Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~BAY HARBOR~
(With Cement Company Beginnings)
"The Resort of the Future Inspired by the Past"
(Previously known as Three Fires Pointe, which "Flamed Out" with CMS seizing the collateral...
the 300 acre area of the abandoned cement operation)
the 300 acre area of the abandoned cement operation)
The 2008 Header Photo and the photo just above, taken a few years previous,
illustrate the changes of the landscape and the waterscape.
87.5 acres of the previous cement company property were shaped into
Harbor Lake and break wall.
illustrate the changes of the landscape and the waterscape.
87.5 acres of the previous cement company property were shaped into
Harbor Lake and break wall.
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2017.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
Photos Below: Posted on this Northern Mich~Mash Preserve web site only by permission from
remarkable photographer and videographer Charles Dawley of Up North Imaging.
remarkable photographer and videographer Charles Dawley of Up North Imaging.
The juxtaposition of Charles Dawley's two photos below vividly illustrate the land reclamation evolution from cement company in the mid 1970s into the Village of Bay Harbor in about 2016.
~ 2016 ~ AND ~ MID-1970s ~
"Hiram Rose's lime works was the first of what would be several cement factories on the Little Traverse Bay waterfront.
E.R. Sly came in 1884 and brought his young son Homer to help. His plant was located at the foot of Howard Street.
The Zipp brothers, Fred, Homer, George and Arthur, were associated in a lime kiln west of Bay Shore.
In 1905 the Northern Lime Company was organized to handle the output of the Rose, Sly and Zipp organizations.
In 1912, Homer Sly set up the Petoskey Crushed Stone Company at the location of what would be Petoskey Portland Cement Company (now Bay Harbor). It became Petoskey Portland Cement in 1917. By 1952, the plant was turning out 1,600,000 barrels of cement a year. The plant was sold to Penn-Dixie Corporation in 1955 and eventually doubled its output. It closed in the 1980s."
~ Above Information from the Little Traverse History Museum
E.R. Sly came in 1884 and brought his young son Homer to help. His plant was located at the foot of Howard Street.
The Zipp brothers, Fred, Homer, George and Arthur, were associated in a lime kiln west of Bay Shore.
In 1905 the Northern Lime Company was organized to handle the output of the Rose, Sly and Zipp organizations.
In 1912, Homer Sly set up the Petoskey Crushed Stone Company at the location of what would be Petoskey Portland Cement Company (now Bay Harbor). It became Petoskey Portland Cement in 1917. By 1952, the plant was turning out 1,600,000 barrels of cement a year. The plant was sold to Penn-Dixie Corporation in 1955 and eventually doubled its output. It closed in the 1980s."
~ Above Information from the Little Traverse History Museum
So, it began....
1910
This lime kiln eventually led to "one of the largest land reclamation efforts in U.S. history."
~ Charlevoix Cement company developing at same time as Petoskey Cement Company... ~
1910
1910
~ Brick and Tiles are Prospective Products ~
Petoskey Portland Cement Company
1919
Petoskey Portland Cement Company
1919
~ Railroad Line to Extend to Cement Company from Jarman Lime Kiln Two Miles Away ~
1920
~ Petoskey Portland Cement Company to Double Present Capacity ~
1925
~ Million Dollar Improvement Speeds Cement Deliveries ~
1929
1929
~ Galster Elected President Cement and Transportation Companies ~
1937
1937
1942
1945
1947
Photos Below including the train and tracks: The name of the train station was Lamson, Michigan.
The Portland Cement Company was served over the years by the Pere Marquette,
then C&O and later the Michigan Northern railway.
The Portland Cement Company was served over the years by the Pere Marquette,
then C&O and later the Michigan Northern railway.
1952
1890
George F. Alger Co. truck loaded with cement bags at the Petoskey Portland Cement Company
1947
1950
1955
1953 USGA Map Below: The Petoskey Portland Cement Co can be viewed PRE-Bay Harbor.
~ Petoskey Portland Cement Co. and Petoskey Transporation Co.
would go to Penn-Dixie with sale of stock ~
1954
~ A New Stone Crusher, Tool and Work Houses Being Built ~
14 March 1955
14 March 1955
Photo Left Below: Petoskey Portland Cement Freight Yard
|
Photo Right Below: Portland Cement Company Laboratory
|
~ Giant Conveyor Part of $4 Million Expansion at Penn-Dixie Plant ~
1955
Born in 1923, Ruth Morrow Hoffman remembers her mother letting her go to Petoskey's Portland Cement Co. general store to purchase B. B. Bat caramel candy on a stick. It cost about 2 cents and was to be sucked like a lollipop. It was all the rage with the children in the twenties and thirties. Ruth lived on the farm just above the cement plant.
