The
Wallooner Winter 2021
Shoreline Alterations
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP INSIDE!
What You Need to Know PG. 12
A Letter from Our New Board President
The Walloon Outdoor Club
Why We Support the Guardian Fund
PG. 2
PG. 5
PG. 16
Volume LI | Issue 3
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CONTENTS
02
New Board President Letter
03
Our Annual Report
04 05
What a Year! A look back at a few highlights of 2021
07
By Michael Hatch
By Josephine Roberts
The Walloon Outdoor Club: Fun at the Foot in the 1960’s By Lauren Macintyre
Two Families, 200 Years on Walloon: The Legacy of the Gedge and Morsches/Call Families By Lauren Macintyre
10
TOMMBA Trails & Connections Made
11
Protecting Walloon Lake Heritage One Plant at a Time
12
Shoreline Alterations: What You Need to Know
14 15 15 16
Our Summer Stewards
By Jac Talcott
By Jennifer DeMoss
By Connor Dennis
By Jac Talcott
Renew Your Membership Walloon Forever What Walloon Means to Us And Why We Support the Annual Guardian Fund By Patti and Ralph Miesel
by 16 Walloon The Numbers 17 Junior Member’s Corner By Emily McAteer
18
New WLAC President & Trustees
19 Recipes 20 In Memoriam
By Chef Eric Latcham
Cover Photo by: Louise Mooradian
A Letter from Our
NEW BOARD PRESIDENT, MICHAEL HATCH DEAR FRIENDS AND FELLOW WALLOONERS, As newly elected President of the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy (WLAC), I wanted to share some thoughts with you about where we’ve been and where we’re headed as an organization. During this global pandemic over the past 20 months, we all recognize many things have changed and that more and more families are enjoying Walloon. Yet at the same time, these changes have been occurring over decades. When we first arrived on Walloon, the stretch of Indian Garden Road that ran straight in front of our cottage was a dirt road and there were only a handful of homes anywhere near ours. Now there doesn’t seem to be an empty lot in sight, in fact 89% of the entire lakefront is developed. Much of the undeveloped portion being state forest, private camps and the WLAC property. There were also not as many boat launches, little thought to renting a high-powered speed boat and with few apparent stress factors on our land and lake, the clear water seemed assured forever. We have heard from many of you about the quality-of-life topics from noise pollution to unsafe water activities to development issues - we are listening and share many of your concerns. Tackling these issues is our collective cause and this is why so many of us volunteer our time and resources to maintain and improve this place we all love. We cannot do it alone and we need to recognize in the words of the Little Traverse Conservancy Director, “there is no perfect conservation,” and there is no universal tranquility or residence for everyone. We need to keep learning, acting and being respectful of others. They say the enemy of learning is knowing. So, while I have spent nearly 50 years on this lake, I recently had conservations with the Charlevoix and Emmet County sheriffs primarily responsible for patrolling our lake and here are a few of the things I discovered during these conversations:
• While more can be done to educate boat renters and visitors of Walloon Lake, the 60+ boat rentals and few dozen or less day users pale in comparison to the approximately 2,000 boats among 1,200 homeowners and their guests on the lake. Charlevoix County Sheriff Lt. Don Richards has patrolled and served Walloon for decades and says that incidents arise with every constituent on the lake. He sees issues arising mostly from boaters who are “just in the moment” with their friends and not attentive to their boating responsibilities. He feels many problems come down to a lack of understanding of boating rules and etiquette. For example, all boaters are supposed to stay 100 feet out from ALL watercrafts, but Lt. Richards says most people greatly underestimate how far that is. So start by staying 150+ feet away, and you’ll probably be closer to the right distance. And keep a sharp lookout! We encourage you to refresh your own knowledge and your guests’ by visiting: www.michigan.gov/dnr or www. boat-ed.com/michigan. We will also be looking into additional ways to educate boaters and improve the quality of everyone’s boating experience on Walloon and appreciate your ideas. If you would like to be involved with a committee, please let us know! • Noise pollution and light pollution are two extremely subjective topics. Some consider lights on the shoreline a safety feature, while others find them annoying. And according to Charlevoix County Sheriff Charles Vondra, he receives nuisance calls for loud music and noise that vary dramatically, but boaters are generally responsive when asked to turn their music down. With the financial assistance of the WLAC, marine patrol hours have been increased. Please remind your guests that sound carries over the water a great distance - so if it’s starting to get dark outside, it’s probably time to turn
The Wallooner | Winter 2021 that volume down. And when considering an anchoring spot, think about the Mackinaw State Forest just east of Camp Michigania instead of a sandbar – it’s a public space with a shallow bottom and beautiful scenery. You might even catch a glimpse of the resident bald eagles! • Boat washing rules apply to ALL boats. The Michigan State law includes, “after trailering boats and before getting on the road, boaters must pull drain plugs, drain water and remove plants and debris.” The WLAC will be installing more signage and boat washing stations to prevent the spread of invasive species! • Another area of confusion is what homeowners may or may not do to their own shoreline or property. While we would like to publish a simple set of guidelines, there are five different townships encompassing our lake, all with their own zoning and permitting policies. Shoreline rocks? Sand pit for the kids? Relandscaping? A rule of thumb is that if you are moving earth within 100 feet of the lake, you will likely need a permit. Please see Connor Dennis’ article (page 12) in this issue for more info on this topic.
Keeping Walloon healthy and vibrant for enjoyment now and for generations to come is our mission, but also all our individual responsibilities. Make a renewed effort to refresh your knowledge of boating rules and ensure your children, guests or other boat users in your house are up to speed. If making landscaping changes, reach out to the WLAC or your Township office to learn what regulations pertain to your planned improvements. We are all incredibly thankful to be part of the Walloon Lake community, and I am honored to serve you as President of the WLAC. As our dearly departed volunteer Ernie Mainland would say, “that neighbor helping neighbor mentality is what this place is all about!” I look forward to seeing you out on the water and in the preserves! Best,
Michael Hatch WLAC PRESIDENT
3
OUR ANNUAL REPORT
I
A Note from the Executive Director, Josephine Roberts
t is with immense gratitude that I share this Annual Report, which highlights the work you made possible in 20202021 and reflects your commitment to conserving and caring for Walloon Lake and its watershed. In this strange era of navigating a global pandemic, political divisiveness and local and national workforce crises, I am proud to say that because of you the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy - rather than stepping back - stepped up in remarkable ways. Our staff, board and volunteers understand very clearly that clean water, protected natural areas and safe land and water recreation can not be put on the back burner until life returns to “normal.” By uniting around our love
for Walloon Lake, we are making sustainable progress towards the idyllic vision we share for our lands, waters and community. Affecting positive and permanent change for the protection of Walloon Lake today, tomorrow and 100 years from now, doesn’t happen overnight. Some initiatives do not even take root from one season to the next. Our challenges - some days feel colossal - but our commitment is enduring. Each generation of Wallooners since before the inception of the historical Walloon Lake Association in 1910 has taken extraordinary strides to conserve and protect the natural resources of our beautiful lake so it may be enjoyed by all of us today. Together and individually the responsibility to carry this legacy forward lies with us.
