Chocolay Township History Then And
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n ... I ' J r ' l r ' r ) J l I : J J; J' ' J. On the cover: this photograph was taken on top of the "Rock Cut" on March 6, 2008 at 11 :00 a.m. by Tom Shaw. In response to why this place, Tom answered: "Exercise, fresh air, beauty, quiet time with Him, to step back and look at the big picture and because I can. The best short answer is that I love it. The view brings me back to simpler times." CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP . .. Just the combination of those two words CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP brings some vision to your mind. It may be the one on the cover of this booklet or any of the various scenes throughout the other pages. All of them are special to someone, but whatever picture comes to your mind and the fact that you are reading this booklet reinforces that this is a special place for you. As you read this historical writing, I just want to join you in thanking the dozens of people who made it possible. First the township board located a woman, Elizabeth Delene who had the gift for writing and arranging the many contributions that came her way. Elizabeth, thank you for making the time to put these facts in a very readable form! Next on the list of volunteers is Cathy Phelps from the township office. She went above and beyond the call of duty to solicit information and assist Elizabeth in putting together this manuscript. A local committee of Lula Sarka, Elry Reetz, Marilyn Heitman, and Ben Mukkala were ever ready to assist joined together to read the facts, and add comments and reach out for additional information to make this a factual, fascinating piece. Jack Menhennick, Sandra Salo and Jean Paquette also helped put this together. We hope you can appreciate their efforts. The Charter Township of Chocolay is the legal name for the location of our buildings, the form of government that leads our group, but the township is really the people. It begins with you and I who are here today. Our ancestors who lead the way in the past and then there are those who will be here in the future to continue to lay the course. For your part let me say 'thank you!' Our township board was just a "small cog in the wheel" as it progressed through the years. Av~ E. f(a.L, CMC Charter Township of Chocolay Board 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE FOUNDING OF CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP .......................................................... .! CHOCOLAY AREA SAWMILLS ......................................................................................... 9 A FIRE IN 1863 ........................................................................................................ 12 THE PANIC OF 1873 ............................................................................................... 12 THE 1880 BOOM ..................................................................................................... 13 A LOOK BACK AT FARMING ..................................................................................... 15 EARLY DAIRIES ..................................................................................................... 16 HILLCREST DAIRY "AKA" RANTA'S FARM .................................................... 17 AGRI-BUSINESS LEADER LAWRENCE EWING ............................................... 18 DEL MEISTER'S MEMORIES ............................................................................... 21 THE HEITMAN FARM ........................................................................................... 24 The BILLINGS HOMESTEAD ................................................................................ 25 FARM of LEO & LENA WEIGER .......................................................................... 26 HISTORY OF WILLOW FARM .............................................................................. 26 CHURCHES, SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS .......................................................... 29 CHURCHES .............................................................................................................. 29 ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERN CHURCH ........................................................ 29 ST. LOUIS THE KING PARISH .......................................................................................... 30 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH ..................................................................... 31 SCHOOLS ................................................................................................................. 32 TEACHER AT THE HARVEY SCHOOL ........................................................................... 33 LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA ............................... 35 SCHOOL MEMORIES ......................................................................................................... 36 ORGANIZATIONS .................................................................................................. 38 HARVEY HOMEMAKERS ................................................................................................. 38 CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP LIONS CLUB ........................................................................... 40 CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP & 4-H IN THE 1960'S ............................................................ 41 CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP BOY SCOUTS ......................................................................... 42 CHOCOLAY GARDEN CLUB ........................................................................................... 43 BUSINESSES OF YESTERYEAR ................................................................................ .45 REMINISCENCES OF PARENTS STORE & CHOCOLAY ................................. 46 The HARVEY INN & BAYOU BAR & GRILL. ..................................................... 47 THELARK ............................................................................................................... 49 BURNS AND LANG DRIVE-IN ROOTBEER STAND ......................................... 49 JOHNNY'S CONEY ISLAND ................................................................................. 50 HISTORY OF DELARYE'S STORE & GAS STATION ....................................... 51 TRUDEAU PLUMBING AND HEATING .............................................................. 52 PIZZA & REAL ESTATE ........................................................................................ 53 SUMMERS FAMILY A & W RESTAURANT ....................................................... 53 LaRUE'S TOWN & COUNTRY MARKET ............................................................ 54 BUSINESSES OF TODAY ................................ , ............................................................ 56 L. BLONDEAU & SONS TRUCKING, INC ........................................................... 56 11 , I TRAVELODGE OF MARQUETTE ........................................................................ 58 SHAW'S SERVICE STATION ................................................................................ 59 BOB LaJEUNESSE, Sr., & LaJEUNESSE TRUCKING and EXCAVATING ....... 60 KASSEL'S KORNER ............................................................................................... 61 WAHLSTROM'S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE ..................................................... 61 B & G HEATING & PLUMBING, INC ................................................................... 63 FRACO CONCRETE PRODUCTS .......................................................................... 63 MARQUETTE VETERINARY CLINIC, P.C .......................................................... 64 TRUDELL PLUMBING AND HEATING .............................................................. 64 RANGE BANK, HARVEY BRANCH..................................................................... 65 WALT'S AUTO SERVICE ...................................................................................... 65 RACINE'S AUTO SALES AND REPAIR .............................................................. 66 ANDY GRIFFIN CONSTRUCTION, INC .............................................................. 67 PAUL GERRISH, DDS ............................................................................................ 67 JACK'S SUPERSERV .............................................................................................. 68 OUTDOOR VENTURES TAXIDERMY ................................................................. 68 SNYDERS DRUG STORE ....................................................................................... 69 BILL LAMBERT CONTRACTING, INC. & BUILDING SALES ......................... 69 "STAR" IN HARVEY .............................................................................................. 70 HEADLINES HAIR STUDIO & DANCE OF THE SUN DAY SPA .................... 73 HAIR ETCETRA AND SUNSEEKERS TANNING ............................................... 74 SUPERIOR STOVES AND FIREPLACES, LLC .................................................... 74 SOUTHSIDE AUTOMOTIVE ................................................................................. 75 PAM'S PAMPERED PETS ...................................................................................... 75 INTERVIEWS OF LOCAL INTEREST ......................................................................... 76 REMARKS ................................................................................................................ 76 OUR CHOCOLAY FAMILY HISTORY ................................................................. 77 BEAVER GROVE .................................................................................................... 78 MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN BEAVER GROVE ........................................ 78 ON HIAWATHA