Birch Lodge Blog

Birch Lodge - See you in April!!!

2011-11-20T07:17:00.000-05:00

The trees were bare, wintry skies moved in and the cabin became too cold to live in. We realized it was time and closed up the resort for the season - and yes, WE WILL REOPEN next April.

We winterized the lodge and motel by draining and blowing out ALL the pipes - ugh - Bill is beginning to think restoration back to a period BEFORE indoor plumbing might be an attractive option!

We knew it was time because the county road commission was placing the snow-stick/sapling-guides along the edges of the highway right-of-way (these are a low-tech way to keep the plows on the road when there are blizzard white-out conditions). One is at the left of the image here - along with another good winter-is-coming-marker, the golden tamarack trees.

So, among other activities, we stacked the picnic tables up against the motel and broke out the snow blower attachment for the lawn tractor (although Randy, from town, does the heaviest plowing with his 4-wheel drive pick-up truck).

We couldn't help but chuckle about one recent development - now that we are closed for the season, the Canadian Northern Railroad has reconstructed the track crossing near the resort entrance, and the smooth, paved drive is ready to receive, uh, deer?

The closing of the property seemed at times frenetic, compounded by the fact we had moved into the motel temporarily where we could have reliable heat and frozen plumbing was less likely. It was kind of cramped and we were feeling it really was time to leave. However, with all the great people we met this year and the fond memories we have from sharing this special place, we found it difficult to lock up the gate. Even our furry family members weren't at all happy to be leaving, especially Polly (ever seen a Basset sulk?).

We keep repeating, it won't be that long until we return and reopen for guests. Just keep clicking your heels together and repeat, "There's no place like Birch Lodge! There's no place like Birch Lodge!!!!!!" (Geez, does this make Deb the Wicked Witch of the West? Of course not, hmmmm, maybe Wicked Witch of the North??? Guess that makes Bill a Munchkin . . .)

Birch Lodge Late Season is Prime Time

2011-11-07T18:52:00.002-05:00

While the temperatures remained in the 50s, Bill decided to scrape and paint the somewhat neglected members of our Birch Lodge structural "family." The entrance gates, which closed for the season November 1 and will be the only public face for the property until next April, were scraped, primed and painted.

The outbuildings behind the lodge had bothered us because they were along the drive leading to the main lodge and impacted visitors' first impressions. They looked run down. The fish cleaning shed got a new roof and painted trim, while the bait shop, the workshop, and the barn/laundry were washed, had siding firmed up and were also scraped and primed (although the bait shop's recent vintage light tan siding panels and window frames were stained brown).

Finally, the light tan paneled pole barn near the cabin, the first building visitors see entering the grounds, was stained brown to give it a more aged appearance and blend in more with the setting.

Unfortunately, much of the stain ended up on Bill, which also gives him a more aged appearance - although he will NEVER blend in with his setting!!!

Wildlife Visitors at Birch Lodge

2011-10-30T08:43:00.000-04:00

Trying to wrap up last-minute work around the property, we have had some feathered and furry visitors "looking over our shoulder." The unmistakable call of trumpeter swans echoed over Trout Lake as an adult and three adolescents arrived to rest before journeying further south. They've been on the lake for over a week. We'd like to think their calls are offering us moral support . . . Or are they laughing???

Some of our "lake-sidewalk supervisors" are more circumspect. In a bare earth area near the lake about 100 feet from the old lodge, a deer or small moose left evidence of a night-time visit.

When we went into the cabin to take a break, we noticed movement in the swale between the lakeside ridges - a covey(?) of grouse was sauntering through. (Look closely in the center of this image to see one of the birds.) This picture was taken through the cabin window(!)

And to think - all the bird hunters who were here this year spending all day out in the woods with mixed success - Guess the grouse knew where they'd be SAFE!!!

'Scrutiny on the Bounty' at Birch Lodge

2011-10-15T09:51:00.015-04:00

Seasonal weather has returned,and Autumn is in full force -literally - with 40 mph winds. Quite a change from the sunny 70s we had just a few days ago. We're ready to throw in the towel on our attempt at UP agriculture. We tried a garden, but to be honest, our thoughts and efforts were generally occupied with that other undertaking on our 20 acres here in Trout Lake. Yes, in case you could not recognize it, that's a garden in the image to the left (with thornless raspberries behind).

