~ WALLOON LAKE HOMES ~
(Near The Foot)
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(Near The Foot)
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The photo above was submitted from the Collection of Ross Renwick, showing homes of the Village of Walloon Lake.
The church can be seen mid view, and also the New Walloon Hotel located next to the water of Walloon Lake.
(The photo above was taken from the vantage of a high hill as seen in the background in the photos below taken from Moira Hill, the Cawthra Property.)
The church can be seen mid view, and also the New Walloon Hotel located next to the water of Walloon Lake.
(The photo above was taken from the vantage of a high hill as seen in the background in the photos below taken from Moira Hill, the Cawthra Property.)
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The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2014.
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Thomas and Sally Borisch Family Home
Dan and Pat Milne Buckley Home
Home Burned in the 1940s and was Rebuilt
Photos Below: Left; Rebuilding after 1940s fire. Center and Right; 1986
Home Burned in the 1940s and was Rebuilt
Photos Below: Left; Rebuilding after 1940s fire. Center and Right; 1986
Jordan/Cawthra Home and Property
The original home named "Moira Hill" was built by Henry Jordan, in 1905 up on the hill, just past the Bear River dam outlet from Walloon Lake. Henry Jordan was the grandfather to Jordan Cawthra (photo right) who inherited the property, and maintained it for years. The Henry Jordan farm has been deemed a Centennial Farm.
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1911 Article Below: Summer Home Moira Hill was described along with the nearby stores and other enterprises.
Two Photos Below: This top photo shows the view from Moira Hill, the Cawthra property. The Winter view includes the nearby Bear River which flows from Walloon Lake, the Walloon Lake General Store, The Sunset Lodge, The New Walloon Hotel, and the big Hass home that stood for years on the main corner before entering the Village of Walloon Lake. The bottom of the two photos below is obviously a very similar photo as to the top photo of the Village of Walloon Lake. A bit more is shown of the Bathing House at the far left close to the lake, but the river is not shown in this photo.
The Wee Hoose in the photo below is a cottage which was built on the Cawthra property, south of the main house, around the time of World War I. Does anyone have any additional information, or know if this Cawthra property cottage named Wee House is the same property referred to by Jane Alexander Barker below? Or were two separate Wee House in existence near to Walloon Lake?
Jane Alexander Barker wrote in her copyrighted 1996 Wildwood Harbor A Place Like No Other on page 5 that "Mr. Gerry, the druggist in Boyne City, was another early settler in Wildwood Harbor. Of Scottish descent, he named his cottage the 'Wee Hoose.' Although it has been many years since the Gerrys owned the cottage, each subsequent owner has kept the name."
Jane Alexander Barker wrote in her copyrighted 1996 Wildwood Harbor A Place Like No Other on page 5 that "Mr. Gerry, the druggist in Boyne City, was another early settler in Wildwood Harbor. Of Scottish descent, he named his cottage the 'Wee Hoose.' Although it has been many years since the Gerrys owned the cottage, each subsequent owner has kept the name."
Picturesque Walloon published 1911 described on pages 14-16, WALLOON LAKE'S EARLY HISTORY AS TOLD BY AN EARLY SETTLER:
"More than thirty years ago we arrived at what was then the station of Melrose, at that time the first station south of Petoskey. It consisted of two buildings, the section foreman's residence and the toolhouse and postoffice combined. The postoffice consisted of a slot in the door of the toolhouse, with a box attached to the inside, to catch whatever mail might be left there by the trainmen. The patrons of the office consisted of the section men and possibly five or six homesteaders who, at some time or other, had worked on the section. Every one was his own postmaster.
