To all Haring, Crawford, LaPratt, and Nalley family and friends,
Everyone keeps saying that they wish the walls of Fiddlers Inn and Grandma Evelyn and Grandpa Roger’s home could talk. We wish they could too, so we're trying for the next best thing: asking for the stories of as many people who frequented the Houghton Lake cabins as possible! Now that R.C. is moving to Florida and the “compound” at Houghton Lake will be sold, we’d like to use this blog to start collecting those stories. Posting on this blog site is open to anyone. The plan is to capture as many memories as possible before Thanksgiving of this year (2013) so that we can put them into a book to give to RC for his birthday in December. Please feel free to write as much or as little as you want, and you are not limited to posting only 1 memory. Post as many as you have and feel like sharing. Come back to the site many times to add more or to just see what’s been added.
Thanks and Happy Blogging!
The Family of Roger and Evelyn Haring
The early days
ReplyDeleteThe earliest Memory I have of going to Fiddlers inn is from about 3-4 Years of age. the Cabin was much different from what you see today. No indoor plumbing (Just an Outhouse), A pitcher pump in the Kitchen sink that had to be primed every time the cabin was opened, and I remember Grandpa (Ivey) taking charge of that and Mimmie getting all the weekend stuff put away. Water always had to be on hand to prime the pump so a gallon or so was always left in the summer months, water had to be brought from home in the winter for obvious reasons. It was always an adventure. Grandpa was always fussing with something until someone showed up and the Laughing, music, and card playing would begin. He always had a big chew of Red Man tobacco in his mouth no matter what. The cabin was very different inside, no finished lumber, just the varnished logs and open ceilings. Grandpa always had time for us and always made sure we (I) got involved with whatever was going on. he started teaching me to play euchre about time I could recognize the suits and Numbers. He got the biggest kick out of that, Me too.
One of my fondest memories of Fiddler's Inn is the time when I was there with Mimmie and Grandpa, but Mom and Dad were not there - or not there yet. I can't remember if Mimmie and Grandpa were babysitting us for the whole weekend or just for Friday night. At the time I was only about 4 years old or less - I know that because Grandpa died about 4 months before I turned 5. I can't remember if the boys were there sleeping on the studio couch or not - but they probably remember. Anyway, I used to love to color. I could spend hours with my coloring books and crayons. So, I was sitting on a stool next to the table that was in front of the front window, absorbed in my coloring. It was way past dark and getting fairly late. Mimmie and Grandpa were tired and wanted to go to bed, but I wanted to keep coloring. Mimmie told me it was time for bed, but I just said, "I'm coloring." So grandpa said, "If she wants to color, let her color. She'll go to bed when she gets tired."
ReplyDeleteWell, sure enough, once everyone was in bed and all the lights were off except the one on the table where I was coloring, I soon lost interest in what I was doing and realized that I was sleepy. So, I put my coloring book and crayons in the drawer of the table, turned off the light, and went and climbed into my crib, which was in Mom and Dad's room, and went right to sleep.
One of my fondest memories of Fiddler's Inn is of a recurring time in which Mel, Sara, Samaranthe and I would snuggle into the pull out sofa bed in the living room and have one big slumber party with Mimmie. She would insist on giving us an electric blanket (no matter what season). We would giggle and giggle until all hours. Mimmie, of course being the lady she was, was sound asleep (snoring a little:)) on her back with her hands perfectly folded at her chest.
ReplyDeleteIn the morning we girls would sit at the bar drinking coffee with more than a little Cremora creamer and sugar and eat brown bread. Mimmie always had the radio on...Forever and Ever Amen by Randy Travis always seemed to be playing in the morning and Mimmie would always comment that. I used to love when she would sing along with the radio and any song that was being sung/played at Grandma and Grandpa's or Fiddler's Inn.
I always credit Mimmie with my love of coffee and she would have loved my Brooksie because he drinks coffee just the way we used to! Melanie recently commented to me that her children have some of the same memories (like sleeping on the pull-out sofa and drinking coffee) and I'm so glad that they, along with my children had the chance to experience that! I always seem to think of those times, both when I was young and when our children were visiting Fiddler's Inn, when I have my morning coffee at home. It's amazing how a food, drink or smell will take you back to a certain place or time.
Just have to say how much I am already loving these stories I have not heard and reliving times I have had by thinking of memories to post.
ReplyDeleteRedman....”America’s Best Chew”
ReplyDeletePart 1.
