The Header Photo (taken 9 February 2014) and the Photo Below are both of the Steffel Farm
located on Country Club Road, Petoskey, Michigan.
located on Country Club Road, Petoskey, Michigan.
Sadly, after the horrific wind/rain storms in a 24 hour timeframe on 18-19 July 2020 traveling through Petoskey and its countryside, the following photo shows some of the bending of rows of corn on Country Club Road with the Steffel Farm in the background.
Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~FARMS ~
of Charlevoix and Emmet Counties
(Alphabetical Postings Below)
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.
Access Chandler Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan Farms by clicking on website link below...
Chandler Township Michigan Memories.
Chandler Township Michigan Memories.
When FARMING comes to mind, usually the foremost thought is that of
"the activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock"
The FARM must have A Dedicated FARMER.
Commentator Paul Harvey told the demands of orchestrating a FARM,
when he narrated his poem of "So, God Made A Farmer" which can be accessed by clicking below.
Paul Harvey
"So, God Made A Farmer"
"the activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock"
The FARM must have A Dedicated FARMER.
Commentator Paul Harvey told the demands of orchestrating a FARM,
when he narrated his poem of "So, God Made A Farmer" which can be accessed by clicking below.
Paul Harvey
"So, God Made A Farmer"
~ Pleasing Prospects for Homesteaders ~
1878
1878
Local Farmer names in the article below include:
W.S. Hudson, Hibbard Ingalls, Mr. L. Vanalstine, Mr. E.H. Knight, I.A. Hall,
Wilcox, Fettig, Johnny Keep, Forrester, Hoffman, and Curtis.
W.S. Hudson, Hibbard Ingalls, Mr. L. Vanalstine, Mr. E.H. Knight, I.A. Hall,
Wilcox, Fettig, Johnny Keep, Forrester, Hoffman, and Curtis.
~ Emmet County Farm Lands ~
1890
1890
~ The Garden of the North ~
1894
1894
~ Many Emmet Farmers Will File Income Tax Reports for FIRST Time ~
1942
1942
~ Emmet Farm Men Earn "Award of Merit" ~
1943
1943
~ Emmet County Agricultural Agents Accepted by Farmers ~
1948
1948
Photo Below: Farm Land west of Petoskey with the "cement company" on the edge of Lake Michigan in the distance.
Photo Below: Farm Land in the area near Mud Lake on the West Arm of Walloon Lake with Big Rock Nuclear Plant
on the edge of Lake Michigan in the distance in 1994.
The nuclear plant has since been dismantled.
on the edge of Lake Michigan in the distance in 1994.
The nuclear plant has since been dismantled.
Photo Below: Farm Land in the area near Mud Lake on the West Arm of Walloon Lake with the edge of Lake Michigan in the distance in 1994.
~ Animals and Their Owners ~
(SLIDESHOW)
1930's to 1941
(SLIDESHOW)
1930's to 1941
Slideshow Below: Emmet County Agriculture Extension Office photo albums were submitted to the Little Traverse Historical Society. The photos in this slideshow selection include mostly animals, with owners. View the 1930's to 1941 photos of animals in the slideshow below by clicking on PLAY in the upper left corner of the main photo.
(Alphabetical Postings Below for Farm Names)
~ Allen Farm Sold ~
Birchwwood Ranch > Orchard Bay Farm
North of Charlevoix, Michigan
1950
(Largest Tract of Land in Lower Peninsula of Michigan NOT Crossed by a Major Highway)
Birchwwood Ranch > Orchard Bay Farm
North of Charlevoix, Michigan
1950
(Largest Tract of Land in Lower Peninsula of Michigan NOT Crossed by a Major Highway)
~ Farms on Corner of Atkins and McDougal ~
(Wanamaker, Foster, Veurink, Steffel, Spiegel FARMS)
(Wanamaker, Foster, Veurink, Steffel, Spiegel FARMS)
Photo Below: Jim Steffel Farm
1954
Photo Below: In 1932 Archie McDougall Farm, Petoskey, Michigan, NE corner of Atkins and McDougall Roads...
Archie McDougall in 1881 came to Petoskey with his parents and settled on the Bear Creek Township farm.
Archie McDougall in 1881 came to Petoskey with his parents and settled on the Bear Creek Township farm.
On the NE corner of Atkins and McDougall Roads, the house in the 1932 photo above... still is standing in 2022 (ninety years later). In 1943 Mike and Muriel Veurink bought the 70 acre farm from Archie McDougall (namesake of McDougall Road in that very area, although the name today has only one "l"... McDougal Road). Mike Veurink, an active member in the community; his church, and government, died in 1979. After Mike passed, his wife Muriel collaborated with the Petoskey Public Schools in relation to the family farm land to be in a plan for future use to build school facilities, like the Petoskey Middle School building. Muriel Veurink agreed to arrangements for a lifetime land contract so she could live in the original farmhouse, her home, until her death. Muriel Veurink passed in 2014 at 101 years old. |
~ Ira D. Bartlett Willow Brook Apiary ~
Charlevoix County, Michigan
Charlevoix County, Michigan
~ Beets ~
~ Beet Industry Cornerstone Laid ~
(A mile and a half south of Charlevoix on Pine Lake and the Pere Marquette Railroad)
1902
(A mile and a half south of Charlevoix on Pine Lake and the Pere Marquette Railroad)
1902
~ Beet Farm ~
(O'Reilly Beet Patch in Brutus, Emmet County, Michigan)
1912
(O'Reilly Beet Patch in Brutus, Emmet County, Michigan)
1912
Photo Below: "Potatoes are right for picking, shows Bill McMaster of Bill's Farm Market."
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Three Photos Below: Rose Mary Hoffman McMaster and brother Joe F. Hoffman accepting the Centennial Farm plaque from a gentleman with Great Lake Energy. Rose Mary and husband Walter McMaster were the parents of one daughter Mrs. Alma Cessar, and two sons; Donald and Bill McMaster (namesake for Bill's Farm Market).
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner of main photo below to view the SLIDESHOW below or
Click on PAUSE to stop slideshow to study a photo:
FEATURING in 2019, the 100 Year Anniversary of the Michigan Farm Bureau...
at Bill's Farm Market.
Click on PAUSE to stop slideshow to study a photo:
FEATURING in 2019, the 100 Year Anniversary of the Michigan Farm Bureau...
at Bill's Farm Market.
Sadly, after the horrific wind/rain storms in a 24 hour timeframe on 18-19 July 2020 traveling through Petoskey and its countryside, the following was reported for Bill's Farm Market: "Tree got our gravity box (destroyed), fences destroyed, Bills sweet corn just about to be picked lying flat 4 fields worth, a big section of freshly planted garden destroy, our farm road that we had just gotten gravel from Flynn’s is gone, our field corn is tipped over. Our woods looks like a bomb went off. Massive fence damage. Have the cows locked at the barn feeding round bales. The pain."
Photo Below taken at Bill's Farm Market where cousins Bill McMaster and Joe Hoffman were preparing for a Farm Bureau celebration to be held at the farm. The Emmet County Farm Bureau Member Recognition board honored: Raphael & Bonnie Alkema, Winfield Sluyter, Loretta Bethke, Arlene Foltz, Charlene Kolinske, Maude Sterly, Ann Burek, Betty Ginop, Ida Lahti, and Lewis Thelen.
In October 2022, it was announced via Facebook that Bill's Farm Market will no longer sell produce,
other than flowers and wreaths. Customers will miss the other services that Bill has provided for many years.
