Walloon Lake Association Summer 2023 Wallooner

By Josephine Roberts

Community CONSERVATION

Walloon Lake is a pristine natural gem that holds immense value to the Northern Michigan community. With a mission to deliver Walloon Lake, a place where people and nature thrive, to the next generations through the power of conservation, the WLAC envisions a future where Walloon Lake and its surroundings maintain the highest standards of water quality and natural preservation. To that end, community engagement is a top priority in our 2023 – 2027 Strategic Plan, aiming to foster a culture of conservation among the diverse community living, working, and enjoying the area around Walloon Lake.

By Connor Dennis

Community conservation brings together individuals, local organizations, and government agencies to collectively work towards the common goal of safeguarding the region’s natural resources. It recognizes that the responsibility of preserving the environment lies not just with a few individuals or organizations, but with the entire community.

By Marianne Barry

By Kerrie Peterson

By Emma Vondra

By engaging everyone, community conservation fosters a sense of ownership and stewardship for all. It encourages individuals to become active participants in the protection and preservation of their surroundings. Through initiatives like our membership programs, educational campaigns, and volunteer opportunities, community conservation empowers individuals to make a meaningful difference in their local ecosystems.

Moreover, community conservation creates a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration. It enables local stakeholders to come together, share experiences and expertise, and collectively address environmental

issues. By strengthening relationships within the community, we are able to leverage the collective wisdom and resources to implement effective conservation strategies.

Our hope is that our community conservation efforts also raise awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability. Educating the community about the value of natural resources, the threats we face, and the actions individuals can take to mitigate these challenges. Through outreach programs, public events, and educational initiatives, community conservation inspires individuals to make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives.

My

Best, Josephine Roberts

WLAC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cover photo by Eric Lohman

UPCOMING CALENDAR of Events

Saturday, June 24

Native Plant Sale

10am to 1pm WLAC Office Lawn

Thursday, June 29

Junior Member

Butterfly Day

10am to 12pm Voran Family Preserve

Wednesday, July 5

Fourth of July

Cleanup Paddle 10am

Around the Lake

Monday, July 10

Wander Walloon:

Mill Pond

Women’s Paddle 6pm to 8pm Stolt Road Boat Launch

Tuesday, July 18

Boater Safety Class

2pm to 8pm Melrose Township Hall

Friday, July 21

Boots on the Ground 5pm to 9pm The Talcott

Friday, July 28 Dog Day of Summer 1pm to 3pm Postle Farm Preserve

Thursday, August 3 WLAC Annual Meeting 4pm to 6pm The Talcott

Saturday, August 5 Walloon Woodies

10:30am to 12pm Circle Park

Friday, August 11

Sarah Darling Concert

6pm to 8pm

Walloon Lake Winery

Thursday, August 17

Discover Daggett

Wine Walk

6pm to 8pm

Camp Daggett

Friday, September 29

Wander Walloon: Mushroom Workshop 1pm to 3pm Wildwood Harbor Preserve

Friday, October 27

Spooky Hike

5pm to 7pm

Postle Farm Preserve

Please note, final dates and times may change. Check out walloon.org/events for the most current information.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Lace up for the WLAC’s Boots on the Ground! This will be our first in-person party since 2018, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you.

The night will be filled with good food, music, and community camaraderie with proceeds directly benefitting the WLAC’s mission-critical work. Tickets are now available. Scan the QR code below or visit walloon.org/events for more information.

Friday, July 21, 5 - 9pm

The Talcott 4078 M-75, Walloon Lake, MI

Cocktail Party Attire + Your Favorite Boots

$125 per person

WLAC’S SUMMER FUNDRAISER

A LOOK BACK IN TIME The Historic Hotels and Resorts of the Foot

By Lauren Macintyre

Avibrant food and entertainment center, shops, restaurants, a new General Store and a charming boutique hotel… that's what we think of today when we picture Walloon Village. Interestingly, a century ago the Village was perhaps even more dynamic, with multiple hotels, bath houses and grocery stores, plus a train depot, dance hall, movie theater and even a bowling alley.

It was a different era then, one that evokes images of the wealthy of Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Chicago seeking a summer getaway from the heat of the city. What better place to go in the late 19th and early 20th centuries than the captivating little village at the Foot of beautiful Walloon? Nestled along the shoreline of the Foot, up North Shore and South Shore Drives, were a number of picturesque hotels and cabin resorts ready to cater to every need. And so the visitors came, dressed in their splendid Victorian finery, sometimes spending entire blissful summers at the hotels and resorts of the Village.