I have some very clear memories of my early childhood, my very early childhood actually. And although I’ve never been one who was really ”into” cars, there is one that sticks in my mind like it was yesterday. The first time I saw it I was almost four years old I guess. Yes, May of 1956. Patti was a few months old, I was about to have my fourth birthday party which would be also a Mother’s Day party as my birthday always fell on or about Mother’s day and we very often celebrated those two events up at Fiddler’s Inn. The weekend trips to the lake would start sometimes as early as April with a couple of trips to de-winterize the cabin and get it all cleaned up and ready for the summer but would really become a weekly event from early to mid- May and the procedure was always the same.
Friday afternoon, Mimmi & Grandpa (Ivey) would drive from Saginaw to our house out in Auburn. It wasn’t really Auburn though because we were in fact only about two miles from Midland and Auburn was several miles the other direction… but I digress. Once Mimmi & Grandpa got to our house we’d get all our stuff together, finish loading the cars and get ready for the drive together up to the lake. Mimmi and Patti would ride with Mom in our car and Dad, Tom & I would ride with Grandpa in their car or vise versa. Either way, it was the women in one car and the men in the other.
This particular Friday, at about the time we expected to see Mimmi & Grandpa turn into the driveway, suddenly there was a beautiful, and what I thought to be very fancy, car pull in the driveway that we didn’t recognize. We wondered who was coming in until, behind the wheel of this brand new 1955 two toned peach & charcoal Chevy Belair sat Grandpa with Mimmi right beside him. Grandpa was so proud of his new car, and he had a right to be because it certainly was a beauty and destined to become one of America’s Classic autos
From then on, I looked so much forward to the next trip to the lake and always wanted “the men” to ride with Grandpa in his fancy car, which we very often did. Geez! What a ride!! I loved that car and was heartbroken when he traded it in 1958 for another Chevy Belair which by the way had nowhere near the classiness of that Classic 1955.
Redman....”America’s Best Chew”
ReplyDeletePart 2.
Somewhere along the line, I’m not exactly sure but I think I was about six or so, we were on our way to The Lake and another weekend at Fiddler’s Inn. “The Men” were in Grandpa’s ’55 Chevy out on the open road on our way up north. It was a classic Michigan summer’s afternoon, and as my daughters would say; “hot…damn hot…AFRICA HOT”!.. and so humid you could drink the air. It felt so good to be cruising along at 65 miles an hour with all the windows rolled down, just feeling the breeze and enjoying the ride.
Have I ever told you that my Grandpa, our Grandpa Ivey was an old hillbillie from the Kentucky/ Indiana border? And most of those old boys chewed tobacco rather than smoking it… probably because they couldn’t afford cigarette paper and matches, I don’t know. Anyway, the stuff they chewed wasn’t as “elegant or chic” as snuff. No, this was either whole leaf or plug tobacco and you’d fill your cheek with a wad of it big enough to choke a horse and you’d chew. Or as they always said; “Have a good chaw”. Grandpa Ivey’s brand of choice was Redman…”America’s best Chew”.
It seemed he always had “a good chaw” going and his left cheek always looked like he had a softball in his mouth. He’d chaw, and shoot the breeze, drink a beer, and every now & then… he’d spit. Now I don’t mean like a little “Ptooey” like some guys do. I mean this was an enormous stream as powerful as Tahquamenon Falls!... and just as brown!
So, we’re still cruising along at 65 miles an hour with all the windows rolled down, just feeling the breeze and enjoying the ride…until… suddenly I hear that sound…that sound I’d heard a hundred times. It sounded a bit like Tahquamenon Falls was being flushed down the toilet. But wait! Not down the toilet….out the driver’s window! And the next sensation I had was one that defies description! I guess the closest I can come is to say that it was like being hit by a tobacco juice water balloon that was fired from a cannon!.... Lovely! In my hair, all down my face, my cheeks, on and underneath my shirt…and even all over my khaki trousers!!! Mmmmmm….what a feeling!!....What a smell!! Thank you, thank you very much Grandpa!! And by the way Tom…Did you feel any of that brown breeze? I was a bit too preoccupied to notice. I do however remember hearing you laugh.
When we finally got to Fiddler’s Inn both Mom & Mimmi asked (accused) Grandpa of feeding his chewing tobacco to us little boys. We swore he didn’t but I think that they weren’t convinced. And, after two baths I still smelled of Grandpa’s “chaw” when I went to school on Monday.
Fiddler's Inn will always have a special place in my heart. So many happy memories of family, laughter and music. Let's hope that someone moves in and enjoys it just as much!