There, at the station, we found ample accommodations for our transfer to the lake in the form of a two-wheel push cart. Into this we loaded our baggage and camping outfit and started for the lake, a mile distant. After a rest or two, and while the setting sun was making shadow pictures on the smooth surface of the lake, we made our camp where now stands the handsome summer residence of H.S. Jordan, of Grand Rapids, Mich. The view up the lake from our camp showed an unbroken shore line of dense pine and hardwood, as far as the eye could reach, with one exception, that being Indian Garden, where the officials of the G.R.&I. railway had erected a small building in the natural opening of the woods, this point at that time very much resembling the place as it is today, with the exception of the dock, magnificent hotel and other buildings lately erected by W.H. Ellis, the present owner. This point then known as Indian Garden, had been the annual camping grounds of the Indians as far back as history reaches: here grew all the native trees and fruits and some that were foreign to this vicinity.
On this point the G.R.&I. officials (and sometimes their families) camped for several summers. They also carted by hand all their baggage, tents and supplies from the railroad to the lake, often employing John Hollm and John Hammer, two big powerful men (called "The Two Johns"), who also helped them at the camp and acted as guides on the lake.
Indian Garden was connected with the outside world by a single telegraph wire from the main line, through the woods and across the lake at what is now known as Judge Henry's Point."
AND
on page 40:
"The summer home of H.S. Jordan, of Grand Rapids, Mich., located nearer the outlet and commands a fine view of the lake.
Adjoining this handsome residence is a large acreage of timbered and improved land, with large commodious barns, a caretaker's cottage and every convenience for the care of the property.
Nothing has been spared to make this an ideal, restful home."
"More than thirty years ago we arrived at what was then the station of Melrose, at that time the first station south of Petoskey. It consisted of two buildings, the section foreman's residence and the toolhouse and postoffice combined. The postoffice consisted of a slot in the door of the toolhouse, with a box attached to the inside, to catch whatever mail might be left there by the trainmen. The patrons of the office consisted of the section men and possibly five or six homesteaders who, at some time or other, had worked on the section. Every one was his own postmaster.
There, at the station, we found ample accommodations for our transfer to the lake in the form of a two-wheel push cart. Into this we loaded our baggage and camping outfit and started for the lake, a mile distant. After a rest or two, and while the setting sun was making shadow pictures on the smooth surface of the lake, we made our camp where now stands the handsome summer residence of H.S. Jordan, of Grand Rapids, Mich. The view up the lake from our camp showed an unbroken shore line of dense pine and hardwood, as far as the eye could reach, with one exception, that being Indian Garden, where the officials of the G.R.&I. railway had erected a small building in the natural opening of the woods, this point at that time very much resembling the place as it is today, with the exception of the dock, magnificent hotel and other buildings lately erected by W.H. Ellis, the present owner. This point then known as Indian Garden, had been the annual camping grounds of the Indians as far back as history reaches: here grew all the native trees and fruits and some that were foreign to this vicinity.
On this point the G.R.&I. officials (and sometimes their families) camped for several summers. They also carted by hand all their baggage, tents and supplies from the railroad to the lake, often employing John Hollm and John Hammer, two big powerful men (called "The Two Johns"), who also helped them at the camp and acted as guides on the lake.
Indian Garden was connected with the outside world by a single telegraph wire from the main line, through the woods and across the lake at what is now known as Judge Henry's Point."
AND
on page 40:
"The summer home of H.S. Jordan, of Grand Rapids, Mich., located nearer the outlet and commands a fine view of the lake.
Adjoining this handsome residence is a large acreage of timbered and improved land, with large commodious barns, a caretaker's cottage and every convenience for the care of the property.
Nothing has been spared to make this an ideal, restful home."
Henry J. Cawthra, 92, of Walloon Lake, passed away Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006,
at the Sunnybank Retirement Community in Petoskey.
A memorial service will be held at the Moira Hill Farm in July 2007, with the time and date to be announced.
In the photo below, Eva May Stevens sat on the Cawthra's dock on Walloon Lake.
Eva was married to Lester Stevens, the son of Carl and Effie Stevens.
Carl and Effie were long time caretakers for the Cawthra Family on Moira Hill.
Eva was married to Lester Stevens, the son of Carl and Effie Stevens.