2020 STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES PROGRAM SERVICES
55.2%
FUNDRAISING
11.4% MANAGEMENT & GENERAL
33.3%
2020 SUPPORT & REVENUES Membership Dues
$80,292
Annual Guardian Fund Campaign
$119,631
Charitable Support from Individuals - Other Pledges to the Guardian Fund and Special Projects Charitable Support from Foundations Memorials and Honorariums Land Donations/Land Sales/Stewardship Bequests Advertising Income Net Investment Income Other Total Support and Revenues
$11,329 $150,375 $15,400 $19,732 $1,236,294 $532,562 $31,225 $339,435 $1,768 $2,538,043
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WHAT A YEAR! A look back at a few highlights of 2021 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MILL POND PROJECT: In the spring we realized a decades’ long dream to protect the most ecologically important area of the Walloon Lake watershed, Mill Pond, and acquired eight parcels of land (almost 40 acres and 2,117 ft. of undeveloped shoreline total!). EARTH DAY: We celebrated this year’s Earth Day with a day of service at Howell-Zimmerman Preserve. With help from our friends at Hotel Walloon, we planted over 100 trees. BOATER SAFETY EVENT: Our Junior Members hosted their annual Boater Safety Event in July, teaching sailing, waterskiing, and wakesurfing lessons out on the water. WANDER WALLOONS: It felt so great to get back outside with you this year and host six Wander Walloons, ranging from snowshoeing to mushroom hiking. TOMMBA RIBBON CUTTING: The Walloon watershed got even cooler in August when we helped open the newest mountain biking trail in the Boyne Forest Trail System, “Double Dog” (see page 10). MONARCH BUTTERFLIES: This summer we held a Monarch Butterfly Workshop and planted our first-ever butterfly habitat at our Voran Family Preserve. DISCOVER DAGGETT: Cheers to a new annual event! We co-hosted Discover Daggett Wine Walk benefitting our friends at Camp Daggett. MOBILE BOAT WASHES: We hosted four Mobile Boat Washing Stations at Jones Landing with our partners at Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. NATIVE PLANT SALE: We held our inaugural Native Plant Sale featuring smart shoreline kits and sold out in under 15 minutes. Stay tuned for more info on next spring’s! FRIENDSHIP CENTER HIKES: Over the summer we kicked off a new partnership with the Petoskey Friendship Center and hiked three of our Ambassador Preserves. NCMC PARTNERSHIP: In the spring, we signed an MOU with North Central Michigan College to work together and inspire a new generation of conservationists.
The Wallooner | Winter 2021
5 Counselor Bob Lohman leading a group of young campers. (Photos courtesy of Wendy Booth Boyd)
THE WALLOON OUTDOOR CLUB FUN AT THE FOOT IN THE 1960’S
“I
By Lauren Macintyre
t was the most fun time of my life,” recalls longtime Wallooner Charley Zimmer when speaking of the Walloon Outdoor Club, where he served as a counselor and water skiing instructor. “We just loved it,” echoes Wendy Booth Boyd, who attended the camp and whose brother, Chuck Booth, served there as a counselor. The Walloon Outdoor Club (WOC), an innovative day camp that operated in the Walloon Lake village from 1964-68, was the brainchild of Dr. Gerard Mudd, a prominent St. Louis cardiologist with a large cottage on the South Shore. Not wanting to send his five children Mary Linda, Madonna, Milissa, Marian and Gerard away to camps at that time, he and his wife Elizabeth decided to establish the Walloon Outdoor Club. The Mudds thought it would also appeal to other Walloon families who wanted to keep their children productively engaged in outdoor activities while spending summers at the lake. Dr. Mudd was a member of a longtime Walloon family whose tenure on the lake was established nearly one hundred years ago. His father Dayton Henry Mudd, an original partner and vice president of J.C. Penney, came to the lake in the early 1920’s. Dayton and his wife Margaret Flemma built a large Sears kit cottage on South Shore Drive, which was then passed on through the family. In 1951 his son Gerard and Elizabeth built an imposing log home on adjacent land. The original Mudd cottage was occupied for many years by Gerard’s sister Margaret “Muddie” Fletcher, then later sold to the Clark family. Getting the Outdoor Club up and running was a mammoth undertaking. Imagine the challenge of designing the curriculum, finding a location, hiring staff, purchasing sports equipment, and then after completing that,
Counselor Nancy Noel with campers waiting for the Mackinac Island ferry.
recruiting campers to come to the program! The Mudds were apparently not daunted by these tasks. As their son Gerard notes “Our father built up a whole infrastructure for the future of the WOC, including the purchase of buildings, furniture, fixtures, sailboats, canoes, motorboats, skies, archery equipment, radios, shotgun reloading equipment, trampoline and a GMC Suburban truck.” So meticulous a planner was Dr. Mudd that he chronicled everything related to the WOC in a 160-page journal still owned by the family today. For the headquarters, Dr. Mudd purchased an iconic building in the Walloon Village: the beloved Brower’s Grocery and Soda Fountain. Originally built in 1908 as the Shepard Delicatessen, it had various owners and iterations including Crago’s Grocery and a brief stint as a dance hall. Later it became Brower’s, which is how most Wallooners today remember it. Famous for its ice cream soda fountain and artfully patterned tin ceiling, it was every young Wallooner’s favorite spot in the Village in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. After the Browers retired, the building then found new life as the hub of Outdoor Club activity. Dr. Mudd also bought the quonset hut next door. The Mudds used their own expansive log home as a center of WOC activity. The water sports took place there, as well as tennis on a large court the family had built. Dr. Mudd’s wife Elizabeth supervised the activities at
An Aug. 1, 1964 article from the Petoskey News-Review describing the first season of the WOC, with a picture of the old Brower’s building (Photo from the Greenwood Cemetery archives)
the house. As her daughter Marian Mudd Miaskiewicz notes “The campers came there for swimming lessons, water skiing, canoeing, tennis and all around fun water sports. It was basecamp for the first few years.” Camper Wendy Booth Boyd loved going to the house. “Mrs. Mudd really kept us entertained there. She was such a great person.” Dr. Mudd assembled an impressive cast of educators, friends and families to staff the Outdoor Club. The Mudds had founded a prestigious boys’ school in St. Louis called St. Louis Priory; from that school Dr. Mudd brought Brian Barry, a physics instructor and retired member of the Royal Navy to head the WOC. Later Marty McCabe, another staff member from the school, took over. Charles Switzer, a student at Oxford, ran the Sea Ray cruises and sailing program, which included a fleet of Javelin sailboats. Wallooner Charley Zimmer taught water skiing, and while at Duke University recruited his good friend Jeff Mullins, star Duke basketball player and Olympian, to work at the WOC also. The Mudds housed many of the St. Louis staff in the family’s large log home. “It was always a full house which amazingly never felt crowded,” remarks Marian. Charley and Jeff both taught water skiing behind the Zimmers’ Chris Craft Holiday and did a variety of odd jobs for Dr. Mudd. Charley also led a team of twelve WOC counselors, (continued on next page...)
