Les Cheneaux
By Helen Shoberg 484-2626 mink1@cedarville.net

Les Cheneaux Historical Association volunteer Jr. Wilson, a Cedarville summer resident (center), with association volunteer Rose Miller (left) and Maritime Museum Curator Sadie Nye, was one of a group of men honored with a September dinner to recognize the summer efforts of volunteers. The men's dinner followed a women's tea held at the Les Cheneaux Historical Museum to honor the association's many female volunteers. This was the first time the association has ever hosted such events, and members plan to host them again next year.

It's always interesting to learn about what has happened to some of our young people after they have left our community and have gone to seek their fortune. Jeff Bruning, the son of Ronald and the late Rita Bruning, is a graduate of the Les Cheneaux Schools and Central Michigan University, where he was music major. Jeff has continued with that career and is now the music director for the Catholic Diocese at St. Peter's Cathedral in Marquette. Jeff was one of the several piano students of the late Phyllis Becker and gave a solo performance in Cedarville several years ago. Recently, he gave a recital in Marquette with a soprano, Melanie Codington.

Jeff and the cast are rehearsing for the musical "Ebenezer Scrooge" to be performed at Northern Michigan University in December.

The passing of Doris Beach last week, at 97 years of age, took another of our older citizens who had a wealth of knowledge about the early days of Cedarville and Hessel. Doris was the daughter of John and Eliza Beach, and the granddaughter of Amos H. Beach, who bought the Elliot House on Big LaSalle Island in 1896.

Her parents eventually owned the Elliot House and Doris had many happy memories over there. She was also the granddaughter of another early settler, Vancel Hodeck, who built so many of the early homes in Cedarville and owned the Mattson boardinghouse, later known as the Hodeck House, and then called the Cedar Inn in Cedarville.

I remember well, as do many others, the little garden shop Doris kept next door to her parents' home on Meridian Road.

There she kept a flower garden and sold bouquets to the summer residents. She, along with several helpers, gathered greens each year for her shop in the late fall and made wreaths and table arrangements for sale during the Christmas holidays. Doris shipped her greens all over the United States.

It was always interesting to visit with Doris; she had many tales of the early lumbering days at Prentiss Bay. She was a devout person and a member of First Union Church. She was a good friend of the retired missionary, Grace Forgrave of Rudyard.

Our own Hessel author and multi-talented artist, Moira Z. Wilson will be one of the featured speakers at the Local Author Book Fair in Southfield next week.

Wednesday, November 14, she will speak at the Southfield Public Library about her book, Revolutionary Fires: A Tale of Indian Eve. The historical tale is the story of Eve, who is wrenched from her home and struggles to protect her two youngest sons during the Revolutionary War. The story is based in Michigan. She will also speak on the Chippewa Indian hero, Ogehmawhabee, from a story she learned from local storytellers, Mike Osogwin Sr. and John Osogwin.

Dr. Bill Collins, who resides on Park Avenue in Cedarville, recently gave me a 1965 brochure by the late Guy H. Hamel, realtor.

It was interesting, but not surprising, to see the selling price of a three-bedroom waterfront home. According to a listing on the brochure, a summer home, completely furnished, with guest cottage, boathouse, and three boats (a 21-foot Sedan Chris-Craft, outboard with motor, and a sailboat complete with new sails) selling for $13,500!

That was just one of many offerings in this brochure. How times, and prices, have changed in these 40-plus years.

The Cedarville Trojans football team lost by one point in a heartbreaker last weekend, while on a happier note, the Trojans volleyball team won their districts in Brimley. Both teams work hard and, win or lose, we're proud of them.

The Lions Club $100 lottery was won by Merle and Cathy Sorenson October 30.