The Snowsfest is the big event on the calendar for next weekend and many plans are afoot for the entertainment of everyone, adults and children. The weather has been so different this year and we hope that it will be an ideal winter weekend, with enough snow and safe ice conditions for all of the planned activities.

We were so sorry to learn of the recent death of Red Beukema. Although I, personally, did not know Red well, he always had a happy greeting. We send our sympathy to the family.

A letter from Ann Lee of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, came last week. Ann is the daughter of Marian Pladies, who is now 87 years of age and has been coming to their summer cottage on Haven Island for many years. This year they again will have four generations staying at the cottage throughout the summer months, including a three-yearold and a newborn. Haven Island is, apparently, one of this family’s favorite places to be.

Some additional news from Ann that many may be interested in is that of their son, Mark Lee, 25, whom many may remember. He worked for four years during the summer months for The St. Ignace News. Mark is currently spending a semester in New Zealand, having left Cincinnati January 12. He will return July 3. He will be taking graduate classes at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is on his way to a degree in Education/English, with a specialty in journalism. He is doing this through Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Pat Sullivan won the $100 in the February 7 Lions Club raffle.

The remaining part of this column is another interesting story from Bruce Patrick. This one tells about the several dog teams that were used during the winter months.

“Way back in the late 20’s to early 30’s many people had single dogs, or a team of dogs, to pull their sleds.

“I will start with John Andrews, who was caretaker of Reif’s Point, also he was captain of the O.M. Reif cruiser. O.M. Reif went to Lake Superior every summer to fish for coasters, which were brook trout that got too large to stay in the mouth of small streams that flowed into Lake Superior.

“In winter, John would use a three-dog team to pull him and fishing gear when fishing at Goose Island. When the going was smooth and hard, their three dogs could pull John, too. There were many men who fished at Goose Island for lake trout in the late 20s and 30s.

“When the trail back through Marquette Island was well packed and frozen, with some wet places, one man could ride the dog sled, and I’ll tell you, when everyone was headed for home there would be a dozen or more dog teams headed for home, and God help one coming out! These numerous teams would stop for no one, so everyone going out toward evening had to get out of the way! These dog team owners hired road commissioners who packed the snow and filled in wet spots to make good going.

“Another thing about these dog teams: they always ran over the ice and landed just where they had left from, and no compass was needed. Everyone carried a pocket compass, for sometimes a snowstorm would come up and one could not see the shore where they had come out. A horse was the same way. There were times when a storm would come up and without a compass, one could not see where to come on to the ice.

“Another story about a dog team: Ernest Carr had two greyhounds for a dog team. He specialized in running sick people to Pickford for medical help. There were two doctors in Pickford and none in Cedarville. These greyhounds could probably run 15 to 18 miles per hour. So it did not take long to go from Cedarville or Hessel to Pickford.

“Ernest had a large sled and several huge blankets to wrap people in while riding on this dog sled. He took numerous sick persons to the doctor way back in the olden days.”

Bruce then goes on to say: “Another story about dog teams, did you know that Con’s mother and father were very good friends of my folks? Many a happy afternoon to evening dinners were had, and when roads were good Con’s mother and father came to our place by dog team. Con and Tig had a very good, big dog team.”

Many of Bruce’s tales are also news to me and I think all readers will agree that Bruce is a natural story-teller. I feel privileged to repeat them.