Birch Lodge, Trout Lake, MI,  Update 2014, Part Two

View from Upper Deck, Birch Lodge, Trout Lake, MI

The last post ended with the new lakefront suite over the Dr's Suite downstairs.  Across the hall on the second floor were three small bedrooms and one bathroom.  

   The new bedroom across from the lakefront suite over the Dr.'s Suite does not have a sitting room, but it is now a generous sized room with a large bathroom all it's own.

 It is now one of my favorite rooms with a view of the lake through the tops of the birch and pine at the end window.  Frequently there are warblers outside in these tree-tops, sadly I have no photo of that window!  This room is full of light!.

New Bedroom with Bath

Bath

 The second floor lobby at the lodge was washed, scraped walls repaired and re-painted.

2nd Floor Lobby Before

2nd Floor Lobby After (Actually During)

  The long hallway to the rear of the lodge was also repaired and repainted, and the two rooms on either corner of the lobby and hallway were turned into corner suites.  The corner suite on the north side of the hallway had the doorway into the bath re-opened, and the bath redone.  When we re-opened this doorway, we found the 2 x 4 with a note from Cliff Badgley on it! (We saved it.)

Badgley 2x4 note

Corner Suite before doorway behind chair was reopened

 

















We opened a doorway into the next room further down the back hallway to make a "sitting room" for the suite.  Now it has it's own bath and sitting room!

Corner Suite After

Corner Suite Bath

Next we took out the remaining partition walls over the Birch Bar and in two areas over the kitchen to complete the demo of the remodeling, and finished most of the drywall in those areas.  Some photos of those areas will be in the next post!

Birch Lodge, Trout Lake MI Update 2014 Part One.....

Birch Lodge, Trout Lake, MI

We have finished our fourth year now at the motel, and work still continues on the lodge.  This year we finally started on making the rooms into suites.  Removing some non-bearing walls,  Closing some doorways, and re-opening some others that had been closed.  More bathrooms added.  The floor plan is now adjusted for an 8 unit bed and breakfast.

We still have finish work to do, but five of the suites have finished baths now, and have been re-wired, plumbed and painted.  We also have new furnaces in the lodge with air conditioning!    Pictures are greater than words, so here are some before, durings, and afters!

Downstairs Lakefront is the old Dr.'s Suite:

Dr.'s Suite Before

Dr.s Suite After

Across the hall from the Dr.s Suite, were four small bedrooms.  These have now been transformed into a suite with a bedroom, a sitting room and a large bathroom.  This is planned to be handicap friendly, and we will be installing a ramp on the side door of the lodge.

Handicap Suite in Progress

Handicap Bath in Progress

On the second floor over the old Dr.s Suite were two lakefront rooms, a double one nearest the stairway, and a small blue bedroom with two twin beds.

2nd Floor Lakefront over Dr.'s Suite Before

2nd Floor Blue Bedroom Before

 These rooms have been transformed into a lakefront suite with bath, bedroom and sitting room. The wall with the alcove doorway was removed,

Old alcove doorway coming out, new alcove doorway cut into blue bedroom

 and a similar alcove doorway added in the wall to the blue bedroom... now the sitting room.   A new bath was also added.

New Lakefront Suite (view from previous Blue Bedroom)

New Bath

Next blog we will continue upstairs......

Birch Lodge Tree Time

On the Porch at Birch Lodge, Trout Lake, MI

It's hard to believe we have finished our fourth summer at Birch Lodge. We've come a long way, but realize we still have a  long way to go.  Even as work continues on the Lodge, it also keeps us busy taking care of the grounds.

Things didn't get off to a good start this spring... a large spruce fell across the drive, taking out our power. We could only get into the property because Mark Beaudoin of Beaudoin Sanitation, who plows the drive in the winter, sawed open a "drive through".  Mark also collared the Cloverland Electric Coop guys who were eating lunch in town and got us back on line.  Thanks Mark!



 We also removed a few large diseased birch trees that overhung the cabin and trimmed some dead branches near the lodge.

 American Tree Service expertly did the job, after arriving in their vehicle with its uniquely Yooper hood ornament.

Yooper Hood Ornament

  We have also begun transplanting young birch trees across the property and encouraging the young sprouts at the bases of the large old trees.

 We must encourage these little birch for future generations. As Bill is fond of saying,

 "Without the Birch trees, its just, ...Lodge." .

Birch Lodge Taxidermy

As our many guests are aware, when you walk into the old lodge lobby you are usually greeted by the friendly faces of Deb and Bill. For decades, however, folks in the lobby have also been greeted by blank stares, courtesy of various mammals and fish associated with this historic north woods lodge. This particular glassy-eyed specimen is one of the few labeled wall hangers. A label on the rear indicates he was mounted by Wm. Grant, a taxidermist from Vassar, MI, for Alfred Getts, who shot it on November 22, 1929. (The label also stated the mount should be washed three times a year . . .). Another large mount has a metal 1941 Michigan Deer tag on a horn.

This vintage taxidermy is the "stuff" that was the focus of generations of sportsmen who stayed at the lodge. Hundreds of sportsmen stayed here over the years - as indicated by this paper-wrapped cardboard we found labeled "Deer Season 1956" with a plan of the lodge and cabins revealing over 70 hunters booked at that time (so this is how they kept track of guests in the pre-computer age!!!!)

Ah, imagine the "tails" these animal parts could tell!