UPDATE:
The week of 22 January 2023 Bill's Farm Market Facebook post announced
the market will remain in the family and continue to sell fresh produce.
Customers rejoiced with posts and likes!
other than flowers and wreaths. Customers will miss the other services that Bill has provided for many years.
UPDATE:
The week of 22 January 2023 Bill's Farm Market Facebook post announced
the market will remain in the family and continue to sell fresh produce.
Customers rejoiced with posts and likes!
~ Birchwood Farm ~
(Harbor Springs, Michigan)
(Harbor Springs, Michigan)
In 2018 Birchwood Farm is known as a resort.
As shown in the 1948 photos below, Birchwood Farm was a FARM.
As shown in the 1948 photos below, Birchwood Farm was a FARM.
1958 ~ Garstang Sold Birchwood Farm to Nicolay the Head of Makers of New Era Potato Chips
1962 ~ Birchwood Farm Lodge is Sold
~ Blue Dot Farm ~
Charlevoix, Michigan
Charlevoix, Michigan
~ Bolt Family Farm ~
East of Atwood, Michigan, on County Road 48
(running diagonally on the right in the photo below)
East of Atwood, Michigan, on County Road 48
(running diagonally on the right in the photo below)
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~ Olmar and Ruth Brager-Larsen Fur Farm (Mink and Fox) ~
(Petoskey Fur Farm near the Harbor Springs Airport on Mink Road)
Location of previous Gaffney & Leonard Fox Farm
(Petoskey Fur Farm near the Harbor Springs Airport on Mink Road)
Location of previous Gaffney & Leonard Fox Farm
Mr. Brager-Larsen (from Norway to the United States after the Nazi takeover ~ passport photo below left) started his fur business in 1929, and bought a fur farm in 1941 in Harbor Springs, possibly the bankrupt Gaffney and Leonard Petoskey Pioneer Fox Farm. The Brager-Larsen mink and fox farm was fascinating, and seemed to have been run well, with Norwegian governmental backing.
Olmar and Ruth Brager-Larsen brought many Norwegian men who had fled from the Nazi's to work on their Harbor Springs mink farm. They also brought their nephew Tor Brager-Larsen to live with them in 1948. Tor passed away in Harbor Springs in 2020.
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A Warranty Deed filed in Emmet County on 10 April 1973 presents that "Torrey Mosvold, O. Brager-Larsen, Oyvind Ovensen, Martin Mosvold, being all of the members of the last Board of Directors of Petoskey Fur Farm, Inc, Mink Road, Harbor Springs, Michigan 19740 Conveys and Warrants to Richard D. Faust and Michaelene K. Faust, husband and wife as tenants by the entireties."
By 2 June 1978 the property was only in the name of Robert M. & Irene Krithers.
By 2 June 1978 the property was only in the name of Robert M. & Irene Krithers.
Photos Below: This large building that remains back from the roadway on Mink Road in Little Traverse Township, Emmet County, Michigan, is said to be what was the slaughtering house for the mink when it was the mink farm. Was the smaller building next-door, also part of the mink farm? Contact the web master with any information having to do with these buildings in relation to the mink farm by clicking HERE. |
(Below was composed in February 2022)
The ownership of Olmar and Ruth Brager-Larsen’s mink farm properties eventually ended (late 1970s) with the ownership by Robert and Irene Krithers. The property since has stayed mostly with the Krithers family descendants who treasure the history of the land and its location. Robert and Irene Krithers at first lived on the plot with the larger building on it while the Brager-Larsens remained for a year or two on the property with the smaller building and house. After the Brager-Larsens left, the Krithers family began living in the smaller house. Behind the large building (the feedhouse) was a very small house built off a horse stable. The horse stable was the original room, and slowly other rooms were added. By 2022, the original property has been divided, and adjacent properties subtracted, and added, from when the Brager-Larsens ran the mink farm. A house on Mink Road across from the mink farm, now with a different owner, had been used for the employees of the mink farm.
One of the above news articles regarding the mink farm told that the mink ate a horse-heavy diet which required the Brager-Larsens to raise the horses on site, and slaughter them in what continues to be called “the feedhouse”. Still in that building is a very large industrial grinder, which is permanently installed; used to grind up the horses. The doors going back are very thick. The whole back half of the big building has old refrigerated rooms; maybe 1500 square feet. The old refrigeration units still hang from the ceilings in two of the back rooms. Another old refrigerated room on the front of the building has a massive door. The door and porch on the road side now are new; the porch was never there, and the door used to be a small insulated window that would open. The driveway splits and goes around either side of that building with old sliding doors on either side, with large slabs, allowing trucks to pull up. Trucks would pull up to drop off feed in the back storage area. The stretched pelts were kept in the other side of the huge building where trucks could pick up pelts and take them away. Many remnants like pelt-stretching boards and feeding dishes remain after all of their years of use.
About 25 years ago, the old out buildings had a room used as a bedroom, where originally the horse stable was located… The walls are almost a foot thick, and still have the original logs inside. When Robert and Irene Krithers made renovations in the 1970s, a huge double paned glass window was installed… that window space was where the horses used to stick out their heads; the thick window ledge provides a place to sit upon and to look directly over the beautiful woods. Five or six other out buildings on the property, used for various purposes, have had to be razed over the years due to rot. One small building had been near the woods where the slaughtering took place. That was separate from the large building. One small building still exists that had held some of the mink animals, had a feeding trough, and screen bottoms to allow the droppings to fall through.
Even though the original property has had splits over the years since housing the living mink farm, some of the hallway type screened-in enclosures still existed maybe 20 years ago. Other adjacent property owners, however, have just bulldozed those to the side… but, they are still there; just all bent up. Many, many cages for the minks have been cleared away.
Several gazebos had been located on the property for the mink farm workers to take cover from the weather… one gazebo has survived and rests on US–31 north on the right of the driveway going into Hoffman’s Nursery. The mink farm gazebo resting beside a nursery is fittingly connected because the mink farm property has become a veritable wooded garden with lady slippers, myrtle, daffodils, raspberries and foxgloves. It even harbors grave vines, apple trees, and a most beautiful magnolia tree which is unusual for the area.
The ownership of Olmar and Ruth Brager-Larsen’s mink farm properties eventually ended (late 1970s) with the ownership by Robert and Irene Krithers. The property since has stayed mostly with the Krithers family descendants who treasure the history of the land and its location. Robert and Irene Krithers at first lived on the plot with the larger building on it while the Brager-Larsens remained for a year or two on the property with the smaller building and house. After the Brager-Larsens left, the Krithers family began living in the smaller house. Behind the large building (the feedhouse) was a very small house built off a horse stable. The horse stable was the original room, and slowly other rooms were added. By 2022, the original property has been divided, and adjacent properties subtracted, and added, from when the Brager-Larsens ran the mink farm. A house on Mink Road across from the mink farm, now with a different owner, had been used for the employees of the mink farm.
One of the above news articles regarding the mink farm told that the mink ate a horse-heavy diet which required the Brager-Larsens to raise the horses on site, and slaughter them in what continues to be called “the feedhouse”. Still in that building is a very large industrial grinder, which is permanently installed; used to grind up the horses. The doors going back are very thick. The whole back half of the big building has old refrigerated rooms; maybe 1500 square feet. The old refrigeration units still hang from the ceilings in two of the back rooms. Another old refrigerated room on the front of the building has a massive door. The door and porch on the road side now are new; the porch was never there, and the door used to be a small insulated window that would open. The driveway splits and goes around either side of that building with old sliding doors on either side, with large slabs, allowing trucks to pull up. Trucks would pull up to drop off feed in the back storage area. The stretched pelts were kept in the other side of the huge building where trucks could pick up pelts and take them away. Many remnants like pelt-stretching boards and feeding dishes remain after all of their years of use.
