Kids and Canoes

My 6’10″ frame does not fit well with a canoe but a friend on one of our boys club trips there lent us his canoe for the day with the stipulation that it be used close in to shore. So the boys largely canoed from our beach area to the pointe and back again. They stayed in waist deep water but had the time of their lives.

Yet some still preferred the rowboats over that of the canoe. They even had races which the canoeists won hands down. I must confess that the canoe was never out of use for close to six hours that we had to use it. In all it was well worth the time for the boys and they learned skills from that time with the canoe. Only once did they tip over and that was in making a turn as one of the boys dug in too deep with the canoe causing it to make a sharp turn.

It would have been too difficult to attach a canoe to our vehicle with all the equipment that the boys brought on each trip so this was a one time event.

The Last Campfire on Every Boys Club Trip

I’ve done a few posts about our first campfire on our boys clubs trips to our property but this is the first one about our last campfire before returning home to whatever city we came from. Yes, by this time, the boys were tired and ready to go home or were they?

This campfire was rather reflective. The boys related to their favorite times there. Of course the trip to the Haunted Island was always foremost on their mind but also the trip down the bloody antler trail was vital to their memories. They joked about who had caught the biggest and smallest fish and of the great times they had swimming in the lake.

Then the Pine River Bridge at Wellston came up followed by Ludington State Beach and the Lake Michigan Recreational Center. They laughed at how they were so frightened the first night on our first trip into our forest. They all said they would miss the times around the campfire both from the meals to the evening ones where marshmallows were roasted.

Our last hike was a short one as we all walked down to the pointe some fifty yards away, but far enough away from the campfire, so as not to rob the kids of their night vision. They glanced into the sky to take in full every star imaginable. The sky was chock full of them. Then we headed back to the fire.

So many memories just flooded the conversations and I enjoyed the enthusiasm of their thoughts. Some even asked when the next trip would be coming and whether they had the chance to return. After this last campfire sleep came quick to all of them as there was not much chatter in the tents. After all their memories would not be swamped with dreams of their fantastic journey to Big Bass Lake.

Sauble River Outlet

This is a double look at the Sauble River Outlet near the Hamlin Dam State Park. In fact the bridge that crosses Sauble River on M-116 exits into the park. At this outlet you can experience wading in just prior to Lake Michigan and feel the warmer waters as they merge into the cold water of Lake Michigan.

A lot of tourists choose to swim at this location to expereince both warm and cold water swimming. I personally have taken some great pictures off the bridge on M 116 down this outlet toward Lake Michigan. On the other side you can barely make out Hamlin Dam.

How do you like the aerial overview of the area? It provides you with a glimpse of the Hamlin Dam area as well. Any other observations of this area?

Winter at Big Bass Lake

It won’t be much longer until scenes like this replace the wintery waterscape of Big Bass Lake and snowmobiles will be stored away and speed boats dotting the lake again. Yes, the Big Bass Lake Public Landing will soon be bristling with boat trailers unloading their water craft for yet another season of fun and frolic on the waters of Big Bass Lake.

Yet winter on the lake does have its charm. Soon, though, the ice will be melting and before the big boats hit the water again there will be a time for rowboaters to have the lake to themselves. Come Memorial Day weekend that will all change but until then rowboaters and kayaks will have their day in the sun upon the lake.

Before the big boats return, docks will have to be reinstalled on the waterfront and other work done of boats to get them ready for the long summer ahead. Does anyone know about what time the ice does melt on Big Bass Lake?

Autumn Roads Ablaze with Color

This is but one of the area roads around Mason County that is full of autumn color. One of the bright things literally about this area is that nearly every road looks just like this. Pine trees full of green also appear periodically to provide a balance in the color. I think the drive from Scottville to Free Soil is a favorite to really experience fall in all its glory.

But then the drive to Baldwin provides much the same scenery. Choose nearly any sandy road in the area for a more private journey but still full of ecstasy. If you happen to pass by a lake you can find even more colors reflected in the waters of that lake. There just isn’t anything to compare with a Mason County autumn. Experience it for yourself.

Cloud Tales Over Our Property

The trip with the Salesian Boys Club had been a most soggy one where it had rained nearly every day. For the first time, I chose to speak some cloud tales near our large swamp on varous hikes to that area. I would pick out a cloud formation and devise a story after it as we hiked along in the rainy weather. At times, the clouds would form like a bear or some animal in which to spin a yarn.