So, how did we do? Well, you can be the judge from the pictures above. Pitiful. We'd be OK if we could live off the raspberries and the little apple tree that's producing kick-butt tasty fruit (in the picture below, right) near the motel.

In sum, looks like it would be rather lean times if we had to live off the "bounty of the land" as did the pioneers up here. Anyone depending on our "green thumb" would be perfectly justified if they'd mutiny. Heck, we'd probably join them! We have to hope and pray we are better stewards of historic buildings than of tomatoes, squash, and peppers.

"Peaking" at Fall at Birch Lodge

2011-10-08T16:05:00.014-04:00

We enjoyed peak Fall color this week at the lodge. We were nearly fully booked as guests arrived to experience nature's artwork.

The view driving east to town was great as was the color heading west from our place along the county road.

The lake put on quite a show, with good color to the west and south over the lake, and our beach was also enveloped.

Perhaps the best show, however, was put on by the sun, with spectacular displays of light and texture. A little competition never hurts.

Which is better - the color of Fall or that of night-Fall?

Stop and Smell the Roses and Critters at Birch Lodge

2011-10-07T13:43:00.000-04:00

With all the planning, budgeting, construction, and better-than-expected business at the motel, we sometimes forget what a wonderful place Birch Lodge is, because we don't take the time to just sit down and look around. Should a person feel guilty about watching a sunset?

If we tire of looking out on Trout Lake (Well, NEVER!!!), we can jump in our kayaks and paddle up the stream off the end of the motel to Little Trout Lake and look for nesting osprey and eagles. How many times have we done this this year - twice???

Every day we see all kinds of wildlife without even trying. We hear loons call most every day and have watched a pair raising its young. We were going to step out our cabin door, and were greeted by a Pileated woodpecker - impressive!

Maybe we should take a hint from our domesticated family. They take the time to enjoy their "purrfect" surroundings and "lap it up".

Biking in Trout Lake and the Eastern U.P.

2011-09-30T15:31:00.000-04:00

Birch Lodge is located on an officially designated bicycle route as presented at the Eastern Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission website (under GIS maps, MDOT Eastern UP Bike Map).

Since Labor Day we've had three bicycling groups pass through and stay at the Motel. Two of the groups have been from Adventure Cycling, a nationwide group that sponsors tours including several across northern Michigan (website: AdventureCycling.org).

All the groups enjoyed the funky motel and historic lodge as well as the grounds. Using different sets of muscles after a day on the road, some took the Birch Lodge kayaks out for a spin on the lake and others went to the Birch Lodge Swimming Beach for a dip.

At night, they sat around our fire pit and exchanged stories.

For a short time we were "tagged" at the road entrance - letting fellow bikers know we were the place to stay. We've been told they will spread the word about Birch Lodge to fellow bikers and to be ready for their return next year.

Birch Lodge Interior Progress

2011-09-24T15:50:00.023-04:00

We have been scraping off old paint, washing as much of the underlying calcimine paint off the plaster as possible, and priming with EXPENSIVE sealer. Work has progressed on the second floor lobby that opens out onto the porch deck. And, Hoo-Boy, those were some ugly looking walls after the prep work for painting was completed!!! We don't know why the walls appear brown on the base layer - was it a function of the calcimine aging, or were the lobby walls originally a brownish tint? In some places it does scrub off. Same story in the dining room.

We've painted the walls a cream color for now. We will anxiously await to see if the new paint does adhere to the newly prepared base. Might make for an initeresting Spring!

And just when you thought the fun was over, we're also working on the dining room!!! The same scrape-scrub-rinse-seal-and-paint routine. (But, is anything about this Birch Lodge place ROUTINE???)

In addition, our electrician has begun rewiring the first floor, after our explicit instruction and supervision to disturb the lodge's historic fabric as little as possible.

SEPT-ember, Tanks for the Memories

2011-09-24T14:25:00.013-04:00

Well, have you missed us? We have been somewhat remiss in our bloggly duties. A whole lot has been going on. Or, perhaps I should say a "hole lot" . . . We are the proud owners of a shiny(?) new septic field with not one, but TWO tanks, WOO-HOO!!!