ReplyDeleteOne memory is really Samranthe's but here it is. One of the many times the family would go up to "Hoto" lake to visit we all made it over to Zubler's to watch the Indian dances. Samaranthe must have been 3 years old. Sara and Sammie watched the Indians dance and chant their "hey-yay-yay" and thought that was pretty cool. We all returned to Kimberley Drive and Samaranthe went with Mimmie to go in the back door at Fiddler's Inn. Mimmie laughed and laughed when telling us later that Samaranthe was just "a dancing and a dancing" on the patio moving those little legs just like she saw at Zubler's and singing the "hey-yay-yay" with all her little voice. So cute. (That was when the Fiddler's Inn was painted with those half moon swirls and dots as I recall!) Karana
Thanks for the memory, Karana! Funny you should mention the half moon swirls and dots. That was painted on the patio by Mom, Mimmie, and I think some of Uncle Charlie's 16 kids - maybe Laila and Delores? I don't remember exactly, but I remember Mom and Mimmie telling about the day they did the "stippling."
DeleteThey had several pie tins or coffee cans of different colored paints and some sponges, steel wool and other random painting devices. As I recall the story being told, all 'the girls' were dressed in their best raggedy old pedal pushers and cotton blouses, hair tied up in babooshkas. Then they started out - after the base color was dry, they started in with their bright colors painting random swishes and dots using the sponges and steel wool. They were talking and laughing and probably having a few drinks while they were at it.
After awhile, the girls were getting pretty punchy what with all the alcohol and paint fumes, I imagine. Before TR built the current railing around the patio, there were a couple of cement steps leading away from the patio toward the backyard (and the old privy, I suppose).
At one point, Delores, I think, sat down to rest at the edge of the patio by those steps. Well that got Laila to thinking - and she told Delores how she thought she should put paint on her behind so that her butt print would be part of the paint job.
So - you know how it is when you're drinking and working outdoors on a hot afternoon...well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Next thing you know, Delores has dropped her drawers, Laila has painted her behind and Delores plopped down on the edge of the patio. And sure enough - there was her butt print, literally big as life! And then to complete the picture, they painted foot prints on the step!
As you can imagine, the image was the source of a lot of jokes and hilarity over the rest of the weekend. However, it wasn't too many days (weeks?) later that Mom and Mimmie re-entered the world of reason and painted over the butt print. But it was surely fun while it lasted!
oh that's funny. sounds just like the aunts to do something like that. I will have to ask aunt delorus next time I see her.
DeleteHi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteHere is memory from Molly Shannon - Donna Neumann's daughter - who would come to Houghton Lake each summer to see her grandma, and of course, come to Fiddler's Inn:
Hello Patti and family,
Hope this finds everyone well and gathering for the holidays. I am living on an island off of Seattle right now, although at the moment I am in San Francisco for the holidays where it is strangely warm and sunny for this time of year. Feels delicious after the grey and soggy skies of the Northwest.
Wanted to write a little bit about my memories of visiting Roger and Evelyn, so here we go:
I always treasured so much my visits to Roger and Evelyn's cottage, as part of the ritual of coming back home to family from far away California. I would suck on those pillowy mints that melt on your tongue and listen to Evelyn tell stories of the olden days, of dances and turkey raffles and fateful meetings on frosty nights. Roger would make jokes in the background, and I would gaze up at the wooden beams that my grandfather had helped to build. I would go downstairs with Roger into the dark cool of the basement for a game of pool, greeted on the way down by the large photograph of Roger the cowboy, surveying his territory.
Of the years of summertime visits, one visit stands out in particular. I was going through a major obsession with the Tejana singer Selena. I had a spanish language song set, I had cumbia moves and a fake microphone. I had hoop earrings and leggings and sparkly silver heels. I even had bangs, just like Selena. I was good to go, all I needed was a venue. Enter Evelyn, entertainment booker extraordinaire. She supported my budding artistic urges, and booked a cumbia medley by a Irish seventh grader in her living room. I got to sing and dance and cumbia my little heart out. Evelyn was so supportive of my performance, she went and got the neighbors and demanded an encore performance, right then and there. There was cumbia in the Fiddler's Inn that day, and I was so grateful for the joy of that performance, and the encouragement I received. Who knows how it may have helped to spur me on the path that is now my life, full time performer of vaudeville inspired zaniness with a dash of latin dance thrown in, but, I do feel it may have been a significant moment for me.
So thank you for all the warm memories, Roger and Evelyn and the Fiddler's Inn.