This was most effective as the boys seemed to like the concept and even adding some of their own tales as they watched the formation of the clouds overhead. Since clouds were the order of the day most of the time, they had plenty of material to work with. It became somewhat of a challenge to the kids to come up with the best tale. However, the cloud formation must have been one that came close to what they were spinning off about.

I only used this cloud tales concept on this trip, being the most rainy of all the trips I had taken to our property. Even rain had not detoured us from having fun on that trip.

Otto Bartlett: The Face of the Big Bass Lake Store

Many people probably aren’t aware of this but in the original Big Bass Lake store, the Bartlett’s lived in that facility. Later they moved slightly west into their own cottage. Yet as I was growing up, Otto Bartlett was the focal point of this store with his cheerful countenance and great service. He was such a kindly man with a wonderful smile.

In the early days of my youth, the road in front of the store was sandy. I loved the Bass Lake postcards, the comic book rack, the great bottles of Squirt that tasted so good after either a long walk to the store or a row across the lake, and the wonderful tasty treats he had in his store. Always friendly to kids, Otto made a huge impression on me.

The store was never quite the same again after Otto sold it. But he was a hard act to follow. Any other thoughts on the Otto Bartlett era at the Big Bass Lake Store?

The Legend of Bloody Run- Epilogue

For the last three days I’ve provided for you Mike O’Connor’s account of The Legend of Bloody Run that was found in the Michigan Holiday News from 1989. I would now like to make a few observations about this event.

Most people are probably unaware of the fact that in those days it was the conductor that was in charge of the train and not the engineer. However that particular conductor’s “Loco-Motive” of taking over the train and replacing the engineer was crazy. Their argument had to be overheard by the lumbermen and I wonder how they felt about the inexperienced conductor taking over for the engineer? I wonder how many of those lumbermen chose not to continue onward with that train?

Also how many of those lumbermen might have jumped the train before it ran off the track? Were there any survivors at all? One also has to wonder about the last thoughts of the conductor as he saw the train out of control? I would take it that the engineer was not around for that ride so what were his thoughts?

I found the speculation of Mr. O’Connor in regard to his after thoughts about the incident intriguing. Do local residents still hear errie sounds relating to that accident even today? Does that creek really run red on the day of that anniversary or are some locals helping that along with some cherry Kool-Aid?

Has anyone reading Big Bass Lake and Beyond been to that scene of late especially at night? I would be most interested in your observations.

The Legend of Bloody Run by Mike O’Connor- Part Three

NOTE: This, again, is not a picture of Bloody Run, but of a similar rail accident. And, in Part 4, Dave Noreika will be bringing you his thoughts on Bloody Run.

How is the Legend of Bloody Run taken yet today? Many of the people of this area believe the area of Bloody Run is haunted. In the blackened night the rumble of a phantom train can be heard in the distance by the sound of an errie whistle followed the crash of thunder from the gully where the accident occurred.

On stormy days the sounds of loons can be heard and they are oftentimes confused with the wails and cries of the tormented men who lost their lives in that train derailment. But whether or not you believe the legend of Bloody Run is up to you! And whether or not you believe that the ghosts of those men still roam about Bloody Run Hill is also up to you.

Can you explain why the creek runs red every year on the anniversary date of the Bloody Run tragedy? Tomorrow the conclusion to the Legend of Bloody Run.

The Legend of Bloody Run by Mike O’Connor- Part One

A man by the name of “Peters” was logging this part of Michigan with a crew of 100 men. A narrow gauge railroad terminating at Manistee served to haul the logs. That time was long before compressed air had ever been thought of to check the speed of trains. The only means then known was “hickery” and the old fashioned hand-powered brake wheel, rod chain, and shoe.

It was a raw day in mid-winter and the rails were slippery with snow and ice. The trains, consisting of a long string of flat cars, had been daily loaded, or rather over loaded, near Peacock, and the conductor had issued his orders for the engineer to pull out. An argument ensued with the engineer vividly pointing out to the conductor the danger involved in trying to move the string of flat cars under those dangerous conditions. The argument developed into a controversy, but the engineer, who apparently understood his business, was adament and finally refused to run the train.

