Source: Josiah’s Story about the 4th of July
Hey, my son Josiah shared some of his insights about the 4th of July & celebrating near our family’s Cottage in Gaylord, Michigan. There are some lively discussions going on in the Comments Section of his original post, so I wanted to link that post here on my page to find it more easily going forward.
There are some beautiful descriptions of Michigan there from people who have visited over the years! It’s so great to find even visitors to Michigan have been blessed here!
All of what you see below got generated by looking for appropriate images…which led to reminiscing about life & times Up North…Whew, that was fun but also unexpected!
This is a picture of Otsego Lake, Gaylord, MI at sunset & that is the very dock used by the street where The Cottage is located & this dock is lovingly maintained by a kind year-round neighbor–image found via a Bing.com image search for “Otsego Lake, Michigan”!
Map of Otsego Lake, Michigan from a Bing.com image search
For the 4th of July, Gaylord usually conducts their Fireworks Show from the Otsego County Park shooting the fireworks off over the Lake. We get a front row seat to this majestic & patriotic display from “our” beach. Usually the lake fills with boats so that people watch the show from all angles and situations. After the County show oftentimes there are many neighbors up & down the beach that put on pretty impressive personal displays, even before such elaborate explosives were available in-state. Some of the regular out of state visitors also packed quite a bang-up version of personal 4th displays!
This is similar to our fireworks view, from a Bing.com image search for “Gaylord Michigan fireworks”
From this map of Otsego Lake, you can see that the Lake is roughly 5 miles long and about 1 mile wide at its widest, and many generations of the extended family have taken pride in swimming across the lake–including me! The Cottage is located along the Northern most side of “The Pointe” that is prominent just North of Otsego Lake State Park. If you would bisect that Pointe the Northern half would constitute Arbutus Beach, originally set up as a Public Beach (so the Lakefront property owners don’t technically own the Beach between their property & the water). The Southern half of that Pointe, all the way to Old 27 Highway would be Pine Beach, where Uncle Hugh, Aunt Bernice, & their kids Tom & Karen had cottages. Pine Beach was set up as Private Beach property so that the lake-front people own the Beach down to the water. The other owners in Pine Beach only have water access at a couple of access points, somewhat like at the end of the roads. We actually “slept under the stars” on our cousins’ beach a few times, but that was a more regular occurrence during my Dad’s & Aunt Pat’s Endless Summers of Fun!
This view is looking South, with The Pointe protruding into the water…from earlier times, like my Dad’s childhood; from a Bing.com image search for “otsego lake, gaylord michigan “
Now Arbutus Beach, because of various lawsuits & disputes has become “The Arbutus Beach Association”. This makes the Beach rather “semi-private”, whereby in order for people from outside the Association to technically have access to the beach, they need to be guests of Association Members. We lived at The Cottage during the time the whole lawsuit thing was just getting underway. In fact, I was operating as an Avon Lady, with a territory that encompassed the entire Arbutus & Pine Beach area. The Lawsuit was a frequent topic of conversation as I made may way through my Avon Territory and I heard many sad stories from residents. In some cases friends who had known/interfaced with each other for generations were no longer speaking because they were on opposite sides of the (pointless) disputes. To my knowledge, some of those historically congenial relationships were permanently destroyed through this lawsuit & subsequent legal maneuvering & fallout. The only “winners” in all of that were the lawyers…
This is the sign as you enter Arbutus Beach off Old 27, from a Bing.com image search for “Arbutus Beach, Michigan”
Since my Dad & Aunt Pat, and their cousins Tom & Karen, spent their Summers at Otsego Lake, we get plenty of historical insights & nostalgia about the way things used to be up there. They traveled around with a bunch of similarly aged kids some of whom lived Up North year round and some of whom, like all of them, were Summer Refugees from Detroit, including a gang of kids at the next most northern train stop, WaWaSoo. They speak fondly of the days when there were fewer docks & boats on the lake, like two pictures above. There also were many community events that happened around the lake, at least in the Summer time. There are many ads in the Gaylord Herald Times Newspapers from like a hundred years ago that show the vibrant community life that seemed to revolve around Otsego Lake back in the day (see some links at the very end of this posting)…The below picture is an historical one of the Resort where historically many community events were held, I believe. This is now a private residence with a huge dwelling erected on the former community-centric site.