Love,
--
Molly Shannon
Oh - and I missed copying in part of Molly's signature in her email. Here's the name of her vaudeville troupe and a link to their web site.
ReplyDeleteDuo Finelli
www.duofinelli.com
Today I received a great group of memories from Karen Hissong and her Mom, Mable Galbraith. The Galbraiths lived year-round at Houghton Lake and have the house next door to Evelyn and Roger. All summer long, the Galbraith kids and my brothers and I would play and hangout together, mostly in the empty lot next to Fiddler's Inn which is now the site of Mom and Dad's house. Here are the memories from Karen:
ReplyDeleteI don’t remember too many stories about Roger and Evelyn growing up, but my two boys Calvin and Kyle absolutely loved visiting them, often. There were many days the boys would be playing ball in the street and disappear, with our dog. They would be at the Fiddler’s Inn visiting and listening to Roger’s funny stories. I have a funny story and a couple memories to share, along with some of Mable’s, so please post:
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A quick funny story relates to how the boys always waved and yell “Hi Roger!!” throughout the day, every day! We had a neighbor in Haslett named Don, who was approximately the same age as Roger. One afternoon Don was outside working in his yard and Kyle (age 3) yells over at him and says “Hi Roger!” with a big smile on his face and Don waved back with a smile on his face, but stood there a bit (maybe planning on correcting Kyle). Later that day Ken explained to Don who Roger was. From that day on, both boys called him Roger and he would return a Hello with a chuckle.
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EVERYONE will always remember Roger’s response of “I WILL WRITE IT DOWN”, which included him running his R index finger across his forehead. This was done 100% of the time when we would tell him something to remember.
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A memory for life is the wonderful friendship Roger and my husband Ken have! Because Ken was always working in the yard, Roger would walk over often to chat and tell WWII stories. Ken loved every visit from Roger, even if they were a minute or two. He especially loved the WWII stories given his father was a WWII Vet, too. Like the boys, it was not uncommon for Ken to disappear over to the Fiddler’s Inn, which sometimes included a cold beer.
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In 2007, Evelyn, Susie, Mable, Karen and Linda baked 15 kinds of Christmas cookies at Mable’s house. Evelyn didn’t want anything to do with baking, so she sat at the frosting table with Mable and would laugh so hard as Linda, Susie and Karen would pile cookies all around them. The Christmas music was loud and enjoyable, but the laughter from all priceless. We made close to 1000 cookies, which were divided up and some were taken to King Nursing home.
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Mable remembers a very funny and fun NEW YEARS EVE gathering with Roger, Evelyn and our friends Phyllis and Hank Cairo. Many jokes were shared, which included Evelyn’s of What is better than four roses on your piano? Tulips on your organ. Mable says the joke was funny, but what was even funnier was that during church the next morning, Phyllis started laughing and said, “I just got the joke that Evelyn told”!!!
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In 1972, the entire Midland group helped Ted put a new roof on our house. Because Roger was recovering from recent heart condition and Ted would not allow him to climb the ladder, he was given the title of Grounds Supervisor. Roger loved this, as he insisted on helping!
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“SMALL WORLD” events:
In 1983, Mable wanted Evelyn & Roger to meet Tom’s in-laws, Sarah & Pat Cabala. When they arrived at the Fiddler’s Inn, both Sarah and Roger said each other’s names with laughter, as they remembered each other from working together at Consumers years prior.
In 2007, Karen and Ken’s friends Paul and Sonya Marvin from Haslett realized Paul is related to Evelyn. Paul’s mother is a LaPratt from Caro, MI.
always tried to stop and see roger and evelyn when I was in Houghton lake area. my two girls also liked going there. they were always there and had stories to tell or wanted to know how the family was. I am going to miss stopping in there for sure
ReplyDeleteHere are some memories that our cousin Carolyn (LaPratt) Blaylock posted on my Facebook timeline back in September:
ReplyDeleteHi Patti! As I was thinking about Houghton Lake today, I thought it would be a good time to share a memory or two of the good times I always had at the cabin called the "Fiddlers Inn". Aunt Gen was always so happy to see us. Would always give a big smile & welcome us to her humble abode. Music & laughter was just something every family member cherished when we were there. Visiting your Mom & Dad was always a pleasure. They were always eager to offer us a drink or a bite to eat. To hear you & your mom harmonize was always joyful. When Barb was with us, we would always have to sing a couple of songs. As we are all very sentimental people, many songs would fill our eyes with tears & our hearts with love. I know things change & life takes us all in different directions, but memories of Houghton Lake, a little rustic cabin, laughter & music will be with me always.