The old Birch Lodge septic tank was metal and in poor condition. We decided while we replaced the brown water tank we'd also bring everything up to code and install a gray water tank in case we, or subsequent owners, decide to re-open the commercial kitchen. So, huge 1200 and 1000 gallon tanks and field were installed northwest of the lodge. Sadly, a few trees had to go.

We have to console ourselves with the fact we now have a simply dandy place to put up the steel gnome cut-out croquet wickets we found in the back of the barn.

Fall Colors at Trout Lake, MI

2011-09-04T14:42:00.015-04:00

The calendar may still say it is summer, but we know it is now fall. The first leaves are starting to change, some subtle gold and burgundy are giving color to the backdrop of green that surrounds Birch Lodge.

The birch trees have not started to color, nor have the sugar maple that make such a statement with their orange and red colors, but we know it will come soon. The nights have been dipping into the forties and the sunlight has taken on that strong low autumnal glow as it sets, illuminating the bark on the birch with a Maxfield Parish-like glow.

The fall flowers are also now in full bloom.

The native goldenrod, asters and the joe pye weed along the lake rival any perennial bed.

Less showy, but still favorites of mine are the orange jewel-weed and white turtle head blossoms.

Birch lodge has always been a special place to see the colors in the fall. The wind often goes still in the morning, and the gold of the birches, and orange and red of the maples on the Birch Shores peninsula are reflected in the mirror-like water. So beautiful. Also, the fall is a time of quiet here, most of the cottages on the lake are summer homes, and after Labor Day, most of the owners close their cottages and head south.

Our season is slower after Labor Day, but we plan to stay open as long as weather permits, hopefully into November. The heat is on in the motel, and if you have a chance, come on up and see the beauty of fall here. The kettle is on, and I'm getting in the mood for some pumpkin spice cookies!

One Step at a Time, Birch Lodge is Simply Electrifying

2011-08-21T08:10:00.015-04:00

We finally got the last of the 8 rooms in the motel ready for guests this week, and once again we are fully booked. The number of guests has exceeded our expectations - many returning "regulars" but a majority finding us on line and staying for the first time. The motel rehab and clean-up and ongoing housekeeping has reduced the time available to work on the old lodge, but we are now moving forward.

Bill began electrical upgrades in the office recently, but quickly reached the limits of his expertise. Deb simply doesn't consider his success in screwing cfls into knob-and-tube wired fixtures a great leap forward.

So, somewhat reluctantly, this past week we've had electrical contractors out for bids to begin work on upgrades. A permit has been pulled and work should begin this coming week on the lodge office and Bill's office upstairs. Next phase will be the public areas on the first floor.

This past week also saw construction of permanent steps for the front porch that are in character with the building, replacing the temporary steps that were only constructed on the front. Guests can now access our vintage steel lawn chairs and wicker from the lakeside and each end. Of course, the excellent view from the porch needs no improvement.

Also, we've finished priming and applying paint to the west wing Doctor's Suite hall - replicating the original coral of the hallway. We've also begun painting the rooms in the wing. With flaking paint removed and calcimine paint scraped and sealed, the painted rooms are light and bright. The place is starting to feel like old times. If we allow ourselves to be optimistic, we may be able to start hosting guests in the lodge as early as next year.

Antique Boats at Birch Lodge

2011-08-07T21:15:00.013-04:00

As a member of the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce we are happy to be included on their wonderful website. We noticed that Les Cheneaux Antique Wooden Boat Show is next weekend, Saturday-Sunday August 13 and 14, one of the largest shows of its kind in the nation.

Deb and I hope to get over to Hessel which is only about 45 minutes from Birch Lodge, and it is a darn scenic drive.

This got us to thinking about our own old boats here at Birch Lodge, which while not good ol woodies, we think are still pretty neat.

The previous owners of the lodge deposited about a dozen galvanized steel rowboats at the wood edge. These craft are 14 to 16 feet long with wooden gunnels and had wood grate flooring. These probably date to the 1940s and are in many of the old photos in the lodge.

We selected the best preserved of the batch and they are now being restored, down to the green, yellow and red paint job, by Trout Lake Services in town. You can see they still retained this paint scheme when they were in still in service in this vintage 1970s image.

We hoped to have them back this summer, but you will definitely see them in the water next year. Meanwhile, maybe we will see you at the show!