Ruth Morrow Hoffman also recalls that as a child about 1930 she was allowed on Sunday afternoon to
walk to the Maplewood School in Resort Township on Townsend Road where for many years a missionary pastor, Emmet Eldred, who lived by the Portland Cement Plant preached. Ruth and her siblings did this to see other children and people. (Submitted by Ruth's son Joe Hoffman)
Ruth Morrow Hoffman also recalls that as a child about 1930 she was allowed on Sunday afternoon to
walk to the Maplewood School in Resort Township on Townsend Road where for many years a missionary pastor, Emmet Eldred, who lived by the Portland Cement Plant preached. Ruth and her siblings did this to see other children and people. (Submitted by Ruth's son Joe Hoffman)
~ Cement Ship ~
1960
The cement company's ship (noted in the above article) the JB John was named after Mr. Jonathan B. John, a company leader as expressed in the following Local Historic Michigan Volume III of 1926 in the "Personal Sketches for Emmet County" beginning on page 304:
|
|
~ Cement Plant Smog Relief Sought ~
1963
1963
~ Dust Collectors ~
1962 and 1963
1962 and 1963
~ Cement VS Asphalt ~
1963
1963
~ Penn Dixie Denies Blasting ~
1963
1963
~ John L. Galster ~
~ Ice Locked John Galster to get help from Ice Breaker Mackinaw ~
1959
1959
~ SS John L.A. Galster Made Last Trip Here ~
1966
Original Petoskey Portland Cement bag preserved in
Dave Russell's Shoe Store in downtown Petoskey, Michigan
Dave Russell's Shoe Store in downtown Petoskey, Michigan
January 1966
April 1967
Steel Works on the Stacks Right Beside the Rail Tracks
Steel Works on the Stacks Right Beside the Rail Tracks
Local Petoskey resident Jim McCullough has written an article about
"Dust & Heat: A Summer at Penn-Dixie in Petoskey."
Click HERE to access McCullough's entire 28 October 2021 article.
"Dust & Heat: A Summer at Penn-Dixie in Petoskey."
Click HERE to access McCullough's entire 28 October 2021 article.
Photo Below Right: Cement Company salvage loaded on boat...
TOP
By 1989 developer L.H. LoPatin & Company of Southfield, Michigan, with the Holloway Construction and the Dundee Cement Company (Penn-Dixie Cement Corporation had gone bankrupt) were making plans for Three Fires Pointe. The development would include two golf courses, two hotels, and up to 3,000 residences. A major issue was toxic waste (kiln dust), but the state of Michigan gave approval for the dust to be buried on site, and used as fill for a golf course. Two 70 feet deep quarry pits were approved to become a 100 acre inland harbor with a 1,000-slip marina basin. A channel was blasted through from the basin to Lake Michigan. The dismantled cement plant was shipped to the Dominican Republic.
PRE-RESORT DEVELOPMENT
Photo Below: Existing House on the property became the Bay Harbor greeting office
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner to view the SLIDESHOW below of
Bay Harbor in 1994 BEFORE construction of creation of Bay Harbor Lake
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers ((1994)
Bay Harbor in 1994 BEFORE construction of creation of Bay Harbor Lake
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers ((1994)
~ 1994 ~
Fire Lake > Bay Harbor with Harbor Lake...
Photos Above: After the plungers were pushed by the dignitaries,
a single smokestack fell, while the second stack refused to fall.
a single smokestack fell, while the second stack refused to fall.
Gallery of Photos Below:
Progression of the cement plant smoke stacks detonated with explosives on 13 July 1994 at Bay Harbor
Progression of the cement plant smoke stacks detonated with explosives on 13 July 1994 at Bay Harbor
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (1994)
~ 1994 ~
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner to view the SLIDESHOW below of Bay Harbor during the Cement Silos Demolition in 1994
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (1999)
PRE-Harbor Lake
Standing in Lime Kiln - 80 Feet Down
Standing in Lime Kiln - 80 Feet Down
Creation of Bay Harbor's "Harbor Lake"
1995
1995
The 1 March 1995 Petoskey News Review posted the headline:
"Giant resort blasting project rains rocks on nearby [Manthei Inc.] veneer mill."
"Giant resort blasting project rains rocks on nearby [Manthei Inc.] veneer mill."
"The blast shook the building like a tornado was going through it, and workers started diving for cover because they knew what came next.