Today, I received these memories from our cousin Deana (Whitman) Beckham. Deana and her mom Gertrude Wolfe and her grandma Dora Hess spent many hours with our family. How Gert loved to sing with JD, Mom and me. We always had a wonderful time together. Here are Deana's memories...and in many ways, they are mine, too!
ReplyDeleteIt’s difficult to get the “feeling” of Fiddler’s Inn on paper but here is my best effort.
So many emotions, feelings, sounds, rush in… always happiness, laughter and music combined with what seemed like hundreds of people coming and going. Soft gentle breezes on the back porch in the summer while Patti and I sat drinking Kool-Aid out of repurposed ketchup bottles. It was the best Kool-Aid ever! Sometimes we would have homemade popsicles – WHAT! YOU HAVE HOMEMADE POPSICLES? Of course! Who wouldn’t want one of those!
Roger would take us down to Zubler’s to get a souvenir. Even at the young age of 4 or 5 I couldn’t get past the fact that yes of course Patti was going to get a souvenir but I had no money and I was a guest but OH MY GOODNESS! I COULD PICK SOMETHING TOO! I still have my fish comb! It’s red – I think Patti chose a blue one.
In summer we could take all afternoon walking slowly down to the lake splash around, pick stones and then slowly walk back to Fiddler’s Inn. Talking, giggling and making lots of plans all along the way. When we got back - Roger, Evelyn and Mimmie would have hot dogs on the grill we could have potato chips and maybe for dessert we would have fudge stripped cookies. It was pure heaven. Every single minute was surreal.
In winter we bundled up by the stove and headed out for Tip-Up Town. Again! I was astounded to find that Roger was going to buy ME a Tip-Up Town button. Sadly but also goodly I just gave my buttons away to some little girls that admired them so. My first button was from 1967. I had just turned 7. First of all Roger drove – YES I’m Serious! He drove right out on to the lake! Who knew that was even possible! This man was a genius! We’ll if Patti isn’t going to be scared I’m not going to be scared either. Then Patti and I would slide down magical slides made purely of ice, climb in igloos and spend hours sliding and skating around on the ice.
Then Roger would come and find us and we would head back to the cabin where there were still hundreds of people including my Mother and Grandmother, all laughing, playing cards, eating, sleeping, playing music – it was all so hazy even then. Not real at all I’m sure – it was all just a dream. A wonderful, beautiful dream.
Hello to all the family and friends of Fiddler's Inn! My memories are few but precious to me. My best memory is the summer of 1977 when all were there including Aunt Gen Blackhawk & Aunt Gen Nally, Jeff, Wayne, Ann, My uncle Richard and all the rest of the clan. This was the last year for me & my siblings to be able to spend it with all of the family. The music was non stop, the laughs were many and the food was awesome. But as I stated it would be the last time I would spend it with my father (lawerence), My aunt Gen, and my Uncle Richard all together. My father passed away the following summer and then time seem to disappear for me. We had now lost touch with all of our family as 1. So for me being there at this time will forever be precious to me. I am now in touch again with many of the family members who I have come to love very much! I am sad that the inn will be sold but the memory's we all have will be forever.
ReplyDeleteMy earliest memories were of somewhere between 40 and 400 people stuffed into Fiddler's Inn after dinner for music and all sorts of alcohol when I was still 2 or 3. My brother, who was still a baby, and I, were tucked in the "living room" under the overhang of the kitchen counter back by the wall where we couldn't get stepped on, or "into trouble", and fell asleep to the music and laughter and dancing. How we could sleep in all that chaos was always a wonder, but we always did.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was about 7 or 8, I remember, my brother and I were assigned to sleep in Uncle Roger and Auntie Ev's little cabin two doors down from Fiddler's Inn, and we were left alone for a little while and were jumping on the bed. Uncle Roger came in and boomed out a frightening "Knock it off" just as he came through the doorway. We were mortified. Then he winked and smiled and turned around and left. We knocked it off though.
I cherished the walks in the woods, the boatrides on the Lake, and Tip-up-Towns all those years. And the love, food, music and laughter from and for everyone.
Fishing at Houghton Lake
ReplyDeleteOn all of our weekend trips to Houghton Lake, for as long as I can remember, one of the things we always counted on and looked forward to as a major part of the activities was going fishing. Dad’s little aluminum boat with the little Martin outboard motor was not a pleasure craft, as such. It was a fishing boat.
