Homestead Resort on Big Bass Lake

At one time, on the north shores of Big Bass Lake, was the Homestead Resort that was owned and operated by Maude VanHartesveldt and her husband Frank Jones. She was an active member of the Lake and Stream Resort Association. You can barely see Big Bass Lake through the trees.

In 1894 William Jones purchased 63 acres bounded on the east by Little Bass Lake and the channel between the two lakes and on the south by Big Bass Lake. He and his family lived in an abandoned lumber camp. In 1896 he started to build his home to be known as The Old Homestead. In 1897 they moved into that home. He and his wife had started a very popular resort on the North end of Big Bass Lake where they would pick up their guests at the Pere Marquette Train Depot in Peacock and bring them to The Old Homestead in a wagon.

I would hazard to say that this resort was not a posh one as evidenced by our photograph. It no doubt involved swimming and I would also assume lots of great fishing. Boating was also probably offered.

If anyone knows more about the activities of this resort, please let us know by way of a comment. When did it go out of business? How many buildings were part of this resort?

Some Things Remain Nearly The Same at Camp Martin Johnson

This is the road that leads to the old CMJ infirmary. It is now called Homestead Circle Road but I’d wager the road looks just about the same when CMJ was operational. But aside from the tennis and basketball courts, little else is recognizable about the former camp that ceased operations in the late 1970′s.

That is unless permission is granted to tour the now privately owned Four Winds Island which largely remains the same as in the days of the camp.  Graffiti is still found on the walls of the cottages of that island from campers and staff alike. 

The dirt road also has appeal especially since the full course around Big Bass Lake has been paved for years now.  For a time the section around Lakeview Cemetery and the camp was unpaved.  Sadly even the nameplate on the burial site of camp founder, Martin Johnson, as been removed and only a boulder marks his grave. 

For the man who wanted his land to remain a camp forever, he was betrayed by the Hyde Park YMCA for many youth organizations in Michigan could have made use of that land for a summer camp.  Johnson’s house is now a Heritage Museum in nearby Irons, Michigan, at the entrance to Skinner Park. 

If you want to locate traces of Camp Martin Johnson they are strewn all about with the exception of this dirt road leading into camp.  Yes, some things DO remain the same!

Leprechaun Sighting at Big Bass Lake

It was early in the morning that my friend, John, claimed that he saw a leprechaun scrambling down a hillside on the southwest side of Big Bass Lake. Since John had not been born yesterday, he knew full well that he had better scamper right after that leprechaun that it might lead him to his pot of gold.  But even though he searched high and low there was nary a sign of that little person. 

He later told his tale to a few friends that thought he had lost his mind despite his insistence that he had seen it.  He then began claiming that the leprechaun was responsible for the early greening of the season.  What else could have caused that area to be simmering in the 70′s so early in the season?

Well, John’s pals had no answer for that to be sure.  Yet they still weren’t buying his leprechaun tale.  So he had shown them the area he had searched and they did find a pair of tiny footprints which they dismissed as being that of a young child.  John demanded that they help him search for the leprechaun’s pot of gold. 

One of his pals asked him where he had been prior to his sighting of the leprechaun.  “Why at Na-Tash-Ka!  Why do you ask?”  So one of his other chums suggested that they all retire there so that they could have their own vision of the little person.  Which they all did!  After all they all knew that leprechaun’s were out of season anyway!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

“Play Ball” At Big Bass Lake

This will be another post with more questions than anything else. This is an aerial photograph of the Big Bass Lake softball complex. I would gather this is a league for men but how many teams are comprised in this league? Do the women of that area also have teams and what about kids?

Does the field have bleachers and a concession stand? And what is that facility just north of the diamond? Well, it happens to be a new church in the area that may call for the “In the big inning“. The field is located just east of where the Big Bass Lake store used to be. Also does this field have lights for evening games? How long is the season where the field is used?

I have a strong hunch that the Na-Tah-Ka Restaurant and Bar gets a good measure of business after the games.

If you have the answers to these questions, please leave a comment and let us know.

How Far Is It To Big Bass Lake?

I remember hearing that question of many boys club trips to our property about every twenty miles or so. But how many of you have seen a sign going west out of Peacock, Michigan, telling you exactly how far that distance is?  It also details a business just before Big Bass Lake, that being the Na-Tah-Ka where you can get a good meal anytime during the day or evening.  I wonder if Larry Bender will ever put in a drive-up window there?

All along M-37 one can see signs to White Cloud, Baldwin, and Traverse City, but since Big Bass Lake is not actually on M-37 it would be a stretch to find it there.  However, on the Peacock road?  Well, that’s another story.  There is  sign at the south end of Loon Lake that used to point to the Big Bass Lake Store and I have to wonder if it now directs one to Bender’s Corner Store? 

At any rate when you see a sign like this you’re almost at Big Bass Lake.  But don’t mistake either Sauble or Loon Lake for the real thing as they will be coming your way first.  After all, how many islands do those two lake have?

The Hamilton/Horner Homestead

I have two friends by the names of Nick Horner and Bob Hamilton who fancy themselves as having an eye for good real estate. I wonder if there’s a good eye chart inside this shanty? Bob always wanted a flat roof and after a few minutes of being on the roof fixing some shingles, he got what he wanted- sort of.

Nick, on the other hand, wanted to make sure that his dog, Bowser, got a suitable dwelling and so he purchased this building because it had a place for his dog to live. You can see Bowser’s new home off to he right. In fact Bowser liked it so much that he offered to share it with Bob.