Volume LI | Issue 3
6 (continued from previous page...) one of whom was Debbie Howell Kurd. “It was great fun,” comments Debbie. “Dr. Mudd felt young people needed constructive structure and opportunity to better our lives and to bring the youth of the lake together. It offered many of us new young counselors the chance to be responsible individuals!” Many of Dr. Mudd’s children were involved in WOC activities as were their Fletcher cousins who lived next door in the original family house. Another much-loved counselor at the WOC was Nancy Noel who taught horseback riding, but is perhaps best known for her extraordinary artistic ability. Nancy painted a striking mural with a Tom Sawyer theme behind the old soda fountain in the WOC headquarters, the old Brower’s building. “She was so talented,” comments Wendy Booth Boyd. “Everyone loved her.” Nancy, who went on to have a celebrated career as a contemporary impressionist under the name N.A. Noel, sold millions of prints across the country. Although sadly Nancy passed away last year, her stunning artwork may still be viewed on her studio website. The activities of the Outdoor Club were astonishing in number and breadth of interests, including swimming, sailing, water skiing, canoeing, ropes, camping. equestrianship, camping, archery, shooting clays, a trampoline and tennis. Camping and horseback riding took place at Babcock Farm on Springvale Road. For additional entertainment there were dances, movies in the Brower building, greased watermelon contests in the water, a pool table and card games. Nor were the WOC activities limited to Walloon. There were expeditions to Mackinac Island, camping trips to the Upper Peninsula and boat cruises on the Inland Waterway. In 1965 WOC campers and counselors Bob Crowe, Charles Switzer, Tim Marcum, Michael Convy and Marty McCabe cruised the club’s Sea Ray 230 from Oden through the Inland Waterway, to Burt and Mullet Lakes, then Lakes Huron, Michigan and Charlevoix, before hauling their boat out at Boyne City. The five intrepid sailors and their boat were featured on the front page of the August 12, 1965 Walloon Lake News. One of many Wallooners with vivid memories of the WOC is Doug Lotspeich, now a professional actor under the name Doug Ballard, who attended the WOC every day it was open from the first year to the last. “It was a marvelous place of friends and adventure,” Doug comments. “We especially looked forward to overnight campouts because it meant Capture
The Flag, campfires, ghost stories and the inevitable midnight raid from counselors who would sneak into camp in the dark to scare us.” The Mudd family made an astonishing contribution to life on the lake during the 1960’s. “Dr. Mudd poured untold resources into making sure we had all the equipment we needed and boy did we! Almost every ability that I have as an adult I learned at the club: sailing, canoeing, swimming, skiing, camping, horseback riding, shooting, archery, fire building and just about every other skill you need when you are outdoors,” Doug comments. But after five successful but undoubtedly exhausting years, and with no one else to operate it, the Mudd family reluctantly decided to end the WOC. While it was unfortunate that there was no one to continue the Mudds’ work, the impact that the family had on lake life is incredible. As their daughter Marian Mudd Miaskiewicz notes, “Dad offered a camp that rivaled the Boy Scouts. Girls and boys learning and competing on the same playing field. Dad believed in gender equality long before its popular acceptance!” Now more than 50 years later, the WOC lives on in many people’s memories, but what remains of the WOC infrastructure? The Shepard/Brower’s building, alas, was torn down in 2006 to make way for a condo development. Pieces of its famed tin ceiling, sold as a benefit for the Crooked Tree Library, can be found in many a Walloon cottage. The Quonset hut that housed the trampoline and other activities is also long gone. The family no longer owns the big log house on South Shore Drive/M-75, but the Mudd children, most of them still in St. Louis, retain their love of the lake. Milissa Mudd Beaty comes to Walloon every summer, renting a house in the old family neighborhood. The picturesque Mudd family log house next
door is now owned by John and Susan Crowe of Kansas City, who have beautifully maintained its historic aspect. In September, 2021 Milissa was able to tour her old family home and relive its storied past with the Crowes. The original Sears kit cottage next door remained in the Clark family, but when Bob and Mary Clark Bessette took ownership they discovered that the house could not be saved due to age and structural issues. The house was, as Mary quips, “A grand old gal whose work was done.” Their stunning new house, however, bears an astonishing resemblance to the original house. Although some of the buildings where WOC activities took place are no more, the camp itself lives on in the memories of those who took part in it. “It was a moment in time and a set of experiences that couldn’t happen today. I’m grateful I happened to be there when it did,” comments Doug Ballard. “A very successful adventure,” adds Charley Zimmer. And as Gerard Mudd reminisces, “For me, going to Walloon was like traveling to a different country to live for the summer. We would roll down the windows as we approached the turn off 131 to Walloon and smell the air. When we entered the house it also had a distinctive smell that said ‘home in Walloon.’ We forgot the news and what was happening in St. Louis or anywhere else. We had a whole set of different friends that only knew us from Walloon and vice versa. A little slice of heaven on earth.” Dr. Mudd and wife Elizabeth, who sadly passed away in 1990 and 2013 respectively, left a legacy of inspired philanthropy both on Walloon and in St. Louis. As Marian concludes, “Dad and Mom simply wanted to create a fun summer experience that would generate lifelong friendships and wonderful memories for all who were involved. I’d say they accomplished that mission!”
The handsome Mudd family home on Walloon, built in 1951 and the setting for many WOC activities. Shown in front are (L-R) Milissa Mudd Beaty and current owners Susan and John Crowe.
The Wallooner | Winter 2021
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Two Families
200 YEARS ON WALLOON The Legacy of the Gedge and Morsches/Call Families Bill Morsches, left, and his good friend Howell Gedge (back, center) enjoying Walloon time with Howell's son Si and Bill's granddaughter Katherine (Kash) East, around 1912. Notice the old boathouses in the background. (Photo courtesy of the Call family)
By Lauren Macintyre
"W
e've known each other for like, forever." That's a comment many people make today about longstanding friends or neighbors, but never was it more apt than in the case of Walloon's Gedge and Morsches/Call families, lakefront neighbors for over 100 years. Both families trace their roots to Anderson, Indiana, a town that is very well represented on Walloon Lake. Both live on a tiny road off Country Club Shores, facing a beautiful area of the lake dubbed "Buzzard's Bay." Houses in
that area, some of the oldest on the lake, reflect an era when lake houses truly were "cottages," where a simpler life could be enjoyed. The Gedge and Call families cherish their legacies on the lake and have done a remarkable job of preserving them.
THE GEDGE FAMILY
Llewellyn Howell Gedge and wife Jessie McConnell Gedge were the first of the Gedges to arrive at Walloon. Owner of Gedge Brothers Steel Company in Anderson, Howell, as Llewellyn was known, took an early retirement after selling the company, and moved to Orlando, Florida. In the 1890's Howell, along
with Jessie took a train trip from Orlando through Cincinnati to Clarion, to first establish the Gedge legacy on Walloon. The Gedges brought their children as well as the maid and gardener. Howell, like his good friends John McIlwraith, Ed Cockrell and Bill Morsches, all with connections to Anderson, came to the lake to hunt, fish and socialize. The four friends called themselves the "buzzards'' of Buzzard's Bay. An avid golfer, Howell is credited with leading the group that founded Walloon Lake Country Club (WLCC) in 1904 on a nearby farm, then (continued on next page...)
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wife Dolores are the keepers of the Gedge family history, maintaining their 1890's cottage in its original state for daughter Genny, son Christopher and six grandchildren, direct descendants of the inestimable Howell Gedge. An admirable legacy indeed.
THE MORSCHES/CALL FAMILY
Jack perusing some of the 1965 copies of the Walloon Lake News that he wrote as a young reporter.