T. R. always wanted to sit up in the bow, Dad was always at the stern of course, minding the tiller, so that put me in the middle seat. I always found it a bit tricky to keep my line from getting tangled up in Dad’s and Tom’s while we were trolling, but I did my best. Every once in a while it would be necessary to reel in the line and “check the bait”. If it were live bait, you have to check to see if you still have some. If it were artificial bait on your line, you need to make sure there are no weeds in the hooks and then cast out again and continue. Dad always wore his “Lucky Fishin’ Hat”, an old broad brimmed straw from back before “The Flood”.
One time while trolling, Tom reeled in, checked his bait, cocked his Zebco reel and proceeded to cast again. Suddenly I heard Dad yell. I spun around to see what was wrong only to see Dad’s fishin’ hat shooting off like a rocket towards the bow and then “out to sea”….on the end of Tom’s line! One of the treble hooks caught the hat on Tom’s back swing and whoosh!... Dad’s hat was out in the lake! I’ll never forget nor can I describe the look of astonishment on Dad’s face, followed by a phrase I heard Dad say many, many times; “Ole Lucky Tom”!
Fishing, continued:
ReplyDeleteDad loved to troll but T. R. & I used to love it when we’d drop anchor, maybe out by the Middle Grounds and spend an hour or so casting for our catch. One day, a similar but much more painful thing happened. We had dropped anchor and began to cast for a while. This time however one of the treble hooks on Tom’s lure, which I’m pretty sure was yellow & black flatfish, didn’t catch Dad’s hat….it caught my right earlobe! When Tom felt the cast was unsuccessful… without looking to see why his lure wasn’t casting out, he just kept trying, and trying, and trying again to complete the cast. With each thrust, he just sunk that treble hook deeper and deeper into my earlobe! The level of discomfort was such that I was unable to make a sound! I don’t know how many times he tried but it seemed like an eternity to me. When he realized what he had done, all he could do was laugh. All I could do was cry and all Dad could do was say “Ole Lucky Tom”, get out his trusty pocket knife and perform the necessary surgery. Luckily, either I heal well or Dad was a skillful surgeon because I have no scar to remind me of the trauma…But then, I don’t really need one!
Some of the best times, and for me, most vivid memories of Fiddler’s Inn have to do with all the Deer Season parties, which were always centered around the music…naturally.
ReplyDeleteFrom the time I was 5 or 6 I was pickin’ along with Mom & Grandpa Ivey as well as the wonderful collection of characters that followed Grandpa up to the cabin. Wonderful characters like Red Guffy pickin’ guitar, Rudy Dunn on the five string banjo and Macon the left handed fiddler. Never knew his real name, he was just Macon. I think that was because he came from Macon GA.
And in the family there were; Uncle Clayton, Uncle Mearral and all the LaPratt kids. Uncle Lawrence would usually sing one or two. Then there were Buck & Virginia Jaqcues. Buck brought the first electric guitar and electric mandolin the cabin. Sometimes Uncle Gurley would pick one or two and Uncle Alvy with his mandolin…and of course Mom & Mimmi harmonizing so sweetly!
The party/music would start sometime in the afternoon when the first pickers arrived. Sometimes it was Mom, Grandpa Ivey and me who were the first to begin. The jam session would just continue to grow as more and more players came and continue on non-stop until 10 or 11 pm. Then, Mom & Dad would get us kids ready for bed and the grownups would all go down to Regie’s Kil-Kare-Inn to continue the party there for a couple of hours. When they all came back about midnight or 1am, the party and the music would just pick up where it left off and continue on until the wee hours…and sometimes until the light of day! I literally played many times until my fingers bled. Great times!
We all thought is was VERY cool when Dad (R. C.) bought one of the first cassette tape recorders and started taping the music and the parties. He would just sit there with a little microphone & capture as much as he could….What fun! Thanks Dad! I still have a couple of those tapes. I wish I had them all!! But they still play in my heart!
I remember the smell of the cabin, the Knotty Pine, several coats of varnish and the smell of the red linoleum on the kitchen counter top (long before the white Formica). I remember the smell of the Stuffed Deer head, the stuffed squirrel and pheasant. I remember the smell of Great Grandpa’s shotguns that hung on the Deer paw gun rack. I remember the smell of the old rocking chair. I remember the smell of the davenport, especially after we’d come back in the Spring for the first time since Deer Season and the smell of the bed linens when we’d fold it out to go to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI remember the smell of Mimmi’s percolator early in the morning, followed by the smell of toast in the old toaster, bacon & eggs for breakfast and the smell of the catch of the day frying in the pan for supper which could be Perch, Bluegill or Sunfish and sometimes Northern or Walleye Pike. I remember the smell of the old oil burner stove that kept the little cabin at a cozy 80 degrees…a bit cooler in the bedrooms, maybe about 77…year round! What lovely smells to wake up to….and go to sleep to!