'It just started raining rocks that were the size of grapefruit,' one worker said. 'The things are big enough they'd definitely kill you.'
Miraculously, no one was injured by the stones hurtled hundreds of yards by blasting done at Bay Harbor"... The blasting company company agreed to notify Manthei Inc. in advance and take other precautionary actions.
'It just started raining rocks that were the size of grapefruit,' one worker said. 'The things are big enough they'd definitely kill you.'
Miraculously, no one was injured by the stones hurtled hundreds of yards by blasting done at Bay Harbor"... The blasting company company agreed to notify Manthei Inc. in advance and take other precautionary actions.
Articles and Gallery of Photos Below: 13 March 1995 ~ Petoskey News Review
Gallery of Photos Below:
About 500 people watched Harbor Lake being created as
excavators finished off what explosives could not do – create a new lake.
March 1995
About 500 people watched Harbor Lake being created as
excavators finished off what explosives could not do – create a new lake.
March 1995
Article Below: Ed Ditlow started at Penn-Dixie plant in 1965 AND retired from Bay Harbor in 1995.
After Harbor Lake ~ development beginning...
Photos Below: Bay Harbor in March 1995
as construction was beginning after the channel opening
as construction was beginning after the channel opening
A 3 October 1995 Petoskey News Review article reported from The Emmet County Planning Commission meeting that: "According to county planners, Bay Harbor ran into some unanticipated soil condition problems in the village area when it discovered buried coal and other building debris as it was excavating the proposed Quarry Lake. As it continued to remove the coal and debris, it took out a big chunk of the village home area slated for 76 homes. Instead of filling in the new hole, Bay Harbor decided to expand Quarry Lake.
The lake was originally designed as a long, narrow, and somewhat shallow lake running behind the village homes between the public park and village commercial area. Now the lake looks more like an "L" with the short end of the L jutting into the village home area. Instead of 76 small lots in a traditional city block layout with 18 lakefront homes, the new design has 43 larger lots. All but four are waterfront lots. Quarry Lake now shows a series of boat slips and docks for homeowners.
In addition, the public fishing platform has also been downsized on the new plans. The original platform was designed on the three foundations of the old cement silos, with the two outlying foundations connected by a walkway. The walkways have been eliminated.
Developer David Johnson could not be reached for comment this morning.
Bay Harbor has also requested approval of a site plan for attached homes totaling 40 units surrounding the golf course in the Preserve area. The request is as shown on previous plans."
The lake was originally designed as a long, narrow, and somewhat shallow lake running behind the village homes between the public park and village commercial area. Now the lake looks more like an "L" with the short end of the L jutting into the village home area. Instead of 76 small lots in a traditional city block layout with 18 lakefront homes, the new design has 43 larger lots. All but four are waterfront lots. Quarry Lake now shows a series of boat slips and docks for homeowners.
In addition, the public fishing platform has also been downsized on the new plans. The original platform was designed on the three foundations of the old cement silos, with the two outlying foundations connected by a walkway. The walkways have been eliminated.
Developer David Johnson could not be reached for comment this morning.
Bay Harbor has also requested approval of a site plan for attached homes totaling 40 units surrounding the golf course in the Preserve area. The request is as shown on previous plans."
Bay Harbor Equestrian Center
5251 Charlevoix Avenue, Petoskey, Michigan
1997 > 2011
2022> (Gypsy Distillery) Click HERE for additional Gypsy Distillery information.
Gallery of Photos Below:
The Bay Harbor Golf Course already was being enjoyed... 17 July 1997
The Bay Harbor Golf Course already was being enjoyed... 17 July 1997
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (1997)
~ Beginnings of Village of Bay Harbor ~
Photo Below: Lower part of airplane wing showing at top of photo...
Bay Harbor Marina District Merchants
FIRST Fall Harvest Open House
FIRST Fall Harvest Open House
~ Beginnings of Inn at Bay Harbor ~
25 September 1997
1999
Photo Above is included in the SLIDESHOW Below:
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner to view the SLIDESHOW below of
Bay Harbor in 1999 AFTER construction had begun
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (1999)
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner to view the SLIDESHOW below of
Bay Harbor in 1999 AFTER construction had begun
Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey newspapers (1999)
2000
~ Inn at Bay Harbor in 2013 ~
~ 12 July 2002 ~
~ Bay Harbor FISH in 2006 ~
~ Vehicle & Boat Shows ~
Five 2010 Photos Below: Bay Harbor has hosted many Vehicle (Boats and Cars) over the years. Mike and Ralph Stowe often have shown their aqua colored "Aqua Car" and given rides to spectators as in the photos below. Access addiitional vehicle photos from Bay Harbor Shows on this same web site on the "Vehicles & Bicycles" web page by clicking HERE.