Oh, and Deb is a big sailboat lover too. She gets this from her dad who loved sailing and building boats. Some big and small. One of her favorites is this small model that is now at the lodge.

It is a wooden model crafted by Deb's father about 1930 from plans provided by Popular Science Magazine. It is intricate in detail, including lead anchors produced from molds by Don Rhead, and extending to the sails, which he stained with tea to simulate age and weathering. Check it out when you visit!

Mackinac Bridge, and Walks Around Birch Lodge

2011-07-30T07:36:00.020-04:00

Birch Lodge is about 35 minutes north of the Mackinac Bridge, site of the famous Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day. Thousands of people cross the bridge on foot, sometimes led by the Governor - the Mackinac Bridge Authority maintains a website that has information about the annual event. (One of the site's photos is provied here on the left.)

Many people have stayed at Birch Lodge since the first Bridge Walk in 1958. We are a somewhat-more-quiet base from which to participate in the festivities, and once again this year, we have started to receive reservations from Bridge Walk participants.

Birch Lodge offers plenty of opportunities for guests to "limber-up" for the 7-mile Bridge hike - or to just explore.

You can walk from the Carp River inlet on our quarter-mile of lake front up to our swimming beach and beyond.

When you are at the beach, you can walk through the clear, sandy bottom knee-deep water to cool off. Maybe you'll see the moose who also took a walk and left tracks on our beach . . .

You can walk out onto our dock and watch the fish - the gulls do.

You can walk along our 100-foot-long porch. Kind of like an economy version of the Grand Hotel(?) And we don't charge you to walk on ours!

You can walk up our drive and along the woods trails on our 20 acres.

You can walk out the gate and hike up the county road a half-mile to town for an ice cream cone.

And, unlike the Mackinac Bridge Walk, if it's rainy, you can still take a rather lengthy stroll in comfort by exploring the interior nooks and crannies of our 10,000 square foot lodge.

Fire and Water

2011-07-24T19:14:00.016-04:00

As the largest resort on Trout Lake, we are always trying to add to the amenities offered to our guests. The latest addition - a stone-lined fire pit. It in some ways it is in the spirit of a stone barbecue hearth dating to the mid-1900s that had been removed by the previous owner.

Several of our guests had asked about building a bonfire, bringing shudders to certain owners of a historic century-old frame lodge. But we realize how much weenies and s'mores over an open fire have inspired many a family tradition in the north.

So, we created a lodge-friendly, virtually fireproof location near the water's edge about mid-way between the motel and lodge. Close enough to either for access, far enough from both to reduce fire danger, and lakeside for cool breezes, sunset views, and lifetime memories.

Pull up a chair and pass the marshmallows!

Birch Lodge's "A-Peel"

2011-07-17T16:55:00.018-04:00

While we are renovating the motel (last two rooms may come on line this week) and installing the fire ring near the lake, what the heck, might as well start working on the lodge interior. What better place than dealing with the unsightly walls and ceilings that are losing paint in huge sheets? No one wants to stay in a place whose interior looks like a haunted house.

Our research indicates the peeling problem is not due to water or weather, but is caused by the base coat of calcimine paint, a commonly used solution in early 20th century to quickly seal drying plaster and provide a finished look (an excellent summary is presented at alcimine.htm). Unfortunately for current Birch Lodge (and other old building) owners, this paint is calcium carbonate-based -- basically chalk. When you paint over it, the coverage has nothing to bond to and sooner or later peels off in flakes or large sheets - as happened in the lodge dining room that was painted just five years ago.

The best way to deal with this situation is to scrape off all overlying layers and then wash down the walls until the calcimine is removed. Since it is almost impossible through physical effort - and budget - to take all walls down to bare plaster, removing as much as possible, and then painting the walls with specialized paint such as Cal-Clean, Calc-X or Calci-coater, will seal and allow paint to adhere to the walls and ceilings.

Thus, our two intrepid soul mates, Randy and Becca, waded in this week in the first lodge rooms to undergo treatment - the former Doctor's Suite on the first floor. At the current state it all looks pretty nasty, but in our eyes it is progress that, while not beautiful, appears less frightening than walls that look like they are out of a horror movie.

However, we just can't seem to get used to the dark browns and reds that apparently once graced the suite . . .