from a Bing.com image search for “Arbutus Beach, Michigan”
My Great Grandparents’ Cottage & one of their rental cottages in the foreground; from a Bing.com image search for “Arbutus Beach, Michigan”
The above picture shows cottages that are on the street set back from the lake and near the top of the hill. You can just see the lake in the distance in the middle left of this photo, beyond the car. This appears to be one of the cottages my great grandparents Rowland Edward & Florabelle Mansell Thompson used to rent to others. The white cottage in the center of the picture was the cottage my great grandparents moved to Arbutus Beach and was apparently the first cottage there. The story goes that they bought the lumber company’s manager’s cottage/office? from the South West side of Otsego Lake. It was pulled by horses over rolling logs across the frozen Lake one winter.
from a Bing.com image search for “horses pull house across frozen lake”
Though I couldn’t find a picture showing horses pulling a house across a frozen lake, the size of the logs in the above picture and to some degree the time frame may be representative of the process of moving my Great-Grandparents’ First Arbutus Beach Cottage across Otsego Lake. Also, my Dad’s namesake & grandfather, William Ellsworth Stoddard, found his calling working in lumber, first in Northern Michigan and later managing his boss’ lumber yard in Detroit…WES also had a Gaylord cottage as did several of his children, my Grandpa Elzine Munger Stoddard’s siblings.
from a Bing.com image search for “horses pull building”
I guess if you add the above two pictures together, divide by two, and pull the building over ice it Might Approximate what allegedly happened with my Great-Grandparents’ First Cottage! At some time I hope to peruse the historical newspapers from that location & era to see if there might be some mention of this momentous event. It sounds like the kind of local color piece that would have been so interesting to read from that time period. Alternatively I may try to see if the Gaylord/Otsego County Historical Society has some record of this event–and hopefully pictures to go with the account! There’s another couple approximations of that event below…though my great-grandparents’ cottage was bigger (or did it only become bigger later???)…However this was accomplished, it was likely a pretty big deal and involved quite a few people & animals…I would have loved to have heard the tale from my Great Grand Father, as he was a notorious Tall Tale Teller!
from a Bing.com image search for “horses move building”
from a Bing.com image search for “horses move building winter”
After my Great-Grandparents, Rowland & Florabelle Thompson, died one of their Grandsons, Kenny Moore, who lived in Traverse City, owned their original cottage for many years. He sold it to his mother’s brother, Thurman Thompson, who lived in California and would occasionally return to Michigan to visit his sisters Vivian Beatrice Thompson Stoddard (my grandmother) & Bernice Genevieve Thompson (Tom & Karen’s mother–she married Hugh Orr Thompson so basically retained her maiden name as a married woman). After Uncle Thurman died one of his daughters, Mary Louise, inherited the cottage & she eventually moved to Michigan to live there year round.
from a Bing.com image search for “Fairview Cemetery, Gaylord, Michigan”
By the way all the names mentioned in the above paragraph, excepting Kenny & Mary, are buried in Fairview Cemetery in Gaylord. My parents recently bought lots in the vicinity of where my Dad’s first cousin Tom was so lately laid to rest. Though I hope that it is still many, many years before we need to put that land to use, it is a comfort to know that Mom & Dad will be buried so near so many of the relations on my Dad’s side and so close to our beloved Cottage. We visited Tom’s grave over Memorial Day and it was a beautiful weather day, though of course bitter sweet in our loss…It was also remarkable the high volume of Military Service represented in that Cemetery, for it appeared that close to half of those graves, going back at least to the Civil War, carried American Flags to honor their Service!
from a Bing.com image search for “Arbutus Beach, Michigan”
This above picture is the cottage that lies between our family Cottage and Otsego Lake–you can see the white “sleeping porch” of Our Cottage behind their side entrance roofing. When I was a child I used to play with the kids who visited there. When Michael & I lived at The Cottage in ’93 & ’94 our Pastor’s wife’s sister & brother-in-law lived there with their family. Later it was bought by a Gaylord native who worked & lived downstate. It recently changed hands and is now a rental cottage for the new owners.