2010
2019
Six 22 June 2019 Photos Below
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
~ 18 January 2009 ~
The 12 October 2008 Traverse City Record Eagle stated in an Editorial: "The company [CMS] tried to use the city of Petoskey's wastewater treatment plant, but the brew was too "hot" for the plant to handle. Since then some of the leachate has been hauled to a deep-injection well in Montmorency County and some -- after being pre-treated at a CMS facility near the resort -- has been hauled to Traverse City, where it is run through the city's wastewater treatment plant."
"Since around 2005, CMS started collecting the leaching water, put it through a treatment process plant it built along U.S. 31 to neutralize the pH, and began shipping it to a deep injection well in Johnnesburg and to Traverse City's wastewater treatment plant. CMS Land area manager, Tim Petroskey, and Sniegowski, said CMS trucked between 150,000 gallons and sometimes up to 300,000 gallons of neutralized water every day, seven days a week, at a cost of $7 million a year, from 2006 through 2011. Some trucks still are shipping even today." ~ 20 July 2012 Petoskey News Review Article
"Since around 2005, CMS started collecting the leaching water, put it through a treatment process plant it built along U.S. 31 to neutralize the pH, and began shipping it to a deep injection well in Johnnesburg and to Traverse City's wastewater treatment plant. CMS Land area manager, Tim Petroskey, and Sniegowski, said CMS trucked between 150,000 gallons and sometimes up to 300,000 gallons of neutralized water every day, seven days a week, at a cost of $7 million a year, from 2006 through 2011. Some trucks still are shipping even today." ~ 20 July 2012 Petoskey News Review Article
~ 1 August 2009 ~
Bay Harbor made a land deal so that Resort Township is the owner of East Park Beach
which had been a part of the previous Consumer Powers property (cement company previous to that).
The 4 April 2005 Health Consultation paper of
"Bay Harbor Cement Kiln Dust Seep Discharge
Bay Harbor, Emmet County, Michigan"
telling about the posted Bay Harbor signs like in the photo below, can be accessed HERE.
which had been a part of the previous Consumer Powers property (cement company previous to that).
The 4 April 2005 Health Consultation paper of
"Bay Harbor Cement Kiln Dust Seep Discharge
Bay Harbor, Emmet County, Michigan"
telling about the posted Bay Harbor signs like in the photo below, can be accessed HERE.
Two Photos Below: Bay Harbor Leach Treatment Plant
A Bay Harbor Leachate Hearing was held just previous,
and was reported in the same 10 October 2010 Petoskey News Review as the article posted above.
and was reported in the same 10 October 2010 Petoskey News Review as the article posted above.
By September of 2011 CMS had a building along U.S. 31 near Bay Harbor slated to house office space and equipment for treating leachate collected along the Little Traverse Bay shoreline.
The Petoskey News Review 10 July 2014 issue reported: "Earlier this week, MEDQ environmental analyst Elaine Pelc said pH readings along the shoreline have remained mostly in an acceptable range as of late---and that the occasional measurements slightly above that range potentially could be related to algae in the area. The remedies continue to meet objectives for controlling mercury releases into the surface water as well, she added."
The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council gives an in depth history of "What is Cement Kiln Dust, more commonly referred to as CKD, and why is it a concern?" The end statement, however, does not bring up-to-date coverage of what is transpiring with the situation: "An agreement was reached on February 22, 2005 between the US EPA and CMS. The administrative order on consent required CMS to take immediate steps to control releases from the cement kiln dust piles."
The 15 January 2009 Petoskey News Review reporter Noah Fowle wrote:
"The amount of CDK (Cement Kiln Dust) on site [Bay Harbor] alone also poses its own problems as well. There is about 5.8 million tons of CKD at the Bay Harbor site, which according to Portland Cement Association, is more than the total amount of CKD produced annually by all of the 188 cement plants in the U.S.
In addition, CMS must also deal with the separate issue of treating the water that has already come in contact with the CKD, or the leachate, and preventing the flow of more water through various CKD piles on site, which have been consolidated."
The previous 14 January 2009 Petoskey News Review reporter Ryan Bentley wrote about the expense of cleanup of the Bay Harbor site:
"CMS Energy, a participant in the Bay Harbor resort project through its early years, sold its stake to partner Victor International in 2002, but retained responsibility for environmental matters at the site.