To each of their surprise, the cabin had running water to it.  They found that old Indian inside when they finally got the door open after a mere five hours.  It seemed that Running Water had been held prisoner there since the last of the Indian wars. 

Bob wanted to bring his girl friend up to see his new home but once she saw it he was looking for another girl friend.  And that included a brief tour through Bowser’s new abode as well.  Nick knew his family would adore his new love and they did.  They adored the picture and said that Nick could move into it any time he liked. 

To some, Nick and Bob are a modern-day Odd Couple and I wonder why?  After Nick observed the shingles work that Bob had done on the roof, he got the shingles.  By the way, the two men got this cottage for a steal.  It cost them only 800,000 dollars.  Nick sure does have the eye for a bargain.  By the way, Bob found an outhouse inside the house that was built for convenance.  It thought that made for plenty of sense especially in the winter time. 

By the way, the real estate agent who sold them this homestead was Horaito Haney.  And his partner, Arnold, thought this was a real great place to live.  Did Nick nd Bob bring the bacon home on this deal? 

Tiny’s Bait Shop

I’ve always wanted to write a post about Tiny’s Bait Shop ever since I first heard of it.  However, there was nothing significant about it on the Internet so I am most glad that Don Clodfelter took a picture of it for us.  It was something that was needed to complete our site with something it had lacked.  Plus, it is one place where people can purchase the books of Ann Louise Chase who has written extensively about the history of the greater Big Bass Lake area.

As for Tiny’s itself, outside of Ms Chase’s books and bait, what else is sold there?  Is it similar to a general store?  For those that have been there let us know by way of a comment.  Also, is it open year round?  And, is Tiny really tiny?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Was Bloody Run Creek Really McCarthy Creek?

On December 13, 1911, a logging train was sitting fully loaded and the conductor told the head of the crew that the hill was too steep and icy to move because of an ice storm the night before. The conductor told him to stop worrying and get moving. He did as told.  I would think that an engineer would have better information than a conductor on the status and safety of a track.  It should have been up to the engineer on whether to proceed or not and not at the whims of a ticket taker.

When the train began to move down the hill almost instantly it began to slip. Suddenly the train hit an icy spot and began to slide uncontrollably down the hill. At the bottom of the hill was a curve and the moment the train hit the curve it derailed and hit the dirt causing the cars, loaded with logs and the men sitting on them to launch into the air. A “creek”, which was really a small river, was just around the curve was less than 100 feet away. The only witness said he could see the wheels, logs. cars, coupling pins-and the mangled bodies of the log-watchers raining down into the river. Now some say from time to time, a red fog can be seen in the water of a creek called Bloody Run.

Now was this “creek” a river or not?  No one knows for sure just what the original name of that stream was so perhaps it was McCarthy Creek?  That creek is found in the place where the crash was said to have occurred which was in Peacock,Michigan, and within the boundaries of SaubleTownship.  So just maybe it was McCarthy Creek all the time?  Oh, and there is NO Bloody Run Creek in Lake County anyway so I think that Bloody Run was only a temporary nickname to describe what happened there.  Make sense? 

A Grumpy Boat by Roe Boate

I just don’t get no respect!  After years of faithful service to my owner, he dumps me here in this graveyard to rot alongside these other relics.  For decades I took him all over Big Bass Lake with his stinking bait fouling up my person.  And, was he grateful enough to patch up a few of my leaks?  No, the cheapstake couldn’t afford that but he could afford worms. 

No wonder I aged so fast what with my creaky oar locks.  A drop of oil or two would have prevented that but that old skinflint owner of mine chose beer over helping out my creaky joints.  Add to that of having his posterior on me continually was more than I could bear.  So what if I gave him a few splinters in his bottom over the years.  Was hat enough to justify him dumping me here to let the worms rot away my frame? 

That guy never even covered me when it rained so that  I nearly drowned when I filled up with water at those times.  What did he think I was?  A cold tub?  He even left me on shore during the winter and then wondered why I began shriveling up!  Froze up was more to the point. 

And do you think I ever got a new paint job?  NOT!  And so I wind up here along with all these other old timers.  If I had the chance I’d like to take out one of my oars and paddle the daylights out of my owner.  I gave him the best years of my life and then he replaces me with that shiny speed boat.  You would have thought that he would have liked the exercise I provided him that he’d have had to pay for at some health club.  Yeah, I heard that some of my contemporaries wind up in those places as rowing machines.  Lucky stiffs!  Instead I wind up being a stiff at this graveyard.  I just don’t get no respect!

Shallow Wolf Lake

About five miles north of Baldwin, Michigan, on M-37 is a S-shaped curve that is known as Wolf Lake, Michigan.  No, you won’t be slowed in your travels by even a yellow caution light so if you blink hard you just might miss this community.  It does have a rather famous motel complete with a swimming pool in front of it plus some cottages near the lake.  I’ve often wondered why a Michigan lake would have a pool at their motel?

Maybe it’s because Wolf Lake is only seven feet deep at its deepest and since it is a rather large lake, that does seem very unusual to me.  I’ve seen maps that tell me that and its hard to believe that any Lake County lake could be that shallow throughout. 

A few years back I did stop by the motel for a chat with its owners and was dumbfounded to learn that the busiest time of their year was winter.  Yet it still bothers me that a motel would have a pool when they have a lake?  Maybe its more of a fishing lake over that of a swimming one?  Any other observations out there about Wolf Lake?