The swing & platform in the above photo was erected by our neighbors across the street to accommodate the matriarch of that clan when she comes to visit from Florida. When I was a kid my Grandma & I would sit on the immense log that marked the line between grass & beach to watch sunsets & chat, under where the swing & platform now reside. Virtually every evening my Dad will sit on that swing, with his sister if she’s Up North, or my Mom, myself, or any of the many grand-kids who might be about to see if there will be yet another spectacular sunset display (& I’ve seen many people up & down Arbutus Beach do this too).
The white cottage on the left is owned by a lovely lady who also spent her growing up Summers at The Lake, like my Dad & Aunt did. She comes up from Ohio and spends a lot of time Up North throughout the year in her retirement. To the right of the swing (not in the picture) is a small brown cottage that was owned for many years, possibly generations, by one of the families who generated that dreaded & divisive lawsuit. They were from California and the man’s brother also had a place further North within the Arbutus Beach community. The little lake-front gem recently changed hands & is now owned by a couple who live further up the street year round, & maintain that dock in the very top photo above. They turned that little cozy cottage into a rental place & my parents actually rented it one Summer when so many of our clan were Up North for the 4th for extra sleeping & hangout space–it was quite lovely!
from a Bing.com image search for “Arbutus Beach, Michigan”
It’s possible that the above picture is from the “Arbutus Beach Highlands”, a small residential community just East of Old 27, across from the Arbutus Beach & Pine Beach neighborhoods & entrance. Several years ago, Josiah & I along with Brandon & Clarissa spent about 3 weeks at the Cottage in Gaylord. We walked along the wooded trails of the Highlands, to pick some wild blackberries. During one of our excursions we ran across some Elk foot/hoof prints. We would regularly also see Deer prints, but not the animals. Another time, August 2013 to be specific, as Josiah was recuperating following his Liver Transplant in July, he & I had an extended Cottage visit. On that trip I actually saw a small Red Fox along the Train Tracks where you turn into Arbutus Beach–the only time ever in 50+ years of personal excursions there! There is so much Natural Beauty abounding in the area. Sometimes it reminds me of my Grandma, who died in the 1970s, to see the various plants & animals, as we used to walk to the Pointe & some of the wooded pathways together & just talk….She used to be a Teacher, loved kids, and shared her love of God’s world directly with me!!! These are such treasured memories…
from a Bing.com image search for “Gaylord, Michigan”
Above is an historical image of the Call of the Wild Museum. This is a dated though fun family outing place, especially on bad weather days. My husband often takes our kids there to buy yet another cool knife from their well stocked Gift Shop. There are many trophy animals on display there including quite a few specimens taken by the legendary hunter, Fred Bear. He was a dear friend & mentor to hunter, rocker, conservative commentator, and “Motor City Mad Man” Ted Nugent. I believe Ted has connections to Northern Michigan, but I think more so to the Grayling area, about 1/2 hour South of Gaylord, where he obtained a lot of Fred Bear’s property following Fred’s passing. I also believe that Fred Bear was a very gifted Archer and even has a particular bow named after him. In our family my husband brought the Bow Hunting tradition to Michigan when we moved Up North as Newly-Weds. He used to get various bow-hunting magazines then & I believe Michigan had more bow hunters than any other state!
from a Bing.com image search for “Gaylord, Michigan”
Gaylord is practically perfectly situated for Four Seasons Living, equidistant between the Equator & the North Pole. It is known to have the highest snowfall in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The last Winter we lived there, 1996-1997, I believe it had roughly 220 inches of snow! Even so, they did a great job of maintaining the road conditions so driving wasn’t too hazardous, relatively–except, of course, during white outs! There is some picture in the family vault showing The Cottage with snow up to the eaves of the roof, similar to the image below!