The conductor, incensed at the position taken by the engineer, and in a spirit of bravado, announced that he would take the train down by himself. Riding each flat car and astride the pinnacle of the pyramidal piled logs, was human freight. That freight was lumbermen of every nationality. They were all expert in their field. They were clad in mackinaws of color, calked boots, heavy trousers, and caps.

Now they were enjoying a brief respite from their labors, all joyous and unaware of the awful fate in store for them at the bottom of the ravine ahead. And, that will come tomorrow afternoon in Part Two.

The Legend of Bloody Run by Mike O’Connor- Part Two

NOTE: This is not Bloody Run but something similar to the grade. This legend should serve to prove why a conductor should NEVER engineer a takeover!

The legend continues! These poor lumberjacks were about to ride to their doom through the blunder of the conductor who had taken over the train. “Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die”.

With smoke belching from her funnel, the train started, gradually acquirring headway, then quickly picked up speed upon reaching the head of the slope and became a mad runaway thing. The inexperienced conductor, his control of the train lost, was powerless to prevent the catastrophe to follow.

Rushing down a30% gradient, the engine was bounding and crazily lurching over the rough roadbed being hurled forward by that irresistable momentumof the big load of logs upon her. At the bottom of the valley and over a little trout stream, when the light engine began to make its climb into higher ground, the heavily loaded flats behind buckled, the forward ones catapulted in a nose dive into the sandy soil, coupling pins broke, cars piled up, stakes were smashed from their sockets, huge binding chains snapped, and flew through the air like small pipe stems.

The logs, released from their fastenings, rolled down the embankment, splinters and bark showered the air, and with it all was the sickening crunch of human bodies mngled in an extricable mass of arms, legs, heads, snow, and debris, accompanied by the groans and shrieks of dying men whose life blood now crimsoned the clear waters in the brook.

A score or more of human lives was the horrible toll exacted in payment for the terrible mistake of the conductor, and thus did the locality claim the name of “Bloody Run”. This story has run its course but that is not the end of the matter and Part Three coming your way tomorrow will tell the rest of the legend.

The Old Peacock Depot

My dad always used to tell me what a thriving town Peacock, Michigan, was but even in my young days, Peacock was just a blur in the road. No stop sign, not even a flashing light. Branch, Michigan, at least had a flashing yellow light and I thought that was small too. In fact, Peacock was just a little burg with a few houses and that was it.

Yet in my dad’s day, Peacock was something else as it had its own train depot which made it something in those days. Now I’m not even sure if a train knows where Peacock is. It is located about seven or eight miles away from Big Bass Lake but unlike Irons, it has little businesses of note. Irons has restaurants and a few churches along with some other kinds of businesses.

But Peacock used to stand out in my dad’s eyes but for what I don’t know. Anyone else out there with more info on Peacock?

The Four Winds Island Connection to Camp Martin Johnson

Basically the mainline area known as Camp Martin Johnson is no more however that is not exactly the case on 4-Winds Island where many remnants of Camp Martin Johnson still exist. Pictured here are two cottages that remain even to this day that just shout out about times past.

This is one island that I have never visited on Big Bass Lake. I am saddened by this as it would have been extremely interesting to visit. Perhaps some members of Camp Martin Johnson would care to comment about their experiences on 4-Winds Island and even that islands twin. For one, how large was 4-Winds Island and how many structures were on that island. How often did campers visit that island?

Those of us interested in Big Bass Lake and its history would like to know.

That is Some Water Fountain!

I took my nphew, Daniel, on a trip to Lake Michigan at Ludington last fall. He was amazed at how high the water explodes at the end of the breakwater out by the lighthouse and this is just one example of the fury of Lake Michigan. If you’re out there sometime in weather such as this, just open your mouth for a cold drink of water! Of course, I would never recommend that anyone really do such a thing as the danger speaks for itself.

I just love photographs like this and on this site there are many such phoographs and videos of the fury of this lake against that lighthouse. Check them out for yourself sometime!

Aerial Big and Little Bass Lake

Here is a fine aerial photograph of both Big and Little Bass Lakes. The channel between the two is there but hard to locate on this map. I would be interested to learn where those that are on Big and Little Bass Lake have their cottages located around the lake?

