S. Lighthouse Service and the
U.S. Coast Guard to Lake Michigan’s maritime history.
Molly’s winning essay, The Legacy of the Manitou Islands, is
reprinted below.
The Legacy of the Manitou Islands
By Molly A Maxbauer
Places like Yellowstone and the Smokey Mountains are normal
connotations when thinking of National Parks in the United States.
As a lifelong resident of Northern Michigan it is often easy for one to
overlook the beauty and majesty of the National Park, the Sleeping
Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, in one's own back yard. But a closer
inspection of the compelling history and tradition surrounding this
area, especially the North and South Manitou Islands, reveals an
importance beyond the ascetic beauty that first strikes a viewer. Both
islands, known collectively as the Sleeping Bear islands after Native
American legend, served a tremendously important and often
overlooked role in the navigation of the Great Lakes and settlement
of the surrounding areas.
The Manitou Passage, located between the two isles and the
mainland, provided a swift, and in its earliest years often risky, route
for ships sailing between Chicago to the Straits of Mackinaw. The
risk of the passage lay in its shallow nature that often wrecked ships,
an estimated one hundred and fifty in total, on rocky shoals. This risk
seemed marginal, however to crews and ships looking to save time on
lengthy voyages that sometimes took them on long distances, such as
from Chicago to Buffalo, New York.
The solution to this problem came in the early eighteen hundreds
when Congress approved funding for a lighthouse to be positioned on
South Manitou's "Crescent Bay". The first lighthouse was cared for
by William Burton; the responsibility of it was too great for him and
the management position switched quickly. It was agreed after he left
that the manager of the lighthouse would have to maintain a full
commitment to the lighthouse, and that the responsibility of caring
for the house was a great one. The payoff was great as well however,
for seafarers traveling the Manitou Passage at night, the lighthouse
providing a point of reference in a sea of shallow waters otherwise
cloaked in darkness. By fully utilizing the capabilities of the
lighthouse, the passage was made much safer and more popular,
greatly reducing the number of shipwrecks and increasing the
potential for business and commerce throughout the Great Lakes.
Once sailors discovered the safety in harbors of the Manitou
Islands, they became a very popular destination for refueling
steamers. The stop was a popular one in which crew could restock on
food, passengers on drinks at the infamous Cedar Board Saloon, and
the ship itself of fuel in the abundance of lumber. Some passengers,
enamored by the overwhelming beauty of the isles, decided not to
board the ship again after such stops as these. One man in particular,
George Johann Hutzler, was so taken by the fresh air and vitality of
the island that he decide to live there with his family and started the
first known farm on South Manitou. Agriculture on the island proved
a successful endeavor and some crops, in particular a unique strain of
rye, flourished without the threat of cross-pollination common in
mainland farming.
The attraction to the islands because of lumber was a strong one,
especially in the late eighteen hundreds. It was first sought after for
fuel for the wood-burning steamers that frequented the isles, with one
hundred to three hundred ships passing the Straits every day. Farmers
too used the lumber; in their case to build their homesteads, and
entrepreneurs quickly saw an opportunity in harvesting the wood for
sale. Somehow, despite the lumber frenzy of the late nineteenth
century, a group of giant white cedars survived. They are located on
South Manitou Island where one in particular is believed to be the
oldest in the world; it is estimated to be over five hundred years old.
With the dawn of locomotion in the early nineteen hundreds, use
of the Manitou Passage became less and less frequent as
transportation by way of water became less of a necessity. Added to
that was the increasing popularity of coal burning vessels, this
negated the use of lumber, and the importance of the Islands
themselves. Lumberjacks and the U.S. Coast Guard itself soon found
it impractical and unnecessary to stay on the islands, and moved
away. Only a handful of residents, who loved their island home
despite having endured all the hardships and isolation that life there
entailed, stayed on. The most famous resident, given the title Queen
of the Island for having not stepped foot on the mainland for twenty-
two years, was Bertha Peth, former daughter-in-law of pioneer
George Johann Hutzler.