Jack and Dolores Gedge in front of the fireplace in their 1890’s cottage.
serving as president and guiding the club for 33 years. In 1923, the Gedge's son Seymour, known as Si, made what he considered the "trip of a lifetime," driving a car over every bumpy road from Orlando to Walloon at the age of 16. Later, during Prohibition, the adventurous Si would take the family boat to the West Arm to pick up ice and "refreshments." Si graduated from Dartmouth and then continued his family's involvement with the steel industry, enjoying an impressive career as an industrial engineer for U.S. Steel. Si and his wife Genevieve "Jenny" Holland raised two sons, Llewelleyn and Jack, in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and, of course, at Walloon. Si maintained the Gedges' legacy with the WLCC, serving as president from 1971-75. He was also club champion for many years and had the distinction of partnering with famed golfer Walter Hagen when he came to the club in 1933. Meanwhile, his wife Jenny, an active community volunteer, directed club social events and enhanced the grounds with her gardening skills, which included the planting of a multitude of red geraniums. "Dad had an excellent board at the club," notes his son
Jack. "They were able to acquire the land that became the second nine, build the original tennis courts and install the cart paths. A few well-known members I recall from that era are George Scully, Bo Randall, Ivan Wiles, Anheuser (Bud) Rombauer, Kraig Klages, Allan Cameron, Roy Michell and Jim Wilson." Jack grew up spending summers at Walloon working as the golf course water boy. After graduating from Notre Dame, Jack had a unique opportunity to immerse himself in local legend and lore, serving as the Walloon Lake News reporter for the Boyne Citizen in the summer of 1965. "I covered social events, including taking photos. I got to interview Civil War historian Bruce Catton, as well as Ben Ellis, Ray Blantz, Joe Scoggin, Henry Beadell, Clara Smith, Ross Renwick and many others." Jack also wrote about the sailing races, the Yacht Club, the Country Club, the Walloon Outdoor Club and much more, providing a fascinating snapshot of life on the lake. Jack has fond memories of growing up in those idyllic summers on Walloon. It was an era when many lake families traveled with cooks, maids and gardeners. "On Thursdays all help had the day off. They went to church to sing, pray and socialize. Meals were served at the exact time each day. If you were late you were out of luck…we were always on time!" In the vintage Gedge cottage is a "totem pole" on a door frame, covering 125 years of family history on Walloon. Names and heights of family, friends and neighbors are inscribed. Some of the names written in pencil have perhaps faded a bit…but the people who wrote them are forever remembered. Many things have changed since his boyhood days on the lake, but today Jack and his
Just next door to the Gedges, Bill Morsches and wife Katherine purchased land on Buzzard's Bay in 1911, though they had been coming to Walloon for several years prior. Like the Gedges, the Morsches were originally from Anderson, where Bill was an executive with Nicholson File Company, and therefore named their cottage "Camp Anderson'' in honor of their hometown. The Morsches built a lovely cottage that served the family well until 1972, when its state of disrepair necessitated the construction of a new house. Although not the original cottage, this house is filled with marvelous antiques, vintage sailing trophies and an astonishing collection of treasured family photos chronicling the family's long history. Bill and Katherine had two daughters, each of whom continued the family's legacy on Walloon. Their older daughter Gertrude married Clifford East, and it is her line of the family that currently owns the family cottage. Their younger daughter Arlouine married Albert Diven, part of another line of longtime Wallooners that includes the Carliles, Gedges and Barber/Lowrances. Gertrude and Clifford were the parents of Katherine East, nicknamed Kash, who married Anderson native Dr. Herbert Call, a prominent pediatrician in Indianapolis for many years. Kash was very active in the Red Cross during WWII, heading up volunteer efforts for Indianapolis. The Calls had two children, son William and daughter Keren, both of whom would follow in their father's footsteps and become physicians. Dr. Keren Call Rosser has fond reminiscences of life on Walloon during her childhood. "Fishing. I remember so much fishing! In fact, we had fish for breakfast nearly every morning. We fished in the daytime from our fishing boat or in the evening from our canoe. We pumped water from an artesian spring, and stocked catfish in that spring to keep it clean." The Calls also had a Chris Craft, appropriately called the "Keren," a boat beloved by her brother Bill. In 1950, young Bill Call met a lovely 16-year-old named Donna Jane Cameron at a Walloon square dance and was instantly smit-
The Wallooner | Winter 2021
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The “Katherine” one of many classic boats owned by the Morsches/Call family over the years.
ABOVE L-R, Keren Call, brother Bill and Bill’s wife Donna (Photos courtesy of the family) BELOW L-R: Catherine Call, Wendy Call Kowynia and Keren Call Rosser, enjoying their tranquil lakefront on the property enjoyed by seven generations of their family. The Gedge cottage is in the background.
ten. The Cameron family owned Pine Point, the charming one-story house with a red roof, cupola and lakefront gazebo that has long been a focal point on North Shore Drive. Allan Cameron, owner of Cameron Can, and then vice president of Continental Can, and wife Helen Williams came to Walloon from their home state of Illinois. Great sailing aficionados, the Camerons loved racing their Seventeen, winning the prestigious Commodore's Cup trophy. It was love at first sight for Bill and Donna, who married in 1956 after her graduation from Smith College. Donna also became fast friends with Bill's sister Keren, who shared her love of sailing and often crewed with her. Bill became a highly successful otolaryngologist, first in Indianapolis, then later in Denver where the family relocated. Bill and Donna had two daughters, Catherine Call, an architect, and Wendy Call Kowynia, an artist. The two sisters share many evocative memories of life on the lake. "Dressing up and being on best behavior for Sunday dinners at our Cameron grandparents…seersucker bikinis… driving a whaler…first time on waterskis… winning at bingo…coming home late from a party and stopping the boat in the middle of the lake just to gaze at the stars and talk for a very long time…that's Walloon to us." Catherine and Wendy, the great-great granddaughters of Bill and Katherine Morsches are the current owners of the family homestead. When their grandchildren came to the cottage this summer it represented the seventh generation of the family on Walloon — a truly remarkable example of one family's legacy on the lake.
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TOMMBA TRAILS
& Connections Made
P
By Jac Talcott, Watershed Stewardship Coordinator
art of our mission at the WLAC is to enhance the community’s connection to our land. Achieving this comes in many forms, yet we seldom highlight all of the relationships made throughout our work. To help us commemorate the progress we have made, the following is a reflection of how one unique project built both a personal and professional connection for myself. In May 2019, I began my work here as a seasonal Watershed Stewardship Coordinator, just as the WLAC was about to acquire a property located off of Erickson Rd. Following the closing, I was tasked to work with the local non-profit Top of Michigan Mountain Biking Association (TOMMBA) and help complete a partner MOU and Trail Use Agreement. Mountain bike trails were planned to expand on the already popular Boyne School Forest Trails. This new trail system involved utilizing property owned by the Boyne Public Schools, City of Boyne, Department of Natural Resources and lastly, our own newly acquired parcels.