Newly established railroad lines simplified the trip for those anxious to escape the sweltering heat and come up north. The enterprising C. J. Mizer, agent of the nearby Clarion train station, persuaded the GR & I Railroad to run track from Petoskey to Walloon, making it an even more attractive destination. Passenger boats also plied the waters of the lake.

The Foot was not the only place to lodge on Walloon, of course, but it was certainly the most accessible. Hotels also flourished in many other areas of Walloon, including Lake Grove, Indian Garden, Shadow Trails and Eagle Island. Those hotels, however, have already been featured in previous issues of The Wallooner, so this article will focus solely on the hotels and resorts in the area around the Foot, beginning with C. J.'s celebrated Hotel Mizer.

HOTEL MIZER (Hotel Winkler – Hotel Courtland)

In 1886, upon hearing of the myriad attractions of Walloon, C.J. Mizer envisioned its resort possibilities and built a picturesque hotel with a large boathouse near the Foot. Located just a few houses away from the current site of the Walloon Lake Inn, the Mizer soon became one of the most popular hotels on the lake. Advertising that it was just a three-minute walk from the train station, it touted its "high class standards." Eventually the Mizers sold their hotel to Austin Winkler, who of course later changed its name to Hotel Winkler. He operated it until 1927 when he sold it to Everett Thomas, previously the proprietor of the Thomas House, who christened it "Hotel Courtland." Eventually the Courtland's business diminished and the building was razed. Today a vintage cottage owned by the Hunter family stands on the expansive scenic lakefront site where one of Walloon's most venerable hotels flourished.

LEFT: An ad in the 1912 “Daily Resorter and Petoskey Evening News” extolled the virtues of the hotels and businesses of Walloon.

FERN COTTAGE

(Silver Birch Inn – Walloon Lake Inn)

on the lake, the New Walloon was built around 1900 by the pioneering Alfred E. Hass. In the 1890's Alfred's mother had operated a boarding house called Walloon Hotel; Alfred moved that building across the road to become the kitchen and service quarters of his new complex which he christened the "New Walloon." A few years later Alfred added a dance hall to further attract visitors. Described in a 1908 Petoskey Evening News article as "one of the striking beauties" of Walloon, the hotel touted its convenient location and unexcelled service, as well as billing itself as the first to open and last to close on the lake. It even offered hot and cold-water plumbing and incandescent lighting, rarities at the time. In 1909 Alfred sold his iconic hotel to local businessman Clyde Bear. After several owners the hotel met its unfortunate demise in 1932, when it was torn down. The elegant Hotel Walloon, built in 2015 by the Borisch family near the original hotel site in the Village, was designed in a style that evokes dreamy images of the venerable New Walloon Hotel.

THOMAS HOUSE (Frank’s Hotel)

The beloved Fern Cottage was built as a resort by the Hiram Bixby family around 1891. At one time it included several large buildings on the shore as well as eleven surrounding cottages, but eventually only the original building remained. Matilda Fochtman of Petoskey bought the hotel in 1937 and operated it for eight years. After the Trixler family bought Fern Cottage in 1948, it was renamed the Silver Birch Inn, a name well remembered by young Wallooners walking up the North Shore path. Roger and Anne Srigley purchased the inn and the surrounding cottages from Marv and Eloise Nickey in 1971, and changed its name to the one we all know best, the Walloon Lake Inn. The cottages were eventually sold separately. The Srigleys owned the Walloon Lake Inn for ten years, and then sold it to chef David Beier in 1981. David operated it as a gourmet restaurant, cooking school and bed and breakfast until 2014, when it was sold to the Borisch family. One of the oldest buildings on the lake, and one of the very few hotel buildings that still stands, today the Walloon Lake Inn continues its legacy as a favorite gathering place for Wallooners.

NEW WALLOON HOTEL

Looming large in many a vintage postcard scene of the Village is the New Walloon Hotel. One of the largest and best-known hotels

Long recognized by the picturesque boat house that extends into the water, the Thomas House on South Shore began in 1899 as a five-room house called Frank's Hotel, with three cottages soon added. Just five years later the hotel was sold to Everett Thomas, who gave its eponymous name and added another cottage and nine sleeping rooms. The famous boat house, which included sleeping rooms on the upper level, was constructed a few years later. Everett's sons Glen and Larry bought the resort in 1921 and initiated a complete makeover. Over the years more guest rooms and cottages were added to the popular resort. Thomas House also became known for its spacious dining room serving delicious meals three times a day and open to the public. In 1949 a fire unfortunately destroyed much of the resort, but it was rebuilt and resumed operations. From 1959 until 2001 it was owned by the Frohlich family, and its beautiful condos and cottages were a highly regarded rental option on the lake. The resort's picturesque water tower still stands and is a well-known landmark on South Shore. Today Thomas House is a lovingly restored and beautifully maintained private family compound. (continued on next page)