Carl and Effie were long time caretakers for the Cawthra Family on Moira Hill.
Moira Hill (photos below) during the time that Carl and Elfie Stevens were the Caretakers.
Cooper Family Home
This Cooper house was razed, and is now the location of the Melrose Township library >
Crooked Tree District Library, in 2013.
Crooked Tree District Library, in 2013.
Photo Below: In 1930 Vivian Sherk, prior to marrying Dale Cooper and having their home as pictured above, stood in front of the Walloon Lake sign at The Foot. The big house to the right of Vivian in the background was the Hass House which was built in 1906, and occupied in 1907. The building to the left of Vivian in the background could have been the bowling alley at that time. Does anyone know what business was being housed in that building in 1930?
POSSIBLY Garringer or Tillapaugh Family Home?
Hass Home
The Hass family came in 1875 or 76 and stayed with the Darrah Family until they could stake their claim, as so many others did that came to this new territory. ~ Mildred Burns... longtime Walloon Lake resident
The Hass Home stood for so many years on the main corner at "The Foot". The huge house was built in 1906/07. Most of the years that I remember the house beginning about 1955, it always appeared no one was living in the house. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
The Hass Home stood for so many years on the main corner at "The Foot". The huge house was built in 1906/07. Most of the years that I remember the house beginning about 1955, it always appeared no one was living in the house. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
Fire destroys home
August 23, 2004
August 23, 2004
WALLOON LAKE - An early morning fire destroyed a vacant home in the village of Walloon Lake early Sunday.
Officials at 9-1-1 central dispatch said firefighters from the Melrose Township Fire Department were called to a report of a fully engulfed structure fire at a vacant home on the east side of M-75 across from West Street in the village at about 2:23 a.m. Sunday.
Melrose Township firefighters called for mutual aid from firefighters from the Boyne Valley Township Fire Department and the Boyne City Fire Department. The last fire crews cleared the scene at about 8:40 a.m. The fire reduced the large Victorian home to its foundation.
Melrose Township Fire Chief Dennis Howard could not be reached for additional information before press time today, Monday.
Officials at 9-1-1 central dispatch said firefighters from the Melrose Township Fire Department were called to a report of a fully engulfed structure fire at a vacant home on the east side of M-75 across from West Street in the village at about 2:23 a.m. Sunday.
Melrose Township firefighters called for mutual aid from firefighters from the Boyne Valley Township Fire Department and the Boyne City Fire Department. The last fire crews cleared the scene at about 8:40 a.m. The fire reduced the large Victorian home to its foundation.
Melrose Township Fire Chief Dennis Howard could not be reached for additional information before press time today, Monday.
Jensen and Sarasin Family Farm
(about a mile from "The Foot" of Walloon Lake)
(about a mile from "The Foot" of Walloon Lake)
Not very far past the Jordan/Cawthra Home and Property (described farther above) on Jensen Road is the Jensen Family Farm. In 2023 the farmhouse is noted as the airbnb Jensen Farm Country Retreat, hosted by Dawn Sarasin. Dawn's parents and grandparents preserved the farmhouse and property since Dawn's grandpa August "Augie" Jensen bought the farm in 1916. Augie and his wife Gladys had their daughter Ida Mae on the farm. One of the daughters of Ida Mae and Joe Sarasin is Dawn. The Sarasin Family had made their home in many places, but after Joe retired from the Navy in 1972, they moved home to the Jensen Road Farmhouse, where Dawn remains.
Additional information about this Jensen Family Farm and its precious windmill can be found on another web site and another web page of this same web master by clicking HERE. Scroll toward the bottom of that web page about local area windmills.
Additional information about this Jensen Family Farm and its precious windmill can be found on another web site and another web page of this same web master by clicking HERE. Scroll toward the bottom of that web page about local area windmills.