Faith Fellowship Church at Big Bass Lake

Just off the southeast shore of Big Bass Lake is this relativity new church called Faith Fellowship.  It is just north of the softball field on 8 Mile Road.  From the church you have an excellent view of the lake and the small island Grandma’s Hat.  Less than a half mile from the church is Lakeview Cemetary.   The church has only just recently had a change in its senior pastor position.  For those residents of the lake they now have a church building that saves them a trip to nearby Irons where both a Catholic and Protestant church are located.

Does anyone that reads our website attend this church and, if so, can you please leave a comment about this church?  I would take it that it is a non-denominational church.  Oh, and the area circled in black is where the church is in relation to Big Bass Lake-

Does anyone know the pastor’s name?  Do they have an organ or piano or do they play instrumental music? 

And, how long has this church been in existence?  How many members do they have?  From the photograph, it appears to be a fairly large church.

And remember, “This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it!”  I’m now quite sure that the residents of this area are VERY glad to have a church right in their own backyard.

 

The Elk Township Hall Fiasco

Even the Big Bass Lake area can have its collective “fill” of politics for the building that you see hee was the focus of government misuse of funds.  The old township board recently spent a great deal of taxpayer money to do surveys on whether or not this building should be replaced.  They dd a great deal of this in secret.  What was eventually found out was that basically there was little wrong with this building and it did not need to be replaced.

The board members in question had acted presumptuously and without public support and they were recently replaced.  One would think that elected officials would do the will of the people but  I suppose that the former board members were looking at the examples of our leaders in Washington DC for their misguided actions.  No one in their right minds should follow that kind of example. 

Yet now the Elk Township Board seems to be again in good hands.  Maybe now the will of the people of that area will be done for the benefit of all?!

Looking South on Big Bass Lake Road

This picture was taken just past the intersection where Luke’s Corner Store used to be found.  In the far distance would be Matson’s Road to the left just as Big Bass Lake makes a turn to the west.  Until then, all along this road are venue points to the North side of Big Bass Lake to your left. 

When Big Bass Lake Road makes that turn to the west, our former property began on the left side of the road all the way to the Public Landing.  It was largely forest land until just past Noreika Road (named after my grandparents) where the scenery then turns to farm land. 

One can make out Big Bass Lake barely at Matson’s Road and then again after Big Bass Lake Road makes a turn to the east just before the Public Landing.  In the 1950′s this was a dirt road but now its fully paved all the way around the lake. 

The K&K General Store Fire Sale Bargain Gasoline

If you want to get a good gasoline bargain, head out to the K&K near Big Bass Lake where the sign says $1.72 per gallon.  Of course, that was the going price about two years ago and that is the last time the K&K was in business due to a suspicious fire that no one seems to know how it got set!  This is just another in a long line of area general stores being put out of business.

Preceding it were the Big Bass Lake Store and the Sauble Lake Emporium.  The lone one left standing would be Larry Bender’ General Store and it is no secret how he wanted the Big Bass Lake Store to go out of business.  When that store ceased operations it also began an era with no gasoline at all being sold directly on Big Bass Lake.

Maybe one of our readers would care to let us know a little bit more about the K&K.  Was this the one located in close proximity to Harper Lake?  Also are there any speculations as to just how that fire got started?  Leave us a comment with your thoughts!  By the way, this photograph came through the lens of Don Clodfelter. 

A Day at the Big Bass Lake School

At one time this was the Big Bass Lake School that my father and his sisters attended and today it serves as the Sauble Township Hall. My dad and his brothers and sisters had just over a mile walk to the school each day as there were no school buses in that era. Their teacher usually arrived about an hour before the kids and had to draw water from the well for drinking purposes that day and also to stoke the fire to keep the room warm.

Bible readings from the teacher usually began the day. In this area the teacher had their work cut out for them as it was a mix of English and Lithuanian children. I know at my dads house the children were not permitted to speak English even though they were learning it at school. Only their native language was allowed as that is all my grandparents knew.

Class would then begin. As the day progressed each class was called to the “recitation” bench. There the teacher worked exclusively with those children for a period, while the other students busied themselves studying or doing an assigned lesson. Normally there was a brief morning recess of about fifteen minutes, followed by more classes, and then an hour for lunch. The afternoon was spent much like the morning with classes and a short recess.

Every subject was studied in that one room. This school is located right down the block from the Big Bass Lake store and very close to the area softball field today. It is still standing.   On their eay home from school, some kids might have stopped off at the Big Bass Lake store for some things for their parents. 

How about a dozen eggs for 18 cents?  Or bread for eight cents a loaf?  Or pork and beans at five cents a can?  Hot dogs could be bought for eight cents a pound.  And you could get four cans of Campbell’s Tomato Soup for a quarter!  Of course most area farms were nearly self sufficient but how’d you like to find those prices today?

What Is Your Favorite Lake?