A LOOK BACK IN TIME The Historic Hotels and Resorts of the Foot

(Continued from previous page)

PINES HOTEL

1912 Daily Resorter and Petoskey Evening News ad Mr. Ransom declared Sunset Lodge to be “just a step to the finest bathing beach in the state.” He sold the lodge in 1928 to L.A. and Mary Spalding. Ultimately Sunset Lodge became the family home of Lucile and Ross Renwick, the Spaldings’ daughter and son-in-law who owned the General Store for many years. The Sunset Lodge building briefly housed an antique store, but eventually deteriorated and was torn down to become the parking lot of the General Store.

SAND BEACH BATHHOUSE

Thomas and Jennie Belding were astute hoteliers who sold their lodging in Clarion around 1902 to come to Walloon. Jennie was already a familiar figure in the Village, having managed the Jordan family's Sand Beach Bath House there. The Beldings built their new hotel on a pine-covered site on North Shore northwest of the Village. The popular Pines Hotel inspired a loyal following among resorters, one of whom even penned, an epic poem about the hotel in the style of Hiawatha for a 1912 Daily Resorter and Petoskey Evening News.

SUNSET LODGE (Merrill Cottage)

In the late 1800’s Walloon pioneer Henry Simpson “Harry” Jordan saw a critical need for bathhouse facilities in the Village. Harry, a highly successful Grand Rapids businessman and owner of the majestic Moira Hill Farm overlooking the Foot, decided to build a bathhouse on his own Moira Hill beach. In the 30 room bathhouse swimmers could find dressing rooms and bathing suits, or enjoy the unheard-of luxury of a hot bath for just 25 cents. Operation of the bathhouse was leased first to Mrs. Thomas Belding, then Carl Rofe and Charles Slater. A fire in 1906 unfortunately destroyed Sand Beach. Today, thanks to the generosity of the Jordan-Cawthra family, the Sand Hill site is now part of the Melrose Township Park and public beach.

The glory days of Walloon’s hotels were indeed a dreamy, magical era for those fortunate enough to trade the heat of the cities for the sweet breezes of Walloon. Sadly, most of these grand hotels and resorts are gone, and all that remain are evocative black and white photos of majestic white clapboard buildings, men and women in their Victorian finery and vintage boats in all sizes and shapes.

The versatile R. T. Merrill, who owned a boat building shop, as well as a 50-room bathhouse, built Merrill Cottage next to the General Store in 1902. William Ransom then bought Merrill Cottage in 1909 and christened it Sunset Lodge. He and his family lived there and operated it as a hotel while also owning the General Store. In a

What caused the sad demise of the hotels? Open exclusively in the summer, they were expensive to operate and challenging to maintain. Fire was a constant danger. As automobiles gained in popularity, people were able to travel more freely. Perhaps the hotels were simply too successful in introducing people to the splendors of Walloon — they were then inspired to build cottages of their own. Not surprisingly, many of the lake’s oldest cottages were built near the hotel sites.

This golden era of Walloon’s hotels may be gone, but the scenic appeal of their settings and the graciousness of that era will long be remembered.

Pines Hotel picture as it appears in “Walloon Yesterdays,” courtesy of Lynn Groves; lower left: Sunset Lodge picture also from “Walloon Yesterdays,” courtesy of Laura Strobel.

OVER 100 YEARS ON WILDWOOD HARBOR

By Lauren Macintyre

Some of the lake's oldest families settled in beautiful Wildwood Harbor, where the Batchellor brothers of Boyne City built the picturesque Hotel Wildwood in 1907. The hotel, alas, did not last very long, but many resorters who came and built cottages near the hotel never left, establishing family legacies that endure today. Here are the stories of two such families.

ALEXANDER - BARKER FAMILY

It was 1922 when Elliot and Lena Alexander of Kansas City, searching for pristine northern air for their son Elliott Jr.'s health, came to Walloon with Elliott and his older sister Jane. They rented a cottage in Wildwood called Tanglewood, one of the hotel's original cottages, from Ruth Batcheller.