Birch Lodge, the " Family" Resort on Trout Lake

2011-07-10T15:32:00.014-04:00

The past week has been a busy one, and all about families. We've hosted families for reunions at the Trout Lake Township Park and one attending a wedding at a nearby lake home. We also had an older couple who have been coming here since the 1970's.

Birch Lodge also served as the base of operations for two great families, one from southern Michigan and the other from Texas.

They ventured out from the motel for day trips to visit Tahquamenon Falls, Mackinac Island, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Glass Bottom Boat/Shipwreck Tour in Munising and other attractions.

We also had a grandfather and grandson stay on route to the boys parents back downstate. They liked the rowboat and beach, and spending time in the bench swing on the lawn.

One thing all had in common - a LOVE for Deb's coconut and oatmeal raisin cookies and brownies!

More importantly for us, the young families seemed to breathe life back into the old resort. All kinds of joyous noises enlivened the place as they frolicked on the beach, enjoyed the lakefront swing, spent time in the screen house at the lake, and went boating and kayaking.

We even dug out the horseshoes (and literally the horseshoe pits) for a game of "shoes." The board games also got a workout, as did the old console jukebox in the Birch Bar where vintage songs, particularly "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Boy", apparently have enticed a new generation of admirers.

Work has also begun on the lakeside patio-fire ring. Archaeologist Bill hates digging anything without passing dirt through screens. However, Deb convinced him speed is of the essence so we can offer a place for a safe camp fire that will not threaten the lodge.

Bringing back the shuffleboard court is also out on the horizon. More work, yes, but worth hearing the sounds of laughter in the air.

Old-Fashioned 4th of July

2011-07-03T15:04:00.016-04:00

As the oldest resort on Trout Lake, Birch Lodge has seen over a hundred Independence Day celebrations. Trout Lake really puts on a show each year - a full-scale all-invited community parade, fireworks over the lake, softball tournament, pancake supper, barbecue, flea market, family reunions at the township park - just like "the old days." And, just like the old days, the motel was filled for the holiday weekend - Woo-Hoo!!!

So, how did we celebrate? We launched the first of our Birch Lodge "fleet" - the row boats that guests may use. She is cleaned and shined, and re-painted with the Birch Lodge name. The next two "ships of the line" are in progress, as we are restoring two of the original galvanized steel boats from the 1940s.

Two couples have already gone fishing, and the score, wives: four pan fish one pike, and a walleye; husbands: ZIP. Interestingly, the guests and some local folks found the same spot a short way off our dock that the osprey and eagles fish. We saw an osprey take a walleye there too the other day!

We set up our screen room for guests to use to watch the fireworks over the lake a dusk, just in case the skeeters are biting. We are now planning an outdoor lakeside "patio" area with a fire ring so that we might have safe fires lakeside. Maybe even host some neighborhood pot-luck dinners too!

Deb whipped up a batch of red, white, and blue sour cream sugar cookies (as well as some plain ones for those who might not be feeling so patriotic . . .).

How did Bill spend the "holiday"? Well, we all know he always does things a little differently. Hopefully not starting a new tradition - he was red with sunburn, white with rage and blue with melancholy after digging a trench to expose a leaking water line to the laundry.

To think that all started out by going to fill in a hole behind the old fish cleaning house..... It's amazing what a guy can accomplish when powered by enough sugar cookies! Oh, and the Bunn coffee maker the electrician gave us! Coffee anyone? Now off to rake the beach......

Birch Lodge Modern---Again

2011-06-25T17:42:00.025-04:00

Many people these days, even those who wish to immerse themselves in nostalgia and historical environments, expect "modern amenities" in accommodations.

Back in the day, Birch Lodge was proud to be up to date, and we want to bring it up to date again. Back then, to be "modern" you had to have indoor plumbing - and it is now almost to that state with Internet access and full-spectrum TV.

We did appreciate the old funky RCA color TVs in the motel rooms, but the roof antenna only pulled in two Canadian stations.

While Canadian TV is interesting, lets face it, that is not much of a choice, and after September 1 even these won't be available as Canada ceases analog broadcasting.

Thus, we somewhat reluctantly have acquired satellite Internet and TV for our guests. In the motel rooms we provide the DirecTV commercial package.