Peter Jensen Family Farm > Mitch and Kim Matthews Family Farm
(about a mile from "The Foot" of Walloon Lake)
(about a mile from "The Foot" of Walloon Lake)
Additional information about this Peter Jensen Family Farm, now Mitch and Kim Matthews Family Farm, on Jensen Road, Walloon Lake, Michigan, and its precious windmill, can be found on another web site and another web page of this same web master by clicking HERE. Scroll toward the bottom of that web page about local area windmills. In 1941 Peter A. Jensen wrote the following inspirational words:
Olga Jensen Erber, last child of Peter and Emmele wrote the interesting history of her family in
How I Happen to be in Michigan posted below on four and a half pages.
Click the pages submitted by Dawn Sarasin to enlarge for easier viewing.
How I Happen to be in Michigan posted below on four and a half pages.
Click the pages submitted by Dawn Sarasin to enlarge for easier viewing.
Peter and Emmele Jensen's SECOND Farm on Larson Road,
near Walloon Lake (still near Jensen Road)
Photos Below:
Peter and Emmele bought this farm from the Sterzik's in 1932 which is where this windmill is located.
near Walloon Lake (still near Jensen Road)
Photos Below:
Peter and Emmele bought this farm from the Sterzik's in 1932 which is where this windmill is located.
A fascinating autobiography of Peter A. Jensen
is included on another web page of this same web master by clicking HERE.
is included on another web page of this same web master by clicking HERE.
McCutcheon Family Home
The photos below were taken 25 January 2013 of the house thought of as the McCutcheon Home,
even though the Theodore "Ted" & Margaret "Peg" McCutcheon Family no longer owns the home.
even though the Theodore "Ted" & Margaret "Peg" McCutcheon Family no longer owns the home.
Mackie Family Home
Photo Left L>R: Margaret Sherk, Creo Mackie, Effie Stevens, Lorraine ?, Bill Mackie sitting on ground
Photo Right L>R: Eva May "Effie" Stevens, Lorraine ?, Margaret Sherk with arms around Bill Mackie, Creo Mackie
Photo Right L>R: Eva May "Effie" Stevens, Lorraine ?, Margaret Sherk with arms around Bill Mackie, Creo Mackie
Masters Family Home
Before this house below was known as the home of Walt and Mable Masters, it was known as the home of H.E. Bardwell, a local contractor and builder, who was mentioned in the writings of James C. Whitfield, Sr. This house was home to the FIRST telephone in Walloon Lake. In recent years to 2013 the house has been managed as a Bed and Breakfast.
Art and Laureen Morgan Home
1950 the Morgan's home was being built in the photo below.
1950 the Morgan's home was being built in the photo below.
Sheatsley Farm Home
John and Eliza Jane Burnside Sheatsley built their farm near the Walloon Lake railroad track and depot corner. In the photo below are John and Eliza with their daughters Dora, Daisy, and the youngest Goldie who became the mother of Kenny Starr of Walloon Lake. The Sheatsley Family owned the saw mill in Clarion, nearby to Walloon Lake so they had access to the lumber needed to build a large barn and farmhouse. Later Al Murner's family lived at the farm, but it burned down. Dora Sheatsley, the oldest daughter and her husband Edward Birk lived on the other side of the railroad tracks in the big house that later belonged to the Ecker Family. The Birk/Ecker house can be located on the 1901 Melrose Township Charlevoix County Plat Book map. Dora was who noticed the Murner fire, and ran over to tell the Murners. Eliza Jane Burnside Sheatsley was a cousin to General Burnside of the Civil War. Eliza Jane died 30 June 1912, and was buried in the Clarion Cemetery.
Sherk Family Home
Starr Home
(Later owned by others, including Cindy Burns David)
(Later owned by others, including Cindy Burns David)
In the 1960s when Ken and Marion Starr owned the house shown below, the siding was a pink color.
Neighbors Tom and Madge Scroggie's home was directly next to the Starr's driveway near
the Melrose School, now the Walloon Lake Community Church.
