Day: September 27, 2019
NeverEnding Canoe Trip
On two separate trips to Lake County, Michigan, the Marion YMCA had undertaken both a canoe trip on the Pere Marquette River plus a camping trip to our property. And, on this particular day, the two were about to meet up when originally that was not supposed to be the case.
The canoe YMCA leader has greatly underestimated the complexity of the river system of the Pere Marquette. Having put in at Baldwin, Michigan, they had set off for what they thought was to be a 30 mile jaunt to Lake Michigan. They were soon to find out that the Pere Marquette had some obstacles and curves they were not expecting. Sometimes to go just one straight mile on that river covers four actual miles with all the twists and turns such as the one you see in my photograph. That is called getting nowhere NONE TO FAST!
My group of kids were on an off property trip to the Branch area of the Pere Marquette River both wading, fishing, and even catching a gigantic turtle. This was on the fourth, and final day, of the other YMCA canoe trip. Their leader had thought they would be at Lake Michigan by that time. So to both our mutual surprise, they wound up getting to the Branch area the same time we were there which is not even the halfway point to Lake Michigan.
They were amazed as to how little they had progressed over their four days as they were almost out of food. They docked there and I went to a phone to call their livery service to come and pick them up at the Branch location. The 30 miles they were counting on and misjudged was the cost of the cancellation of the remainder of their trip. They had needed to return to Marion, Indiana, at the conclusion of their four-day journey.
Two hours later they were picked up by the livery service for a return trip o Baldwin and their vehicle. However, my boys were only at the midpoint of their trip so as they waved good-bye to their friends, their trip continued on with even more fun for the rest of that day at the Pere Marquette River.
Spectacular Sunrise
One thing I’ve always enjoyed about Ludington and that is on how photographic the area has become. From the many pictures of its main attraction, the breakwater Lighthouse, to the prestine downtown area, Ludington is a photographers heaven. This scene is a classic as you find a sunrise over a nearby lake highlighting the snowpack and ice.
I could just sit in this locale all day with beauty like this. There should have been another shot at sunset. Have you ever wanted to just jump nto a photograph? If so, this is one that you would, that is, if you were propertly attired as in a parka. It may be beautiful but it is still cold.
Sometimes I wonder why Darlene and I never moved to Ludington itself. In the summer the population nearly doubles with all the tourists and that is probably why we have stayed near Scottville. It’s quaintness is what I enjoy about it not to mention that it’s also so close to the Manistee National Forest. But Ludington has Lake Michigan and so much more. If you’re ever in the area, take it all in as you won’t regret it.
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?
A Tribute to the Kitchen Boys of ULBC Camp
An oft neglected group of young men at the ULBC Camp in Salem, Wisconsin, were the kitchen boys. Yet I really appreciated them during my stay as a counselor in 1970 because I enjoyed eating. The camp dining hll had great food and a fun atmosphere. I remember the cook at the camp as a portly woman with a fondness for her staff.
The kitchen boys did dishes, cleaned up after meals, set the tables, hauled out trash, and probably did other things related to the dining hall that none of us knew at the time. In return I often saw them at the waterfront enjoying their time off.
While most of us began our day at 7 am, the kitchen boys began their day much earlier preparing for breakfast. I recall that as being one of my favorite meals there. And while the cook largely prepared the food the kitchen boys made the place look good and the atmosphere fun. My hats are off to the many boys who have served as kitchen boys at the camp as you are most worthy of this praise. Keep up the good work and have a great time at camp!
Feeling Groovy
One of my readers informed me about the Marion Boys Club singers. I was the educational director of the boys at the time. Dale Knaur was the director of the group. They made a record of about 16 songs. However the album was not a big success because you couldn’t see the cuteness of the boys while you listen to the music
The group eventually went to Washington DC to sing at Congress and was only the second group ever to sing there at the time the other group being the Beatles. The congressman gave them a standing ovation and I was so proud of the kids that day. So now you can see what the album looked like. And this post is being dedicated to the memory of Mike McMillan who passed away last year. Mike was the program director of the Marion boys club at the time.
This was the tower and Echo division of my Home organ located in the balcony of the church. This organ had seven divisions. All seven divisions were played by the organ in the choir loft. This organ could out play five choirs and a 1000 member congregation. The tower and Echo organ were both enclosed. The tower division had chimes. And these two were the largest portions of that organ.
Big Bass Lake & Beyond 