We thought this image of the old antenna juxtaposed with the satellite dish symbolized well the technological transition, as does this one showing the old and new televisions.
We now offer wireless connection through HughesNet in the lodge's Birch Bar, lobby, and dining room as well as on the full-width veranda - darned nice places with tons of atmosphere to sit with a cup of joe and check your email and facebook.

Can you imagine yourself behind the computer pictured here on the front porch, or there in the Birch Bar, or perhaps there in the front lobby???

Oh, and did we mention we now have an online reservation link on the website? Check the calender for availability and book yourself a room now! Soon the link will be set with our credit card processor so you can book and pay online with a secure link.

For two Luddites like us that never had more than rabbit ears and first thought dial-up web access was the bees knees, well, jeepers creepers and 24-skidoo, this is quite a change!!!

Birch Lodge; Signs of Change

2011-06-18T19:37:00.025-04:00

Big News! We now are officially recognized by county road commission! During our research we discovered that the first section of our drive is actually a county road. We requested a road sign to help direct visitors to the lodge and a couple days ago we received our S. Birch Lodge Dr. sign.

This addition is complemented by our new business sign. While the original sign was pretty cool, it was deteriorated and did not convey the information we wished. So, we contacted MacAinnis Signs out of Rudyard, and they produced new panels and signage.

While admiring these improvements, a CN train happened by (apparently heard about the new signage and wanted to check them out . . .), so I snapped a photo of it too. (My thanks to the engineer who only rang his bell and didn't blast his horn.)

And, FINALLY, we were able to get the old Birch Lodge dock back in the lake. After inspection of the old dock sections that had lain on shore for several years, we found it necessary to discard about half whose planks were in poor condition and more importantly had structural metal that had rusted through. The remaining sound sections with aluminum framing were sanded and stained and reassembled.

We now have about 90 feet of marine access --- and some nice photo ops for the lodge.

Birches, Beaches and Butterflies

2011-06-12T09:22:00.007-04:00

Earlier this week we had temperatures in the mid-80's and sun.

Apparently, this was what Yellow Swallowtail Butterflies were waiting for--they appeared in droves!

Why so many? Aside from identifying them, I had never bothered to read up about them before.

Well, as it turns out, the Yellow Swallowtail has as one of it's preferred host species the birch tree!

They are primarily a tree top species, and lay their eggs on birch.

I have never seen their caterpillars before, but will watch for them this year. The adults prefer pink or red nectar flowers including milkweed and bee balm.

When we walked on the beach, they formed a band of yellow along the wave line. We thought they were after the moisture.

We found out that the young males, in particular, draw sodium and potassium as well as amino acids from the moisture to complete their development.

When one finds a good spot, others will be attracted too in a behavior called "puddling". We were able to watch some clusters form as the butterflies fluttered all about us.

They will also draw nutrients from other less seemly substances such as human perspiration, carrion and animal droppings.

I guess the moral of the story is don't be so flattered if a butterfly lands on you-- you probably just need to take a shower!

More Trout Lake Memories from Birch Lodge

2011-06-05T09:21:00.011-04:00

We really enjoy receiving messages from people who have stayed at Birch Lodge and have fond memories of this very special place. We received emails from families of former owners, people who have worked at Birch Lodge, and many people who spent vacations here.

One of our most recent contacts, for example, was from Lisbeth, who wrote about spending "six glorious days" when Farm Bureau families met here for a vacation lodge and was delighted to see the lodge "glimmering in the sunlight just as I remember it 50+ years ago".

And then there is Karen, who told us she reads our blog to check on progress. She and others - have told us that reading the entries make them feel they are visiting Trout Lake all over again. Many have shared photos of their stays at Birch Lodge - and we love this. We hope to have a wall of images showing good times had by visitors through the decades.

Going back to Karen again, she included a fish story and a picture taken by her uncle Bill of a really nice bass caught in Trout Lake, probably during the late 1970s. She relates, Cliff Badgley came out to the dock to assess the catch and surmised "that's the third largest smallmouth I've seen taken from this lake." A fish tale, perhaps? Let's just say that Karen was suspect: "probably said that very same thing to EVERYBODY, but I believed him." Does look like a nice catch though!

By the way, we still have some of the steel boats in that photo, and hope to have some of them back in the water this year.