As of last year; CMS projected it could spend as much as $140 million to manage the seepage over the long-term. CMS area manager Tim Petrosky said this won't affect the rates paid by customers of the company's CMS Energy gas/electric subsidiary, noting that 'this is shareholder money. It's ultimately money that doesn't make it into the shareholder's hand.'"
"The amount of CDK (Cement Kiln Dust) on site [Bay Harbor] alone also poses its own problems as well. There is about 5.8 million tons of CKD at the Bay Harbor site, which according to Portland Cement Association, is more than the total amount of CKD produced annually by all of the 188 cement plants in the U.S.
In addition, CMS must also deal with the separate issue of treating the water that has already come in contact with the CKD, or the leachate, and preventing the flow of more water through various CKD piles on site, which have been consolidated."
The previous 14 January 2009 Petoskey News Review reporter Ryan Bentley wrote about the expense of cleanup of the Bay Harbor site:
"CMS Energy, a participant in the Bay Harbor resort project through its early years, sold its stake to partner Victor International in 2002, but retained responsibility for environmental matters at the site.
As of last year; CMS projected it could spend as much as $140 million to manage the seepage over the long-term. CMS area manager Tim Petrosky said this won't affect the rates paid by customers of the company's CMS Energy gas/electric subsidiary, noting that 'this is shareholder money. It's ultimately money that doesn't make it into the shareholder's hand.'"
~ Bay Harbor Fire Station ~
2010 and 2019
2010 and 2019
~ Bay Harbor ~
2017 and 2018
2017 and 2018
~ Bay Harbor ~
September 2018
Village Photos taken from "Ridges on the Bay" development area from Left to Right:
September 2018
Village Photos taken from "Ridges on the Bay" development area from Left to Right:
~ Great Lakes Center for the Arts ~
Center Stage in Bay Harbor
Center Stage in Bay Harbor
Five 19 June 2017 Photos Below:
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
"Performing Arts Venue Opens in Bay Harbor" was the number three top story of the area in 2018
as rated, and reported, by the Petoskey News Review.
as rated, and reported, by the Petoskey News Review.
A video produced by Pierpont Productions of
David Johnson's Opening Remarks of the GLCFA
may be accessed by clicking HERE.
The 9 April 2022 Petoskey News Review announced "Great Lakes Center for the Arts Executive Director (Jill O/Neil) to Retire." O'Neil was in her 30th year as an arts professional and 26th year with Bay Harbor. With Bay Harbor, O'Neill had filled the roles of assistant controller, controller and chief financial officer before becoming the FIRST director of the Great Lakes Center for the Arts. O'Neill had been with the conception and the construction of the center, and had realized the program development of the performing arts with the grand opening having taken place in July of 2018.
~ Bay Harbor's Harbor Lake in the Summer ~
9 June 2020
9 June 2020
Two 9 June 2020 Photos Below:
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
~ Bay Harbor's Harbor Lake in the Winter ~
(Black and White)
2021
(Black and White)
2021
~ Bay Harbor Scenes in 2020 AND 2023 ~
Photo Above is included in the SLIDESHOW Below:
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner to view the SLIDESHOW below of Bay Harbor Scenes in 2020 AND 2023
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner to view the SLIDESHOW below of Bay Harbor Scenes in 2020 AND 2023
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
The 4th Annnual "Balloons Over Bay Harbor" was presented in the skies 22-24 September 2023.
The following poster of the 2023 balloon entrants was posted on the internet for printing to collect Pilot Autographs.
The following poster of the 2023 balloon entrants was posted on the internet for printing to collect Pilot Autographs.
Two Photos Below: Viewing the Bay Harbor Hot Air Balloons from the deck, looking over the meadow,
with the balloons floating over the Bay in the direction of Harbor Springs.
with the balloons floating over the Bay in the direction of Harbor Springs.
10 October 2023
New restaurant coming to Bay Harbor
New restaurant coming to Bay Harbor
The 10 October 2023 Petoskey News Review announced that Bay Harbor's longest running business, Knot Just a Bar, overlooking the Bay Harbor Marina, would be takeover by new business partners. The renovated bar would include a waterfront cabana bar and restaurant called Brandy's Harbortown, with a coastal ambiance; opening by May 2023.
A video produced by Pierpont Productions of
the Bay Harbor History (4 minutes) may be accessed by clicking HERE.
the Bay Harbor History (4 minutes) may be accessed by clicking HERE.
Click HERE to access the Bay Harbor web site.