About 25 years ago, the old out buildings had a room used as a bedroom, where originally the horse stable was located… The walls are almost a foot thick, and still have the original logs inside. When Robert and Irene Krithers made renovations in the 1970s, a huge double paned glass window was installed… that window space was where the horses used to stick out their heads; the thick window ledge provides a place to sit upon and to look directly over the beautiful woods. Five or six other out buildings on the property, used for various purposes, have had to be razed over the years due to rot. One small building had been near the woods where the slaughtering took place. That was separate from the large building. One small building still exists that had held some of the mink animals, had a feeding trough, and screen bottoms to allow the droppings to fall through.
Even though the original property has had splits over the years since housing the living mink farm, some of the hallway type screened-in enclosures still existed maybe 20 years ago. Other adjacent property owners, however, have just bulldozed those to the side… but, they are still there; just all bent up. Many, many cages for the minks have been cleared away.
Several gazebos had been located on the property for the mink farm workers to take cover from the weather… one gazebo has survived and rests on US–31 north on the right of the driveway going into Hoffman’s Nursery. The mink farm gazebo resting beside a nursery is fittingly connected because the mink farm property has become a veritable wooded garden with lady slippers, myrtle, daffodils, raspberries and foxgloves. It even harbors grave vines, apple trees, and a most beautiful magnolia tree which is unusual for the area.
~ Leonard and Gaffney Pioneer Fox Farm ~
L.E. Leonard and Ernest Gaffney of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, in 1920 were overseeing the work of building pens, buildings and making improvements at their farm just west of Sexton's Corners on the Harbor road, where will be located the Petoskey Pioneer Silver Black Fox ranch.
Photo/Postcard Below: Ernest Gaffney ran the farm showing eight pens of the Petoskey Pioneer Silver Black Fox Farm. A 1921 news article said Gaffney was headed to Prince Edward Island to acquire more foxes.
Advertisement Below: "Tons of smelt are frozen in huge slabs and stored for use
as feed on mink and fox farms in Michigan and neighboring states."
as feed on mink and fox farms in Michigan and neighboring states."
~ Local Man Larry Platt Raises Mink for Hobby ~
715 State Street, Petoskey, Michigan
715 State Street, Petoskey, Michigan
While raising mink as a hobby is not the same as raising mink on a working farm or ranch such as Brager-Larson and Gaffney above, the descriptions and information about mink are very interesting as presented in the article/photos of Larry Platt below.
ASIDE: It is interesting to note in the era of 2020's COVID–19 that a Michigan mink farm tests positive with SARS–COV–2, the virus that causes COVID–19 in humans. Access the article by clicking HERE.
The Mink Farms Michigan Act 189 of 1955 may be accessed by clicking HERE.
The Mink Farms Michigan Act 189 of 1955 may be accessed by clicking HERE.
~ Wilbur Brown Cherry Farm ~
~ Burek Farm ~
Pickerel Lake Road, Petoskey, Michigan
Pickerel Lake Road, Petoskey, Michigan
Before a 2016 Storm...
After a 2020 Storm...
Sadly, (four years after the photo above) after the horrific 2020 wind/rain storms in a 24 hour timeframe on 18-19 July 2020, traveling through Petoskey and its countryside, the following photo shows the result with the Burek's Barn in need of a Barn Razing/Raising!
OLD Style Barns are Disappearing!
Google Screen Capture Below: PRE-2020 STORM that blew down the Burek's barn...
~ Centennial Farms ~
Skornia's "Lakeside Farms" and McMaster's "Bill's Farm Market"
2010
Skornia's "Lakeside Farms" and McMaster's "Bill's Farm Market"
2010
~ Charles Cetas New Barn ~
Harbor Springs
1938
Harbor Springs
1938
~ Dell Chase Barn ~
Levering
1929
Levering
1929
~ B.H. Cook ~
(One Pear Tree)
(920 Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan)
(One Pear Tree)
(920 Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan)
~ Cornstalks All in Rows ~
~ Cone's Cackle Ranch ~
Aldwyn C. Cone, from the early 1960s through 1970, owned and operated Cone's Cackle Ranch.
The ranch was the largest egg-producing farm in the area with 34,000 chickens.
In 1963 the Cones built a poultry house, with automatic feeders and waterers, and egg-gathering conveyors,
that had the capacity to house 7,000 chickens.
This was the largest flock of chickens in Emmet County housed under one roof.
The ranch was the largest egg-producing farm in the area with 34,000 chickens.
In 1963 the Cones built a poultry house, with automatic feeders and waterers, and egg-gathering conveyors,
that had the capacity to house 7,000 chickens.
This was the largest flock of chickens in Emmet County housed under one roof.
~ Coveyou ~
In 2021 the original 40 acres of Coveyou property adjoining Walloon Lake, is known as Coveyou Scenic Farms. The John Coveyou Family obtained the property through the 1874 Homestead Act signed by President Grant. Many northern Michigan Families gained land in the same manner, having to "prove" the land in a given number of years, or else forfeit the land. In 1882 John's son Eugene (one of six children) was born. By 1920 Eugene and Vera (Eppler) Coveyou Hoffman had Lorenzo (one of five children).
An 11 July 1933 Petoskey Evening News article announced, "The old route of M-131 south of Petoskey to Walloon Lake was officially cancelled and the new route now under grade will become the 'official route.'" Additional information about the moving of the highway from Walloon Lake to Petoskey may be accessed on this same web site by clicking HERE.
It was at the time of the new route for M-131 that Eugene Coveyou moved his original farm house from its original location up near the new road, and there built a barn. That barn burned after the move.
The acreage of the farm was expanded by 1940 and became a producer of potatoes as were many farmers in the area, until 1964.
Eugene Coveyou died in 1959 in a tractor accident. The same year Lorenzo married Hedy. It was Lorenzo and Hedy who developed a portion of their property in the 1970's into a Walloon Lake Subdivision Coveyou Meadow, to supplement their farming income. Lorenzo and Hedy's son David married Kathy Ward in 1997 who have continued the farming legacy with their farm markets and by selling directly to the consumer.
Additional Coveyou Scenic Farms historical information may be accessed by clicking HERE.
An 11 July 1933 Petoskey Evening News article announced, "The old route of M-131 south of Petoskey to Walloon Lake was officially cancelled and the new route now under grade will become the 'official route.'" Additional information about the moving of the highway from Walloon Lake to Petoskey may be accessed on this same web site by clicking HERE.
It was at the time of the new route for M-131 that Eugene Coveyou moved his original farm house from its original location up near the new road, and there built a barn. That barn burned after the move.
The acreage of the farm was expanded by 1940 and became a producer of potatoes as were many farmers in the area, until 1964.
Eugene Coveyou died in 1959 in a tractor accident. The same year Lorenzo married Hedy. It was Lorenzo and Hedy who developed a portion of their property in the 1970's into a Walloon Lake Subdivision Coveyou Meadow, to supplement their farming income. Lorenzo and Hedy's son David married Kathy Ward in 1997 who have continued the farming legacy with their farm markets and by selling directly to the consumer.
Additional Coveyou Scenic Farms historical information may be accessed by clicking HERE.
