Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear celebrates 25 years of preservation in the Park
By Sandra Serra Bradshaw
Sun contributor
From nearly abandoned and forgotten, the historic Katie Shepard Hotel, formerly known as “The Beeches,” on North Manitou Island is being preserved by Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB). The hotel was constructed in 1895 and has been given a chance at a productive new life. The non-profit group, partner of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore since 1998, has been busy at the hotel preservation from 2009–2019, and returning this year to resume its work on this historic hotel.
“It is our vision to reopen the hotel that drives our passion,” said Susan Pocklington, executive director of PHSB. That same passion has kept them going back, 10 days a summer, on the 12-mile boat trip between North Manitou Island and the mainland at Fishtown’s Leland Harbor. “Saving the History—Telling the Story” is this group’s motto.
North Manitou Island, which along with South Manitou are part of the National Lakeshore, was just a one-day boat ride from Chicago, allowing for a convenient getaway escape for those wanting respite from the hot, dusty city. The cottage (which became the Katie Shepard Hotel), was built on the east side of the island as part of Cottage Row. It was situated on Lot 1 in what was then a row of 10 lots on a bluff with spectacularly spell-binding views overlooking Lake Michigan and the Manitou Passage. This large, two story, shingle-style structure was originally built for the wife of William Shepard and her daughter Katherine, who was popularly referred to on the island as “Miss Katie.”
“The lane feels nostalgic as historic pictures of women in long dresses come to life in my mind—of women and families who spent their days in the cool breezes of the lake far from the city’s noise and heat,” said Pocklington. “As I walk toward the Katie Shepard Hotel, I almost see the women smiling at me from their porches, greeting a visitor to their enchanted island.”
After the dining hall at the northern end of Cottage Row closed around 1900, Katie converted her cottage into a summer hotel in 1908. There she offered meals to summer residents in a detached kitchen and dining hall. “That was a part of why the Katie Shepard Hotel was so popular,” Pocklington remarked. After more than two decades of Miss Katie running the hotel and dining room, poor health forced her to discontinue the business in the early 1930s. After that, the house was used as a summer cottage and then as a home base for deer hunters.
As PHSB celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, one can’t help but reflect on the tremendous amount of work it has accomplished on the hotel. “Our project on the hotel this year includes replacing both sets of porch steps, cleaning and staining upstairs walls, repairing the porch railing, sanding and refinishing upstairs floors, and some touch up exterior painting,” said Pocklington. “This recent three-day trip focused primarily on one set of porch steps and some of the painting. The remainder will be done in our August 16-24 workshop.”
While the Katie Shepard Hotel’s various prior owners and keepers performed general upkeep throughout its years of use, by the time PHSB began to undertake its restoration in 2009, the building had fallen into profound disrepair. Rather than a comfy northern getaway, it became a just wander-in-free-home hotel for bats, raccoons, and other creatures living on this near-wilderness island.
“We submitted a proposal to the Park in 2021 to use the Katie Shepard for rustic accommodations,” said Bill Herd, board chair for PHSB and former interpretive ranger for Sleeping Bear Dunes for more than 30 years. “We plan to use the first floor to accommodate six individuals. Basically, it is one step above rustic camping. The accommodations are meant to be in keeping within the wilderness island setting out on North Manitou Island.
“Being able to offer this type of accommodation will broaden the opportunities for others to get out there and enjoy the island. Not everyone can experience nor afford the whole backpack experience. Basically, it will give island access to a broader range of people without changing the wilderness character of North Manitou Island. It is absolutely gorgeous out there on the island.”
Besides the Katie Shepard Hotel, PHSB has more than 300 historic structures and cultural landscapes within the Park it helps to preserve. As the Park’s primary purpose for being established was to preserve only the natural features of the landscape within its boundaries, many of the buildings in and around the Park began to decay and were sadly torn down. In the early years, the Park had planned to demolish two thirds of the historic structures located in the Lakeshore. Concerned local citizens organized to advocate for the preservation. PHSB was formed to assist with the preservation of these historic structures and was instrumental in changing the Park’s direction to one of preservation.
Many of the repair and preservation projects, including the Katie Shepard Hotel, are completed with private funds, grants, donations and foundation awards. PHSB helps to save these vital parts of local history by raising funds, and ever so importantly, by organizing a volunteer labor force that aids in both educational and preservation efforts.
“Katie has been a favorite project of many PHSB volunteers. One of the reasons is that it is a truly magnificent building,” said volunteer Karen Wells of Muskegon. “Katie has been a favorite project for many of us. She’s a beautiful building with a lot of great woodwork … in a beautiful setting overlooking the Manitou Passage.”
Volunteers are always welcomed and needed. “As always, our volunteer crew did excellent work and Casey Reynolds did a great job of leading the project.” They don’t have to have a particular skill to help,” said Pocklington. “We can put all to work!”
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear has plans to celebrate its 25-year anniversary in July at its headquarters at the Olsen Farm in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. PHSB operates the Port Oneida Heritage Center and welcomes visitors five days a week. The group is also hosting “Log Cabin Days” on June 25 at the same location. To make a donation visit PHSB.org: To volunteer: email phsbassistant@gmail.com or call 231-334-6103.