Their first trip to Walloon was certainly an interesting journey. After taking a train from Kansas City to Chicago, they boarded an overnight ferry called the SS Manitou. The ferry took them to Harbor Springs, where a rented "Tin Lizzie" was waiting for them to make the drive to Walloon.

The Alexanders were so charmed by Walloon that they bought Tanglewood. Daughter Jane Alexander Barker amusingly chronicled the early days on the lake in

her 1996 publication A Place Like No Other, a fascinating history of Wildwood Harbor. They had no running water or electricity, so they utilized candles, kerosene and a pump. Before Forest Lane was built, farmers would drive their horse-drawn wagons on to the beach to bring fresh produce and dairy products.

Social life in Wildwood was very vibrant, and often included group boat trips to the country club for parties and golf. The Watson family, friends of the Alexanders from Kansas City, came to visit and rented the cottage next door. Their son Ray was near Elliott's age and the boys played golf constantly. Ray Watson would go on to become a fine golfer and club champion. But Ray's son Tommy was even better — he grew up to be celebrated golfer Tom Watson, British Open and Master's champion, whose Walloon roots are well documented.

Jane became a teacher and active community volunteer in Orlando, Florida, where the family had moved. She married attorney, later Judge Roger Barker and soon introduced their four children to the wonders of Walloon. They also adopted the two children of her brother Elliott, who along with his wife sadly perished in an airplane crash in 1950.

Many family treasures are preserved in the charming old cottage, including a six-generation family height chart on a door-

frame. Tanglewood has always been a place where the extended family comes together, so not surprisingly today the cottage is owned by a congenial group of siblings and cousins. In summer 2022 more than thirty family members came together in Tanglewood to celebrate the Alexander family's 100th anniversary on Walloon… something to celebrate indeed!

WALLACE - WEZEREKMCAULIFFE FAMILY

At the eastern end of Wildwood Harbor, set high in the trees above the lake is Treetops, the longtime home of members of the extended Wallace family. The family history on Walloon, however, actually began in 1900 on South Shore, when Henry and Augusta Adams of Chicago brought their family to the Frank's Hotel/Thomas House. Later the family built a cottage on South Shore.

Henry and Augusta's daughter Helen Adams married Erwin Wallace, and it was their son Dr. James Wallace who made the move from South Shore to Wildwood Harbor. He and wife Frances Simpson decided they needed their own cottage, so in 1930 they commissioned local builder Ben Ellis to design a cottage. It was the first cottage constructed by Ben Ellis, who would become a well-known entrepreneur and builder of many a Walloon cottage.

The Alexander family arriving at Walloon. (Photo courtesy of the family.)

OVER 100 YEARS ON WILDWOOD HARBOR

(Continued from previous page)

Wallooner James Wallace was a true Renaissance man: he served in both WWI and WWII, was named a commander in the U.S. Navy, spent forty years as a dedicated pediatrician and even wrote poetry. He and his wife Fran had two daughters, Jean and Barbara. The sisters attended Oberlin College; Jean studied music while Barbara majored in art appreciation. Jean then married John

McAuliffe and had five children. Barbara married Bud Wezerek and raised three children. Both sisters brought their children up to cherish Treetops, their "heaven on earth" on Walloon.

The large porch of Treetops, designed for viewing those spectacular Walloon sunsets, is the center of family life here. Inside the cottage is a veritable treasure trove of Walloon memorabilia, not just decades of fascinating family photos, but also vintage maps, scrapbooks filled with articles about Walloon, land abstracts dating to 1883 and correspondence with Ben Ellis.

Treetops is now owned and amicably shared by five siblings and cousins. Their children and grandchildren represent the sixth and seventh generations of the Wezerek/McAuliffe family, a family still brought together by Walloon 123 years after Henry and Augusta Adams first set foot here.

An Ode

TO WALLOON

Preserved under the glass of a desk in the family cottage, under the watchful gaze of Dr. James Wallace, is a copy of this vintage poem that skillfully summarizes Wallooners' thoughts on their cottages.

It must be written in a creed … that comes with each Wallooner's deed. It truly cannot be unique … this prideful joy of which I speak.

LEFT: Jean Wallace McAuliffe and Barbara Wallace Wezerek with their grandfather Erwin Wallace around 1925. (All photos courtesy of the family.)

BELOW: Ray Watson, Jane Alexander Barker and Elliott Alexander on Walloon in 1924. (Photo courtesy of the family.)

