Lou Batori, Glen Arbor’s centenarian who was born in Budapest, survived the Russian advance during World War I, immigrated to the United States in 1929, made his career as a successful engineer, and downhill skied and motorcycled into his 100s, has died at age 107.
The beach house overlooking North Bar Lake’s channel to Lake Michigan will be demolished in 2018, says Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore deputy superintendent Tom Ulrich. The home has gone from beautiful to derelict in the two years since its original owner, Edward P. Cole, died. Why will it be torn down and not used for some other purpose? And why was Cole able to stay in his home all this time, when many other land owners literally cried at having to give theirs up when the Park was formed. Here’s the story of what happened and why it’s coming down.
The Empire Area Museum Complex celebrates Heritage Day at the museum on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 1-4 p.m. A repeat feature this year include the fantastic collection of handmade Faberge type eggs made in Empire in the 1970s by Helen Witt. A must see.
At one time, it was lovely and serene. “We begin in a peaceful place in the woods among the tall timber and wildflowers of Leelanau County,” wrote author Leonard G. Overmyer in his 1999 book Forest Haven Soldiers: The Civil War Veterans of Glen Lake & Surrounding Leelanau. “A site, by Forest Haven Road and M-22, where lies the old Glen Arbor Township Cemetery. It was used primarily in the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s for the early pioneers of the area. This quiet location holds the final resting-place of several Civil War soldiers.”
Jeff Katofsky, who purchased Sugar Loaf resort last November, will return to Leelanau County on Friday, Oct. 20, and meet with the public at 11 a.m. at the Leelanau County Government Center where he will field questions about the path forward for the long-shuttered ski resort.
The “poor farm barn” is the last remnant of what was once a haven for Leelanau County’s indigent residents who worked there raising crops, chickens and cattle in return for a place to live.
Many school groups from Traverse City and Leelanau traveled to Innisfree on Pyramid Point for environmental education. The fifth or sixth grade students stayed for four nights at the camp within the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. The program operated all year round within sight of the Manitou Passage. Students were led on beach hikes and woods hikes by a crack team of naturalists. In the winter snowshoe hikes and ski trips. Canoe trips on the Crystal River was a staple activity as were “get lost” hikes.
Archie Miller, a cantankerous Mack truck of a man who would walk calmly past the “No Indians” sign in the Hotel Northern, spent decades of his life in the Manitou Straits. He was a caretaker of the lighthouse, a lumberjack and one of the most sought-after hunting and fishing guides.
What is Native American Dancing? This question was put to me and I was asked to explain it. What I will speak of is the Hank Bailey version of Pow Wow Dancing. … The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians holds their annual pow wow Aug. 19-20 in Peshawbestown. Visit GTBIndians.org for more information.
With the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Port Oneida Fair coming up this weekend, folks might notice that the landmark little white schoolhouse just off the junction of M-22 and Port Oneida Road looks better than it did a few years ago.