Picnic at the Lake

Saline Valley Farms was an experiment in cooperative farming and living begun in 1932 by Harold S. Gray.

Lake at Saline Valley Farms, Inc.

Saline Valley Farms was an experiment in cooperative farming and living begun in 1932 by Harold S. Gray.

Lake at Saline valley Farms, Inc.

Saline Valley Farms was an experiment in cooperative farming and living begun in 1932 by Harold S. Gray.

Lake at Saline Valley Farms, Inc.

Saline Valley Farms was an experiment in cooperative farming and living begun in 1932 by Harold S. Gray.

Harold Gray at Lake

Saline Valley Farms was an experiment in cooperative farming and living begun in 1932 by Harold S. Gray.

Big Rapids, Mich. travelers

verso: Mr. Truax in hat on way to Mud Lake to fish for bullheads-would live in wagon while there.

Practice at Life-Saving Station-Channel into White Lake

verso: Small str.-"Cayuga" in distance. Boat and crew turned over for practice periodically for exhibition-years ago

Pier at White Lake entrance-to channel-1895

verso: Lake Michigan showing frequent debris from the numerous lumber mills along its shores-years ago

Emptying the nets in early morning-Lake Michigan

verso: Fifty years ago - in front of Sylvan Beach - forward of White Lake.

Lighthouse Presque Isle, Mich.

attached letter: Dear Professor Lorch: At the suggestion of the July 31, 1953 Newsletter of the Michigan Historical Society I am sending you two photoes [sic] of the old lighthouse and adjoining building on Presque Isle, Michigan located on the shore of Huron lake, supposedly the oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes. It is owned by Mr. F. B. Stebbins, 326 N. Capital, Lansing, Michigan. When through using the photos I would appreciate your returning them directly to him. The following information was given to me by Mr. Stebbins: Built in 1840, through a congressional appropriation of $5,000.- in Presque Isle county, described as, "Where a portage of 200 yards would save 4 miles of canoe trip." Jefferson Davis after graduation from West Point, was supposed to have built it. (According to careful historical investigation, this is not true. There is an article about this controversy in some back number of the Michigan History magazine. Mr. Stebbins feels very strongly about his. He prefers the legend, it sounds bigger). Francis Burgoyne Stebbins purchased from his Uncle Bliss Stebbins in 1930, who bought the property in 1930 from General Duffield of Dteoirt [sic], who had purchased it from the government a short time previously. This light-house was abandone [sic] upon the completion of a new lighthouse in 1872, one mile north from the present location. Adjoining house was used as a summer home. Condition restored in 1936. Lighthouse towe [sic] walls 3 feet thick with handhewn circular stone steps to the top. Signed, Lee H. Gregory

Map of the Huron River Valley from Surveys made in 1908-1909 by G. S. Williams. 5119 [Portage Lake]

[Portage Lake, 1908: Map of the Huron River Valley Scanned in two parts and combined using PhotoShop CS6 PhotoMerge command]