Yet, be it basin, foot or arm, each cottage has its special charm. Each person happy with his lot, says, standing in his favorite spot, "You know, dear, just twixt me and you, I'm sure we have the nicest view!!"

Written by M. A. Nonymous

Dr. James Wallace

DROP IT DOWN LOW

Be considerate. Lower the volume.

Preserves WITH A PURPOSE

benefit and “purpose.” One of the new initiatives we recently launched to achieve this goal is the addition of pollinator gardens on open fields of land.

If you have driven down South Shore Drive or past the Voran Family Preserve on M-75, you may have noticed the beginnings of these gardens taking shape. We are doing a mixture of casting milkweed and other native pollinator flower seeds in addition to planting full-grown plants and plugs. The gardens will take a few summers to mature, but you will see them slowly transform. For 2023, we have identified three preserves to install pollinator gardens on, giving once unused areas of each a new purpose: protecting our pollinators.

Each of our preserves is special to the WLAC and special to the individuals and families who donated them. It is our sincere hope and desire to give each of them the purpose to help introduce the community to the environmental benefits they provide.

By Connor Dennis, Land and Water Protection Specialist

It may come as a surprise to some that the WLAC owns and manages 53 preserve properties (nearly 2,300 protected acres) scattered throughout the Walloon Lake watershed. These preserves come in all shapes and sizes, each with different conservation values. When a landowner donates a property, they often have certain desires for the future uses and management of the parcel. These requests can range from minimal management of the preserve to active use, trail creation, and encouragement for public engagement. As an accredited land trust, the Land Stewardship Committee and staff at the WLAC strive to maintain our preserves at the highest level while honoring the legacies of donors and landowners through our land protection and stewardship activities.

When the desired management is to let nature take its course, a hands-off approach is taken. The WLAC has termed these preserves “forever wild.” Over the 45 years the WLAC has been protecting land in the Walloon Lake watershed, we have acquired many acres with this moniker. As we grow as an organization and priorities evolve, we are trying to make sure that every property we protect has a personality of its own as well as provides ecological benefits. From this thought process emerged our new “Preserves with a Purpose” initiative.

The WLAC aims for each of the properties we protect to have a unique individual purpose. How so? We have twelve preserves with hiking trails providing recreational and educational opportunities for neighbors and the community. There are three Ambassador Preserves we host community hikes and events on multiple parcels that make up wetland complexes to help filter water as it enters Walloon Lake. We even have haying agreements with two local farmers who use the hay to feed their livestock!

This leaves us with a handful of preserves that currently serve as a buffer from development and help add to the rural character of the surrounding area. It's these preserves that we are assessing to enhance their ecological

HELP PROTECT THE POLLINATORS

We have dedicated Thursdays throughout the summer as Pollinator Protector Program volunteer days. If you are interested in helping, please contact the office and we can get you headed out to the field to assist our pollinator professionals. Our goal for 2023 is to install between one and three acres of gardens across the three preserves. Visit walloon.org/ volunteer for more information.

Above is the first pollinator garden being built out on Wildwood Harbor Preserve, helping restore what was once a golf course hole.

4 BOAT

CLEANING STATIONS!

By Connor Dennis, Land and Water Protection Specialist

If you have launched your boat this year at one of the landings around Walloon Lake, you may have noticed some odd-looking contraptions near the docks. These new machines are CD3 Boat Cleaning Stations. They are high-pressure, air-powered units that are fully solar-powered and designed to help eliminate the spread of aquatic invasive species coming into and going out of Walloon.

The name CD3 stands for “Clean, Drain, Dry, Dispose” which is the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service catchphrase for preventing the spread of aquatic invasives. Included in each unit is a vacuum for removing water from live wells and boat hulls, tongs for large plant removal, scrub brushes for stubborn stuck on residue, and a plug wrench for draining boats on site.

Installing boat cleaning stations at all six of the major launches around Walloon was an initiative that commenced in 2021 and is included in the WLAC 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Over the last two years, the WLAC has seen an abundance of support for this project from the local community, foundations, sur-

rounding townships, and road commissions. Due to this, we have been able to install four CD3 stations spanning the entire lake. They are located at the Jones Landing and Melrose Township Boat Launches, as well as the end of both Sumner and Townsend Roads. Four down, two to go!

Walloon Lake’s most treasured asset is its pristine water, and the addition of boat cleaning stations around its shores helps ensure that our water quality remains at the highest standard for generations to come. If you, your friends, or family use any of the launches around the lake, please encourage them to utilize the boat cleaning stations. The process only takes a few minutes, and it not only limits the spread of aquatic invasives but also allows you to follow the Michigan state law that requires all boats to be free of organisms, including plants.

