If you want to learn about the history of our area, read locally written books. In fact, that is a wonderful way to research any local history in any area. So much color, stories that may have otherwise been long forgotten are found within old cheaply bound books that local libraries and museums treasure. I was even able to discover a possible photograph that included Civil War veterans of the area, possibly including the only known photograph of Frank Martin, my husband's great-great-grandfather! (This same photo is featured in another later book, "Images of Benzie County" by Thomas Bevier.)
I have already mentioned Blacklock's "History of Elberta" in my writings here. It is an essential book in our house, proof of the Frankfort story and full of history of the car ferries and trains. I am given to understand that Mr. Blacklock had file cabinets full of things that had to do with Elberta, the car ferries and trains, and more. I wonder what has happened to all that information? I hope and pray it wasn't destroyed or damaged with storage.
Railroads and car ferries or shipping of any kind relate to the story that changed everything for us here in Benzie County. It was an idea to bring shipping or at least a passenger trade into Crystal Lake that caused a chain of events which didn't quite turn out the way planned.
This year we grieve for one of Benzie County's historians, Leonard Case. It is strange to think of the Cherry Hut and our county both being without him, but there is much to remember him by. Much of our local history has been recorded by the Case family over the years. Quite a bit of it was also made by the Case family.
It was Leonard who gathered up information for a series published in the local newspaper, which was bound in book form under the title "The Crystal Gazer" after the series name. He also compiled the centennial reader from the Beulah centennial in 1958, and revised that and expanded on it for the Bicentennial Reader published in 1976.
The Archibald Jones Day celebrations held every other year on even years celebrates the fellow remembered in the classic book, "The Tragedy of Crystal Lake" written by Mr W. L. Case, and was submitted as a serial for the local paper during the Beulah Centennial in 1958. Hey, it is an even year this year! Ole Arch's failure is the reason there are such beautiful beaches around Crystal Lake, the reason for Beulah, and for the roads that go around the lake so we can see her in all her beauty!
Just recently another book was published that exposes more of the whys and wherefores, including what the success of Archibald Jones's plan would have done to our area. There are many maps and photographs included in this new book that I had never seen before! It is well researched, and fun to read. The fellow who authored it, Dr Stacy Leroy Daniels, represents good ole Archibald in the biannual event mentioned above. A review of his book is here and another here. The "Tragedy of Crystal Lake" made it seem like Mr. Archibald Jones didn't have much of a brain, probably the general idea at the time. This newer book explains the engineering and planning that went into the idea for the channel, and why the plan failed so badly. It really opened my eyes!
Where others may have turned tail and run in disgrace from such a terrible error of judgement, Archibald Jones simply went on with his life, moving away to Emporia, Kansas, where he became "a most esteemed citizen". I wonder, if he could see the beauty around Crystal Lake since the draining occurred, what would he have thought?
Railroads and car ferries or shipping of any kind relate to the story that changed everything for us here in Benzie County. It was an idea to bring shipping or at least a passenger trade into Crystal Lake that caused a chain of events which didn't quite turn out the way planned.
This year we grieve for one of Benzie County's historians, Leonard Case. It is strange to think of the Cherry Hut and our county both being without him, but there is much to remember him by. Much of our local history has been recorded by the Case family over the years. Quite a bit of it was also made by the Case family.
It was Leonard who gathered up information for a series published in the local newspaper, which was bound in book form under the title "The Crystal Gazer" after the series name. He also compiled the centennial reader from the Beulah centennial in 1958, and revised that and expanded on it for the Bicentennial Reader published in 1976.
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| To learn about this and other notable houses in Benzie County, read "Historic Structures in Benzonia-Beulah" vol 1. It is kind of ironic that the Cherry Hut outlet store is on the top of Benzonia Hill nearly right across from the Archibald Jones home. |
The Archibald Jones Day celebrations held every other year on even years celebrates the fellow remembered in the classic book, "The Tragedy of Crystal Lake" written by Mr W. L. Case, and was submitted as a serial for the local paper during the Beulah Centennial in 1958. Hey, it is an even year this year! Ole Arch's failure is the reason there are such beautiful beaches around Crystal Lake, the reason for Beulah, and for the roads that go around the lake so we can see her in all her beauty!
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| The photo on the cover is of a moonlit canoe ride on Crystal Lake near the outlet. How peaceful! |
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| Map taken from Crystal Lake Township's website |
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| Google Maps shows why a waterway between Lake Michigan and Crystal Lake might have worked. The path wasn't through the dunes at the end of Crystal nearest to Lake Michigan, but a pathway through to Betsie Bay, lower down. |