“Your” Memories of Big Bass Lake- Part Seven

This was our annual vacation resort for years – relatives still return each year.
My grandfather came here as a child, so did my dad, so did we.
This is some of what I remember from the last 50 years …

A quiet lake and beautiful surrounding, but sand everywhere.
Cabins before they had hot water or heat
The YMCA camp and hearing Day is Done played every night
Seeing the amazing, beautiful stars; like the milky way and southern lights while fishing at night
That Otto lived in the house next to the Realty Place, next to the store
That Dinty Moore lived in a house on the lake in the summer and drove to Florida for the winters
The Benders owned/operated the Na-Tah-KA
The roller skating rink on Loon Lake that lit up the area on Friday nights
Spiders as big as the center line in the street
The fish bait place past Otto’s (to get minnows you used for catching large pike-like my little sister caught on her bamboo pole)
Martin Cass’s cabins and the fish head tree that was next to the Bass Lake Store
Crappies were everywhere and easily caught
Leaded gas pumps on the dock at the store
It is nice to remember some things about the good old days.  Marsha

“Your” Memories of Big Bass Lake- Part Six

Oh My Goodness, people! This is fabulous. I have been coming to BBL since I was born in 1952. My grandparents were Jack and Carrie (Matson) Woolsey…so yep, I’m one of those Matson’s…sort of!!! Everything that you’re all talking about ignites a spot in my heart….and I’m looking out at the lake as we speak!!!! It’s cloudy and rainy and we are expecting snow on Sunday!! I am one of the fortunate ones whose dream came true and I live here now all the time.
The roller rink, Mr. Cass, BBL Store (which is still vacant and crumbling) was also owned by my grandma and grandpa for a little while! The Fun Spot. I sure wish it was here now because I bowl with the ladies on Tuesday’s and we have to go all the way to Baldwin.
Grandma and Grandpa Woolsey used to rent cottages on the SE end of the lake. I don’t know the years, only that it was a long time ago. My Mother, Winnifred (Woolsey) Larkin and her sister Suzanne (Woolsey) Aupperlee inherited the cottages. Suzanne is alive and well and lives here full time. She will be 88 in December and still bowling!! My Mom, Winnifred, passed away in 1994 (as did my Dad) and I inherited their place. In 1995, I sold Mother’s place to my cousin, Karen Aupperlee, and we built the little red cottage next door to it. Trying hard to keep it “all in the family”.
I too was broken hearted with the sale of CMJ and the public access coming in. I would still lead a raid to blow it up, if any of you are willing!!!! (Kidding of course.)
The loons are still my favorite thing. We have geese and sand hill cranes too. Can’t forget Henry the blue heron. All such warm spots in my heart from growing up here.
I specifically remember a time when a Matson cousin and I decided to travel the channel to LBL. We had our V-bottom boat and no mosquito spray. (We did have lunch, I think.) It took us ALL day to get over there!!! Then, I remember being freaked out about all the octopus all over the bottom of the shallow part by the opening….of course they were tree stumps, but what did we know?
Does anyone remember when Natalie Cole was a counselor at CMJ and her famous Dad, Nat King Cole visited her? I know that he sang over the PA system, and I thought it was the “Lord’s Prayer,” but I don’t know for sure. I loved listening to taps every night and I loved waving to all the kids on the 7 or 8 busses when they were coming to or going home from camp!!!!
Martin Johnson’s house has been moved to Skinner Park in Irons and is a museum. Talk about memories…we all went into it through the basement and oohed and ahhed over the paintings and taxidermies things. We never ever hurt or took anything, but others did. Almost all if it is gone, but the museum has many articles that are, at least, of the same time period!!!
I have to stop talking! I could go on forever…I have letters that I sent to my folks from a trip out west in 1969 (I was 17). I told them horridly about all that we were doing and seeing, but the last several lines were about BBL. Can we please go up the minute we get back, what boys have stopped over while I’ve been gone, what’s everybody been doing? Mostly…how soon are we going up North after I get home???? It certainly is the most unforgettable place I’ve ever known!!!!  Pisha Larkin Bishop

Thanks Dave! Great pictures! Great memories. !
My aunt & uncles cottage is near the old Peacock Resort. At the time it was run by Lori Wack and her partner Rosie. They had a farm there as well and cared for injured wildlife. My brothers & I were regular visitors over there. We loved hanging around with Lori & Rosie and all of the animals. It is kind of funny. Through all of the posts I have read I haven’t seen any mention of John Ruby. He owned so much of the property up there at the time. The farm across from the Bartletts store belonged to Ruby as well.  Judy Disclafani – Rosenblum

“Your” Memories of Big Bass Lake- Part Four

Wow, it was fun reading this, my parents purchased one of the cottages that was part of the Old Homestead Resort in 1960 and it has been in the family ever since. I remember the camp, the roller rink and the fun spot. I spent many a weekend there. I can remember raiding the YMCA camp a couple times a year as a teen. I remember Luke’s corner, we used to walk up there all of the time – I think it was a relief for our parents to get rid of us for awhile.

I’ve been told by the previous owners, the Jones Family, who have a rich history in the area that President Ford and his family used to stay in our cottage (of course, this was a long, long time ago. Cheri Spencer

 LOL I remember the “Fun Spot” too, it was a “fun Spot” for myself and my friends in the mid 60’s to go. We lived in Freesoil and there wasn’t much there so we would beg a ride from our neighbor, who was 14 with no drivers license who drove us over to Irons in his dads truck and we would skate and just hang out over there. I actually did move to Irons, on Midget lake, on 12 mile (county line rd) after I retired and only moved to CA because of the weather, I just can’t take Michwinters anymore! LOL Patrick

I used to visit both the Fun Spot and the Loon Lake Pavilion in the early 70’s too when staying with family friends on LoonLake. In 1986 my husband and I bought a small cottage on LoonLakeand are now building a new home there. The Fun Spot was still around but the Loon Lake Pavilion was gone. I wish my kids could have skated there! It’s nice to read the history of the Loon & BigBassLakesarea. Mary Anne Nugent

 Also, remember the Loon Lake Roller Skating Pavilion around the corner from Na-Tah-Kah? Would also love to get some pictures of that place.  I used to visit the Fun Spot a lot as a kid. It closed I believe in the late 70’s. Ditto on the photographs. I have been searching high and low for them. Michelle Olmstead