As an avid mountain biker, I was so excited for this project; but unfortunately I just underwent knee surgery and was expected to be on crutches for two more months. Additionally, later that year I would have another knee surgery which would put me off my bike through 2020. Regardless of my condition, I was thrilled to be working on such a unique project close to my own passions. With that energy and my crutches strapped, I managed to help review the trail layout with TOMMBA’s trail project leads Bo Mayfield and John Cowan. While crutch-hiking through the undeveloped hills, I made a promise to myself that I would bike these trails when they were completed. After finishing the Trail Use Agreement and MOU between our two organizations, my work proceeded to basic land trust recordkeeping and stewardship. Through 2019 and 2020, TOMMBA volunteers made progress towards completing the trails on our property. Trail development like this takes a lot of time, equipment, energy and dedication. The idea of having this scope of trail work done in two years would seem ambitious to most organizations, but TOMMBA is not the typical organization. Luckily, during this time I also became a full-time staff member and further assisted
with choosing the preserve name, completing the management plan, completing monitoring reports and addressing other concerns such as wild farm animals roaming the property. Two years after the beginning of the trail project, the email finally came through declaring its completion! With a lot of excitement, and several back and forth emails with the project partners, we were able to host a ribbon cutting event. This was held on August 21, 2021 at the new Boyne Forest Trail System parking area off of Old Horton Bay Rd. As a bonus, TOMMBA and the other partners gave me, and the WLAC, the honor of cutting the ribbon since our land acquisition piece was so crucial to the project. This signified the official opening of the trail systems, and I was finally able to fulfill that promise I made myself, riding our first preserve with mountain bike trails. Beyond my own personal experience, I see the connection of people to land as a very special aspect to our organization’s mission. Our leader and Executive Director, Josephine Roberts, has a saying for this, “small lake, big impact.” The memories TOMMBA Trails Preserve will create for both local and travelling bikers will go beyond Walloon Lake’s watershed and will help expand our positive impact on the community.
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PROTECTING WALLOON LAKE HERITAGE One Plant at a Time By Jennifer DeMoss, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council Communications Director
P
icture this: You’re out for a cruise on the turquoise waters of Walloon Lake. The sun is bright overhead, and your family is relaxing as you glide over glassy water. There’s not a single cloud above you, only a brilliant azure sky and a feeling of peace and ease as you enjoy your beautiful Walloon Lake heritage. As you near your favorite swimming spot, you realize that the water cradling your boat isn’t blue; instead, you’re floating on what looks to be a patch of milky green pea soup. The smell hits you: a mixture of grass clippings and garbage. You race to hold your dog back from jumping into the murky water once you realize what you’re seeing. It’s a harmful algal bloom (HAB), toxic to people and animals, caused by excess nutrients in stormwater runoff entering Walloon Lake.
CAUTIONARY TALES OF SOUTHERN MICHIGAN LAKES
This is a hypothetical scenario. Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy, and residents are working hard to ensure the lake stays healthy, and no HABs have been sighted thus far. Since algal blooms rely on excess nutrients for growth, we keep a close eye on those numbers while monitoring the water. However, Walloon Lake isn’t immune to the problems that plague lakes in the southern part of our state. Ford and Belleville Lakes are two impounded lakes in southeast Michigan that regularly experience harmful algal blooms. As Watershed Council Monitoring Programs Coordinator Caroline Keson ex-
plained, dammed lakes, such as Walloon Lake, can be more prone to HABs. The point of this comparison isn’t to badmouth southern lakes. It’s to point out that water quality issues, like those typically associated with southern Michigan’s lakes, can happen anywhere, particularly where there is an abundance of heavy development, paved surfaces, and stormwater washing pollutants into lakes. What about seawalls or other methods of hardening shorelines? A hardened shoreline can cause a lot of problems in the long run. It can erode neighboring shorelines and cause the lake bottom to deepen along the seawall due to lakebed scouring. Seawalls eliminate critical shoreline habitat, and phosphorus churned up from the bottom of the lake can fuel unwanted algal growth. Erosion caused by seawalls can lead to a situation like Union Lake downstate in West Bloomfield. When neighbors lose their shorelines because of others’ seawalls, a chain reaction can occur. A 2002 survey showed that 93% of Union Lake’s shoreline was armored, replacing walkable beaches with steel. Hardening shorelines can cause erosion where none previously existed, and seawall owners are civilly liable for damage caused to neighboring properties. There are better ways to protect one’s home and investment.
BEAUTIFUL, ECONOMICAL SOLUTIONS
Once entrenched, some of the problems that lake residents face are difficult to amend. Prevention is the best strategy for protecting your investments in Walloon Lake. We’ve said it before: One of the easiest methods for preserving water quality is native
plants. Let’s face it, the American lawn is a time and money-suck. The lawn aesthetic imported from European aristocrats hundreds of years ago has no place on a Northern Michigan shoreline. Walloon Lake—and your property— would be better protected by greenbelts of native plants that filter out stormwater pollutants and prevent shoreline erosion with their deep root structures. Stop fighting your number one defense against erosion and pollution, and start putting it to work for you. Native plants prevent shoreline erosion in multiple ways. First, plants that live in the water and in periodically inundated parts of the shoreline dampen wave action that would otherwise wash sediments away. Second, deep native plant roots hold the shoreline in place. Plants are a much more sensible and cost-effective way of preserving valuable property than a seawall. After all, if shoreline plants weren’t good at their jobs, they’d be out of a home in no time. Using native plants, which are well adapted to this area’s climate and soil conditions, means less money spent on fertilizers to prop up turf grass that can’t cut it in the lakeshore environment. Using fewer fertilizers that can flow into waterways with stormwater and feed algae is a win for lakes. A key to preventing HABs outbreaks is to prevent excess nutrients from entering the lake, and greenbelts are effective in doing so. What if you want to support plant growth without resorting to chemical fertilizers? Compost is a great way to promote plant health without feeding algae. It prevents soil erosion and retains water, and it’s useful on lawns and gardens. You don’t have to turn your entire lawn into a colorful garden of blooming natives (though if you did, we’d certainly love it). Simply stop mowing in front of your shoreline while allowing for some waterfront access. Or, get artful and start a native wildflower installation. If anyone asks you why you’re suddenly not into Kentucky bluegrass, tell them you’re protecting the lake. Fortunately, Walloon Lake is in good hands. Many residents want to preserve water quality while saving time and money, and we’re here to help. Contact the Watershed Council at 231-347-1181 or info@watershedcouncil. org, or visit www.watershedcouncil.org for more information. The Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership at www. mishorelinepartnership.org is another great resource on shorelines and native plants. Thanks for protecting your priceless heritage!
Volume LI | Issue 3
12
SHORELINE ALTERATIONS W H AT T O
Y O U
K N O W
By Connor Dennis, Director of Conservation Programs
W
N E E D
ith increased boat traffic, more powerful storms, large boulders being installed and so many other changes happening, we know that shoreline erosion is a concern of many Wallooners. If you are thinking about doing shoreline alterations here are a few things you need to know. First off, if you are planning on doing any alterations that touch the waterline, you will most likely need a permit. Dredging, filling, constructing or placing a structure on bottomlands all require permitting. This includes projects or landscaping such as beach sanding, installation of rip rap or rocks, permanent docks, seawalls and even natural shoreline projects. Permits should be obtained from your township zoning or
building department and EGLE (the department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, previously the DEQ.) If you are ever in doubt, it is always safer to check with the appropriate agencies before you begin work. Secondly, you should consider using bioengineering or more ecologically friendly alternatives to large boulders or seawalls. Bioengineering is the use of sustainable products and native plants to stabilize the shoreline. These options absorb wave energy and help filter unwanted nutrients and sediment from entering the water table. Large boulders might also seem like a good solution for shoreline erosion, or could be sold to you as a positive addition, but they can have unintended and incredibly detrimental consequences. Not only do they lead to fish and wildlife habitat loss but also lake bottom scouring.
