WELCOME TO A WORLD...
WITH WALLOON LAKE MICHIGAN
HOLDING
"A PERFECT BODY OF WATER"
The Foot
The Arms And Shores
Parts Unknown
Other Extensions
_________________________________________________________________________________
WITH WALLOON LAKE MICHIGAN
HOLDING
"A PERFECT BODY OF WATER"
The Foot
The Arms And Shores
Parts Unknown
Other Extensions
_________________________________________________________________________________
~ Other Names For Walloon Lake; The Lake and The Village ~
Walloon Lake was once known as Bear Lake.
Before it was Bear Lake, however, the lake had an Indian name of Muhqua Nebis, which meant "bear" and "water".
The Village of Walloon Lake "The Foot" was once known as Talcott.
Click HERE to access additional information on this same website about
the local names for Walloon Lake for the lake and the village.
What's in a Name?
Walloon Lake was once known as Bear Lake.
Before it was Bear Lake, however, the lake had an Indian name of Muhqua Nebis, which meant "bear" and "water".
The Village of Walloon Lake "The Foot" was once known as Talcott.
Click HERE to access additional information on this same website about
the local names for Walloon Lake for the lake and the village.
What's in a Name?
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley (18 May 2015)
Photo Above:
Welcome to the World of the Village of Walloon Lake as it sits at
The Foot of a Perfect Body of Water!
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Welcome to the World of the Village of Walloon Lake as it sits at
The Foot of a Perfect Body of Water!
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
To ALL who have a Walloon Lake association,
I pay tribute... by creating this website of a place held close to my heart, a place to stash so many
"WALLOON LAKE MICHIGAN WANDERINGS"
that we wanderers may always find a way back...
~ Karla Howard Buckmaster ~
“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.”
― L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl
I pay tribute... by creating this website of a place held close to my heart, a place to stash so many
"WALLOON LAKE MICHIGAN WANDERINGS"
that we wanderers may always find a way back...
~ Karla Howard Buckmaster ~
“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.”
― L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl
Click PLAY in the upper left corner to view the slideshow below of photos taken 3 December 2024
and submitted by Walloon's own Dawn Sarasin.
The photos below show the Christmas Lights following the FIRST SEASONAL lighting for The Renwick.
HAPPY HOLIDAY 2024 SEASON IN THE VILLAGE OF WALLOON LAKE!
and submitted by Walloon's own Dawn Sarasin.
The photos below show the Christmas Lights following the FIRST SEASONAL lighting for The Renwick.
HAPPY HOLIDAY 2024 SEASON IN THE VILLAGE OF WALLOON LAKE!
A PLACE To Hold Memories
Photo Above: 1909 Photograph Album cover from a booklet of Walloon Lake photographs which Dean (a grandson to Lucy Bacon Wheaton) and Marna Wheaton who have given me permission to post the photos only on this "Walloon Lake Wanderings" website. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
Having walked, or lived, at Walloon Lake and its Village, are eternal experiences. Returning to a setting of extraordinary meaning in Life happens with an irresistible return in the mind; through photos or through memories. The visions become indispensable to one’s well-being; defining the person because of having experienced the essence of Walloon Lake and its Village.
Those memories provoked by the 1960 photo below are epic and to be cherished forever.
Far Side of Road L>R: Post Office dedicated 30 July 1960; Renwick's General Store; Renwick's home, once Sunset Lodge, Antique Store and previous Post Office, Combination Bath House and Rest Room in the Melrose Park.
Lake Side of Road L>R: Si's Marina; Pointy-Roof Building housed various businesses, previously a Post Office; Geodesic "Vacation Domes" for sale; Masters Boat Works; Brower's General Store, previously other named general stores; McCutcheon Boat Works (quonset building); Apartment and Gas Station of Ken and Marion Starr; Sail Inn Grill with Walloon Lake Yacht Club renting lake side of building; Public Beach with raft resting on the beach.
Lake Side of Road L>R: Si's Marina; Pointy-Roof Building housed various businesses, previously a Post Office; Geodesic "Vacation Domes" for sale; Masters Boat Works; Brower's General Store, previously other named general stores; McCutcheon Boat Works (quonset building); Apartment and Gas Station of Ken and Marion Starr; Sail Inn Grill with Walloon Lake Yacht Club renting lake side of building; Public Beach with raft resting on the beach.
(1960s)
A TIME To Remember... Walloon Lake
Walloon Lake as seen from above the Village of Walloon Lake
8 June 2014 ~ Walloon Lake as seen from over the Village of Walloon Lake
Photo Above and Photo Below:
Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
Walloon Lake Location in Relation to Petoskey's US-131 Area
(For orientation Walmart Mall is on the right)
Walloon Lake is on the near horizon area...