from a Bing.com image search for “Gaylord, Michigan winter”
Well I’ll leave this meandering trip down Memory Lane with another stunning Otsego Lake Sunset! In case you can’t tell, I Love The Cottage, Arbutus Beach, and Gaylord, Michigan & am so thankful that my husband Michael & I began our family there!!! In fact we may have the only Gaylord born relation within the extended clan, in our firstborn, Nathaniel, who was born in Gaylord, and marked on The Wall at just one day old. We gifted him the nickname of Jackpine Savage because of that Northern Michigan birth! The Wall would be the Door Jambs at The Cottage between the Dining Room & Living Room. The Inner-Facing Jamb on the Lake side has my Dad’s Generation & spouses. The Inner-Facing Jamb on the Garage side has My Generation & spouses. The Dining Room Facing Jamb on the Lake side has My Kid’s Generation. Finally, the Dining Room Facing Jamb on the Garage side has my first cousin’s grand-kids–as in my generation’s grand-kids & my dad’s great grand-kids, whenever our side adds to that generation. No one has been marked on that wall immediately after birth except for Nathaniel…& speaking of marking, the Fourth of July is the traditional time to check everyone’s height (including against existing & ancestral markings)…& this year we get to add in our latest family member, Nathaniel’s New Bride, Tara!
All our years are written with love in the very fibers of The Cottage!
from a Bing.com image search for “Arbutus Beach, Michigan”
PS If you’d like to see a Newspaper article from back when Michael & I and the Boys lived in Gaylord check it out here, on pages 1, 4, & 5:
Page 2 of the below newspaper tells of some of the history of Arbutus Beach and speaks so highly of Otsego Lake as a natural beauty filled resort vacation destination–in 1923!
http://207.74.70.101:8080/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-8848/1923-07-26%20Thu.pdf
The below link goes to the searchable Newspaper Archive for the Otsego County Library!
http://207.74.70.101:8080/docushare/dsweb/HomePage
Special Connections 
Great memories of Arbutus Beach growing up from the early 70s till late 80s. My family stayed at the Arbutus Beach Hotel the last 2 weeks of July for many years. That place was so much fun and we created many happy memories there. The place was always teaming with life with little children, old folks, teenagers and everything in between. I remember the bonfires, sunsets, Als Market and trip to town.
Would love to go back but I understand it’s now privately owned and the beach is no longer public. There are no longer kids running around just some lonley ole rich man plastic surgeon barking at people to stay off “ his “ property. It’s not the same
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It’s definitely not the same any more from those days (I was there then when you were too–since the ’60’s to present). Ironically it was the actions of the hotel owner, as well as others, that were the precursor to the lawsuit that resulted in Arbutus Beach becoming an Association. The only people who Technically have the right to use the beach now are property owners in AB & their guests.
That lawsuit created A Lot of enmity between people who had been friends & neighbors for generations. I wish we could turn back the clock on all that nonsense. It seems outrageous that people can file a lawsuit & just erase the way the Arbutus Beach park was established to be.
The local library, Otsego County Memorial Library, has an online archive of the Gaylord Herald Times Newspaper. Since I enjoy family history research I’ve looked up Arbutus Beach in many of the much older issues. It’s amazing how the Arbutus Beach Hotel was such a seeming center of social life in those early years. Apparently they regularly hosted dances & other social events during the Summer Season & they got a lot of mention in the local paper. I think the people that started the hotel were rather monied and out of Chicago, if memory serves.
otsego.lib.mi.us is the starting point for searching. There is a link on the main page for online resources & the newspaper archive is accessible that way. Unfortunately you have to search within a year range instead of the whole collection so it can take a bit of effort to turn up results….
There is a State Park just a mile South of Arbutus Beach just off of Old-27 so it’s still possible for the out-of-town public to enjoy the lake. Please consider returning to the area to enjoy it again & anew. Oh, we have neighbors on Lily Street, the Sawyers, who have a lakefront rental cottage just a couple streets South of the old hotel area (torn down & turned into a huge glass front mansion) so you could also stay in a furnished lakefront cottage, if desired.
Thanks for stopping by & sharing some of your memories of Arbutus Beach too! Blessings
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