My family (my dad, 2 aunts with spouses and 2 uncles with spouses) started rented from Mr. Kass next to the store in the fifties and sixties. Later from Dinty Moore and countless others until the late seventies. I continued going from the eighties until present. My nephew and his family will rent from John Baldiga, August 18-22. I remember the Brown twins and of coarse Jon Holmes skiing at dusk. I learned to roller skate there. I remember Stu at the camp. My sister Hazel and her girlfriend Carol were their age and always looked forward to seeing them; The Fongers from SpringLakehad a cottage there. We live in SpringLakeand even though I grew up here, the lake is no comparison to BBL.  Alan Garter

I was just searching the web to see if I could find pictures of Big Bass Lake & Irons to show my husband. He hears all of the stories about all the good time we has growing up and going to my aunt & uncles cottage on BigBassLake. I have not been back there for a while though my family still does and they still have the same cottage. My cousin Dave Waters moved up there to Irons. Unfortunately he passed away a few years ago. I remember taking a row boat up to Ottos store and passing under the bridge. We also took drinks of water from the pump outside the store and everyone drank from the same tin cup that was attached to the pump on a string. I used to love the hamburgers from Na Ta Kah’s. I also learned to skate and the skating rink there. I remember the neon lights that surrounded the eves of the roofs off both the general store and the rink. I have so many memories…. One that sticks out was a young boy fishing on the lake got a fishing hook in his finger. He was out there by himself and crying. My dad rowed out to him and got the hook out. Years later my father broke down on the road and two young men pulled up to help him. My dad tried to give them some money and the guys said no that’s ok. My dad then asked their names. The one had a name ( Can’t remember) that caught my dads attention. My dad said I took a hook out of a little boy’s finger one time that had the same name. The guy then finished my dad’s sentence telling him exactly on the lake where it was and that it was him who had the hook in his finger. He again thanked my dad for taking care of him that day. One day I will take my husband so he can see. Judy Disclafani – Rosenblum

“Your” Memories of Big Bass Lake- Part Three

My own history of Loon Lake Skating Rink was that my uncle Al Dumas had a band that played there in probably the 1930’s. My uncle Everett played the banjo. I would assume this was on weekends. My husband says it was a dance place at that time. Shar Bartlett

I worked at CMJ 1956-1961 as counselor, water ski instructor, and out of camp director. Jerry Broadway was our boss. The best boss I had my entire life. How could anyone forget the Loon Lake Roller Rink and Big Bass Lake Store? We use to take our campers to both places as activates. After hours, the camp staff not on duty use to go there for great fun and roller skating. The gals from all around including BassLakeand WolfLakeuse to show up in their short shorts. We all learned the Congo, two step, and couples skate. What fun. Bay Andreas

My husband Bruce worked with his Dad Otto and Mom Ruth at the Bass Lake Store that Otto built in the 1920’s. The couple lived in an apartment that was then part of the little store. Ottos father Robert Henry Bartlett and his wife Abbie owned a grocery store in Peacock, MI His Aunt Katie Bartlett ran a hotel and restaurant also in Peacock. Edwin one of Robert’s brothers owned a sawmill on the SableRiver, which was later sold to Zahn Tuckey’s son. Shar Bartlett

MY FATHER STARTED BRINGING OUR FAMILY TO BIG BASSLAKEINTHE FIFTIES. MY FONDEST MEMORIES ARE OF THE STORE AND ROLLER RINK. WE FIRST STARTED RENTING FROM MR CASS NEXT TO THE STORE. MY FATHER WOULD BRING AN INFLATABLE APPLE AND HANG IT FROM THE TREE TO LET FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW WE WERE THERE. MADE MANY FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS (MY MOTHER AND FATHER WOULD VISIT THE HARTS OFTEN, MANY TIMES IN GRAND HAVEN ON THEIR WAY TO THE COTTAGE ) I REMEMBER THE TWIN BOYS RON AND DON BROWN AND THE BALDIGAS AND JOHN HOLMES BAREFOOT SKIING IN THE EVENING WHAT A SHOW!!! THE ROLLER RINK WAS MY FAVORITE. Alan Garter

I remember Otto Bartlet. When I was just a little girl, we would go to the store quite often. My sister, Doris Ault,[called Dodo] was a friend of Dixies.We stayed summers with my grandparents John and Gertrude Matson on the lake. Dorispassed away a year ago. But before she died she told me that she had talked to Dixiea couple of years earlier. Bruce and Dixiewere a little younger than me. I remember the roller rink also. I was married in 1949; we came up to my grandma’s cottage on our honeymoon. We purchased a little Brownie camera from Otto’s store to take pictures. We paid $4.98 for the camera, which we still have. We retired on BigBassLake25 years ago and live next door to my grandma’s cottage. Of course grandma is gone now but she lived to be 105 years old. Barbara Ault Hart

I go back a very, very long way. Back to the 1950’s, (Otto – white Mustache and all). I remember Otto turning the crank on a 55 gallon barrel to deliver pre-mixed 2 cycle fuel for our 1/4 HP Evenrude outboard. (You could row faster than that thing would propel that old row boat). )

Sure wish the environmental could be solved/resolved. What a shame that that piece of history is languishing. The last time I was there back in the 1990’s the Bass Lake Store was still open.

Hello to the Fords, and to the people that still remember Burton Jones who owned the Old Homestead Resort. We stayed at Cabin #10 for about

Fifteen years or more during the 1950′ and 1960’s. We would walk down the road to “Lukes” for a Dad’s Old Fashioned Root Beer. I wanted to live there onBigBassLakefor the rest of my life.

