Tom Della-Moretta holds the 107-year-old letter, Friday, May 30, that had been tucked inside an old merchandise table once used on Mackinac Island. To his right, the table now displays items at his store, Cabin Fever, on State Street in St. Ignace. More than a century ago on Mackinac Island, a summer shop girl named Effie wrote a letter when her employer at Fenton's Bazaar stepped out of the store. The letter was never sent. It remained hidden for 107 years in the secret slit of a long wood merchandise table before it was discovered April 28 in St. Ignace.

The letter was dated July 26, 1901, and intended for Effie's aunt in Canada.

Over the years, the table that held the two-page letter has been moved from one location to another and the folded pages finally slipped out of a display table, now used at the Cabin Fever store on State Street.

"It just fell out," said Cabin Fever owner Tom Della-Moretta.

In 1901, families from cities like Chicago and Detroit would board Great Lakes steamers and head north for the cool breezes of the Straits, spending the summer on Mackinac Island.

Effie's letter, written in pencil, reported that running water and electric lights made life easier, although days for the young shop girl were long. She worked from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, which left no time to practice her music.

Life on the Island that summer was boring, Grand Hotel had few guests, and many people were vacationing at Buffalo, instead, she wrote.

That year, Buffalo was the site of the great Pan-American Exposition.

The table that contained the letter was one of three similar flat top wood pieces ranging from 12 feet to 15 feet long. They were used to display merchandise. Fabric was tacked around the tables to allow for storage underneath. Mr. Della- Moretta's father-in-law, Robert "Little Bob" Hughey, bought them sometime in the 1980s, he estimates, from the Shrem family, longtime shopkeepers on Mackinac.

The tables were shipped to St. Ignace to be used at the Thunderbird Trading Post on State Street. While the building was torn down in 1993 and rebuilt, the tables were stored in Mr. Della-Moretta's garage.

"They've changed locations within the store numerous times since then," he said.

Only two of the tables remain. Several years ago, Mr. Della- Moretta tore apart one of the tables. He no longer needed it and lacked space to store it.

Through the years, the tables have been painted three colors; most recently green. Several sentences in the letter now are covered with green paint. The letter escaped earlier paintings while it has been gradually working its way out of its hiding spot.

"The letter's got a life of its own," he said.

On April 28, Mr. Hughey's son, Darwin, was visiting from Wyoming and was helping to move the tables when the letter fell out.

Now some of the words have faded, while other words are covered with green paint, and what can be read of the letter follows: Mackinac Island July 26/01

Dear Aunt,

I received your letter yesterday and was very glad you had not forgotten me.

How is the weather in Canada? It is just fine here, lovely and cool yesterday as we had some rain and today the air is very refreshing. Yes, I am clerking in a store; the name of it is Fenton's Bazaar. I have a fine time. There is another young lady in the store with me, so we have some fun.

The season at Mackinac is very dull. The Grand Hotel has no more than two hundred people. The other hotels are doing well. Buffalo is taking all the trade. Of course when the people go there for their vacation, they don't come here, but all the people pass through here from Chicago, and on their way back, they always stop.

...you had a visit from some great people. I suppose... is greatly changed since I was there last. I will not know the place.

We have the waterworks here and electric lights; it makes a great improvement. I had to give up my music this summer. I have not time to practice. I get down at seven thirty in the morning and stay until nine every night. So none of your daughters has been home this summer. I should think you would be lonesome, but I suppose you are busy with the grandchildren.

I would like very much to go to Canada once more just to see how it looks. I was over to Cheboygan visiting this summer for a while; it is about 18 miles from the Island, had a lovely time.

I would like very much to see Bessie... thinks so much of her. I have... her since I was a little thing, so I don't suppose I would know her... very much of late.

I am writing this in the store when the boss is not around, so I will say goodbye hoping you will answer soon.

Effie