We would like to take a moment to thank the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and the Charlevoix County Community Foundation for their support of this initiative over the last two years. Without their generosity, this project would not have been possible. If you have any questions about the stations or aquatic invasive species, please contact me at connor@walloon.org.

Source: Invasive Species Centre

Our boat cleaning station at Jones Landing on the North Arm.

THE STEWARDSHIP CONNECTION

By Marianne Barry, WLAC Land Stewardship Committee Chair

Many homeowners are becoming more environmentally conscious of what is applied to their lawns and gardens. Chemical herbicides are harmful to humans, pets, and wildlife, contributing to pollinator extinction and impacting our water quality. A growing focus on sustainability has many gardeners asking what can be used as a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative for weed control. It’s not that we hate all weeds, in fact some weeds are a good thing to have, it’s just that sometimes you don’t really want to be friends anymore. So, here are a few suggestions:

Pickle Your Weeds

Place 1 gallon vinegar, 1 cup salt and 1 tablespoon of dish soap into a hand sprayer. Look for cleaning vinegar which has a higher acetic acid count than grocery store vinegar, but both can be used. The dish soap acts as a binding agent to help the vinegar cling to the weed’s surface. Apply when the weather forecasts multiple days of continuous sunshine (rain or

sprinklers will wash the vinegar off the leaves too soon to be effective). If the weeds come back, treat them with the same concoction again. It may take 2-3 rounds to eliminate. Make sure to spray carefully with a thin stream as vinegar is non-selective and will can kill anything close to the area if oversprayed.

Wet Your Plants (With Boiling Water)

If vinegar isn’t your thing, you can kill weeds in the soil or between pavers with boiling water. Just give each area a good dose of hot, hot water and wait a few days.

Work Those Quads and Triceps

Pulling weeds you can’t live with (such as crabgrass) can be done by hand and works surprisingly well to eliminate weeds close to plants you want to keep...just don’t forget the Ibuprofen!

Mulch is Your New Best Friend

Weeds love the sun and need it to grow. Once you have reduced them in your garden,

smother the area with a thick layer of mulch, tree bark, pine straw or fallen leaves.

Avoid the Void

Weeds also love to fill empty spaces and germinate in undisturbed soil, so plant some native plants in your garden to block them out. By the way, our WLAC Native Plant Sale is on June 24th in the Village. See you there!

Keep on Top of the Weeds

As you begin to see less weeds in the grass/ garden, celebrate. Walk the yard a couple times a week with your sprayer in hand to keep up with your progress.

The time is now! If you have a ginormous yard just pick a smaller area to work on. By trying some of the ideas listed above, you will be one step closer to joining millions of others who are trying to do the right thing for the environment and future generations. The planet will thank you, and we at do too!

SAFETY FIRST

By Kerrie Peterson, WLAC Safety Committee Chair

I have been fortunate enough to have spent the last 56 of my summers on beautiful Walloon Lake. I have also had the privilege of serving on the WLAC Boater Safety Committee for the last five years, and I am very excited about the work we've been doing.

As our Walloon Lake community changes and grows, the need for boater safety awareness is more important than ever. Our greatest interest in promoting safety is through education. The WLAC is not an enforcement organization, but

does, however, have numerous resources that provide us with the research, science and facts to further our community's knowledge and understanding of a safe and healthy lake life.

My highest recommendation for EVERYONE that spends any time on the lake is to take the Michigan Boater Safety Certification Class that the WLAC is hosting with the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office. We will be offering the class twice this summer: Saturday, June 17th from 9am to 3pm and Tuesday, July 18th from 2pm to 8pm.

I cannot emphasize the importance of taking this class enough. Even if, like me, you took it decades ago, you will be surprised to know that the marine rules/ laws in the State of Michigan are robust and continually changing. The class is free and would be a great thing to take advantage of as a family. Grandmas and Grandpas, you can take a refresher course along with your grandkids who can learn for themselves how to recreate safely and responsibly!

We are all looking forward to enjoying another summer season on Walloon safely.

WALLOON Wave

By Emma Vondra, Development and Office Coordinator

When thinking of Walloon, many attributes come to mind. Its beauty, serenity and history are a few that pop into my head. Traditions from the watershed have been passed down from generation to generation. One deeply embedded tradition is the sense of community that Walloon gives to all those who visit. Cultivating this feeling is crucial to those who have laid the path and those who will walk it behind us. The Walloon Wave. It is a practice as simple as its title. A wave of the hand as you pass someone on the water, on a trail, or in the Village. A signaling of a connection or bond with those we share these areas with. As you pass folks in these summer months, give them a wave and let them know you are a part of one of the finest communities around!