Those were, truly the days! Fondly remembering “Chip” and the wonderful times we had.  Fred Gilbert

I just learned about this web sit and appreciate all the hard work that has gone into this site. I am the great grandson of John and Gertrude Matson of the John Matson resort, descendants of Anton Matson. My mother Barbara Hart has been doing genealogy on the Matsons and bass lake for years. I have been at the lake since 1954 and remember waking up every morning by the bugle from camp Martin Johnson. What a great place to grow up. Don Hart

This is so interesting. My grandma lives on big bass and loves genealogy. I am somehow related to the Matson’s. Oh my grandma would love to see this so much I’m going to tell her about it. Lauren

WOW its great remembering all the fun on BigBassLakemy family at a cottage on the North West sideof the lake up the hill from the Jones’s place. Unfortunately I have only been back a couple times in the last 20 years but I am going back this summer. My cousin and I would spend 2 weeks every summer with my grandparents and walk all the way from our place by Lukes to BigBassLakestore just to call home to our parents. On one of my return visits about 8 years ago I stopped by the old cottage and the new owners were there while talking to them they started asking me about hand prints in the concrete retaining wall and this block of cement that they had kept with two hand prints in it, the block had my hand print in it from when I was about 8 I am 42 know and it is in my landscape. Mike Roskamp

I too have many wonder full memories of the skating rink. Its smells (usually of the family of skunks under it, but it was all good) the music, the lights reflecting off the lake, not to mention the sounds of the bullfrogs on the walk home. And yes the fun spot, going there was a treat as well as the homemade ice cream at SaubleLakestore. Those were the days. Anne Kemp

Oh, I remember the Loon Lake Pavilion skating rink. I only went there once – couldn’t skate. But I loved listening to the music from across the lake sitting on and aunt & uncle’s deck. Long time ago. I still can’t skate. But I sure have fond memories of the area.  Cindy vanderPeyl

“Your” Memories of Big Bass Lake- Part Two

TheFourWindsIslandis currently owned by my dad’s parents and my dad’s uncle and aunt  There are 6 buildings on the island from the original YMCA camp  The Main cabin, biggest building on the Island, shower/red cabin( whole wall used to be all screens with lifting shutters. 2 small cabins one on top of a hill and the other at low spot on the island, and the bunk house. Many campers/counselors names from the late 1970’s still cover the ceilings and walls. Luke Lidgard

 I remember (years ago) my brother and I would take the rowboat from the North Shore of Bass Lakeand row to the general store. We would try to go early in the morning to get the homemade cinnamon rolls; the aroma as you entered the store would overwhelm you. In the front room (facing the lake) was a round table for the regulars to drink their coffee and talk about fishing. The old store was just a classic. Don Clodfelter

 There are about 40 cottages on Little Bass Lake. The NE portion of the lake is populated the least. Most of the west side is full of cottages. The lake is fantastic for swimming. Very clean and refreshing. I swam off my dock on Tuesday morning. Visibility for snorkel is about 15′ and the temp now is in the low 70’s. There are very few speedboats on the lake. Don

 We hit the road, all 7 of us, to vacation at Businger’s cottage on BigBassLake. We made the trip in the row boat down the channel to Little Bass Lake. We vacationed there from approximately 1953 to 1960. We swam; water skied, fished and went on local adventures near there. We went low bush blueberry picking, saw deer and went on outings to Manistee & Ludington. We had such a good time those years. My Father would always take a book to read while sitting on the screen in porch watching us swim off the dock. Helen

 Another resort by the name of Dinty Moore’s was built on the northwest shore ofBigBassLake. It is said that the Old Homestead still stands at the North end ofBigBassLake. Part of the family that owned the Dinty Moore resort constructed a store and gas station which was later sold to E H Lucas who expanded the project and Luke’s Country Store was the outcome. Later under new ownership it turned into the better known name of Luke’s Corner.

DintyMoorewas my Great Uncle by marriage to my Great Aunt Theo Moore (Wolf). They have a very rich history in this area. I will soon own the place on Big Bass where they spent their last years. Dinty passed away in the house where he loved to be. I have going toBassLakesince I was a child and remember the Camp when it was still in operation.

And yes, I remember “The Fun Spot” I had the chance to bowl there once back in the late 80s before it burned down. I can still hear the old air driven pin reseter they had. Kent

 I have many happy memories ofBigBassLakeand the store from back in the ’60s. My grandfather used to go toBigBassLaketwice a year, once in the spring with his buddies and again in late summer with the family. When I turned 10, I got to go with the men in the spring! We stayed at the rental cabins adjoining the store. I don’t remember the resort’s name or the proprieters, after all it’s been over 40 years.

My Grandpa would take me along when he’d navigate the channel to fish Little Bass Lake. It was a big adventure to me.Grampa would stand up and pole the boat through the shallow channel. Just like the “African Queen”. As I recall Little Bass Lake had a lot of turtles.