Neighbors Tom and Madge Scroggie's home was directly next to the Starr's driveway near
the Melrose School, now the Walloon Lake Community Church.
Lester and Eva Stevens Home
Ralph and Pat Taylor and Daughter Louisa Home
James and Vergene Whitfield Home in the Village of Walloon Lake
With his parents, James C. Whitfield, Sr., had lived in a home called Buena Vista which they had built. James and his bride Vergene honeymooned in that house, and came back every summer until in 1930 they began thinking about building their own home. Then James C. Whitfield, Sr.'s, own family had a home on the Seven Hills called Hillandale. James Whitfield, Sr., wrote the following about their various Walloon Lake homes:
"Along about that time George was growing up and would be ready for school and Dorothy, too, right behind him. We had found that the main trouble with living all year round at Hillandale was the winters. We had a couple of cars with various snow cruising ability and the old Dodge truck which proved to be the best, but was mighty cold riding. That was before the days of four wheel drives and snow mobiles. That was even before snow tires came out. We had chains which we put on while traveling on our back roads which were seldom plowed, and took them off when we got to the pavement. I wish I had a nickel for every time I put on chains or took them off. You had to use a system, but it still meant lying down on a snow covered road. I even went so far as trying to invent a rough snow-mobile type, but that got waylaid as I learned of Einer Hull over in Clarion who loaned me a set of steel cleats which I used most effectively on the old Dodge and made a very serviceable snow-goer. That was fine, but we didn't like to use it for anything but rough work, not for when were in our glad rags.
After much thought we decided it would be best to build a winter house down in the village where the kids could get to school easier. We could live in it ourselves and then rent it in the summer. So, we scouted around for a good building site but it seemed that about all the really good locations had been already used for house building. We finally settled on a lot owned by Alfred Hass, Sr., right next to his Water Works, the building where he had his deep well. It was a good lot quite level and had no brush to contend with. There were a few trees toward the back of the lot, one nice clump of birches....
We began building in the fall, enjoying good weather into the winter, but by that time we had the basement dug, the walls all up and the roof on, ready to do the finishing inside.... We kept at the finishing and moved in before the whole thing was finished. Now the kids could go to school right from what we called 'our WINTER HOUSE'. That must have been about 1933 or 1934."
"Now we skip several years to the year of 1954. It was in February of that year when Mom (Vergene) and I went, as usual to the Winter Sports Ball in Petoskey. We went with Carl and Gladys Spitler and Walt and Dorothea Schlechte. We all had dinner, then went to the Spitler house to wait until it was time to go to the dance, quite an affair annually. Mom and I usually drove home afterward, braving what snow storm we might run into but this might we had been invited by Mr. Hayner, who had just finished a brand new MOTEL at the corner of Spring St. and Charlevoix Ave. to come and stay that night as his guests. After the ball was over we went over to Hayner's Motel where we had a very nice room, and holed in for the night. The very next morning our slumbers were shattered by a phone call, which I went over to the main office and answered. [See Article Below] It was George, 'I had to call you to tell you that your house (Hillandale) is on fire and I think it's about burned down.' That was a shocker and I lost no time in piling into my duds and tearing out to our place, leaving Mom in the motel. When I arrived the whole place was gone, the roof was caved in and there was only a couple of studding still standing and they didn't stay very long. It was just one heap of ashes AND furniture springs. I never thought to see so many springs of all sizes and shapes. I had had a couple of men doing some carpentering there and we were contemplating moving back in a few weeks, but now all our expectations were knocked into the proverbial cocked hat. I went back to the Motel and gave Mom a run-down of the scene. We talked over the consequences and thought about what we should do. We reasoned that the location hadn't changed and the foundation might be still OK, so after a couple of days I got out my drawing board and started out on some plans. Having lived in the house as long as we had we had seen several things that we would like to change.
