Chalk Hills. MI

The "Big East" trip, as we have dubbed this excursion that we started on a little over two months ago, was to see new places and connect with family and our childhood. Our visit to the Chalk Hills area along the Menominee River was a stab at finding Ron's childhood home.

When he was born, Ron's father worked for the Power Company that built Chalk Hills and White Rapids Dams on the Menominee River. Employees were given houses along the river between the two dams in which to live. There were 8 such "upper middle class" homes built on the banks of the Menominee. As this was during and just after the "Great Depression" this was a dream job with great perks.

We didn't have a lot of clues: Nola, Ron's sister, was back in this area some years ago and said the homes had been torn down. Although we found reference to the dams on Google, we did not have a map reference. But we did know that the dams were near Stephenson, MI.

We headed for the Menominee River, just west of Stephenson and inquired in a local "drinking establishment" about the location of Chalk Hills Dam. We were directed north and west about 10 miles to (guess what?)Chalk Hills Road. (Honest--it's not on any of the maps!) It was then a snap to find the dam!

The stained glass windows, remembered from childhood,

are still in place, unharmed by stray rocks or other projectiles.

A drive along the river took us to White Rapids Dams, a mere five or so miles away. Remembrances are often blurred, and this was one of those occasions when we found the two dams were in such proximity. But we knew now the eight houses were located somewhere in between. There were several driveways and roads to explore, and as the day wore on, none seemed to be as remembered. Of course, it was 60 years ago, more or less, and things can be expected to look different!

We found what we thought to be where the one-room school house was located; that could be seen from the house. Nola had remembered a stand of white birch trees north of the kitchen window. There was a tree with a swing on it to the south of the house. There was a garage under the house.

As Nancy Drew would have deduced and dissected these clues, so did we sift through the knowns. We had been to this "lot" before, but finally, the location of the white birch trees (now sawn off and laying on the ground)gave us the final clue

as to the location of the house: If those were the trees, then the house should be right about "here"

and sure enough there was the foundation. And standing there everything fell into place: The long, sloping lawn down to the river; the hill below the house where the garage was located....This was IT!! And what a lovely spot it is.

A day filled with mystery and adventure, and now we are off to return to our temporary home on the shore of Lake Michigan at J. W. Wells State Park.

All in all, a great stay!