Photo Below Labeled: "Michigan Tanning & Extract Co. Building, 400 block East Lake Street became Friendship Center in basement in 1980s and 1990s. Old Court House Building at the right side. Truck Carrying 2,000 pounds of Honey E.E. Coveyou - Second Truck with a larger load of honey"
1935 obituary for Elias Coveyou told that he was a "nationally known bee authority... having invented and manufactured the largest extractor in the world which was in constant use, and automatic steam uncapping knife which uncapped the wax before sending the combs to the extractor and the first automatic weighing scales for filling honey cans." The Greenwood Cemetery web site shows that Elias E. Coveyou was born 14 May 1877 and died 12 November 1935. Elias was buried in the St. Francis Cemetery, Petoskey, Michigan.
1949
Tractor Owned by Eugene Coveyou and Sons
Tractor Owned by Eugene Coveyou and Sons
~ COVEYOU SCENIC FARM GENERATIONS ~
Eugene (Vera) Coveyou > Lorenzo (Hedy) Coveyou > David and Kathy Coveyou (Present 2021 Owners/Operators)
Eugene (Vera) Coveyou > Lorenzo (Hedy) Coveyou > David and Kathy Coveyou (Present 2021 Owners/Operators)
THREE Photos Below:
Coveyou Scenic Farm Market
North End of the North Arm of Walloon Lake, Michigan
Coveyou Scenic Farm Market
North End of the North Arm of Walloon Lake, Michigan
THREE Photos Above: Alex Childress' additional work also may be viewed at Alex Childress Photo.
Click HERE to access a comprehensive article from Northern Express titled:
“FARMING IS JUST SOLVING PROBLEMS”: 150 YEARS OF HISTORY
AT PETOSKEY’S COVEYOU SCENIC FARM MARKET
THE JOURNEY FROM HOMESTEADING TO POTATOES TO ORGANIC PRODUCE
“FARMING IS JUST SOLVING PROBLEMS”: 150 YEARS OF HISTORY
AT PETOSKEY’S COVEYOU SCENIC FARM MARKET
THE JOURNEY FROM HOMESTEADING TO POTATOES TO ORGANIC PRODUCE
~ Crops and Equipment ~
(SLIDESHOW)
1929 through 1930's to 1941
(SLIDESHOW)
1929 through 1930's to 1941
Slideshow Below: Emmet County Agriculture Extension Office photo albums were submitted to the Little Traverse Historical Society. The photos in this slideshow selection include Crops and Farm Equipment, with owners' names. View the 1930's to 1941 photos in the slideshow below by clicking on PLAY in the upper left corner of the main photo.
~ Martha A. Curtis Farm ~
(Donated to the Little Traverse Conservancy as the Martha A. Curtis Nature Preserve)
East Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan
(Donated to the Little Traverse Conservancy as the Martha A. Curtis Nature Preserve)
East Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan
Outbuildings on the Martha Curtis Farm were donated to Emmet County's Camp Petosega where they remain in use. While the buildings were free, the hauling and transfer did cost about $18,000.00 to county taxpayers, plus foundation costs to support the buildings. Access information about Camp Petosega on this same web site by clicking HERE.
~ Dean (Northern Auto) Farm ~
East Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan
(Located years ago almost across from the 2018 Schuil Farm on Mitchell Road as viewed below)
East Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan
(Located years ago almost across from the 2018 Schuil Farm on Mitchell Road as viewed below)
Article Below: The Northern Auto Farms was owned by Mr. Edmond Dean, so it is understandable that the potato show would be showcased inside at the Northern Auto Company showrooms.
Mr. Dean (thus the Dean Farm) owned Northern Auto Company (thus the Northern Auto Farms) in downtown Petoskey. Northern Auto Company was torn down in preparation for "The Pit" "The Hole" Petoskey Dis-appoint.
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Three Photos Below: Remnants of the Dean (Northern Auto) Farm foundation, located on East Mitchell Road (just east of Division Road) are pointed out by the red arrow. The huge Balm of Gilead trees are lined up toward the right side of the photo as were prominent at many OLD farms in the area.
When the barn had been razed years ago, much of the wood was salvaged and was put to use on the Fettig Farm on South Fletcher Road, and still standing in 2023, just a few miles down from the original Dean barn.
When the barn had been razed years ago, much of the wood was salvaged and was put to use on the Fettig Farm on South Fletcher Road, and still standing in 2023, just a few miles down from the original Dean barn.
In March 2021 the old foundation area on the previous Dean Farm has been somewhat cleared.
TOP
~ Near Eagle Beach Development - Outside Alanson ~
The above farm scene was photographed near the Eagle Beach Development, outside of Alanson; very close to the Black Hole that connects Crooked Lake to Pickerel Lake. A few years ago, Denny Jessick flew his powered parachute over the silo in the winter, from Crooked Lake to Pickerel Lake and back. He started the flight near the launch ramp on Crooked Lake. To access additional information about Denny Jessick’s (and others’) air travels and landings on area airstrips on this same web site, click HERE. This picture also is included on this same web site on the "Windmill" web page which is accessible by clicking HERE.
~ Eppler Farm ~
(Eppler Road, previously known as Washout Road)
(Eppler Road, previously known as Washout Road)
Article Below: Guy E. Eppler died of uremic poisoning while making maple syrup.
He contracted the poisoning from a can in which he sampled the syrup. He was ill only a short time.
He contracted the poisoning from a can in which he sampled the syrup. He was ill only a short time.
Victor Shanley, Spud Champion, grew potatoes on the Clayton Eppler Farm, Petoskey, Michigan.
~ A.H. "Fritz" Evers and Son Jim ~
Had a yield of 2,500 bushels of Russet Rural potatoes on five acres on R-2, Petoskey, Michigan.
1950
Had a yield of 2,500 bushels of Russet Rural potatoes on five acres on R-2, Petoskey, Michigan.
1950
~ Early Pioneer Farmer ~ Martin Feily ~
FIRST to locate in Emmet County from St. Mary's, Pennsylvania
1875
FIRST to locate in Emmet County from St. Mary's, Pennsylvania
1875
~ Fletcher Road Farm Foundation ~
2018
2018
Slideshow below: Contiguous to Fletcher Road Farmland Above...
Logging in progress,
but probably not to be clearing land for old-time farm fields!
16 January 2019
Logging in progress,
but probably not to be clearing land for old-time farm fields!
16 January 2019
~ Foltz Growing Winter Rhubarb ~
1942 and 1946
1942 and 1946
~ Al and Nellie Foster Family Farm ~
1515 Atkins Road, Petoskey, Michigan
< 2022
Farm has been sold and razed during 2020/2021 to become
Alexander Petoskey LLC
(Housing Units)
1515 Atkins Road, Petoskey, Michigan
< 2022
Farm has been sold and razed during 2020/2021 to become
Alexander Petoskey LLC
(Housing Units)
Photo Below: The red line points to the large acreage that the Foster Farm was harvesting...
extending north to Northmen Drive on to the property of the Public Schools of Petoskey;
before Alexander Petoskey LLC began any excavation on their 9.27 acres of property...
extending north to Northmen Drive on to the property of the Public Schools of Petoskey;
before Alexander Petoskey LLC began any excavation on their 9.27 acres of property...
View the slideshow below by clicking PLAY on the upper left corner. Some of the slideshow photos are from Realtor.com on-line about 2020 when the farm buildings and 9.27 acres of property were "for sale." Other slideshow photos are from the 2019 images from Google maps on-line.
