The Glen Arbor Sun caught up recently with Clay Carlson, a fifth generation son of Leland fishermen whose paintings capture the legacy of historic Fishtown. We asked Clay about his family history in Leland and the importance of fishing for each generation, what Fishtown means to him, what inspires his paintings and what they tell us about the history of Leelanau.
Leland was established on the site of one of the oldest and largest Ottawa villages. These peoples migrated to the Great Lakes region around 1200 CE. Today, this charming town is a top tourist destination and has been for many years.
Leland Gal Maggie Revel Mielczarek will temporarily move her creative fabrics and designer thread shop from Fishtown to the corner of River & Main in the heart of Leland. The new open-air market, dubbed “Leland Gal Under the Arbor” is the result of support from Benjamin Maier Ceramics and Dawn Fisher of River & Main. Mielczarek will set up and tear down each day and remain open daily from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., except when it rains.
Cherry Republic will open all six of its Michigan stores this weekend. Cherry Public House, the restaurant and brewpub on the flagship Glen Arbor campus will open Friday from noon until 8 p.m. and hold those hours through the following week. Cherry Republic may extend hours for Memorial weekend. Check out our interview with Cherry Republic president Bob Sutherland about the decision to reopen now, what will be different about the shopping experience, and the biggest hurdles he, his family and his staff have had to overcome during the coronavirus pandemic.
Following news that the popular Cheese Shanty lunch joint in Leland’s historic Fishtown is closing early this year due to high water levels, Fishtown Preservation executive director Amanda Holmes issued wanted the public to know that Fishtown remains open. She wrote the following letter on Wednesday, Oct. 2:
June swelled Lake Michigan by another 4 inches which is bad news for Megan Grosvenor Munoz, whose family owns and operates Manitou Island Transit. The company ferries passengers on pleasure tours to the Manitou Islands out of Leland. This spring and summer, they’ve had to cancel four or five trips, Munoz says, “because we can’t get people on South [Manitou] safely” due to water splashing over the dock on the island.”
Leland’s annual 2019 Friends of Fishtown 5K will be held Saturday, July 20, at 9 am in Historic Fishtown. Starting and finishing in Fishtown, the route takes participants through the beautiful streets of Leland, and along the Leland River.
“Although the water coming from over the (Leland Dam in Fishtown) is forceful, it’s not the real cause of the floods,” Leelanau County drain commissioner Steve Christensen told the Glen Arbor Sun. “When you look at the forces involved, the flooding is from Lake Michigan-Huron.”
Safety issues due to rising waters has forced Leland’s Fishtown Preservation Society (FPS) to cancel its June 21 “Shanty Aid” kickoff fundraiser. Ironically, the event was to be a benefit to save Fishtown from rising water. Meanwhile, the water continues to rise, threatening shanties and docks.
On Thursday, May 9, a series of seiches impacted Fishtown, dramatically raising the Leland River. Seiches are common but the higher water levels this year make the docks and shanties more likely to flood.