How so? Large boulders direct the wave energy downward which scoops out the lake bottom. With larger waves at a higher frequency, it is important to have a shoreline that can absorb that energy, rather than just deflect it back into the lake or towards your neighbor’s property. A shoreline that is correctly engineered will have a long shallow run and a low rise to dissipate wave energy, combined with native aquatic plants that help absorb this energy and hold lake bed sediments in place. The third consideration is prevention. You should try to retain as much native and previously existing vegetation as possible. Plus, most townships actually have restrictions on how many trees you can remove from your shoreline. The five townships surrounding Walloon all require you to maintain between 60%-80% of the existing trees and only allow removal to maintain water views. All of the townships also require a 30-45 foot greenbelt be maintained from the shoreline upland, which would create a vegative barrier between buildings/hard surfaces and the lake. To help, we will be hosting our second annual Native Plant Sale next spring where you can pick up some plants and kits to improve your shoreline. By staying within the limitations set by the townships you are also greatly benefiting the overall water quality of the lake. It is also important to note that native plants are not only limited to land. Aquatic plants are extremely beneficial for water quality. They hold the bottomlands in place and provide habitat for fish and other aquatic species, so please remove as few aquatic plants as possible from your lakefront property. Lastly, it is critical to limit as much runoff into the lake as possible. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, flagstone and pavers all lead to sediment and pollution running into the lake. If at all possible, please lessen the amount of these surfaces on your property and consider replacing them with more permeable options which allow the runoff to be filtered naturally by the soil and greenbelts. There are so many things you can do to have a beautiful AND beneficial shoreline that will add to the sustainability of your property and to the water quality of the lake we all love. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at connor@walloon.org.
The Wallooner | Winter 2021
13
14
Our
Summer
By Jac Talcott, Watershed Stewardship Coordinator
T
his summer season, the WLAC had the opportunity to hire two seasonal stewardship interns to help conquer the many facets of fieldwork our organization must accomplish. After interviewing some amazing applicants, we selected Lane Whitcomb and Cooper Motley for this year’s internship program. They provided an extraordinary combination of knowledge and skills to apply to our land and lake-based programming. From researching permanent boat wash stations to surveying for invasives, while also completing hours of trail work, their impact on the Walloon watershed will last for years to come. Below are some highlights from an interview with these two incredible young professionals:
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE WLAC? LANE: I am currently halfway through my Junior Year at Northern Michigan University, where I am studying Political Science with a concentration in public administration and minoring in sustainability. I grew up in Petoskey and lived within half a mile of Walloon Lake and never heard of WLAC until I was doing job searches for the summer. I stumbled upon the recommendation to apply to this job opportunity, and now here I am!
Volume LI | Issue 3
Stewards
COOPER: Invasive species surveying and monitoring. This allowed us to go to properties that are not as commonly used and see parts of Walloon that are not as publicly visible.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOOL? LANE: The riding lawn mower, named the “Wheel Horse.” The amount of time I spent maintaining the active use area at Postle Farm preserve with that mower!
DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS AN INVASIVE SPECIES: LANE: Periwinkle because it looks okay and tolerable but can be obnoxious. COOPER: Japanese Barberry because although it's invasive, it looks good as a decor plant and like its thorns, I am always armed and dangerous.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY?
COOPER: The chainsaw. Using a chainsaw was my favorite tool to work with this year. Cutting up wood has a special place in my heart.
LANE: For me, it's that for this job you have to have adaptability. There was a lot of change to our workspace and pace of work. You need to be open to change and understand what should be prioritized.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PRESERVE?
COOPER: I feel like I have gained a better understanding on how a non-profit operates, but more importantly, how valuable the non-profit work is. As well as the importance of conservancies and the work that they do.
LANE: Wildwood Harbor Preserve COOPER: Fields Preserve
COOPER: I am about to be a senior at Miami University in Ohio, where I am studying political science. I am from Cincinnati, but I spent summers coming up to Walloon Lake my entire life and am a sixth generational Wallooner. This lake means a lot to me and I came across the job posting for the internship this summer, and I thought it aligned with my major and interest well. I applied for it, and it has been a really great experience having the chance to work for the lake that is really dear to me.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT? LANE: The Boater Safety Event was awesome! To be able to get out on the water and help teach kids water skiing was a very rewarding experience. Lane Whitcomb and Cooper Motley, WLAC Summer 2021 seasonal stewardship interns.
The Wallooner | Winter 2021
15
WALLOON FOREVER! Give the Gift of Walloon: Do you have friends and family that always visit? Or multiple generations in your household? Gift them a WLAC Membership!
Renew Your Membership In 2021, we were over 1,000 members strong! Let’s keep that momentum going!
As the year is coming to an end, it’s time to renew your WLAC Membership. If you are not already a member, please consider becoming a part of the WLAC family in 2022. Your membership dues help to protect the land and water of Walloon, now and forever. You also receive the following benefits: •
The Wallooner: This time-honored publication and labor of love from committee, community, and staff members is distributed three times per year.
•
2022 Walloon Lake Directory: Our annual directory includes a list of members, important organizational information, community resources, and much more.
•
Community Connections: Being a member is a great way to get to know fellow Wallooners through events, communications, and more.
We also look forward to relaunching our Lake Ambassador program in 2022! Stay tuned for more information. Dues ($95) remain unchanged again in 2022. To renew, return the enclosed envelope or visit walloon.org/membership. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!
The Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy is not only for lakefront owners, it’s for all people who love Walloon. Membership dues directly support protecting this special place, so give the gift of Walloon this holiday season! Contact the WLAC office at wlac@walloon.org to arrange for a special membership gift certificate, or sign up online at walloon.org/membership.
#GivingTuesday TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021 Support #GivingTuesday with some new Walloon Forever gear! Head to bonfire.com/wlac2021givingtuesday and get yours today.
Volume LI | Issue 3
16
WHAT WALLOON MEANS TO US
And Why We Support the Annual Guardian Fund By Patti and Ralph Miesel
What does Walloon mean to you? To us, it’s decades of family memories. Our Walloon story began 37 years ago on the West Arm of the lake. We built a town and country home that our two daughters named “Fruit of the Loon.” Then in 2014 we moved to what was commonly known as “The Beeman Cottage.” After restoring and preserving this historic 1926 log home, we renamed it “Once Again.” Today, we continue to make lasting memories with our daughters’ families and four grandchildren (all proud Junior Members of the WLAC!) here. One important value we’ve instilled in them is to care for Walloon. So no matter what Walloon means to you, join us in protecting it for the generations to come. Walloon Lake and its watershed, the land around the lake, are incredibly fragile. Your support of the Annual Guardian Fund will allow for the mission-critical work of the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy to continue. The future of Walloon - preserving its natural beauty, pristine waters, and scenic landscapes - truly depends on what we do today. This is why we give to the Annual Guardian Fund. To make a gift, visit walloon.org/donate.
WALLOON by the Numbers How well do you know Walloon? See if you can answer these numerical questions about the lake (decimals are rounded!).