As I recall, Otto was a smiling little man with a fringe of white hair. He always wore a crisp white shirt and a bow tie. He had a daughter named Dixie. I bought a lot of comic books from Otto over the course of the years we vacationed at BigBassLake. John Akers

My parents rented a cottage across the lake from the roller rink every summer for 10 years. We would go there often. When it was time for bed, the music lulled us to sleep on hot nights. The lights would glow on the lake. For a kid, this was a magical place. I was saddened to hear that it was no longer there. It is like a part of our past has disappeared. Diane Hagen

 Does anyone remember “The Fun Spot”? It was a bowling alley on Peacock rd. I remember the alleys were a little warped, but it was a lot of fun. Becky Schulte

 I have a cottage on the SW side of Little Bass. Most of the Lakeis about 30′, however the East side is over 40 close to 50′ in one spot. There are big pike in this spring fed lake, but hard to catch. It’s a very clean and nice lake. Don

 My grandparents, Edwin Stanley and Grace Bartlett owned 350 acres in theManisteeNational Forestwith a cabin my Dad built during the Depression and an old burned cabin site. Brookwood was the name of the acreage, the entrance was through Peacock. McCarty Creek ran through our acreage.

We spent many times at Big Bass Lake Store which was owned by my (great)-Uncle Otto and also at his home which was nearby on the lake. In fact at 3 I almost drowned in that lake!

Thanks so much for the photos- of the store and the area- it brought back a rush of very happy memories!

My Dad’s Uncle and cousins built many cabins in theBigBassLakearea as well. At one time a great aunt, great great grandmother and great uncle also ran a boarding house in Peacock and they had the post office there for awhile.

Do you remember any of the other stories about the area- such as Bloody Run?

Dawn Bartlett Kroma  (You can read more of Dawn’s experiences under the category “Brookwood” on the Sidebar)

“Your” Memories of Big Bass Lake- Part One

This new series will highlight various people’s memories of their experiences on Big Bass Lake.  Enjoy!

BigBassLakewas always my home away from home. I lived near Gary Indiana and visited my grandpa and grandma Matson every summer. I spent many a summer vacations with them. They had a home and two cottages close by the water, so I did allot of swimming. I remember helping them clean cottages. They were rented out through the week and sometimes just on the week ends. Many of the same people came back year after year. As time pasted and I got older, I still came up every summer. I was married the same year that my grandfather died in 1949. My husband took over my grandpa’s chores, cleaning cottages, repairing the wooden boats and painting them. As our family grew we continued coming up through the summer months. My six sons were raised on this lake as I was. All of my boys are married and have families of there own. Three of them have cottages on or near the lake. My husband and I have been retired on this beautiful lake for twenty five years. I have been so privileged to buy ice cream cones at Otto’s store, Skate at the roller rink, enjoy eating at Na-tah-ka tavern. I also was here to enjoy the red canoes and white sail boats from camp Martin Johnson. I am fortunate to be part of the history of the lake.  Barbara Hart

 I with spouses went on four winds Oct. 30, 08. The owners were gone for the season as the only way to the island is obviously by boat. There are 4 cabins on the island, all original to the camp. Nothing new has been built and those cabins have not been renovated or changed in any way. They look exactly the same as 1959 when I was on the island last. Ed is right when he says the island is about 200 hundred feet by water to the camp shore. TurtleIslandjust to its north is smaller and uninhabited. A sign on the approach states that it part of the ManisteeNational Forest. Since it quite small and can’t be built on no one wanted it. But we see tents pitched on it all the time. What a great place for kids to hang out. Shirley De Vries

 This is the yellow cottage my aunt and Uncle stayed in on the northwest bayof Big Bassfrom 1959 to 1967. It was a part of Hansen’s Resort. The road led behind it to our cottage, an OLD log style cottage called Four Oaks”. Up the hill behind this cottage were four other cottages. Two were stained and varnished logs. Next was a red log style cottage and next to that a newer but small sided cottage that is still there but has added a deck. The cottage we stayed in has been torn down and replaced with a three story summer home. Also the road to our cottage behind the one in this picture is gone. Amazingly this cottage is still there but now is painted dark brown. I saw “our” cottage last in summer of 1994 and the owners allowed me to come in since they told me that it was to be torn down. It looked the same! Other than they added a shower to the bathroom. Shirley De Vries

My grandfather. E S Bartlett, told me that HauntedIslandwas a sacred Indian burial ground and had been disrespected when people built cabins there. I thought the boys from the camp told each other the legends of that, but it doesn’t sound like those stories have survived. Grandfather always felt it was important to respect those burial mounds, every bit as much as you would our own cemeteries. Sylvia Mohr Bartlett

 Our cabin was the one directly behind you from where you took this picture. It is up on the hill. The bridge used to be wooden. I remember when they tore it down and put the concrete one up that is there now…I felt like something special was taken from me. We used to play on the bridge. I once did an oil painting of that bridge and gave it to my grandmother…I wonder what ever happened to it.

I do remember my grandmother calling that Island Tiny Tim, now that you mention it. I have only been back to the lake once since they put in public access. I cried when I saw how it has changed and how crowded and full of speed boats it was. When I was growing up very few people had speed boats. We had one and a couple other people did too. Janine

 My family rented a cottage on the North Westbay since 1958 thru 1968. We stayed at a place called Hansen’s resort whi8ch included 6 cottages on that north shore. Ours was the furthest east, an OLD log cabin type cottage called four oaks. The cottage was torn down in 1995 and replaced with a 3 story and the oaks are down to 2. Only two of the originals remain a brown log cabin right on the water and a small white cottage that was next to ours. Shirley De Vries

 Our Cottage was the first log cabin that sat up on the hill, across from the bridge, next to Waitt’s house. When my grandparents retired up there they painted the cabin light yellow. It broke my heart as I always loved the natural look of the logs. We had a fairly large amount of land surrounding us that my grandparents later sold off and a cabin was built on the north side of ours and another between ours and Waitts. We had three piers. One for swimming that was on the far right facing out towards the lake and 2 to the left that was for fishing. We hauled in sand for the swimming area. We were there in the 50’s- to the 70’s. I used to swim across the lake to the other side and back, but not as far as you are. Closer to the bridge. I spent many hours on that bridge, also swimming off HatIslandas well as fishing in a boat off Matson’s Island. That’s where you could find all the perch. There was not a public access at that time. The deer would walk across the lake in the winter when it was frozen. Janine