5 May 2023 ~ Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
Walloon Lake resembles the popular resort girl.
8 July 1908 ~ The Daily Resorter & Petoskey Evening News
Picturesque Walloon Published 1911
Village of Walloon Lake Zip Code: 49796
Walloon Lake is surrounded by two counties... Charlevoix County and Emmet County.
Walloon Lake is surrounded by five townships... Melrose, Evangeline, Bay, Resort, and Bear Creek.
The Village of Walloon Lake (The Foot) is in Melrose Township.
In 1874 when the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad came through, the stop was named Melrose for MEL ROSE. Mel Rose had been an early local surveyor.
The above township Melrose name according to:
Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More...
Village of Walloon Lake Zip Code: 49796
Walloon Lake is surrounded by two counties... Charlevoix County and Emmet County.
Walloon Lake is surrounded by five townships... Melrose, Evangeline, Bay, Resort, and Bear Creek.
The Village of Walloon Lake (The Foot) is in Melrose Township.
In 1874 when the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad came through, the stop was named Melrose for MEL ROSE. Mel Rose had been an early local surveyor.
The above township Melrose name according to:
Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More...
Location of Walloon Lake on Interactive Google Map
As shown on the map below, it is Highway 75 which runs through the Village of Walloon Lake.
In the beginning this was called the Springvale-Boyne City Road (the state road).
1910 Article Below: In 2024, however, the length of the lake is usually accepted as being about 9 miles long...
23 July 1910 ~ Petoskey Evening News
Article Below: See Picturesque Walloon Lake Before You Die!
18 July 1912 ~ Petoskey Evening News
This private postcard of a map of Walloon Lake hung on the wall of Alva Frank Starr's gas station at "The Foot" of Walloon Lake.
The miles of shoreline listed on the postcard above, at 54 miles is questionable. Most references today put the shoreline in the range of 29 to 30 miles. Also, the only people I know of, or have ever heard of, walking the distance around the shoreline of Walloon Lake are Barb Burns and Pinky McCutcheon (Documented in the local newspaper in photo right, and two photos/texts below). Before the journey, Barb and Pinky's mothers bought them hamburgers for nourishment from Ken and Marion Starr's Sail-Inn Grill right beside the Walloon Lake public beach. Pinky and Barb made the trek at 13 years old, in June of 1956, and stuck to the shoreline except when they came to swamps... and, who could blame them, as the swamps were treacherous. They walked the distance in THREE days!
As of November 2024 the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy notes: "Walloon Lake is a 4,270-acre fresh water lake with 30.3 miles of shoreline and 26,500 acres of watershed (the 'Walloon Watershed') that provides year-round recreational opportunites and idyllic setting for are residents and businesses."
As of November 2024 the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy notes: "Walloon Lake is a 4,270-acre fresh water lake with 30.3 miles of shoreline and 26,500 acres of watershed (the 'Walloon Watershed') that provides year-round recreational opportunites and idyllic setting for are residents and businesses."
Beginning, on the public beach, their trek around Walloon Lake... Barb Burns and Pinky McCutcheon
June 1956 ~ Petoskey News Review
June 1956 ~ Petoskey News Review
6 June 1956 ~ Petoskey News Review
Our 1956 Walk Around Walloon Lake ~ Looking Back From 27 April 2015
"Barb [Burns] and I had no choice but to walk miles out of our way in order to avoid the swamps along Walloon Lake. We would stop when we couldn't walk any further on the shore and hike up hills through fields and woods, then doubling back to the closest reachable point to where we had been forced to leave the shore. The worst was the large swamp at the end of the North Arm. Bear in mind, we started on June 1. The water was very cold on that date. We weren't taking any shortcuts by wading. We waded whenever the woods became too thick and impassable near the shore. The coast still had stretches of undeveloped forest. I still think it was one of the best things we ever did. Although we now know the distance around the lakeshore measures 30.5 miles and officially includes Mud Lake, we walked further. We were a bit worried at the prospect of walking around Mud Lake, but the land around it was flat and not difficult at all, and I'm glad we included it. Our canvas Topsiders served us well even though I recall plenty of blisters." ~ Pinky McCutcheon (27 April 2015)
Walloon Lake holds about 4000 acres of surface water...
plenty of room for water activities, shorelines to fill with cottages and homes to enjoy,
and places of businesses to patronize.
plenty of room for water activities, shorelines to fill with cottages and homes to enjoy,
and places of businesses to patronize.
