Life in Omena

Roch Tabernshaski farming his land. Photo taken by Oscar Shugart In the late 1800’s. Courtesy of Leelanau Historical Society It’s true! Omena once had a resident hermit. His name was Roch Tabernshaski and he lived somewhere between Suttons Bay and Omena in a “tiny house in the ground” near the railroad tracks with his “family”, a cow named Czarina, and bull named Czar, and an occasional calf. Roch wasn’t your usual hermit however. He spoke 7 languages and was an expert in eastern European History. He attended church regularly and had a “perfect baritone voice”. So why was he here? … Read More »

Jack Stephenson, Teddy Larraber, and Cl. Clark prepare to launch their motorboat. (Courtesy Omena Historical Society) They just go together. Always have, always will. While most of the early cottagers come to Omena for rest and relaxation, the boys needed challenges and boats provided that. Everyone had rowboats and canoes, but the lucky ones had motorboats. They leaked, and the engines were unreliable, and you had to pull on the starter cord for a half hour or so to get them started. They would get you to where you wanted to go all right, and then break in the rough… Read More »

Versey sits in the midst of some of his summer friends. Standing on the left is Charlie “Doc” Carmichael, with Vin Moore standing on the right. Seated to Versey’s left are Fritz Vogt, Waldo Abbot, Ted Wohnegemuth, and Stan Moore. The others are unknown. – Courtesy of Omena Historical Society Versey Legg was a cheerful, rotund man who seemed to know and be known by everybody in Omena. According to Vin Moore, standing on the right in the photo above, Versey loved to play the piano while Vin’s father sang on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the summer. They did… Read More »

Omena in the 1920’s. Photo Credit Omena Historical Society When my two boys were growing up in Northport in the late 70’s, the theme song of the Dukes of Hazzard, the long running well loved TV show, was the background music for our lives. My boys idolized Bo and Luke Duke and their customized 1969 Dodge Charger named General Lee which they leaped into to evade the corrupt law officers Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. Bo and Luke Duke, who lived in a rural area too, were on probation for moonshine running. Perhaps that is why the stories… Read More »

This is John and Bills house with the sawmill on the left where they made their fish boxes and cherry lugs. Beyond the house is a garage, ice house, and dock shed. The Eclipse is alongside the dock, ready to make another run out into Grand Traverse Bay. Every so often while the two of us were building our cottage in the 1970’s from an old barn, an old man would come up the hill and sit on a stump or a pile of wood and quietly watch. After a few years, when we were putting on the barn wood… Read More »

Traverse Bay Line – Photo Courtesy of Steven Kelsch, Grand Traverse Bay, USA, Then and Now There are so many boats out on Omena Bay this summer. Everyone wants to be out on the water it seems. In years past, people also wanted to be out on the water, but few had boats. Instead, they crowded aboard ships like the MANISTIQUE, MARQUETTE, AND NORTHERN NO1, the Northport car ferry docked here at Omena’s Anderson Dock. This was a special charter, passengers only, and plenty of people showed up. The men enjoying their watermelon below are not crew members but migrants,… Read More »

The circa 1940 ice cream fountain Once upon a time Anderson’s Ice cream fountain was the place to go in the summertime. Today that spot is our Post office, and also is where everyone goes just about every day. But back when it was an Ice Cream Parlor, there were marble topped tables with twisted iron legs and chairs to match. The soda bar was topped with marble and faced with oak. Every dish had a special use, and each topping was clearly displayed for all to see. The tall flaring soda glasses were in metal containers with handles. Silver… Read More »

On warm summer afternoons long ago, an old organ would be wheeled from the Lay cottage on Ingalls Bay to the end of the long cement walk and Mrs. Lay would play the organ. People from all along the beach would paddle their canoes up and gather on the Lay’s beach and enjoy singing or just listening to the organ. I kind of wish someone would do that now. Credit Bill Graf, Omena A Place In Time

These ladies wading in Omena Bay circa 1920 were just happy to get their feet wet! Courtesy Kay Harris, Omena, a Place in Time In 1910 the Jantzen swimwear company featured swimwear featuring a tank-top sleeve and mid-calf shorts peeking out below an attached overskirt. It was made of a tight knit that clung to your body when it got wet. It was to be worn with socks, shoes, and a hat. Who could swim in such a thing?

Ferry – Anderson dock, which was across from the public swimming beach. All that is left of the old Anderson Dock is below water, the pilings covered by the high water. Once upon a time the dock was the center of commerce in Omena. Passengers came and went from it, goods were delivered to the Anderson Store from it, and lumber went on board taking its place. The Manistique, Marquette and Northern No1 were car ferries out of Northport, but occasionally they would take on a special charter and carry passengers only as in the photo above. Imagine the excitement… Read More »