Duck Lake Memories The Early Years Presen esentation ion to o - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Duck Lake Memories The Early Years Presen esentation ion to o Whi White e Lake ke Area rea Historica rical l Soci ociet ety Da vid d W . Pequet uet, Preside sident nt Duck k Lake ke Riparia rian n Owners ners
Presen esentation ion to
White e Lake ke Area rea Historica rical l Soci
ety
Da vid d W . Pequet uet, Preside sident nt Duck k Lake ke Riparia rian n Owners ners Assoc socia iation ion August gust 18, 2016 Fruitl itland nd Townsh
ip Hall
1932 1934
has s been n prov
iding “Kodak Moments” for over 80 years
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
1950 1953 1961 1954
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1968 68 1968 68 1964 64
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1974 74 2014 14
Known for it’S clear r waters, s, quieT settin ting g and a ward winnin ning g sunsets, s, Duck k Lake is Roughly y 270 acres es in size, ze, two miles s long and one mile wide. . The lake has 4.5 mile les s of
shoreline ine and an a verage depth of nearly y 25 25 ft
that reach h 60 ft.
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
The he His History of
uck Lake ke spans ns nearl rly 20 200 years ars and nd is is ri rich in in he heart rtfelt suc success ss st stories ries of
ard working rking immigr migran ants from Eur urope pe th that came to to this his coun untr try to to make ake a bette ter life ife for for thems hemselves es and the heir families ilies. Fruit uitlan land Towns nship hip was fort rtun unate to to ha ve ve many many of
these familie milies make ke thI hIER mark ark in in th the Duc uck Lak ake area. This his pr prese sent ntati tion focuses ses on
me of
the firs irst settlers tlers of
uck Lake ke from th the lumberi bering ng are rea in in th the mi mid-Late te 180 1800’s th thru ru the he boom boom of
he Lak ake resorts IN IN the first st part
the 1900 1900’s.
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
In 1790, Nov a Scotian Joseph La Framboise, Western Michigan's agent for the John Jacob Astor Fur Company , was given a land grant by Astor to build a log cabin on the oldest historical spot in the White Lake area — "Jibshi Sagagen," or Duck Lake as we know it toda y . As agent for Astor, the cabin w as one of a unit of 20 trading stations established in the latter da ys of the famous Astor regime. These trading posts were part of a "fur claim" stretching across the pine covered slopes of Michigan from the Kalamazoo River to Grand Tra verse Ba y . The log cabin w as 14 ft by 16 ft, with a chimney made of 4 large upright logs, interior walls covered with cla y and stra w and a narrow porch facing Lake Michigan. In 1806 Joseph was killed by an Indian near Lowell Michigan. His widow , Madame La Framboise, was a very remarkable
w a Indian parents and educated by the French. She grew up with her Otta w a Indian mother at the mouth
ven.
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
Her er fur ur tr trad ade sp spann anned ed the the en entir tire west est coas
ichi higa gan and nd in in 1818 1818 sh she so sold ld to to Ast stor's r's Ame meric rican an Fur ur Comp mpan any for a rep eport rted ed “small fortune” and and re retir tired
inac ac Island nd. La La Fram rambois ise beca ecame ac activ tive in in found undin ing a sc school on
Mackin inac ac Is Isla land nd for for Na Nativ tive Americ merican an chi hild ldren ren and and su supp pporti ting chari haritabl ble ac acti tivi viti ties es until her death in in 1846 1846. As As one ne of
he mos
promin minent ent earl arly bus usin inessw esswomen en of
Michi higa gan, n, sh she was as ele lected ed in in 19 1984 84 to to th the Mic Michi higa gan Women's en's Hall of
Sources: White Laker, 100 Year Addition Jan 30, 1974, White Lake Observer July 12-1978, History of American Women Jan 2013, Wikipedia David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
In 1844, Charles Mears, a business man from Massachusetts purchased the property at the mouth of Duck Lake. He built a dam at the site of the current Duck Lake Bridge, a w ater powered sa w mill, boarding house, store, blacksmith shop and stable. The lumber camp w as known as “The Middle House”. In 1856 a three story boarding house w as erected and the small hamlet w as often called Cork Point. The small hamlet for a number of years w as the center of activity for the whole surrounding territory . The Duck Lake store supplied the needs
settler and Indians alike. The local Otta w a population number as much as 3000.
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
For 25 years Charles Mears was the recognized leader and businessman in the area. During this time HE purchaseD over 40,000 acres of prime timber lands, most from the U.S. Government Land office for $1.25/acre and included over 2000 acres surrounding Duck Lake. He constructed and
One of those harbors was the pier at the mouth of Duck Lake on Lake
that regularly transported lumber to Chicago and supplies back to west Michigan. Sources: Charles Mears, Pioneer of the White Lake Area David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
as an early member
a newly founded political party , the
as a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. In November of 1858 the two sa w mills were destroyed by fire, reportedly by a group of drunken disgruntled unpaid laborers. With over 10,000 logs in the w aters of Duck Lake, a new steam sa w mill w as shipped from Chicago and ready for production in late 1859. By the late 1800’s the v ast forests of towering white pine had been complete stripped from the local landscape and the lumber industry had moveD inland and farther north. Aided by the introduction of railroad service in the state, the boom times of Charles Mears had moved on.