After incorporating many of Mr. Whitfield's own ideas and inventions into the rebuilt Hillandale home, "the 'HILLANDALE' was finished in 1956. All in all we have found this house most livable and there are very few improvements we would like to make. Walloon is an ideal lake and this is an ideal location on it. Except for the winter snow this is our idea of HEAVEN and we hate to leave it in the fall for a more accessible spot in Florida."
James C. Whitfield, Sr.
"Along about that time George was growing up and would be ready for school and Dorothy, too, right behind him. We had found that the main trouble with living all year round at Hillandale was the winters. We had a couple of cars with various snow cruising ability and the old Dodge truck which proved to be the best, but was mighty cold riding. That was before the days of four wheel drives and snow mobiles. That was even before snow tires came out. We had chains which we put on while traveling on our back roads which were seldom plowed, and took them off when we got to the pavement. I wish I had a nickel for every time I put on chains or took them off. You had to use a system, but it still meant lying down on a snow covered road. I even went so far as trying to invent a rough snow-mobile type, but that got waylaid as I learned of Einer Hull over in Clarion who loaned me a set of steel cleats which I used most effectively on the old Dodge and made a very serviceable snow-goer. That was fine, but we didn't like to use it for anything but rough work, not for when were in our glad rags.
After much thought we decided it would be best to build a winter house down in the village where the kids could get to school easier. We could live in it ourselves and then rent it in the summer. So, we scouted around for a good building site but it seemed that about all the really good locations had been already used for house building. We finally settled on a lot owned by Alfred Hass, Sr., right next to his Water Works, the building where he had his deep well. It was a good lot quite level and had no brush to contend with. There were a few trees toward the back of the lot, one nice clump of birches....
We began building in the fall, enjoying good weather into the winter, but by that time we had the basement dug, the walls all up and the roof on, ready to do the finishing inside.... We kept at the finishing and moved in before the whole thing was finished. Now the kids could go to school right from what we called 'our WINTER HOUSE'. That must have been about 1933 or 1934."
"Now we skip several years to the year of 1954. It was in February of that year when Mom (Vergene) and I went, as usual to the Winter Sports Ball in Petoskey. We went with Carl and Gladys Spitler and Walt and Dorothea Schlechte. We all had dinner, then went to the Spitler house to wait until it was time to go to the dance, quite an affair annually. Mom and I usually drove home afterward, braving what snow storm we might run into but this might we had been invited by Mr. Hayner, who had just finished a brand new MOTEL at the corner of Spring St. and Charlevoix Ave. to come and stay that night as his guests. After the ball was over we went over to Hayner's Motel where we had a very nice room, and holed in for the night. The very next morning our slumbers were shattered by a phone call, which I went over to the main office and answered. [See Article Below] It was George, 'I had to call you to tell you that your house (Hillandale) is on fire and I think it's about burned down.' That was a shocker and I lost no time in piling into my duds and tearing out to our place, leaving Mom in the motel. When I arrived the whole place was gone, the roof was caved in and there was only a couple of studding still standing and they didn't stay very long. It was just one heap of ashes AND furniture springs. I never thought to see so many springs of all sizes and shapes. I had had a couple of men doing some carpentering there and we were contemplating moving back in a few weeks, but now all our expectations were knocked into the proverbial cocked hat. I went back to the Motel and gave Mom a run-down of the scene. We talked over the consequences and thought about what we should do. We reasoned that the location hadn't changed and the foundation might be still OK, so after a couple of days I got out my drawing board and started out on some plans. Having lived in the house as long as we had we had seen several things that we would like to change.
After incorporating many of Mr. Whitfield's own ideas and inventions into the rebuilt Hillandale home, "the 'HILLANDALE' was finished in 1956. All in all we have found this house most livable and there are very few improvements we would like to make. Walloon is an ideal lake and this is an ideal location on it. Except for the winter snow this is our idea of HEAVEN and we hate to leave it in the fall for a more accessible spot in Florida."
James C. Whitfield, Sr.
Bob and Natalie Yaich Home in the 1960s
Mrs. S. L. Wright