Used postcard from 1989 of The Foot at Walloon Lake with the North Arm and the West Arm showing... with Lake Michigan at the top of the horizon line
Submitted from the Collection of Ross Renwick (originally from a glass negative)
James C. Whitfield, Sr. (1902 ~ 1992) has written booklets telling about the history of Walloon Lake as he knew it: My "Ancient" History of Walloon (no date), Pre-"Ancient" History of Walloon (written in 1987) and GEMS revised. The information in his booklets is valuable as a preservation of Walloon Lake's history as related to his family, and his memories. Throughout this website, when text is shown in this very color, the information will have been gleaned from the writings and booklets of James C. Whitfield, Sr. The contents of the booklets were submitted by Mary Whitfield Erb, the daughter of James C. Whitfield, Sr., with permission for the text to be printed on this website only.
Barbara (Ice) Smith, wife of Phillip David Smith, wrote her book (published 2011) titled We Took the HIGH Road, about their travels around the world with a long reminiscent chapter dedicated to their time spent on Walloon Lake. Barbara dedicated her book to her descendants of great-grandchildren, grandchildren, and three children: Scott, Deby, and Trammel. The memories written in Barbara’s book could be those memories of all who have come in contact with Walloon Lake. Throughout this website, when text is shown in this very color, the information will have been gleaned from the writings of Barbara Smith. The content of her book was submitted by Scott Smith, the son of Barbara and Phillip Smith, with permission for the text and photos to be printed on this website only.
Barbara's Wilhoit grandparents were Charles C. 1875-1950 and Lou "Wisehart" Wilhoit 1874-1956. Their daughter Catharine Elmira Wilhoit 1898-1975 married Trammel Morton Ice 1895-1976. Catharine and Trammel Ice were the parents of son Dick b.1923 and daughter Barbara Ice 1925-2011 who married Phillip David Smith 1922-2007.
Barbara's Wilhoit grandparents were Charles C. 1875-1950 and Lou "Wisehart" Wilhoit 1874-1956. Their daughter Catharine Elmira Wilhoit 1898-1975 married Trammel Morton Ice 1895-1976. Catharine and Trammel Ice were the parents of son Dick b.1923 and daughter Barbara Ice 1925-2011 who married Phillip David Smith 1922-2007.
Mildred Burns, a longtime Walloon Lake resident, typed six pages about the history of Walloon Lake and nearby Clarion, submitted by her daughters Barb and Cindy. The history was titled "Pioneer Days in Melrose Township" with material gather by Mildred Burns in April 1954. Mildred and husband Frank "Burt" Burns contributed many of their own talents to the community through both Boy and Girl Scout leading, preparing a community skating rink, and machine shop activities. Their son Irvin, in 2024 owns the same machine shop of his father Burt, still located in the village. Throughout this website, when text is shown in this very color of purple, the information will have been gleaned from the writings of Mildred Burns. Mildred credited the assistance of the following people: "Zola Easton Matthew, Lily Laurie Jones, Maude Teachout Kleinhans, Estella Jones Gould, Grace (Dott) Todd Goodwin, Ray Goodwin, Gerald Fineout (Supervisor Melrose Township), Orpha Corey (Clerk Melrose Township), Allen Sherk, Jean Clouden Moreau, Ralph Van Saw, Mrs. Noble Olds, Mrs. Alfred E. Hass.
RECENT WEBSITE ADDITION: Walloon Lake resident Dawn Sarasin is providing photos of the construction progress of the Renwick Building to be posted as a slideshow, continuously to be updated. The slideshow of The Renwick Building progress can be accessed by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom of the web page.
Any viewers of this website with comments, or photos to submit,
PLEASE contact this web master by clicking HERE.
Explore the various topics on the menu at the top of this web page.
PLEASE contact this web master by clicking HERE.
Explore the various topics on the menu at the top of this web page.
~ Click on any individual photo on this entire website to make it larger for better viewing. ~
~ A word search from your own computer is possible on each individual page of this website. ~
~ Click on highlighted words to be directed to more information about the topic. ~
All photos on this website were taken by, or are in the collection of, Karla Howard Buckmaster,
unless otherwise noted.
Please do not copy the photos on this site,
many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2014.
~ A word search from your own computer is possible on each individual page of this website. ~
~ Click on highlighted words to be directed to more information about the topic. ~
All photos on this website were taken by, or are in the collection of, Karla Howard Buckmaster,
unless otherwise noted.
Please do not copy the photos on this site,
many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2014.
IF you enjoy this Walloon Lake Wanderings website,
I, Karla Buckmaster, have created three other similar style websites
filled with local photos and text, historical and otherwise...
(CLICK ON LINK BELOW)
Chandler Township Michigan Memories
Charlevoix Emmet History ~ Honoring the Military
Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
I, Karla Buckmaster, have created three other similar style websites
filled with local photos and text, historical and otherwise...
(CLICK ON LINK BELOW)
Chandler Township Michigan Memories
Charlevoix Emmet History ~ Honoring the Military
Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
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