Two Photos Above and Below: The farm field of corn was productive right until the property was sold by the Foster Family to the housing units developer for Alexander Petoskey LLC. By 4 August 2022 the farm buildings were all razed, and the corn field was leveled out, with various large work vehicles active and moving.
Atkins Road Housing Project STALLED
(Reported by the 8 September 2022 Emmet County Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes)
(Reported by the 8 September 2022 Emmet County Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes)
By October 2022 all Petoskey Alexander LLC development had ceased.
The property (stating 9.94 acres on the realtor's site) was listed for sale for $2,500,000.00.
The property (stating 9.94 acres on the realtor's site) was listed for sale for $2,500,000.00.
~ Freak Lightning Strike on Foster's Farm ~
1951
1951
Photo Below: An almost identical scene had happed at the Rasmussen Farm in 1943, eight years earlier than above.
~ Freak Lightning Strike on Rasmussen's Farm ~
1943
~ Freak Lightning Strike on Rasmussen's Farm ~
1943
~ Freak Lightning Strike on Dick Bare's Farm ~
1953
Killed three cows, shattered an elm tree, burned up 100 feet of electric fence, ruined the fence charger...
1953
Killed three cows, shattered an elm tree, burned up 100 feet of electric fence, ruined the fence charger...
~ Future Farmers of America ~
~ Ginop Farm Supply ~
East of Alanson on M-68
East of Alanson on M-68
~ Amos Gregory Farm Irrigation System ~
East of Brutus, Michgan
East of Brutus, Michgan
,~ Hay Field ~
End of McDougal Road, Petoskey, Michigan
End of McDougal Road, Petoskey, Michigan
Hay field on the Klooster Farm in Charlevoix, Michigan
~ Hemingway's Longfield Farm ~
...just west of Wildwood Harbor on Walloon Lake
(property purchased by the Hemingways in 1905; the cottage was built in 1919)
...just west of Wildwood Harbor on Walloon Lake
(property purchased by the Hemingways in 1905; the cottage was built in 1919)
Ernest Hemingway's mother Grace Hall Hemingway made notes beside the family photo below
of her daughters, Ursula, Sunny and Carol having picked up the 100 bushels of their potato crop at Longfield Farm.
of her daughters, Ursula, Sunny and Carol having picked up the 100 bushels of their potato crop at Longfield Farm.
Photo Below: Hemingway's neighbor Warren Sumner farmed much of the land for the Hemingway's Longfield Farm, so was hauling their potato crop. Additional farming photos of Longfield Farm can be accessed on this same web master's web site of "Walloon Lake Michigan Wanderings" by clicking HERE.
~ Sam and Sharon Himebauch Farm ~
4605 Powell Road, Harbor Springs mailing address, but near Conway...
Previously had been the Powell Farm (Powell Road) > ? > Kreger Farm > Himebauch
4605 Powell Road, Harbor Springs mailing address, but near Conway...
Previously had been the Powell Farm (Powell Road) > ? > Kreger Farm > Himebauch
~ Fred Hinkley Farm ~
(Planter of 1,000 Cabbages Per Hour)
1949
(Planter of 1,000 Cabbages Per Hour)
1949
~ Joe Hoffman Family Farm ~
Joe Sr. was the uncle to Bill McMaster of Bill's Farm Market (Noted Above)
Joe Sr. was the uncle to Bill McMaster of Bill's Farm Market (Noted Above)
~ Holzchu Barn in Resort Township ~
1945
1945
~ Glenn Horning's Irrigation Water Wheel ~
1937
1937
~ Jensen/Sarasin Farms ~
Walloon Lake, MIchigan
Walloon Lake, MIchigan
Additional Jensen Farm and Family information may be found on two other web pages of this same web master
by clicking HERE and/or HERE.
by clicking HERE and/or HERE.
August and Gladys Jensen and Sarasin Family Farm
Jensen Road, about a mile from "The Foot" of Walloon Lake, Michigan
Jensen Road, about a mile from "The Foot" of Walloon Lake, Michigan
Dawn Sarasin, 2023 owner of the Jensen/Sarasin Family Farm told history of the still standing August Jensen Family Farm Windmill.
"The windmill was erected in 1916 when grandpa August "Augie" Jensen bought the farm or it could have been erected 1917 or 1918 which was the year that he and grandma Gladys (Weaver) Jensen got married. Augie and Gladys' daughter Ida Mae Jensen who was born at the farm, married my father Joe Sarasin, and we moved away. So, I am not sure, however, what year the windmill was not operational as we were not at the farm. We made our home in many places, but after Joe retired from the Navy in 1972, we moved home; and the windmill was not working. My parents had the windmill reinforced with being chained up; so that the windmill blades do not spin around, but the little fin will move around... and the windmill is still solid." ~ Dawn Sarasin
"The windmill was erected in 1916 when grandpa August "Augie" Jensen bought the farm or it could have been erected 1917 or 1918 which was the year that he and grandma Gladys (Weaver) Jensen got married. Augie and Gladys' daughter Ida Mae Jensen who was born at the farm, married my father Joe Sarasin, and we moved away. So, I am not sure, however, what year the windmill was not operational as we were not at the farm. We made our home in many places, but after Joe retired from the Navy in 1972, we moved home; and the windmill was not working. My parents had the windmill reinforced with being chained up; so that the windmill blades do not spin around, but the little fin will move around... and the windmill is still solid." ~ Dawn Sarasin
Photos Below: The above farmhouse, but now in 2023, is noted as the airbnb Jensen Farm Country Retreat, hosted by Dawn Sarasin. Dawn's parents and grandparents preserved the farmhouse and property since Dawn's grandpa August "Augie" Jensen bought the farm in 1916. Augie and his wife Gladys had their daughter Ida Mae on the farm. One of the daughters of Ida Mae and Joe Sarasin is Dawn Sarasin.
Peter and Emmele Jensen 1901 Homesteaded Farm
Jensen Road, about a mile from "The Foot" of Walloon Lake, Michigan
Jensen Road, about a mile from "The Foot" of Walloon Lake, Michigan
Four pages below submitted by Dawn Sarasin of her Great Grandfather Peter A. Jensen's autobiography: The Jensen Road Family Farm is located close to the Village of Walloon Lake. Peter's farm was/is at the end of the Road. Larry Mathews ended up getting the farm from Peter's son Ed, and Ed is mentioned in the autobiography… It was a potato farm, Stanley Follette, Jim Habasco, Larry Mathews, all worked for Ed Jensen who was a son or Peter and the brother to Dawn's grandpa August; the two eldest boys of Peter.
The pages are fascinating in revealing the difficulties in securing acreage on homesteaded land, and then, managing to cultivate and build on the land, and to persevere and preserve the history of the farm for the family.
Other names to possibly recognize in Peter's autobiography below, are:
1) Sheatsley’s mill belonged to Ken Starr’s mother Goldie Sheatsley's family. Goldie married Alva Frank Starr, becoming Goldie Starr. The Sheatsley’s /Starrs owned the Grey/Gray Gull right by the Walloon Lake beach where Ken and Marion had The Sail Inn Grill.
Starr Property - Walloon Lake Michigan Wanderings
2) The Gokee Lumber Camp: Hal Taylor who married Miss Mable Gokee worked in lumbering. Several photos of Taylor’s working vehicles/animals, and in the woods are on the logging web page.
Lumbering - Walloon Lake Michigan Wanderings
3) McManus Lumber used the Bear River to float many of their summer logs to their mills. McManus was who created the Walloon Lake level changes that spawned a huge court case that went all the way to the Lansing State Supreme Court.