I remember the smell of Oak trees, Maple trees, Evergreens and Ferns that were all around and how they flavored the breeze and the rain that passed through them. I remember the first time I smelled the inside of an acorn after Grandpa Ivey gave me my first real pocket knife and Dad showed me how to hollow it out to make a whistle. I remember the smell of the black sandy earth in the horse shoe pits when Dad was trying to teach me how to pitch a shoe.
I remember the smell of the night crawler farm out by the old outhouse where Dad raised his own bait for fishing. At first I thought it strange that a night crawler farm would smell like coffee until one day Mimmi asked me to dump her coffee grounds in it because it was good for the worms. I wondered if the caffeine buzz made the worms a bit hyper-active in order to better attract the fish. Every fisherman has his “secret”, I wonder if that was Dad’s??? I never checked it out but I also wondered if the worms themselves smelled like coffee. Hmmmm???
I think these are the smells of “Creature Comforts”.
Here are some memories I received via email from JD's good friend, and always part of our family, Dave Mitchell:
ReplyDeleteI remember RC and playing pool. Everything was 'straight in". RC had absolutely zero form yet kicked my butt evertime. I remember your mom and dad hosting an upcoming super star rock and roll group, The Soul Searchers, at the cabin as we were playing in a battle of the bands in Lake City. How they put up with the frickin music practice and did it with a smile. I know you are laughing but by the way, WE WON. Your mom and Mimi making gentle suggestions to our playing/singing style. I loved it and they were right almost always.
Your mom and dad always included Bun and me in all major events at the lake. I told your mom and dad that it meant so much to us to be included. My parents died when I was 23 and your mom told me that I was always in your family. Priceless.
Of course I always enjoyed all the music around there. Maynard and others would sometimes be there and it would would turn into a mini Woodstock.
Best of all, I really felt true love from your mom especially. I miss her to this day and remember her as the loveliest person I have ever met. She told me "call me mom" and I always did til the time she left.
I know you can put together a beautiful collection of memories from RC and your mom. They are the best.
I received these memories from Linda (Galbraith) Daniels. We always played together in the empty lot before RC and Ev's house was built. There'll be some other memories from Tom Galbraith, too!
ReplyDeleteHi, Patty! I don't know if Tom responded but here's the story of beer and ice cream........At one time or another a joke was told in the presence of us and your parents regarding spicy food/drink being consumed along with ice cream. The punch line had to do with the elimination of these the next day and uncomfortable body feelings due to the spicy/hot items and the person shrieking "Come on ice cream!" So a week or two later, Tom, Patty, Grant, myself, and my parents took a cooler over to sit in driveway with your parents and partake of various adult beverages , some of which were Cave Creek Chili Beers..........So your dad had a chili beer and when finished shouted "Come on ice cream!" And lo and behold Tom reached over and grabbed an ice cream bar from the cooler and handed it to your dad! The look on your dad's face was priceless! My dad nearly choked he was laughing so hard!
I always enjoyed having your parents as neighbors both in the summer growing up and then later on when Grant and I bought our own cottage on Kimberly Drive. I couldn't even begin to guess how many times your dad would come to our rescue regarding water, heat, electric issues. My dad, of course, usually being involved, too. Lots of head scratching and discussions of best course of action.......
Loved hearing the ping of horseshoes in the summer!
And here are the comments from Tom Galbraith:
ReplyDeleteI will think about some stories, but honestly the only thing I remember about the original place is that every once in a while your group showed up and put a dent in our wiffle ball season. The younger Horden’s and a couple of us local HL kids used to play in the vacant lot non-stop in the summer, as long as you guys didn’t make an appearance. I do remember that when you all showed up it was obvious that there was some fun being had over there…
If anyone hit a ball under the overhang of the back porch we played rock paper scissors to see who had to go get it. Probably related to the “cheek prints” you mention below… just kidding, I never remember seeing those…
Last night I received these memories from Sara (Haring, of course!). Too many characters for a single post, so I'll have to split it in 2. Here is part 1:
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to pick out just a few "special" memories to share about the place that I feel is the very heart and soul of our family. Most of my memories of Houghton Lake, Fiddler's Inn, Mimmie and the home that Grandma Evelyn and Grandpa Roger made there are so dear to me that the thought of losing it actually makes my heart ache. But as Grandpa says, "home is where I hang my hat." We're so lucky that so many people feel the same way we do about that place and Grandma & Grandpa and Mimmie. Because there are so many memories, I think I'll give you a "memory blitz" instead. When I think about Houghton Lake this is what comes to mind....
