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
Although the flag of 1851, the year of the first Fourth of July in Northport, had 31 stars, Sprague mentions thirteen stars. This flag looks home-made and has, as near as I can count, 31 stars. Gathering up in Northport, whether for Fireworks, band concerts, or other celebrations over the Fourth of July, has been a tradition since the very beginning here. According to a 1903 book entitled Sprague’s History of Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties, on the first 4th of July in 1851 “it was decided that it was proper to hoist the national colors and celebrate ‘Independence Day’.”… Read More »
Local hotel owners created mythical sites for their guests to explore, like Shob-Wah-Sung’s Grave, which drew on the area’s Indian heritage (ca. 1905). – Courtesy of the Omena Historical Society There was once an old Indian Chief, who had a “pipe of peace” that he highly prized. This Peace Pipe, or Calumet, was something to behold. The stem was flat and over three feet long. It was engraved on both sides with strange Indian characters, each character of which had a meaning. The chief had used the pipe many times at the Indian peace councils. In fact, when the United… Read More »
Soon our young people will be heading off to college. It is an exciting time for them, and a time of mixed emotions for their parents. At least we can get them there safely. Headed for College In 1852, it was a different story for Rev. George N. Smith and his wife in Northport. Their son, George had been home schooled, and now was headed to Olivet College with his sister where he would be for the next 6 years. Twice during this time George made the journey from Northport to Grand Rapids or back on foot. Alone. Walking. Carrying… Read More »
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?
Anyone coming into Leelanau County on M-22 during the 1918-19 pandemic was stopped at the township line by Mary Frazier Freeland for a health assessment. The township line was conveniently right in front of Mary’s home at Freeland Road. March was National Woman’s History Month, and we celebrated Mary. Mary was one of the first 9 women to work in an Army Battlefield Hospital tent in the Spanish American war. Not only did she nurse most of the county during the 1918 pandemic, but she also founded the Omena Women’s Club in 1915, one of the state’s oldest women’s clubs…. Read More »
There once were three Indian Boarding Schools in Michigan. The last to close was Holy Childhood of Jesus School in Harbor Springs in 1983. They began in the late 19th and mid-20th centuries as a way to force Native American children to be more like white settlers. At the same time providing a basic education. In recent times to remove them from homes where alcoholism and poverty were a problem. There are people who live in our area who were sent to Holy Child in the 1970’s. They still suffer today from the physical and mental abuse received there. Someone… Read More »
If you walk around the side of the little old church in Omena, you come to an overgrown cemetery. And if you look for it, you will see a beautiful little headstone that says, “Frank A. Morgan, Son of J. D. and A. G. Morgan, Died Feb. 16, 1863: Age 9 yrs. 4 mos.”. There is a beautiful little rose carved above Frankie’s name. Who was little Frankie Morgan? In 1852 before Frankie was born, his parents moved here at the same time. Rev. Dougherty moved to Omena with his band of Indians. However, Jessie and Ann settled in Northport… Read More »
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 »
This photo is labeled “Stan BAM”. “Omena Dock”. Photo credit Omena Historical Society. – Stan (Stanley) Moore and Blanche Anderson Moore (BAM or Bamboo) are likely candidates. The old dock was closed in 2021. In need of repairs and deemed not safe, it stood a testament to what once was. This old dock has a long history. Reverend Peter Dougherty noted in the fall of 1851 that the site of the present OTYC dock would be a “good landing”. He sketched a possible path from that landing to his mission site as “good for road”. In the 1890’s the Hotel… Read More »