Flowing Water - Walloon Lake Michigan Wanderings
4) Tom Quinlan was a huge farmer, and with his sons, owned a real estate company. Quinlan had for one of his projects a 400 to 800 acre farm in Pleasantview, Center and Cross Village townships in Emmet County. He held governmental offices in the Petoskey area. Researched newspaper advertisements showed Quinlan selling a horse.
Farms (farm names are in alphabetical order, so Quinlan is toward the bottom of the page)
The pages are fascinating in revealing the difficulties in securing acreage on homesteaded land, and then, managing to cultivate and build on the land, and to persevere and preserve the history of the farm for the family.
Other names to possibly recognize in Peter's autobiography below, are:
1) Sheatsley’s mill belonged to Ken Starr’s mother Goldie Sheatsley's family. Goldie married Alva Frank Starr, becoming Goldie Starr. The Sheatsley’s /Starrs owned the Grey/Gray Gull right by the Walloon Lake beach where Ken and Marion had The Sail Inn Grill.
Starr Property - Walloon Lake Michigan Wanderings
2) The Gokee Lumber Camp: Hal Taylor who married Miss Mable Gokee worked in lumbering. Several photos of Taylor’s working vehicles/animals, and in the woods are on the logging web page.
Lumbering - Walloon Lake Michigan Wanderings
3) McManus Lumber used the Bear River to float many of their summer logs to their mills. McManus was who created the Walloon Lake level changes that spawned a huge court case that went all the way to the Lansing State Supreme Court.
Flowing Water - Walloon Lake Michigan Wanderings
4) Tom Quinlan was a huge farmer, and with his sons, owned a real estate company. Quinlan had for one of his projects a 400 to 800 acre farm in Pleasantview, Center and Cross Village townships in Emmet County. He held governmental offices in the Petoskey area. Researched newspaper advertisements showed Quinlan selling a horse.
Farms (farm names are in alphabetical order, so Quinlan is toward the bottom of the page)
Th
The April 2023 photos in the slideshow below accompany the 1901 homestead location that Peter A. Jensen (wife Emmele) wrote about above in his autobiography. Click PLAY in the upper left corner of the main slideshow to view it. Peter's great granddaughter Dawn Sarasin took the pictures of Peter's original homestead. Dawn is the granddaughter of Peter's son August "Augie" and his wife Gladys. Dawn is the daughter of Augie and Glady's daughter Ida Mae Jensen and her husband Joe Sarasin.
Peter and Emmele homesteaded in 1901 on the farm at the end of Jensen Road; now in 2023 the Mitchell and Kim Matthews Farm shown in photos in slideshow below. In 1918 Peter had sold this farmstead to his eldest son Edward Jensen who was a potato farmer like his dad. Peter and Emmele continued to live on that farm for a spell. Then, Peter and Emmele, in 1932, bought a farm from the Sterzik Family, close by on Larson Road. Peter and Emmele spent the rest of their lives on that Larson Road farm. They died in 1941, just two weeks apart. Peter died in the upstairs bedroom of the Larson Farm, and Emmele died at her daughter's Boyne City home. August and Gladys Jensen had bought their Jensen Road farm in 1916 which was adjacent to his dad Peter's/brother Ed's farm, and the Augie Jensen Farm continues on in the family with Augie's granddaughter Dawn Sarasin owning and maintaining it.
Two Photos Below: The original 1901 farmstead of Peter and Emmele Jensen, now owned by Mitch and Kim Matthews
2023 Photos Below: Peter and Emmele Jensen's Larson Road Farm
~ Clyde Kaufman Barn ~
Brutus
1929
Brutus
1929
~ E.F. Kneal Progressive Gardner - "Celery King" ~
(10 acres one mile east of post office on Mitchell Street, Petoskey, Michigan)
(10 acres one mile east of post office on Mitchell Street, Petoskey, Michigan)
~ Korth Poultry Farm ~
(One mile south of Charlevoix)
1942
(One mile south of Charlevoix)
1942
~ John LaTocha Barn Hit by Lightning ~
(Location of North Central Michigan College in 2019)
1951
(Location of North Central Michigan College in 2019)
1951
~ Lavender Hill Farm ~
7354 Horton Bay Road North, Boyne City, Michigan
7354 Horton Bay Road North, Boyne City, Michigan
Besides featuring "everything lavender", the Lavender Hill Farm features a concert series after the owners took over
the Aten Place (Boyne Falls, Michigan) series when it retired in 2018, after a 23-year-long run.
the Aten Place (Boyne Falls, Michigan) series when it retired in 2018, after a 23-year-long run.
Click on PLAY in the upper left corner of main photo below to view the SLIDESHOW below or
Click on PAUSE to stop slideshow to study a photo:
FEATURING the SIGHTS of lavender... make a visit for the SMELL!
Click on PAUSE to stop slideshow to study a photo:
FEATURING the SIGHTS of lavender... make a visit for the SMELL!
TWO BIG BARN FIRES
~ Frank Leist Farm ~
Church Road in Bay Township
~ Clarence Barney ~
East of Alanson on M-66
~ Frank Leist Farm ~
Church Road in Bay Township
~ Clarence Barney ~
East of Alanson on M-66
~ Barn Raising for Frank Leist Family ~
~ A.G. Ludlow Farm ~
East Mitchell Street, Petoskey, Michigan
East Mitchell Street, Petoskey, Michigan
~ Martin's Ice Cream ~
(Petoskey Packing Company used local farmers' dairy products)
Rose Street, Petoskey, Michigan
1902 >
(Petoskey Packing Company used local farmers' dairy products)
Rose Street, Petoskey, Michigan
1902 >
Martin's Ice Cream was made locally, and for "many years it has paid an average of $50,000.00 annually to farmers for dairy products." ~ 1948
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~ Martincheck's Modern Farm Structure ~
1946
1946
Martinchek Farm Tornado Damage
May 1964
May 1964
~ Maple Syrup Farms ~
P.H. Danly Farm near Horton Bay AND The Leonard and Sophy Carpenter Farm
P.H. Danly Farm near Horton Bay AND The Leonard and Sophy Carpenter Farm
~ Local Milk Inspection ~
~ H. Miller's Rubber Tired Tractor ~
1935
1935
TOP
~ Milkweeds, a NEW Farm Product ~
1945
1945
Additional information about Petoskey's Milkweed Story may be accessed,
on the Charlevoix Emmet History ~ Honoring the Military web site created by this same web master, by clicking HERE.
on the Charlevoix Emmet History ~ Honoring the Military web site created by this same web master, by clicking HERE.
~ Dale Nichols Barn with Laminated Rafters ~
(and Potato Bin)
(and Potato Bin)
~ Patriotic Farm ~
Corner of Resort and Williams Roads, Petoskey, Michigan
Corner of Resort and Williams Roads, Petoskey, Michigan
Dennis and Martha Luce of Boyne City spent more than a week
painting the flag on the side of this barn.
painting the flag on the side of this barn.
~ Pierce and Son's Farm ~
Mackinaw City
Mackinaw City
Photo Below: Pierce and Son's new silo in 1938
~ Pellston Old Farm Equipment ~
US 31 (Main Drag)
US 31 (Main Drag)
Slideshow Below: Click PLAY in the upper left corner of the main photo below taken 4 April 2023,
of the display of old farm equipment along the roadside of US 31 in Pellston, Michigan.
of the display of old farm equipment along the roadside of US 31 in Pellston, Michigan.