Riding in the car up the old Highway 18, up and down hills and winding up into Prudenville so excited and trying to get a glimpse of the lake way up ahead. Driving up that same road with Mimmie and seeing the wild turkeys at the same spot every time.
Sitting at the bar in the cabin at 3 or 4 years old, cookies, bread and jam, and donuts spread out as we learn how to drink coffee with Mimmie.
Papa lifting us up to touch the deer in the cabin and to "hang" from the beams.
Grandma making hamburgers in her electric skillet on top of the old oil drum on the porch at the cabin.
The Warm Morning.
Bonfires and roasted marshmallows with Grandpa out in the yard.
Walking along the stepping stones in the sand along the side of the Grandma and Grandpa's house just after it was built, before there was a sidewalk and driveway.
Grandpa hand-feeding the squirrels peanuts.
Grandpa giving us peanuts to hide in the logs and stumps for the squirrels.
Walking down to the lake. Playing in the vacant lot and playground toys there.
Swimming in the lake! Going down there on our own and Grandpa coming to check on us a little while later. Grandpa wading the lake with us!
Walking home from the lake barefooted and getting tar on my feet. I was so scared the turpentine Grandpa used to clean it off was going to hurt!
Playing in the "shed", which was really the old outhouse! I loved the kid-size garden tools that were painted different colors--I think they were Aunt Patti's.
Playing with Aunt Patti's baby doll that Mimmie kept in the little cupboard under the bar in the cabin.
Hanging out with Aunt Patti's friends in the cabin when she brought them home from college to visit. They were so cool.
Mimmie and her electric blankets!
All four granddaughters piling in to the hide-a-bed at the cabin.
Playing on the cabin porch when it was painted all different colors.
Sitting out on the porch and the driveway and visiting.
Just waiting to hear those famous words, "Rack 'em!", and "How about two outta three?"
Pickled wieners!
Crackers and Cheese, meatballs, finger jello, summer sausage, boiled bologna, and cookies abound.
Mimmie's chocolate pie and Victory Hamburg.
Grandpa's Junk Room-so mysterious.
Tip Up Town and the ice sculptures Grandpa made for us one year. He made a racecar and a slide!
Fishing in the old fishing boat with Grandpa.
Going for a ride down to "the office."
Cruising up and down 55 and hitting every putter golf joint on the strip.
Driving up 55 to Kimberly Drive and keeping a watch out for the Cone Hut sign.
Zublers Indian PowWow.
Pinky's, The Hub (best homemade bread ever!) and Jack's fruit stand.
Sara's memories, Part 2:
ReplyDeleteWaking up so early in the morning it was still dark, and there was Grandma, having her coffee and waiting for us to wake up. Frosted Flakes for breakfast, what a treat!
Sitting around the dining room table at Grandma and Grandpa's playing cards, games, telling stories and looking at pictures.
Sharing recipes with Grandma and planning the menus.
Grandpa disappearing for awhile and returning with yet another stash of old pictures from one of his hiding places!
The basement.
Playing "bye bye Benjamin Bunny" on Aunt Patti's old twin beds.
Grandma running the show...she always had everything planned out.
Grandpa singing True Blue Bill.
Watching the Waltons and the Lawrence Welk Show and Wheel of Fortune.
Painting our fingernails at the dining table with Grandma's Avon nail polish.
"Browsing" the shops up and down 55.
Grandma sitting in her rocking chair and Grandpa in his recliner.
Grandpa's "newspapers"--The National Enquirer, the Star....with so many true stories.
Grandma crying every time we had to leave.
But most of all what comes to mind when I think about Houghton Lake is the MUSIC, the gatherings, people in and out--friends and family, laughter and many many tears--we're all cry babies. How fortunate are we to have shared such a special place for so long, and with so many family members who feel the same. The truth is that it's the people who made it so special, beginning with Grandma & Grandpa and Mimmie. We were blessed to have Mimmie and Grandma for as long as we did and so lucky that 'Ol RC is still going strong! Thank you for giving me such treasured memories.
Love, Sara