Number of counties on Walloon: ������������������������������� Number of camps still operating on Walloon: ����������������� Number of townships on Walloon: ����������������������������� Number of miles from Mud Lake to the Foot: ����������������� Walloon's rank in size of all inland lakes in state: ������������� Number of miles of shoreline: ������������������������������������ Size of the watershed in square miles: ������������������������ Number of WLAC preserves: �������������������������������������� Percentage of shoreline that is developed: ��������������������� Walloon's maximum depth in feet: ������������������������������ Approximate # of memberships in the WLAC: ���������������� Year the name "Walloon" was adopted: ������������������������������� Number of acres preserved by WLAC: ������������������������
Answer Key found on page 19
The Wallooner | Winter 2021
17
Junior Member’s
CORNER
By Emily McAteer, Junior Member
A
s generations pass, who will continue to protect the lake that we love and cherish? The WLAC’s Junior Membership Program creates an amazing opportunity for kids under 18 that share a common interest in the community and environment of Walloon Lake. As of this year, we have 75 junior members. It is clear that we have a great group of young Wallooners that take pride in, and are excited to get involved in the community. Through nature hikes, bonfires, fieldwork and shoreline cleanups, our junior members have shown off their passion for the environment and adventure. Not only that, but their young minds have helped the WLAC Junior Membership Program grow and develop through the use of social media and their tech-savvy skills. Junior members have the opportunity to share their ideas as a part of the committee. For the past two summers, junior members have helped host the WLAC’s boater safety and wakesurf event; which was created to teach people about how to safely and respectfully operate a boat, while also having fun participating in water sports. This past year, members had the great idea to incorporate sailing and waterskiing into the event; which attracted a number of participants. The junior members brainstormed many more ideas for future events including a storytelling night and geocaching. If you have family or friends from ages 0-18 that would be interested in joining the program, please visit www.walloon.org and head to the membership section. Junior memberships are now free, so be sure to sign up! We are so excited that our junior members are going to help continue the lake’s legacy for future generations!
NEW STAFF BIO
EDEN HAVEN Director of Finance
E
den is a native of Petoskey and has spent many summer days enjoying Walloon Lake and all its beauty. She graduated from Lake Superior State University with a degree in accounting and has worked in public accounting for the past five years where she worked in many areas, including non-profit accounting and auditing. When not at the office, you will find her spending time with her son (Jaxson), husband (Ian), and two dogs (Roman and Athena). Eden enjoys reading, swimming, and just spending time outdoors, whether it be going for a walk or just relaxing on the deck.
SAFETY FIRST You may have noticed some of the navigational buoys leaning a little too far this summer, well the WLAC Safety Committee noticed too and has decided to replace them for the 2022 summer season! Although we only purchased the current buoys in 2018, safety is our top priority and we feel the replacement is more than warranted. The new buoys will have brand new lights and will be outfitted with our new organizational logo. Safe Boating, The WLAC Safety Committee
Volume LI | Issue 3
18
NEW WLAC
PRESIDENT & TRUSTEES
Michael Hatch
George Peck
Jan Antalis
Michael first started coming to the Walloon area in the mid-70s to Alpine ski, and since that time his parents built on the North Arm, his brother bought the house next door, and in 2006 Michael and his wife Ellen were lucky enough to purchase the house next to them – good things really do come in threes! Michael first got involved with the Trust and Conservancy seven years ago, as he wanted to get more involved in the community and felt a strong connection to the mission of supporting our lake and surrounding habitat. He was Treasurer over the past two years and will serve as President of the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy for 2021-22. Michael is a frequent boater and is an avid (mediocre!) golfer, tennis player, water and snow skier. He also thoroughly enjoys the food and wine community that has grown in Northern Michigan over the decades.
George learned of the North Country as a youth, hunting and fishing with his father, and has carried on the “Up North” tradition with his wife Andrea and son Elliot. As a Hemingway enthusiast, George always regarded Walloon Lake as a special place of tradition and tranquility. George is a graduate with distinction from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School, specializing in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and complex commercial litigation, handling transactions and cases in 14 states and negotiations around the world. The last ten years have been devoted to private investments, which he formalized under the umbrella River Black Capital. Following his passion for the area, George has served on the WLAC Fund Development Committee, and joined the Board in 2021, where he looks forward to involvement with the Government Affairs Committee and Capital Campaign efforts.
Friends introduced Jan’s family to Walloon Lake in 1982. They rented on the lake every summer for 34 years and purchased a home in 2016 where Jan and her husband retired and moved to full time. Jan says, “We love living on the lake in all seasons!” Jan’s three children have enjoyed the lake every summer since birth. The Antalis’ daughter moved to Petoskey in 2016 and their two sons visit us often to be on the lake or to winter ski. Being new to the lake and not knowing many people, Jan decided to get involved and joined the Friends of the Walloon Lake Library where she is currently the Secretary. She became involved in the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy on the Membership Committee, and became a Lake Ambassador. Jan loves meeting people and joined a knitting group at the Library, playing Mahjong, cycling the back roads, and working part time at American Spoon in Petoskey. She looks forward to being involved on the board to help preserve our beautiful lake and the land surrounding it.
NEW WLAC PRESIDENT
NEW BOARD MEMBER
NEW BOARD MEMBER
WLAC Board Seeking
COMMIT T EE
M E M BE RS
&
T RU ST E E S
If you are interested in making a difference, contact Josephine Roberts, Executive Director: 231.535.6112 or josephine@walloon.org
The Wallooner | Winter 2021
19
Truffle Potato Gratin INGREDIENTS
RECIPES By Chef Eric Latcham, Walloon Private Dining walloonprivatedining.com
Pan-seared Japanese Wagyu Beef INGREDIENTS
» Portioned A5 Japanese Wagyu beef » Salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS STEP 1 Allow the steaks to come to room temperature and pat dry. STEP 2 Season with salt and pepper on both sides. STEP 3 Heat pan on medium/medium-high heat. STEP 4 Sear on 1 side for 45 seconds, flip, and sear the other for 30 seconds (rare cook). For thicker steaks, increase time to 1 minute per side. STEP 5 Allow steaks to rest for 5 minutes.
» 2 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes » Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper » 1 tbs. olive oil » 1 tbs. white truffle oil » 1 yellow onion » 1 1/2 cup heavy cream » 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese » 1/2 cup creme fraiche » Finely chopped fresh thyme (for garnish)
DIRECTIONS STEP 1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees and butter a gratin dish or 9-inch square baking dish. STEP 2 Cut the potatoes into slices about ⅛ inch thick and arrange them slightly overlapping on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. STEP 3 In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive and truffle oils. Add the onion to the pan and saute until tender (about 4 minutes). Add the cream, bring to a simmer, and stir occasionally until thickened slightly (about 5 minutes). Stir in ¾ cup of the cheese and cook until melted. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the creme fraiche. Season with salt and pepper. STEP 4 Pour the mixture evenly on top of the potatoes and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife (about 1 hour). STEP 5 Let the gratin rest for 15 minutes. Drizzle lightly with truffle oil and garnish with thyme.