Sources: Charles Mears, Pioneer of the White Lake Area
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
c 23, 1859
First Mapped 1837
Second nd Surv rvey y 1859 ….Several ent nterpris ising ing lumb umberin ring g vil illage ges s have est stablis ishe hed d includin ding the he one ne at the he mout
uck lake ke
Ed Edward rd H. Tow
end bec ecame the e fi first st pos
ster of
the village ge of
k Lake whic ich h when n developed ped was in Otta wa a Count nty . . Muske kegon n Count nty was not
ized until il 1859. . The post offic ice opened on March 24 24, , 1856, and was clo losed sed July y 24, , 1858 and d the e village ge faded into a a hamlet. David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
On One of
Duck Lake’s pr prom
inent fo foun undin ding famil ilie ies fo foll llowin
he lum lumberi ering era era w as tha hat of
Henrick (Henr Henry) y) Schn chnei eider der. Born
in Ge Germ rmany in in 1837 1837 he he fi firs rst settle led in in Chicago Chicago wor working king in in the he stock
ards rds and at at the he age ge of
20 mov
ed to to Duck ck La Lake to to make ke his his fo fort rtune as as a lum umber jack jack wor working king for
ears rs. He He buil uilt a lo log cabin cabin a few few hu hundre red y ards ds sout
Duck Duck La Lake ke and in in 1870 1870 took
itle le, signed igned by by Pr Presid esident Ulys ysses es S. Gra rant, to to 154 154 acres cres of
roperty sout
Duck ck La Lake ke chann channel el and enc encom
ing
er
mile of
ke Michiga higan shorel reline. Plot
1877
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
He He bui built a resp spect ctab able far arm tha that in includ cluded severa ral acr acres of
raspb spberri rries and and fruit ruit tr trees and and also also a roo roofin ing shingl shingle mill. Each ach sum summer hi his produc produce end nded up up in in Ch Chica icago go mar arkets via via Goo Goodrich rich Boa Boat Co
that dock
at Michi ichillin inda Beach Lodge ge a half mile north th
Duck Lake.
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
Circa rca 1912 912 Corne rner r Scen enic ic & Duck ck Lake ke Rd
6171 Duck uck Lake ke Rd
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Source: Dan Yates Collection
India ian Trail il to Whiteh ehall ll Future ure Duck ck lake ke Roa
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Louise Snyd yder Germany Chris ist Hin inze Germany Chris ist Hesse sse Germany
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Louise e Snyd yder er Chris ist Hin inze Hen enry y Walters rs Germany Rudolf Ruben Sweden
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
1 Week k Room & Board rd $8 $8-10 10 Round nd Trip ip Steamer Chicago go – Whit ite Lake ke 10 Hour r Trip ip Including uding Bunk nk $7.00
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Lakeside Inn
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Ferrie rries from rom City Dock
Lakesid keside e Inn
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David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
The Lake ke Vie iew Farm rm resort was very typical. The proprietor, Christ Hinze, immigrated from Germany in the late 1800’s and bought property on Duck Lake in 1898. He and his family cleared the land, established a berry farm and started taking summer v acationers from Chicago. By 1920 he had expanded his farm house to 14 bedrooms and a dining hall that could seat 125 guests. He had a model T Ford that would pick up guests at the Goodrich Boat dock in Whitehall. The resort operated until 1936 when the advent of the automobile detracted from destination v acation spots popular the first part
.
Vie iew Nort
5780 Duck k lake ke Rd
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View w Sout uth Acros cross Duck Duck lake ke Rd
Muskra krat Lake
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Hinze Cottage 1916 Hinze Cottage 1923 Hinze Family 1919
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The he Duck uck Lake ke Inn Inn w as opera
by Ha Harr rry W alt lters ers and his his wife wife wh who als lso cam came fro from Germ ermany . They hey pu purc rcha hased ed prop propert erty adjace djacent to to the he Hinz Hinze res resort
By By 1920 1920 the he res esort
inc include luded the he main in two stor
hous use, e, gues uest cot cottage, ge, ki kitchen chen and din dining ing buil uildin ding, g, ice ice hous
dance and po pool
ll on
the he la lake ke. Many Saturda rda ys ys during uring pro prohib hibit ition ion the dance ce ha hall ll ha had over er a 100 100 v aca cationers ioners fro from mil iles es arou round enjoying
thei heir sum ummer er v aca cations
he Inn Inn ope
rated ed un until il Hel Helen Walt lter er die ied in in 1955.