~ Pond Hill Farm ~
5699 South Lake Shore Drive, Harbor Springs, Michigan
5699 South Lake Shore Drive, Harbor Springs, Michigan
THREE Photos Above: Alex Childress' additional work also may be viewed at Alex Childress Photo.
~ Emmet County Poor Farm ~
FIRST ~ 1883; 1.3 miles south of Brutus, Michigan
SECOND ~ 1918; Poor Farm moved to location across from Emmet County Fairgrounds in 2020
FIRST ~ 1883; 1.3 miles south of Brutus, Michigan
SECOND ~ 1918; Poor Farm moved to location across from Emmet County Fairgrounds in 2020
Maurice Eby explained in his Brutus on-line book (click HERE to access) that the Emmet County Poor Farm existed near Brutus from 1883 to 1918 for the "poorest of the poor". It was an 80 acre property with William Edgerton serving as superintendent from about 1901 to 1918. The Poor Farm in Brutus closed in 1918 and a newer bigger facility was built in Petoskey near where today's fair grounds exist.
The modern version of the county's Poor Farm is the Emmet County Medical Care Facility now titled Bay Bluffs. Additional information about Bay Bluffs may be accessed by clicking HERE.
~ Potato – Apple Show ~
1942
1942
Article/Photo Below: Downtown Petoskey Darling & Beahan Location near Railroad Tracks
From the photos above and below, it shows that this Potato Growers Exchange building was located beside the railroad tracks, using the Darling & Beahan building (now the Darling Parking Lot in Petoskey), and across the street from the original Gruler's business on Michigan Street, before Grulers burned, and has moved to Fulton Street. In the far left background is the Zipp Building which still exists in 2020.
Photos Below: On 4 December 2019 Joe Hoffman held his recently acquired burlap bag which still smelled "burlap-new." The bag had been stored for years from the J.D. Robinson Potato Farm (mentioned in articles/photos above) of Pellston, Michigan. James D. Robinson was known as "Michigan's Potato King... named the 'Premier Potato Grower of Michigan for seven out of 13 years.'"
Article Below: Potatoes played a special role during 1897... growing along the roadways.
~ The Pumpkin Barn ~
1880 W Sturgeon Bay Trail, Levering, Michigan
1880 W Sturgeon Bay Trail, Levering, Michigan
~ Thomas Quinlan & Sons' Farms ~
400 + acres in Pleasantview, Center and Cross Village townships, Emmet County, Michigan
The main Quinlan Farm was located in North-West Maple River Township
with the actual acreage on the old assessment rolls about 567 acres
with the large barn and silos, manager's residence, and office building.
400 + acres in Pleasantview, Center and Cross Village townships, Emmet County, Michigan
The main Quinlan Farm was located in North-West Maple River Township
with the actual acreage on the old assessment rolls about 567 acres
with the large barn and silos, manager's residence, and office building.
1914 Article Below: "Fire on one of the Thomas Quinlan & Sons' company farms north of Alanson did considerable damage Wednesday and John and Carl Quinlan fought fire there nearly all day. The fire started from a fire where neighbors were clearing land and burned over a large part of the fenced pasture land where they have a large herd of cattle."
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1914 Article Below: "During the last few years a considerable number of firms have been engaging in the cattle feeding business in this county and the proposition has been one which has been attended with continued successes much so, in fact, that those who have engaged in it have been constantly adding to their number of cattle. Among the pioneer firms in this line in this county are Thomas Quinlan & Sons' company, of Petoskey. They saw in the vast amount of cost over lands and plans a splendid opportunity for feeding cattle at a very moderate expense and they improved the opportunity."
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1914 Article Below: H.J. Larsen, vice president of the Lincoln Highway association was visiting the Quinlan Family. The Abraham Lincoln highway was considered one of the greatest feats of constructive engineering ever undertaken in the United States. Mr. Larsen, in company with John Quinlan and Carl C. Quinlan, "seemed greatly surprised to find such fine farms here and so much evidence of advancement in stock raising and up-to-date farming in this county"... stating, "Now that I have seen some of your wonderful farms with big crops of alfalfa and corn, I realize the possibilities of cattle raising in this region."
1915 Obituary Below: Thomas Quinlan was noted not only for his huge farming firm. Mr. Quinlan was Emmet County's Register of Deeds from 1880-1884. He also was Bear Creek Township treasurer. With Philip B. Wachtel, established the FIRST bank in Petoskey. He also entered the real estate and insurance business.
A comprehensive biography of Thomas Quinlan in the History of Michigan by Charles Moore, 1915, may be accessed by clicking HERE.
A comprehensive biography of Thomas Quinlan in the History of Michigan by Charles Moore, 1915, may be accessed by clicking HERE.
As noted in his obituaries, Thomas Quinlan, had led an active life as a business man in Emmet County, not defined only in his huge farming operation which he ran with his sons. He was born in 1848 in Vermont, and arrived during 1874, the year of the FIRST train arrival in Petoskey. He established the FIRST bank in Petoskey with Phillip B. Wachtel. Later, Mr. Quinlan headed a real estate and insurance business. Mr. Quinlan and his wife Barbara Wachtel, had three sons and a daughter Edith who died young. The sons all "won honored and conspicuous places in the financial and business world." The local newspapers often featured news of Thomas Quinlan, outside his farming business. Some of the interesting articles regarding Mr. Quinlan are posted below.
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Article Above: Tom Quinlan KNEW his store stock and his customers. He was out of trade for several years, but then in 1887 Quinlan was back in business as before.
Article Right Column: Quinlan, along with Caskey and Hawley were recognized for needed new Furniture Manufacturing Company, due to the area's continued growth.
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Two Articles Above: Quinlan left the Furniture Manufacturing Company. Then, it was not clear if the company itself would stick around in the Petoskey area.
Article Above: Only a very few months after Quinlan left the Furniture Manufacturing Company, Quinlan had made it known he would open an agricultural implement store in the Fochtman block in the sparing.
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In September 1902 Thomas Quinlan moved the old Henika Building to the corner of Grove and Harvey streets. Joseph P. Blaschke, a Grove Street grocer, moved to the new Quinlan store building across the street. By 1906 Mr. Blaschke had moved to Cadillac with a promotion as an agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
In August 1908 the Quinlan Land & Lumber company near Pellston's was burned. The loss included a mill building and about one million feet of finished lumber... the entire stock of lumber which was cut at that point the previous winter.
In October 1911 Thomas Quinlan and Albert Fochtman secured the ownership of the Clifton House on Mitchell Street, built in 1874. Click HERE to access more information about the Clifton House building. The Clifton House became the Fochtman Department Store. After a few fires... in 2023 the now brick building on this same location has a nameplate which still reads "A.D. Fochtman"
In August 1908 the Quinlan Land & Lumber company near Pellston's was burned. The loss included a mill building and about one million feet of finished lumber... the entire stock of lumber which was cut at that point the previous winter.
In October 1911 Thomas Quinlan and Albert Fochtman secured the ownership of the Clifton House on Mitchell Street, built in 1874. Click HERE to access more information about the Clifton House building. The Clifton House became the Fochtman Department Store. After a few fires... in 2023 the now brick building on this same location has a nameplate which still reads "A.D. Fochtman"
Two 1912 Articles Below: Thomas Quinlan's son John who was described as "perhaps better acquainted with Emmet County farm lands than any other man in Petoskey, made the statement that more improvement had been made on farms in this section during the last year than for the previous five or six years combined." AND "A sample of alfalfa that was grown on a five acres tract of ground belonging to the Thomas Quinlan & Sons' company in Petoskey, was the finest specimen of the plant ever seen in this city."