Walloon by the Numbers ANSWER KEY: Number of counties on Walloon: 2 (Emmet & Charlevoix) Number of camps still operating on Walloon: 2 (Daggett & Michigania) Number of townships on Walloon: 5 (Melrose, Evangeline, Bay, Resort & Bear Creek) Number of miles from Mud Lake to the Foot: 9 (To be exact, 9.2!) Walloon's rank in size of all inland lakes in state: 22 (And there are more than 10,000 lakes in the state!) Number of miles of shoreline: 30 Size of the watershed in square miles: 35 (To be exact, 35.39!) Number of WLAC preserves: 50 (Wow! How many have you visited?) Percentage of shoreline that is developed: 89 (Which puts us at risk, unfortunately!) Walloon's maximum depth in feet: 100 (In the West Arm) Approximate # of memberships in the WLAC: 1,025 (We're growing!) Year the name "Walloon" was adopted: 1900 (It was Bear Lake before that!) Number of acres preserved by WLAC: 2,100 (To be exact, 2,184!)
2021 DIRECTORY CORRECTIONS
MEMBERS: Marty Maugh & Steve Edwards 3910 Wildwood Drive, #24 Boyne City, MI 49712 1414 W. Wrightwood Ave., Unit L Chicago, IL 60614 chicago2125@gmail.com
Volume LI | Issue 3
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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.
MELVIN ARTHUR (ART) BUDDEN November 9, 1931 – August 14, 2021 Melvin Arthur Budden entered his Heavenly home August 14, 2021. He was born to Vera and Melvin Budden in Syracuse, NY on November 9, 1931. Art was a practicing radiologist in Lansing for 32 years. Retirement years were spent at the Mooring in Vero Beach, FL and on Walloon Lake in Petoskey, MI.
He graduated from the University of Rochester, Medical University of NY at Syracuse and residency at Wayne State University. Art was a devoted family man, compassionate physician, and dedicated church member. He served as clerk of session and elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was an AMA Member, MI State Med Society, Ingham County Med Society (Past President), American College of Radiology (Past President), Med Staff Ingham Regional Medical Hospital (Past President), Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and East Lansing Rotary Club.
His personality was once of loving support for his family. His word was honored and respected. He strove for excellence in his practice. Art is survived by his loving wife, Jean Jackson Budden, children Laura Fenton (Patrick) and Douglas Budden (Joan), grandchildren Gregory Fenton, Reed Fenton (Nicole), Adam Fenton (Kaitlyn), Sarah Pennington, Andrew Pennington, Mitchell Budden, and Megan Budden. He was preceded in death by his daughter Emily Budden Pennington.
WILLIAM (BILL) ASHLEY FREEHAN November 29, 1941 - August 19, 2021 William (Bill) Ashley Freehan, 79, died on August 19, 2021. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Bill was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Helen and Ashley Freehan on November 29, 1941. He spent his elementary years in Royal Oak, Michigan, and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, for high school where he met Patricia (Patte) Ann O’Brien when they were both freshmen. After graduating from Bishop Barry High School in 1959, he graduated from University of Michigan where he played football and baseball, earning All-American honors in baseball. He signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1961 where he played for 15 years, winning 5 Gold Gloves, 11 All-Star appearances, and one World Series in 1968.
He married his high school sweetheart, Patte, in 1963. Bill served as a player representative for the Detroit Tigers for many years and was instrumental in the founding of the Major League Baseball Players Association and hiring their own Executive Director to bargain with the owners so that they established some guidelines to protect the players and set up their pensions in healthcare. When Bill retired from baseball after the 1975 season, he formed a manufacturers representative company, Freehan-Bocci. He worked in the automotive industry until 1989 when he left to become the head baseball coach at the University of Michigan until 1995. As an active member of the Catholic Church throughout his life, Bill was involved in many charities, including Special Olympics, Wertz Warriors, March of Dimes, and Catholic Charities. While it was still the March of Dimes, Bill was a chairman in
Detroit for several years and led the walk to raise money. For years, Bill also led Wertz’s Warriors which was a snowmobile trip crisscrossing Northern Michigan to collect money. The money raised helped fund the Special Olympics, where Bill took part in the opening ceremonies at Schuss Mountain. When Camp Daggett used to have a summer camp for children with cancer, Bill often went over there with friends and played kickball with the kids. He also loved taking his chainsaw whenever he got the call from Al Damschroder to help maintain the WLAC preserve trails. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patte, and daughters Corey Daul (Steve), Kelley Salter (John), and Cathy Jo Ryan (Chris), and grandchildren Blaise, Ashley, Will, Allison, Harrison, Justin and Sophie. He is survived by his siblings Robert Freehan (Joan), Richard Freehan (Carole), and Mary Paciorek (Randy), and several nieces and nephews.
The Wallooner | Winter 2021
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RICHARD M. ICE May 12, 1923 - September 13, 2021 Richard Morton Ice, 98, of Mt. Summit, Indiana, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2021. He was born on May 12, 1923 in Mt. Summit, a son of the late Trammel and Catherine Ice. Richard grew up on the family farm in Mt. Summit, which was founded by the Ice family dating back to the 1850’s. He graduated from Muncie Central High School in 1941. Richard attended Purdue University in 1941 before being drafted into the United States Army in 1942. He served his country from 1942 – 1946 during WWII and was stationed in England, France and Germany. Richard met his wife, Joan Matthews, in the town of Axminster,
Devon, England and they were later engaged on April 20, 1946 and married November 12, 1946 in Gettysburg, PA after the war. Richard finished his studies in Agriculture at Purdue University in 1947 before moving back to their family farm in Mt. Summit. The Ice family raised dairy cows and at one time had the largest registered Jersey Dairy herd in the state of Indiana. He later worked for the Indiana State Department of Health as a Meat Inspector before retiring in 1983. Richard especially enjoyed spending time at “Nod-a-Way”, the family cottage on the West Arm of Walloon built in 1907. He visited Walloon every year between 1927 and 2019, except the three years he was stationed in Europe during World War II. He loved to take his “one” vacation week to leave the milking behind. Oh, how he loved to run down the dock and cannonball into the lake! He enjoyed
teaching the family and neighbors how to ski and then pulling them around for hours behind the boat. These lake traditions, enjoyed by all his family today, were taught to them by our dad and grandfather. He water skied into his 80s and jet skied at the age of 94. Richard was very kind, giving, loving, and a gentle man. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 75 years, Joan Ice; children, Joe (Betty) Ice and Jill (David) Cook; son-in-law, Charles (Peg) Bell; grandchildren, Angela (Aaron) Miller, Matt (Danielle) Bell, Kelsea (Dean) Behrendsen, Jordan (Alexis) Ice and Christopher Cook; great-grandchildren, Rylee, Kolby, Marc, Christian, Collin, Lola, Mira and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Jennifer Lou Bell, and a sister, Barbara Ice Smith.
Volume LI | Issue 3
22
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The Wallooner | Winter 2021
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231.526.9000 · Cottage-Company.com
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
WALLOON LAKE ASSOCIATION AND CONSERVANCY TRUSTEES Michael Hatch President
Mary Pat Goldich Vice President
Phone (231) 535-6112 | Fax (231) 535-6114 E-mail wlac@walloon.org | Web www.walloon.org
Marty Makinen
©Copyright 2021 Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy
Russ Kittleson
Treasurer Secretary
Greg Adams
John Marklewitz
Jan Antalis
Terry Marrs
Marianne Barry
Ralph Miesel
Jennifer Buchanan
George Peck
Danny Fellin
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Petoskey, MI Permit No. 110 Post Office Box 579 Walloon Lake, MI 49796 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Photo by Stephanie Bovee