Member THANK YOU

We are delighted to share that for the third year in a row, we have over 1,000 WLAC Members and 175 Junior Members. As a membership-based organization, YOU make the work of protecting and caring for Walloon Lake possible. Thank you from all of us here at the WLAC!

The WLAC is seeking Trustees, 2023 Lake Ambassadors, and committee members. Our current committees include Fund Development, Finance, Government Affairs, Land Protection, Land Stewardship, Safety, Membership and Outreach, and Water Quality. If you are interested in getting more involved and making a difference, please contact Josephine Roberts, Executive Director, at josephine@walloon.org. “All

WHY I GIVE My Time to the WLAC

By Erin Barringer, WLAC Finance Committee Member

My favorite place in the world is my family’s cottage, Walloa, in Wildwood Harbor on Walloon Lake. It is the place where I feel relaxed the second that I set foot on the grass, where I can lie on the dock for hours, laughing with family or lost in a good novel, and where I can stare at the handwriting of generations of my family on the wall, measuring their heights alongside mine.

Our cottage was built by my great-great-grandfather in 1902 and has been passed down through generations. I’ve come to Walloon every summer since I was born, making this summer my forty-first! When I was young, I would often come up and spend weeks on end with my grandparents, Henry and Hood Barringer. I cherish our nightly family cheese and cocktail hour on the porch (often joined by neighbors), the rows I took with my grandfather in our family rowboat, waking up early to ski alongside my brother on the flat lake, pulling my cousins tubing while they shriek, and our nightly ritual of watching the sunsets.

Since my early childhood, my father and grandfather instilled in me the importance of helping to preserve and protect the beauty of Walloon Lake. As a child, I would row down to the fresh springs with my grandfather and marvel at how clean (and cold!) the fresh water was coming into our lake. As a teenager, I remember my father working alongside our neighbors, the Shifrins, to donate a portion of land we jointly owned to the WLAC as “Bois LeDuc,” now part of the Wildwood Harbor Nature Corridor. As such, when I was asked to serve on the WLAC Finance Committee last summer, I was thrilled. In addition to my annual donations, it felt like the perfect way to continue to support Walloon Lake and to honor the hard work generations have put in before me to protect my happy place for generations to come!

INTERNS Meet Our

ALAINA MCKEEN

Alaina is a southeast Michigan native and has spent her summers in northern Michigan growing up. After graduating from Detroit Country Day, she is now a senior at Hamilton College where she studies environmental studies and archaeology. After graduation, she hopes to work in the sustainability field. Outside of the office, she enjoys playing golf with her family, spending time with her dog, and going to the gym.

JAKE TRUDEAU

Jake is a graduate of Petoskey High school and is going into his senior year at Michigan State University pursuing a degree in environmental geosciences. His passion for protecting the environment comes from his youth spent fishing the local waterways and hiking local trails. Outside of the office, Jake enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Abby, and playing basketball.

Annual Barringer family photo on the front porch steps (2000). Left to right: Daniel Barringer, Vicki Otten, Erin Barringer, Bill Barringer.

Four generations of Barringers on the cottage front porch (1983). Left to right: Erin Barringer (6 mo old), Bill Barringer, Marie Barringer, Henry Barringer.

In Memoriam

If you have a loved one who has recently passed and would like to submit a memorial story in the next issue of the Wallooner, please let us know.

GEORGE WHITE April 3, 1947—May 3, 2020

George Knox White was born in Gulfport, Mississippi on April 3, 1947 to his parents, Neil and Martha Johnson White. George descends from a long line of Wallooners. His paternal grandfather, J. E. (Ed) Johnson, from Muncie, Indiana, was the Walloon Lake Country Club Champion in 1912. Ed settled on the South shore of Walloon. George’s parents bought a cottage, Arrowhead Lodge, on North Shore Drive, in 1955, where George spent his youthful summers, swimming, fishing and playing golf at the WLCC.

He was a scratch golfer who played daily at the country club, where Tom Watson was a frequent playing partner. George’s maternal

grandmother, Ed Johnson’s widow, Margery Johnson Ritchie, donated a pro shop to the WLCC in 1961, which stood for over 50 years. Patience was one of George’s virtues. He could sit in a skiff for hours, anchored off the north shore by Arrowhead, bringing in rock bass or perch.