Thanks again to everyone, and keep the photos and memories coming!

Heart-Break Motel or Bill learns to "Clean"

2011-05-29T13:10:00.024-04:00

While the century-old lodge building is the anchor of the property, the business is known as Birch Lodge AND MOTEL. The last month or so has been an "adventure" in preparing the motel to open for this summer's tourist season. There has been an intensive effort to deal with deferred maintenance.

The motel exterior has been scraped and painted, as have both Bill and Deb . . .

Then there were the windows... lots of storm sash came down and got cleaned and put back up....meanwhile inside....

Some interior patching and repainting has also been done and some baseboards and doors refinished.

Deb has plans to repaint ALL the baths. The shower doors have been removed and are awaiting for the intensive removal of years of caulk. The tubs have the old caulk chiseled out and fresh caulk. New shower curtains are hanging. The tile scrubbed with brush and toothbrush. The bed frames were taken apart and cleaned and reassembled. All furniture was removed to make way for the carpet cleaning.

Commercial carpet cleaners were hired to scour each of the rooms. Drapes have come down and have been washed and rehung-- the rods and hangers of course, cleaned.

And Bill has learned - the hard way - literally at the feet of the master, Deborah, that there are differing levels of clean.
Bill was accepting of "Man-Clean". But no, above that level of clean is "Clean". The motel, however, is taken to the next level: "Deb-Clean". Deborah is not at all sympathetic to Bill's argument that some dirt might be historic and ought to be preserved . . .

As of Memorial Day, we have two rooms ready for guests, another will come on-line by the end of May and a fourth in early June. We anticipate that the other four rooms will pass muster as the season progresses. We have brought in satellite internet (the only option up here in this area of Paradise) - ask Bill how happy he was to crawl around under the lodge to snake cables and dig a 75-foot trench to bury the line to the dish(!?!?).
We have installed a wireless router so that guests can browse the internet while sipping coffee or soft drinks in either the Birch Bar or the Birch Lodge lobby.

We are in the process of having satellite TV installed and it should be up and running with new equipment the first week of June.

Oh and we've just achieved on-line reservation capability at the Birchlodge.com web site.

Whew.

No wonder we are tired.........maybe we aren't just getting old.....

Now all we need are some guests. How about you?????

Trout Lake Trains and a Train Wreck

2011-05-22T06:47:00.018-04:00

Among the things we most enjoy about saving Birch Lodge are the people we come in contact with who have stories to tell about the historic inn and Trout Lake. Recently we were contacted by Judy, whose great grandfather David Watt was an engineer on the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad during its heyday in the early 20th century. We had seen images of a 1912 train wreck at Trout Lake on old post cards and on the internet. But Judy, who came across our blog railroad history entries, forwarded the personal history below that really adds depth and color to the incident. We are pleased to share this with you.

David Watt (1858-1945) went to work tending mules in the coal mines in Scotland at the age of twelve. When he was sixteen, his Uncle Wilson took him and four other boys to Canada to work on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. In two years’ time, he became a train engineer.

At that time, his uncle moved to Marquette, Michigan, to take a master mechanics job on a young railroad called the Duluth, South Shore, & Atlantic (DSS&A). He brought all five young men with him. The others had their Scots brogue all their lives, but David said that if he was going to live in America, he was going to be an American! He worked hard to rid himself of his Scottish accent.

David was an engineer for 52 years for the DSS&A, traveling between Marquette on the south shore of Lake Superior and St. Ignace, on the north side of the Strait of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, a distance of about 150 miles.

He was in one bad train wreck in about 1914. Where the tracks of the DSS&A and the Soo Line crossed at right angles, all trains were supposed to stop 400 feet short of the crossing and blow their whistles four times. David did this, but the other train didn’t stop.

After he had started up again, he spotted the other train coming at him. He hit the brakes and tried to stop, but when he saw that he couldn’t, he told the fireman to jump off. The fireman did, urging David to jump, too. But David stayed in the cab and applied the brakes.

The fireman was only slightly injured, but when the cab was hit by the other engine, David was badly injured. He was pinned in the overturned, burning engine and was badly burned on the face and head by live steam and coals from the open fire box. About twenty minutes after the wreck, the fireman realized that David must still be in the engine. An unknown salesman soaked his coat in water, put it over his head, and went into the cab and pulled David out. David had his left ear burned off and many other scars. The family was never able to locate the brave man who rescued him.