Today the islands stand mostly isolated, except for the National
Park Service and a steady stream of tourists lured by the legends of
majesty and tragedy that surround them. They rise above Lake
Michigan in splendor, gifts of the Great Spirit Manitou in
remembrance not only of two legendary cubs, but also two centuries
of settlers, sailors and travelers, and more importantly as a part of the
expansion and growth of a young country. They may be only minutes
from our homes, but the history and tradition of the Manitou Islands
is not something to be taken lightly, because it is a significant part of
a bigger picture, the history of the United States.
ed ~ Molly is the daughter of Paul and Susan Maxbauer of
Traverse City, She graduated as a Valedictorian of her High
School class in June of this year. She was involved in the
Student Council, National Honors Society, Alpine Ski Team,
Cross Country, Track, and Soccer. Her other interests include,
running, skiing, swimming, reading, and fashion. She will be
attending the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota to study
either communications or foreign relations.
Manitou Islands Memorial Society Page 9
“Blue Shirts” Thank You for a Successful
First Workshop on South Manitou
The first of three rather intensive schoolhouse workshops scheduled
for this season resulted in a happy success over the weekend of June
23 through the 26th. To engender a spirit of camaraderie (and just for
fun), the Memorial Society provided the volunteers with
monogrammed navy blue tee shirts and caps, the shirts also carrying
the legend, “Award Winning Team”.
Hard work and good fellowship always makes for a good time, and
this trip was evidently no exception. Here are some “postmortems”
written by the nine volunteers: The Board adds its thanks to you for
making such achievements possible.
This whole VIP trip would not be possible if it had not been for
you. You continued to calm me down each time I was ready to quit.
Then I would dive back in. Thanks. - Gwen Glatz
The shirts were very cool ...especially the "Award Winning
Team". A lot of the island visitors wondered about our status. It gave
us all something to chuckle about. I thank you and the Memorial
Society for giving us all the opportunity to be on this beautiful island
with restoration jobs to do. We all enjoyed getting to know each
other, admire each other's work, and laugh while telling funny stories.
We liked working with the rangers too. Sincerely - Tamara Glatz
Thank you so much for making this all possible. The first day
was the inside of the schoolhouse, tearing out plaster and furring
strips from the walls. I can't remember ever being in such a white
cloud of dust! We really cleaned it up and made it ready for the
sheetrock. Gwen made us wear our MIMS shirts every day (we
washed them every night). By the way, thanks for those shirts and
hats. The were a hit. - Janet Helmer
This has been a great opportunity to work out here. The
schoolhouse project is really looking great. I think the idea of look-
alike shirts is great to get the attention of other visitors. Thanks for all
your efforts to make this happen. I hope to be back in August - Steve
Hicks
This was my first trip to South Manitou. I am in love. Working
on the schoolhouse and several burial places felt good. A great way
to give back. The people, staff and overall experience was very
positive. I will wear my shirt and hat with pride. I would like the
chance to return and do more. This is the type of opportunity that
makes us all better people. Thank you for all your hard work and
making this possible - Steve Hope
Thank you so much for all your support. The opportunities you
have provided for us to be able to give back to place and community
which has given us so much is so very gratifying. We are so fortunate
to be supported by someone who sacrifices so much of themselves.
P.S. We love the shirts and hats too. :-) Thanks - Katy Jenks
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the work details
on SMI. Your support and encouragement are what make this all
possible. We look forward to a continued effort between the Manitou
Islands Memorial Society and the volunteers. I hope to do this more
often. We hope to work on the "shed" project. Maybe we can meet in
person. I look forward to it. - Pete Jenks
You have been such a help and clam spirit of organization. :-)
Thanks so much. - Anna DeCoster
Although I have yet to meet you in person, I feel that I have met
you already because everything we were able to do here on the island
was due to your fantastic efforts. You are very appreciated! Thank
you! - Sarah Wendt
Manitou Islands Memorial Society
PO Box 177
Empire MI 49630-0177