I understand that the noted Big Bass Lake area historian, Anne Louise Chase, has her cottage located quite near the channel between Big and Little Bass Lake and our former cottage was on the southwest corner of Big Bass Lake although our property extended farther up the southwest corner.

The former Richard Benish property was where the public landing now sits. So, how about the rest of you? Leave us a comment and let us know where your cottages are in relation to these two lakes.

Plus all five islands are there for you to see, Haunted Island (Matson’s), The Big Island, Grandma’s Hat, Four Winds, and Turtle.

By the way, the area in red is roughly our former property lines.

Aerial Big Bass Lake and Farm

I love this picture as our family farm is on the southwest corner of Big Bass Lake and extends on the left side of the picture almost to the top. Everything from the Big Bass Lake Road extending north to Big Bass Lake on the north side was largely my grandparents. In all around 256 acres.

I loved the forest section of our land which extended north and east from Noreika Road. There was an old logging trail that extended all the way to Matson Road. As a youngster I used to walk that route with my dad. That main trail ended near a creek which we used to cross enroute to Luke’s store where I earned a tasty bottle of Nehi Root Beer.

Strange, at the Big Bass Lake store I used to always enjoy Squirt while at Luke’s Nehi Root Beer.

I still enjoy the little creek that runs through the back of our property. On our boys club trips we often observed deer taking a refreshing drink at that creek. In the fall our family always provided salt blocks for the deer in the forest. Of course, that was always after hunting season.

What About Little Bass Lake?

Big Bass Lake’s five islands is not only what makes it unique but also the channel between it and Little Bass Lake. To be fair, Sauble Lake has channels to its five lakes but no islands. Once one arrives at Little Bass Lake you will find that is has no islands but is deeper than its older brother.

You won’t fine as many high speed boats on Little Bass Lake but there are plenty of cottages dotting the shoreline yet again not as many that populates Big Bass Lake. Rowboats are found in abundance along with even a few paddle boats enjoying the beautiful scenery. Little Bass Lake has far more open land around it than does Big Bass Lake which makes it seem even more private.

Any residents of Little Bass Lake that would like to provide us with even more about your lake?

What Crucial Element is Missing Today at Big Bass Lake?

What is missing today from this picture at Big Bass Lake? Have you found it yet? Maybe you can observe it by the number of exclamation points over it? Yes, gasoline service is missing at Big Bass Lake and has been since the Big Bass Lake store closed its doors. How convienant it once was to just pull over to the dock and fill up your tank. But those were the days of yesteryear.

Now gasoline has to be carried to your boats wherever they might be on the lake. I have always said that a self-service gasoline pump should be installed at the public landing. The State of Michigan should install it in a way to get some extra funding for that state.

Maybe some residents of Big Bass Lake have some other ideas on how to get a gasoline pump near that lake again? The floor is open!

Loon Lake Magic

Loon Lake is just down a hill from Big Bass Lake yet this other lake has a magic all its own. For those that once lived on that lake in the 1950′s and 60′s, at night they were treated to the theatre organ music of the Loon Lake Pavilion. From almost anywhere on that lake you could make out the bright colors from that facility in the evening.

I’v always thought of Loon Lake as more of a fishing lake than a recreational lake. I’ve seen a lot of fishermen out there at almost any time of the day but precious few doing things like water skiing. Between it and Big Bass Lake it was the quieter of he two and that’s not all bad.

Without the constant flow of speedboats crusing around, Loon Lake residents can enjoy the peaceful serenity of their lake. For about half its length, a winding road follows its shoreline. For those that live on this lake, let us know a little something more about life on Loon Lake by way of a comment.

Elizabeth Norris

This was my Aunt Beth who passed away a few years ago. During her younger days she was an active member of the Central Intelligence Agency. As I was growing up I always wondered why should could not talk very much about her work. In later years she told me of her travels to Russia and Viet Nam and she was fluent in several languages. For people in the Big Bass Lake area they might know her by her picture as she stayed in that area longer than any other family member.

Beth was my father’s sister and stayed with her mother, my grandmother, on the family farm in Michigan. We called it the farm even though the large percentage of the acreage was forest land. Beth always enjoyed a good hike into the woods or a swim at the family beach. The entire lake consisted of about 256 acres complete with five islands.

She loved puttering about in the garden and enjoyed picking various berries around the property. After my grandmother’s death she stayed on the farm until poor health forced her to move to nearby Ludington, Michigan.

