In the shade of the old locusts at lovely Dorsey Park on Little Glen Lake lies the original Dorsey cabin. Built around 1860, it’s one of the oldest structures, if not the oldest building, in Leelanau County. On any given day, from April to October, you might find the cabin door open. There, you’ll see an 83-year-old man working at his scroll saw, creating beautiful, ornate items. He gives away everything he makes.
Join the Leelanau Historical Society for its next program, Wrecks and Rescues of the Manitou Passage, on Wednesday, July 18, at 4 p.m. The Leelanau Historical Society is located at 203 E. Cedar Street in Leland.
Ann Arbor-based Sleeping Bear Press has published a children’s picture book titled Nature’s Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story. The author, St. Paul, Minn.-based Lindsey McDivitt, has been promoting the book this month with appearances in Traverse City and Petoskey.
Do you have any memorabilia about the Leelanau County Poor Farm? Share your memories with the Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society during two upcoming Discovery Days: Saturday, July 14, and Saturday, July 28, both events from 10 a.m. until noon at the Kasson Township Hall (10988 S. Newman Rd., near Maple City).
On July 18-19, the Glen Lake Yacht Club (GLYC) will host the annual Butterfly Nationals sailing regatta, which brings together both junior and adult sailors from all over the nation. This is the third time that the GLYC hosts the event. Both the regatta and GLYC have rich traditions and history, and for decades have played a large part of life “Up North” for hundreds of families.
Who knew?! No one imagined that an idea hatched on bar stools at Art’s Tavern (the source of many brilliant ideas) by Bob Sutherland and me over 30 years ago would live so long.
“I’m flattered to be the Grand Marshal in this year’s parade,” says Bonnie Quick. “I thought it was only for famous old people,” she chuckles. Bonnie, at age 70, is the Glen Arbor Township Clerk, and has been since 1988, following two years as Deputy Clerk.
Here’s a little-known, fishy fact: back in the 1960s, some kids would throw fish chubs, not candy, in the Leland Fourth of July parade. John Watkins remembers sitting on Steffens & Stallman’s parade float and handing out smoked chub to people along the route. “One year we sat in the dump truck and just threw it out to people,” Watkins laughed.
Historic Sleeping Bear (formerly named Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear) celebrates its 20th anniversary as a partner of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore working to preserve and interpret the historic structures, landscapes, and heritage of the National Lakeshore.
The Poor Farm Barn near Maple City, saved by the Leelanau County Historical Preservation Society, gets help from community partners including Buckets of Rain.