We can surmise that our property, established as the Birch Lodge Hospital and Summer Resort Sanitarium, would have been involved in treating Mr. Watt and anyone else injured in the wreck. Recall that Dr. E.D. Ford opened the lodge in 1912 and was probably Trout Lake's only doctor at the time. Because Dr. Ford died later on that same year, Mr. Watt might have been one of the few patients ever treated at the lodge during its short tenure as a hospital.

Here are some historic post card views of the wreck:

Trout Lilies, spring wildflowers and Trout Lake, MI

2011-05-14T14:14:00.015-04:00

There seems to be a preoccupation here in the spring with trout. Trout opener is the last Saturday in April, which also coincides with the first blooms of the trout lilies. Where better to see them than in the woods around Birch Lodge, at Trout Lake, MI.

Some sources say trout lilies got their name because they blossom about the time of trout season, others say that the speckled leaves are like the markings of a trout. I only know that I love seeing their yellow blossoms spread through the floor of the woods in the spring.

Properly called Erythronium americanum, the trout lily is also called the dogtooth violet and adder,s tongue. They can be found in the woods generally in areas of leafy humus slightly on the damp side. Some garden cultivars are available in the nurseries now, but most of these are a slightly different species to our native flowers. The plants grow from a small bulb or "corm" which is about 4-6" below the soil. In plants that are too undeveloped to bloom, a white root-like growth will be sent out above the ground, which will root and develop a new plant.

The corm that the lilies grow from are edible, but please don't eat them. From seed to flower takes seven years of growing to develop a bulb large enough to produce a flower!
Typically they can be found blooming with other spring ephemerals like Dutchman's breeches and spring beauty.

Some other flowers found in the woods that bloom at the same time are cut-leaf toothwort and blood root.

This particular blood-root is a double blossoming cultivated one from my wild garden.

On the edge of the wood the hepatica and arbutus are also in bloom.

The arbutus smell wonderful, when the air is still their perfume fills the air, but most days you will have to get down on your knees to smell them. Do it! you may look a bit undignified, but hey, you are up north, who's looking?

The North Country Trail

2011-05-07T08:08:00.036-04:00

There are several access points to the North Country Tail within a dozen miles of Birch Lodge and Trout Lake, MI. The North Country Trail is longer than the Appalachian Trail and traverses seven states, a long segment of which passes through Michigan.

This trail system was developed through the National Parks system, and is largely constructed and maintained by volunteers. In our area the trail has good signage at the points where it crosses area roads, and the passage way of the trail itself is designated by light blue paint marks on trees along the trail.

In the Eastern Upper Peninsula, the trail runs almost parallel to M-123 from Lake Michigan to Lake Superior. Segments of the trail are described by the group of volunteers that maintain it through the Hiawatha Shore to Shore trail association.

This week, after working at the lodge we took a drive on H-40 east of town, to the access point at Trout Brook Pond, which by the way is stocked with trout. This is HSS Trail Head #3, and this segment of the trail goes to Soldier Lake about 18 1/2 miles to the north. (The HSS note that this segment of the trail provides good areas for morel mushrooms!)

At first, we followed a two track in through the pines to camp site on the south west point of the pond (really a lake). What a beautiful spot! The trail crossed a foot bridge, and climbed a hill overlooking the pond.

We next stopped at the Trail Head a little further to the east, an improved road with a boat ramp. This provides a good parking area and easy access to the trail between the pond and Biscuit Creek, which lies about a 1/4 mile to the north. (Biscuit Creek is also a designated trout stream.)

After exploring the area a bit, the sun was getting low so we headed back to Birch Lodge. Checking the map, we decided to go the "scenic route" via Spur Road, which crosses Biscuit Creek over an "improved" road, and turning west on the sandy two track which follows the Pine River.

Oddly, although we have done a great deal of exploring the woods in this general area, we had never visited the Pine River. There are a number of nice access points to the Pine River along this trail, the river is well down-cut, and there are beautiful stands of pine along the bluff edge. At one point, we discovered evidence of an old logging dam. It is a very beautiful area, but it was getting late. We will have to pack a lunch, and hike the trail and explore this area another day.