Dickinson photos capture Lakeshore’s beauty
By Chloe Gribbin
Sun contributor
The photos mounted on the walls of the Dickinson photo gallery on M-109 are an obvious attraction to those wandering the streets of Glen Arbor. The prints range from black and white to hand tinted, and offer beautiful scenes around the Glen Arbor and Empire area — both vintage and modern views.
But these photographs, while extraordinary, are not mere wall ornaments. They represent a history unique to this corner of the earth. They are documents of the change, the natural beauty, and the utter splendor that is the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.
And thanks to the late Fred Dickinson and his daughter Grace Dickinson-Johnson, both locals and tourists can now begin to appreciate the area in which we are so lucky to live and vacation.
Dickinson was born in 1907 in Hinsdale, Ill., where he spent his time until his grandfather built a summer cottage in 1912 on Little Glen Lake. Dickinson would then ride, and later photograph, the steamships that traveled between Chicago’s Navy Pier and Leelanau County. As he grew, so did his love for this area. He started to see things with an artist’s eye — so much so that after attending the University of Colorado, Dickinson designed and built a home of his own just across the road from the original family cottage.
Throughout the years, he explored and photographed the landscape that he loved and cherished. Dickinson also created a collection of photographs of the Dune Rides, documenting drivers, cars, and riders — then an exciting tourist attraction, now an historical compilation. Dickinson’s other photo themes include more historical, well-preserved shots of the Glen Lakes and the surrounding areas from both traditional views and isolated spots he discovered during his explorations.
As if this gift of his was not enough of a contribution to his community, Dickinson also found time to create two hand-drawn maps of Leelanau County and the Glen Lakes, as well as purchase and run the Leelanau Enterprise from 1943-1949 with his wife Julia. Two trips to Europe were also taken, where he visited Rome and Athens. Naturally, he documented his travels through his photographs, many of which he enlarged and hand colored.
In addition to being an artist, a writer and a builder, Dickinson was also a father of three. His son took interest in physics, which became his college major, and his daughter took passionately to literature and teaching.
“My brother is the scientist of the family, and my sister was the literary (figure) out of the three of us,” said Dickinson’s second daughter, Grace. “I took after Dad.”
And indeed she did. Grace Dickinson-Johnson is now the proud owner of the new gallery in downtown Glen Arbor, as well as a profound photographer herself. She recalls her father’s work, as she helped and played alongside him during her childhood.
“I can still smell the chemicals he used to develop prints in his darkroom, and I remember seeing the wet paper hanging on screens to dry — all spread across the basement floor,” says Grace after she describes a photo of her as a young girl, hanging up reject prints on her own makeshift clothesline.
Grace produces her own photographs now, but continues to do so with her father in mind. Her love of the county and her artistic eye are irreplaceable gifts given to her from her father — an extremely special connection only shared between two artists.
Talking and examining the photographs of both Dickinsons not only made me realize the singular exceptionality and wonder of this area, but also rejuvenated me to go out and photograph some of my own special spots around the lakeshores and Bluff faces. As Dickinson’s photos show, this place is in a constant state of change as it tries to keep up with the world.
Grace realizes this, as well as how special her father’s talents were. “How do you know which exposure to use on the enlarger?” she would ask of Dickinson, among other questions as she learned from him.
“Just by feeling,” he would respond, proving that some things can’t simply be taught, but must be observed and absorbed through passion and dedication.
Dickinson’s photos can be found alongside his daughter’s on the walls of the Glen Arbor gallery she continues in his memory. An opening reception will be held the weekend of July 30–31 from 6-10 p.m. at the Glen Arbor Art Association, located at 6000 Pine Street in Glen Arbor.