 The smallest island in BigBassLake. The island is still there, but the tree is now down. It is now the home of a family of loons. I’m not sure if it is the same birds, but they have been nesting here in the spring for several years. The loon parents can be seen and heard throughout the summer as they raise their babies. This year they have two, and they are almost full grown. Janice Vander Wal

 There were five islands when I was a kid= Four winds, Turtle. Loon. Big and Haunted Island. I remember going on haunted island at nine years old( 1959] the house was black and scary. My brother climbed the stairs and fell thru at the top to the lower floor. Shirley De Vries

“Your” Memories of Big Bass Lake- Part Five

Well, my first day at BBL was when I was 2 days old, according to my mom. I am now 14, and have been up to the lake almost every weekend, my whole life! My grandpa, Burton Jones, owned the Homestead Resort, and the lake has been home to my family since forever. I love coming to the lake from the city every week and seeing everybody. I’ll never forget all my time I have spent with my mom and aunts swimming and boating on the lake. Century rides are always a treat, and of course, the best! (: And all the fun time spent at Baldiga’s cabin, with all the “toys”. BBL, is and will always be home for me.  Taylor Jones

I have been coming to BigBassLakesince I was born also. That was 1946! My mom and her family moved to this area in the early 1900′s. My grandparents were Herschel and Gertrude Stephens. They lived on several different lakes in the area, and finally settled into the Barr house on LoonLake. It was a boarding house back then and my grandparents ran it. It was located where the trailer park is now on LoonLake. My grandpa acted as a fishing guide and grandma was the cook and cleaning lady. My mom, Naomi, attended BassLakeSchoolwith Otto Bartlett, Clyde Waite, Frank Bemish and Mandy Evans. At the age of 12, she actually substitute taught school for Mable Barr who was the teacher back then. The Stephens family eventually moved to LakeOdessawhere after graduating WesternMichiganNormal school, she started teaching in a rural country school where she met my dad, Wilbur Neeb. When she and my dad married in 1931, my grandparents brought them to BBL for a Sunday picnic. My dad, an avid fisherman, fell in love with BBL and vowed to one day have a home here.
For many years we stayed at the Buesinger’s little log cottage with the screened front porch, at the far north end of BBL. It is now painted dark brown. The white cottage to the left of it was the home of Mr. & Mrs. Buesinger. When we stayed there it still had an ice box rather than a refrigerator! That place had the best beach and clean water for swimming. The Buesingers were wonderful people that made me feel like one of their own grandchildren. We had some really great fish fries for supper with huge bluegills my dad caught on BBL. He would row all over the lake all the way to Otto’s store and back. I don’t even remember speed boats back in those days on this lake.
Some weekends we would rent the lot next door to Otto’s store and either stay in a tent or just sleep in the car. We would also rent a boat from Otto. In those days I would save my small allowance and buy a movie magazine and possibly a small ceramic nic nac or a picture post card from Otto, Ruth, Dixie or Bruce. They were all so nice and friendly. Dixie Bartlett was my idea of a perfect, beautiful woman. When Clyde Waite started developing the “Isle o’ the Wilds” my mom and dad bought a lot from him and hired him to build a home on the lot after they cleared the land. It was completed in 1954 and it is now my husband’s and my retirement home. We do spend our winters in Florida, but Big Bass Lake is always in our hearts and we continue spending our summers here. It is the best place in the world and the only thing that would make it better is to have the public launch site close and the camp re-open! A new Fun Spot would be most welcome also. That’s where I learned to bowl and Loon Lake Roller Pavilion is where I tried but never learned to roller skate. Also remember attending the Hunter’s Ball there a few times.
Luke’s Corner Store was another wonderland of enchantment. You could always find anything and everything you could possibly need at that store. They even had a paperback lending library for a time.
John Wilson’s Bass Lake Store was great because of those awesome cinnamon rolls and the hand-dipped ice cream cones which John hated to dip. My husband Jim always planned his ice cream cone purchase to time with when John was in the store by himself and had to dip the cone! So many wonderful memories!  Patricia McArthur

 

Big Bass Lake Resort

This is an old picture of a resort on the north side of Big Bass Lake. I know nothing about this so that I hope our audience might know something about it? Let us know by way of a comment.

I know that there have been a couple of resorts on Big Bass Lake, chief among them Dinty Moore’s Resort on the north end of the lake and The Peacock Resort on the southwest side of the lake. Let us know if other resorts existed over the course of time at Big Bass Lake.

Don Clodfelter sent us this picture.

Did Your Rowboat Wind Up Here?

I can almost hear the faint sound of taps in the background as I view these old boats.  I wonder what adventures they could each tell us about during their younger years on Big Bass Lake.  I wonder if our ol rowboat is here?  It sure was a comical adventure getting it from our pier to the Big Bass Lake Public Landing about a hundred yards away.

Comical because our boat was old and water laiden and the trip via a pontoon boat saw the heavy old rowboat almost sink several times enroute to that landing.  I know whereever that old boat is today it sure served us well over the years.  Perhaps its here in this boat “cemetary”?

Does anyone know exactly where this boat graveyard is located?  And what is the purpose for such a place?  Let us know by way of a comment.