5738 Duck k Lake ke Rd Street eet View Lake View w
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Duck ck Lake ke Inn Walte lters rs Pla lace ce
Lake e Park rk Camp Ruben en Duck k creek k
Duck k Lake ke Road Dirt two wo track Walters rs Danc nce Hall
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David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
The Duck Lake Resort was started by another first generation German family led by Christ Hesse. The family had been stone masons in Germany dating back to the 1600’s. Christ and his brother Fred had worked in Chicago building cobblestone streets. In 1893 they had sa ved enough money to buy property on the east end of Duck Lake. They cleared the land and built a 3 story home for their family and summer guests and began advertising their summer resort in the 1902 Chicago
with several Shakespearean pla ys put on by local actors over the summer season. Christ Hesse was responsible for building the first bridge over Duck Creek resulting in a direct route to White Lake and
township and it is now Nestrom road.
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
Chris hrist He Hess sse
The main house had 20 bedrooms and seven small cottages were also part of the resort. The Hesses ran the resort until 1916. It reopened in 1920 and it w as leased to the YMCA much of the next decade
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
Circa rca 1910 910
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CIRCA CA 1910 10
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Herbert J. Hesse, 16, farmhand and son of Christ Hesse, sa ved Carrie E. Krause, 26, and Elsie G. Breytspraak, 22, from drowning, Whitehall, Michigan, July 14, 1909. Hesse, who had suffered a slight heat stroke four hours previously , swam 50 feet to the women, who had gotten beyond their depth in Duck Lake. He grasped Miss Breytspraak while she held to Mrs. Krause, who was under the water, he succeeded in swimming to shore with both women. Herbert received the Carnegie metal, a gold watch and $1000 cash which he USED TO purchase 40 acres of local property . He cleared the wooded parcel using the lumber to build a house and planted a berry farm. Herbert fought in WWI and was a building contractor until he died in 1969.
Congra ratul ulatory ry Telegr gram from Herbert’s Sister
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1949 1955
Passing ing of Early y Settlers rs Of Duck k Lake
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In In 19 1914 14 Rud udolf Ru Ruben ben and nd his his br broth ther Ka Karin, rin, Sw Swedi dish sh immigr migran ants, s, purcha purchased sed four ur acre acres on
Duck Lak ake for for $60 600. They They buil built a two story home and nd began an adve vertisi tising in in the the Chic hicag ago Dail Daily Tri Tribu bune ne for su summer v ac acati tioners rs. “Bathing, boatin ting an and fishi shing ng $8/week”. Over tim time the he Ru Rube bens ns exp xpande nded th the re resort rt and nd add dded seven small all cottage ges and nd a di dinin ning hall all. Th The re resort rt
1937.
5666 Duck Lake Rd
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Camp Kitchen
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2016 16
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This his place is is run run by by Rudolf Rudolf Rub Ruben and nd his his wife wife of
hicago go. Mr Mr. Rub Ruben is is
the he Swedis Swedish Arist ristocra
. My My Da Dad knew knew of
he famil ily in in Swede Sweden. I ha ha ve an an inv invit ite to to visi isit them hem at at the he res resort
and nd hop hope to to a v ail il myse yself
tha hat priv rivil ilege ge and nd take ke dinner dinner wit with them hem some Sunda da y
July 22, 1919
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David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
???? ???
In Fall ll of 1900 the he
ee Intro roduce duced d a bill l in Lansing ing to change ge the name e of f Duck Duck Lake ke to
chill llind inda Lake.
eside dents of f Michi hill llind inda fel elt the e new w name e wou
ld better er desc escribe e the he devel elopin
rm produ
ce bus usiness iness of f the time.
ide sprea ead d opp ppos
ion to the he Name e change ge prev ev ail iled. ed.
David Pequet Presentation 8-18-16
Muskego egon Cou
commissi sione ners s and Resort Promoters s unsuccessfu sfully y pushed for a dam across ss Duck k Lake Chann nnel and a Railroad d from North Muskegon n to Ludingt ngton
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About the Author…. Dave Pequet was born in Grand Rapids in 1952 and graduated from MSU. His first time on Duck Lake was as a Boy Scout in 1963. He was on the staff of Camp Shawondossee the last year the camp was open in 1968 and was a summer caretaker of the property thru 1974. After college, Pequet was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy Aviation Program. Following the Navy he entered Wall Street and has owned a registered investment advisory firm in Chicago for 30 plus years. Dave, and his wife Chris of forty years, purchased property on Duck Lake in 1985. Pequet has been on the Board of Directors for the Duck Lake Riparian Owners Association for 14 years and is it’s current President.
Acknowledgments: Material was used for this presentation is from several publications including but not limited to: The Muskegon Chronicle, The Grand Rapids Press, The Chicago Tribune, White Lake Yacht News, 1952, The History of Fruitland Township, Meikle, 1976, Whitelake Beacon, 6-9-2008 Tanya Cabala, Dan Yakes, Charles Mears White Lake Pioneer, White Lake Historical District Guide 1976, The Grand Rapids Public Library, Montague Observer, Sue and Frank Bednarek and the estate of Norm Ullman. All of the cards/photos in this presentation are from the personal post card collection of David Pequet. A special thanks to Teri Hample and Nate Hesse who have shared an enormous amount of historic material from their extended families of Snyder and Hesse.