Deb has been lightly cleaning and stabilizing our collection, fixing this Mallard duck's broken neck and blacking in a buck's cracked eyeball - saying it used to give her the "Creeps."

 

We can only imagine the memories associated with these guys (and gals?), but some provide insights.

We think this large walleye is associated with the long-time owners of Birch Lodge, the Badgleys - the one we think Ann caught and is proudly displaying to an embarrassed Cliff in an old photograph.


We think the most interesting plaques are the two smallest "racks" in the room because they are so personal to the lodge and its previous owners. On the rear of this first spike mount, written in cursive in pencil is, "First buck ever killed, 1st day of season 2:00pm Alger Michigan 1940,"

and on this second is, "Clifford's 1941 Buck Alger", both we believe written proudly in Cliff's own hand. The second is perhaps a bit more impressive than the first (and Cliff doesn't appear to have been quite as excited), so  perhaps Cliff was becoming a better hunter?????


All these dead things play into the unusual wallpaper in the Birch Bar which appears to celebrate the "Spirit" of the Sportsmen - with ghostly images of hunters and fishermen pursuing their prey:


Whether or not hunting and fishing are in your plans, we hope you can make it up to Birch Lodge to create some memories of your own.  We'll leave the stuffin' and glassy eyes to those guests who eat a few too many of Deb's yummy muffins!!!

Loons on the Lake....Trout Lake, MI!

In the evening the light comes across the lake and illuminates the birches in front of Birch Lodge with a beautiful glow.  This is the time I like to walk along the frontage and reflect on the day.

 The loons have been very active this year, and we have frequently had one pair out in front of Birch Lodge.  Others seem to come and go, initiating a great deal of calling and display.

Last evening, I decided to walk down to the beach, and noticed as I walked along that I was being followed.....by a loon.

At first I thought this was coincidence, but I paused....and so did it.  I continued on, and so did the loon!  I sat on the beach a bit, and it sat in the lake watching me....STRANGE!

It's mate began to call down in front of the lodge . There was no action from my little stalker, but I got up and began to walk back....of course it followed along.

 When we returned it rejoined its mate as I sat in front of the motel and thought about it.  I noticed that I had on black jeans, a black jacket and a white turtleneck....could it be it thought I was a real BIG loon?   Perhaps it was right!

Three Lakes Picnic Area and CCC Camp Strongs

Located less than a dozen miles from Birch Lodge, and Trout Lake, MI, Three Lakes is just the place for a nice afternoon trip.  Pack a lunch and head for the picnic area at Three Lakes.  From Trout Lake, MI, head north on M 123 watch for the sign for Strongs Rd. on your right.  Follow Strongs road and watch for the picnic area sign on your right.

 This is a small pine covered picnic area, not usually very busy with tables, grills and toilets on the south side of Walker Lake.


  Three Lakes Campground is located on the north shore.

 A nature trail loops around the lake, making about a one mile walk through the woods along the shore.

  This is a pretty walk  and not very difficult so be sure to take your camera.

Just north of Walker Lake (and the campground) is Brown Lake.  It is a small shallow bog fringed lake.

Brown Lake

 Here it is very easy to spot vegetation you may never have seen before in the wild, including insect eating pitcher plants and wild cranberry.

Pitcher Plant

  According to the Michigan DNR Lake Maps, this pretty little lake is only about 2' deep.

 But be careful walking there, don't get too close to the open water because there is a floating bog mat of vegetation.

 Not too dangerous, but potentially a very mucky event.

Wild Cranberry

Across the road from Walker Lake is Whitmarsh Lake, another small bog fringed lake.  Maximum depth of this lake is less than 10 feet, so I doubt the fishing is good.

  Brush surrounds the bog here and it is not too easy to explore unless you bring a kayak or canoe, but none the less, a pretty little lake.

Witmarsh Lake

Just south of the Three Lakes area on Strongs Rd. is the location of the CCC Camp Strongs. (There is a sign on the east side of the road.)

 Camp Strongs was established in May of 1933, with a group of about 200 young men from the Detroit area.  They lived in tents during the first summer, but by November, they had built and moved into their barracks.


This camp developed the Three Lakes and soldier Lake recreation areas, and  a log structure built by them still stands at Soldier Lake.

 The camp was involved in stream improvement, timber management and fire reduction, and collected pine cones for the forest nursery. 

They also planted several pine plantations in the area.  This camp was discontinued in 1941, and the buildings sold or razed.

Geocaching aficionados will be happy to hear there is a cache to be found here...Even if you don't geocache you may want to try to find their "treasure".

  Please play by the rules of the game and leave something for the next person to find.  Happy Exploring!

Stay at Birch Lodge, Trout Lake, MI and Spend a Day with an Archaeologist!

Did you always want to be an archaeologist?  Or do you have a child who would like to see what it is all about?  Well this is your chance.  We are teaming with one of our guests, archaeologist Sean Dunham, Principal Investigator at CCRG,  to offer this unique package for one lucky person.

The Montessori Children's House of Lansing, MI is celebrating their 40th year with a fun- filled open house and auction on April 27th.  We are pleased to offer this package as an item open for bid in this auction.


Birch Lodge Motel

 The  "Spend a Day with an Archaeologist" package will include a day with Sean Dunham, and two nights lodging at the Birch Lodge Motel.

 The package will  go to the high bidder on that day.   Sean will suggest activites appropriate to the age and abilities of the winner.

So follow the link to find out about the Montessori Children's House of Lansing, and perhaps we will see you at the lodge!