George and some of his Gulfport High school classmates had a popular band, the Weejuns. They came to Walloon the summer of their senior year and stayed at Addie March’s motel on Highway 131. They performed at several clubs, including the Pink Pony in Harbor Springs.

George pursued many vocations.He was a United States Navy veteran, serving primarily in waters in and around Rota, Spain. He played guitar and sang in clubs and other venues in and around Gulfport. He obtained a Juris Doctor

degree, but preferred music and golf. He was a PGA club professional, serving as head pro at Edgewater CC and Pine Burr CC. George was also golf course superintendent at Great Southern CC and Diamondhead Golf Course.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sue Flanagan White of Gulfport, his daughter, Amanda (Barry) Knesal of Gulfport, grandsons Knox and Wren, his brother, Neil and sisters Margie Lindsey and Martha Barker, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and paternal grandparents Walter and Hazel White, maternal grandparents Ed and Margery Johnson, his brothers, infant Walter White and John Harris White, and sister Hazel White DePierne. Due to Covid precautions, a belated celebration of George’s life was held in Gulfport at a later date.

WILLIAM HENRY BARRINGER December 3, 1948 – April 24, 2023

Beloved father, husband, Uncle/ Tuncle, Great Uncle, passed away April 24, 2023 (age 74) at his home in Washington, DC, after a courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Vicki Otten; his two precious children, Erin Barringer and Daniel Barringer; as well as Erin’s partner, Mark Mazo, and Daniel’s wife, Holly Barringer. Bill was an adoring uncle to his nephews (Matthew Hosford, Joe Lux, Christopher Otten, Dylan Barringer), nieces (Diana Hosford, Lindsey Lux, Tori Otten), and great nieces (Sophia Hosford, Valentina Lux).

Bill was a fourth generation Washingtonian, born to Hood and Henry Barringer on December 3, 1948 in Washington, DC. He spent much of his childhood abroad, growing up in Colombia, Denmark, Greece and Burundi, as well as Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated from Brown

University in 1970 and from Georgetown Law School in 1973. Bill and Vicki wed in 1978 and he gained several sisters- and brothers-in-law (Carla, Laura and Tony). Bill and Vicki raised their family in Washington, DC. Family, friends and colleagues valued his intelligence and wit. His booming laughter was contagious. Bill loved sharing with his children and extended family his passions for traveling the world, music from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s (including his Mick Jagger imitation), great restaurants, snow and water skiing and his treasured Washington Redskins and Washington Capitals.

Bill was an international trade lawyer, beginning his career at the Washington firm of Stitt, Hemmendinger and Kennedy; he built an elite international trade group at Willkie, Farr and Gallagher and several other firms. Bill presided over the transformation of international trade law from an arcane field of law to a major force in international commercial relations. He represented clients from North America, South America, Europe and Asia, and played an im-

portant role in the establishment of the international codes that became key components of the World Trade Organization (WTO). A deeply committed internationalist, Bill worked tirelessly to preserve open markets for a wide variety of products from motorcycles to footwear and from steel to shrimp, most recently finding great fulfillment in his work in Vietnam. His penetrating insights into the deep structure of US anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws won him several groundbreaking victories before administrative agencies, US courts and the WTO.

While he traveled the world for work and on family vacations, the home his great-grandfather built in 1902 on Walloon Lake, Michigan, was his happy place. He loved dinners on the front porch surrounded by family and dear Walloon friends and spent hours in his garden, both planting and relaxing in his adirondack chair. He frequently captained cocktail cruises on the float boat and brought together friends and family from around the world (from Paris to Chicago to Georgia).

The Wallooner is published three times per year in March/April, June/July and November/December, by the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy, 4060 M-75 N Suite 102, P.O. Box 579, Walloon Lake, MI 49796

Phone (231) 535-6112 | Fax (231) 535-6114

E-mail wlac@walloon.org | Web www.walloon.org

©Copyright 2023 Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy

WALLOON LAKE ASSOCIATION AND CONSERVANCY TRUSTEES

Mary Pat Goldich President

Russ Kittleson Vice President

Marty Makinen Treasurer

Marianne Barry Secretary

Greg Adams

Holly Angileri

Jan Antalis

Bob Flynn

Mary Ellen Geist

John Marklewitz

Laurel McAteer

George Peck Tom Saeli

Post Office Box 579

Walloon Lake, MI 49796

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PHOTO FROM THE COLLECTION OF WALLY KIDD