More on Buff

This is a picture of my dog, Buff, in Highland Park, Illinois, at our home soon after we moved there from Wabash, Indiana. This new area literally killed Buff as he was not allowed to run wild as in Wabash at that time. In Wabash he had a large area in which to run behind our home complete with Charlie Creek. Our yard was quite small and limited Buff’s running abilities greatly. He had to be on a leash at nearby parks something he was unaccusomed to.

I did let him run freely on the shores of Lake Michigan in that community but then to cool off he would wade into Lake Michigan and lie down in the shallow water. Instead of Buff, his name was soon “sandy” and that was a real mess to clean off him. When I went off to college, Buff was even more miserable. A few years later he had to be put to sleep due to very poor health.

This is the dog that I found on my paper route in Wabash and he became the very best dog hat the Noirris family ever owned.

US 10 and Ferry Boats

I’ve always liked US 10 in Michigan, especially the part from just outside Baldwin all the way into Ludington. That stretch of highway takes you through the Manistee National Forest and all its beauty to almost Lake Michigan. Along the way it takes a southward turn toward the ferry boats in Ludington as our picture above shows.

The ferry boat harbor and the boats themselves have put Ludington on the map. One only has to view how many photographs either show the ferry boats themselves or Ludington Harbor with its famous lighthouse at the end of that harbor. Even on our website, how many of our photographs on Ludington have been on these areas?

Even on the beaches of Ludington, ferry boats come and go in full view of the swimmers. Throughout Ludington one can hear the horns of the boats as they come and go. And US 10 is a part of that agenda as it swings just past that famous ferry boat port.

Any Port In A Storm

On a very stormy night at our campsite on our wooded beach we were surprised by an unexpected visit by my grandmother who had walked the nearly half mile from the new cottage because she was worried that a lightning strike on our metallic tent poles might cause us to be in danger. She insisted that we abandon our campsite for the night and instead take shelter in the old cottage.

The cottage you see in this picture used to have screens and insect lights when I was younger but now the cottage was just about as you see it now. There are two rooms both with large queen size beds on rather comfortable mattresses. That particular trip consisted of six boys. That meant four boys in one bed and three of us in another. Due to the rain the weather was rather humid demanding that we open the one window in each bedroom for some circulating air.

Needless to say no one got much sleep that night and in the morning we headed back to the tents for some much needed sleep. Strange how tents offered more sleep comfort than did those beds in the old cottage?

Canoeing Big Bass Lake

I would not recommend canoeing Big Bass Lake in the summer months as the wake of speedboats would be too much for a conoe to handle. Better yet would be the wee morning hours or late evening for canoeing during the summer months. But anytime in the off season would be ideal! Former campers from Camp Martin Johnson often used canoes on the lake and had many skilled counselors to teach the kids canoeing skills.

Since canoes are quite easy to tip over one should be a pretty fair swimmer before attempting an effort in the deeper waters of Big Bass Lake. That was a must with Camp Martin Johnson. Our boys club trips once used a canoe on the lake but only close to shore. I was surprised that our kids favored rowboats over that canoe. I think the canoe was used only twice on that particular trip and so it was not brought back again.

Of late, I haven’t seen many canoes out on the lake in summer time but that could be because I might be looking for them in the heat of the day. I see them on shorelines all the time along with several other boats at various cottages. Any canoeists out there that are using Big Bass Lake? Leave us a comment.

Lake Michigan Reflections

Sometimes when Mike is doing his jogging on the shores of Lake Michigan near M-116, I just take my time in reflecting on the beauty of the lake. At sunset or dawn that is not hard to do as the colors are fantastic to take in with our eyes. All the colors possible come forth both from the sky and how they reflect on various sections of the lake itself are really something to see.

If I could paint pictures, the sunsets and sunsets on Lake Michigan would stand out on canvas as something to hang in any gallery in the country. This photography is beautiful beyond mere words. Just look at that sky! Mike misses the beauty of the moment while he is jogging but it is not lost on me.

I also like to take in the storms of Lake Michigan but always from a safe vantage point. Many storm pictures are already in our category section under Lake Michigan. The waves of the lake are simply magnificent! Yes, Lake Michgan’s shoreline may offer jogging for my husband but my eyes are there for the scenery.