Michiana Remains Quiet, Tight-Knit Community by Wm
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 29, Number 29 Thursday, July 25, 2013 Michiana Remains Quiet, Tight-Knit Community by Wm. Halliar Judy Purze stands beside a typical 1930’s log cabin. In the southwestern-most corner of Berrien County, Mich., the gateway to Michigan’s famed Harbor Country, the sleepy village of Michiana lays in quiet repose, refl ecting the easy rhythm of the surf as it plays upon Lake Michigan’s often tempestuous waters. The area is rich in the history and lore of the many bands of Indians that crisscrossed the landscape for hundreds of years in search of game and good camp grounds. Chief Leopold Pokagon and his fellow Potawatomi called the area home. The shores of Lake Michigan became a meeting place for local tribes where sto- ries, furs and wares could be traded. The lake, itself, became an easy trade route between the many tribes and also the white set- tlers in Chicago and Detroit. Until the early 1920s, the land was covered by a dense forest and could only be traversed by well-worn Indian trails. In 1927, the Long Beach Development Co. began to clear the land and subdivide the area, building meandering roads through the sand dunes up and away from the lakeshore. Continued on Page 2 A welcome sign guides you to the village offi ce. THE Page 2 July 25, 2013 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. Michiana Continued from Page 1 The development company created a cottage community where many of the more affl uent families who lived and worked in Chicago could escape the crowded city life and enjoy relaxing summers in the sand dunes of Lake Michigan. No businesses or industry were permitted with- in the village limits. One street is still referred to as “school teacher row” because so many school teachers from Chicago spent their summers here. The main road, which follows the shore of Lake Michigan, is called Lake Shore Drive, reminis- cent of the famous drive along Chicago’s lake- front. Along this road are pavilions from which the beach can be accessed. These newly renovat- Newly Built Beach Stairs ed shelters are marked with “stop” markers that In the beginning, many log cabins were built on recall a time when the road was a bus route that the subdivided land so that this type of home be- would carry working fathers to Michigan City came the signature architectural structure of the and then by South Shore train to Chicago and community. their businesses. An early landmark of the community was the Old In the early days, a commonly asked question Signal Oak: an ancient tree that legend has it was a was, “What stop are you near?,” referring to these meeting place for the Indian tribes of the dunes area. bus stops along the road. Streets leading away It was located at Michiana and Powhattan drives. from the lake were given the names of Indian The fi rst surveyors of the area marked the trunk of tribes such as Pokagon and Seminole to honor the the tree to signal the Indiana-Michigan state line. memory of the earliest inhabitants of the land. The Long Beach Development Co. realized the im- The Pavillion at Stop 37 THE July 25, 2013 Page 3 1930’s Cabin Bunk Beds portance of this landmark and built an amphithe- ater around the tree. This venue was fi rst used as an entertainment center for the area, a place where Indian ceremonial dances would be performed to attract perspective property owners. Michiana was incorporated in 1946 and the Old Signal Oak site became a meeting place for the Michiana Commu- nity Association, the community’s governing body. From its founding, the residents of the commu- nity, its employees and governing body have been committed to keeping Michiana as pristine as pos- sible, making the resort community a haven from the fast-paced work-a-day world that surrounds it. The village vision is: “To remain a quiet, residen- tial community dedicated to the needs and comforts of its residents.” Originally intended as a summer community, many people now are choosing to make the village their year-round home. Michiana is unique, in this day and age, because it remains a tight-knit community of friends. Of the 400 or so homes there, many have been occupied and owned by several generations of families, some having called the area their summer home for more than 70 years. As it can be imagined, there are many Showing Interior Decorations - 1930’s Cabin Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 July 25, 2013 Michiana Continued from Page 3 memories tied to this community. Its history is the story of families and friends growing up together. Harry B. Rosenberg has been a summer resident of Michiana for 70 years. He came to the area as a small boy and spent his summers roaming the dunes and playing in the sand at the beach. He recalls that when his family fi rst moved in, there was no air conditioning in the cabins, but the lake breeze was suffi cient to cool the homes in the evening hours. The roads were not paved until after World War II, and instead of house numbers, each home was given a name; he remembers his family home as being ”Four Roses.” Fathers would often spend the week in Chicago while mothers and chil- dren stayed in the summer home. The Park Used for Day Camp For the kids, there was horseback riding, base- One of the more lasting contributions of the ball and, of course, summer afternoons spent at the women’s club was the creation of the Michiana Day beach. Camp, which calls the community center its home. Judy Purze, who fi rst came to Michiana when she Of all the summer memories surrounding Michi- was 4 years old, remembers she had school friends ana, the day camp seems to stand out as a touchstone in Chicago and summer friends in Michiana. in the lives of most of the folks who grew up there. It “Everyone had motor boats,” she says, and sum- was a place where mothers could drop off their young mer afternoons would be spent among friends enjoy- children for a morning of fun and socializing while ing water sports such as boating and waterskiing. they tended to the business of running their homes She remembers that each group of kids would before heading to the beach in the afternoon. “meet up” at their special stop along the beach road, For more than 50 years, the camp has been the preferably at some distance from their mothers, and place where children of the community and sur- there they would spend their afternoons playing in rounding area made friends, had fun and learned the water. responsibility. Purze was the fi rst girl to be a lifeguard on the Purze remembers with pride joining the camp beach and remembers with a laugh the year that when she was 4 years old in the 1950s and attend- the dead Alewives were piled high on the sand. ing each summer fi rst as a camper then as a CIT While the children played and spent the days (counselor in training) and fi nally as a full-fl edged with their summer friends, the mothers organized paid counselor. bridge clubs, a garden club and a woman’s club that Rosenberg attended as a youth, and his children began to hold fundraisers to build a village commu- followed in his footsteps. He recalls the lasting nity center. friendships forged during the formative years of his Fernwood Botanical Offerings “Divergence” The following programs are offered through Fern- The Thaddeus C. Gallery presents a solo exhibi- wood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 tion of recent work by artist Laura Cutler. The show Range Line Road, Niles, Mich: will feature thesis work from Laura’s recent Master •“Final Friday Movies on the Green” will present of Fine Arts degree from the New York Academy of “Finding Nemo” on July 26. Doors open at 8 p.m. Art. Over 30 works will be on display with an em- EDT. The free evening allows people to compete for phasis on fi gurative paintings and drawings. Also prizes in games and activities. Treats, popcorn and included will be a series of human and equine ana- drinks are available for purchase. Take blankets or tomical sculptures. chairs. The opening reception takes place on Sat., July •The “Mosaic Birdhouse Workshop” is from 10 27th, 5-8 p.m. Laura will be in attendance during a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 3. Join artist Mar- the reception. tha Branson-Banks to make the birdhouse. A mate- The exhibition will continue through the month rials list is provided upon registration, with some of August. materials provided. The cost is $30 or $24 for mem- Gallery hours are Wed/Thurs/Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., bers. Register by Aug.