In July 1912 Thomas Quinlan's and his three sons were representing their company of real estate mortgage with their clientele of banks in northern and southern Michigan. The prosperity of Emmet County was shown by the fact that the firm could not supply the demand for real estate mortgages. At that time Petoskey's industries consisted of the large paper mill, the rotary engine company, tannery, block factory, flour mill, Homer Sly's Bay Shore Lime company, the Michigan Lime company and the W.L. McManus Lumber company. Thomas Quinlan helped organize and finance the Lockwood Hospital, of which he was a trustee.
In December 1912 Thomas Quinlan was in Boynton, Florida, striking a deal in platting a mile of ocean front beach with a Detroit syndicate of which Thomas' son Carl was president. They were also setting out a large pecan grove. Mr. Quinlan said that he liked the Florida weather and the good crops, "he failed to see anything that looks any more promising that alfalfa in Emmet County."
In May 1914 it was reported that Thomas Quinlan had sold his land holdings in Kissimmee, Florida.
In January 1915 Thomas Quinlan was found dead in the garage as noted in his obituary at the top of this section about Thomas Quinlan and his Quinlan Farm.
~ Schmidt Farm ~
Springvale Township, Petoskey, Michigan
Also view an entire web page about wind mills on this same site by clicking HERE.
Springvale Township, Petoskey, Michigan
Also view an entire web page about wind mills on this same site by clicking HERE.
~ Resort Pike Cidery & Winery ~
3471 Resort Pike Road, Petoskey, Michigan
3471 Resort Pike Road, Petoskey, Michigan
Photo Above: More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
~ Schuil Farm ~
(and Winery)
East Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan
Until 1982, this was the Fettig Farm (William Patrick and Emma Catherine Steffel Fettig).
The original farm belonged to Martin and Mary Fettig.
(and Winery)
East Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan
Until 1982, this was the Fettig Farm (William Patrick and Emma Catherine Steffel Fettig).
The original farm belonged to Martin and Mary Fettig.
~ Sheering Sheep ~
~ Herman Shier Barn Raising ~
1935
1935
~ Siegrist Farm and Greenhouse ~
Several Chandler Township, Charlevoix County, Farms may be viewed on the
"Chandler Township Michigan Memories" website by clicking here.
Several Chandler Township, Charlevoix County, Farms may be viewed on the
"Chandler Township Michigan Memories" website by clicking here.
~ Elias Snyder and sons Titus and Caleb ~
Pleasant View and Maple River townships, Emmet County, Michigan
Pleasant View and Maple River townships, Emmet County, Michigan
The 10 October 1878 Petoskey City Record reported: Elias Snyder owned 1300 acres in the two townships; Pleasantview and Maple River. Elias Snyder carried on some of his farming business in Canada. Sons Titus and Caleb were capable to run the business in Elias' absence. Titus had a garden spot of 320 acres, and Caleb would have the same number of acres when he reached his 21st birthday in about 1880-81. The father and sons had about 75 acres chopped, about 40 of which were cleared. They had sown 25 acres of wheat in the fall. In the spring of 1878 Mr. Snyder donated 13 acres of land to Mr. A. Oberholtzer (see article below) providing he would erect a sawmill thereon, which was done, with the mill already running. This sawmill was the FIRST building erected in what was the village of Ayr which had grown with several dwelling houses, one almost completed store. A grist mill was to come, with Mr. Snyder's visit to Canada related to that grist mill project. Although the Snyder farm was located fourteen miles from the nearest railroad station and market, the men fully expected to make a living in their farming and associated businesses. Surrounding farms to Elias Snyder included Mr. A.J. Hart, Tom Burns, Pat Burns, Mr. Lightningstar, Jacob Weaver, P.N. Ferguson, A.M. Deitz, M.E. Seymour, George Green, John Warren, and Colonel Lusk and also Captain W.C. Edgar, both in Littlefield Township.
~ Sprawl ~
What will save the FARMS?
What will save the FARMS?
The Steffel Farm shown below is the same farm as in the top header of this same web page.
~ Steffel Farm ~
3851 East Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan
Old Steffel Farm, owned by Zmikly
Old Steffel Farm, owned by Zmikly
Photo Below: George Steffel mentioned in the article above had two brothers; Fred and Frank. Fred's daughter JoAnn Steffel married Peter Zmikly. JoAnn and Peter owned the old Steffel Farm property on the corner of Alcan Drive and East Mitchell Road, Petoskey, Michigan, as outlined in the photo below. In 2022, the property is in the name of their two daughters Diane Reissener and Donna Zmikly, thus meaning the property has been owned by the same family for 130 years. In 2022 the property is "for sale" noted for use as farming, a large private estate, or future development.
~ Springbrook Golf Course OLD Farm Barn Still in Use ~
~ STOP Soil Erosion ~
Bernard Schwartzfisher Resort Township Farm, Petoskey, Michigan
Bernard Schwartzfisher Resort Township Farm, Petoskey, Michigan
~ Farm Structures ~
(SLIDESHOW)
1929 and 1930's
(SLIDESHOW)
1929 and 1930's
Slideshow Below: Emmet County Agriculture Extension Office photo albums were submitted to the Little Traverse Historical Society. The photos in this slideshow selection include various structures found on the Emmet County FARMS during the 1930s. View the slideshow below by clicking on PLAY in the upper left corner of the main photo. Additional photos and information of Emmet County FARM structures may be accessed on this same web site by clicking HERE to access the "Windmills" web page.
~ Norm and EvelynThompson Farm ~
Pickerel Lake Road, Petoskey, Michigan
(Bottom of Kolinski Road Hill)
Pickerel Lake Road, Petoskey, Michigan
(Bottom of Kolinski Road Hill)
~ Ben Thompson Hay Baler Machine ~
Baler made by Frank Gregory of Brutus... Only other baler like it is owned by Fred Brill of Brutus
Baler made by Frank Gregory of Brutus... Only other baler like it is owned by Fred Brill of Brutus
~ Mighty Monster Tractor ~
Case Steam Traction Engine
Emmet County Fair
Case Steam Traction Engine
Emmet County Fair
~ Tree Farm ~
Horton Bay, Michigan
Horton Bay, Michigan
~ Huge Purple Turnip ~
~ Tusco Heath's Horse Farm (Preferring Arabian horses) ~
Tusco "capped off his teaching career at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, Michigan, from 1970-1900". After retiring from NCMC, Tusco moved back to Montana, to his childhood haunts hunting and fishing again in the mountain foothills. Then 30 years after Tusco's time in Petoskey, he passed away 9 March 2022 in Montana.
~ Weed Field ~
Kolinski Road, Petoskey, Michigan
(Cockle Weed)
Beautiful to the Untrained Eye... Not Beautiful to a Farmer!
Kolinski Road, Petoskey, Michigan
(Cockle Weed)
Beautiful to the Untrained Eye... Not Beautiful to a Farmer!
~ Alton Wheaton ~
Experimental herbicide plots with MSU
Experimental herbicide plots with MSU
~ George Winters Farm ~
~ OLD FARMER'S ADVICE ~
"A Portrait of Emmet County's Farm Community"
portrays interesting photos and stories related to Northern Michigan Farming.
portrays interesting photos and stories related to Northern Michigan Farming.