Lincoln Township Library’
2099 W. John Beers Rd.
Stevensville, MI 49127,
429-9575
GRANDE MERE
A Very Special Place
GRAND MERE ASSOCIATION { SY
Stevensville, Michigan ,. OA
yen 4a
The net proceeds from the sale of this booklet will be used to maintain the Grande Mere
Nature Study Preserves and to operate public education programs about Grande Mere.
© 1973 by the Grande Mere Association
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat,
microfilm, or any other means, without written permission from
the Grande Mere Association (Box 140, Stevensville, Michigan 49127).
Published by
Kalamazoo Nature Center Inc.
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Printed in The United States of America
by Patterson Printing Company, 1973
Introduction
by H. Lewis Batts, Jr.
The Grande Mere Area, consisting of approximately 1,000 acres of
natural plant and animal communities along the shore of Lake
Michigan (Berrien County, Michigan), is indeed a very special place.
These communities present themselves in various forms — in streams,
lakes, bogs, wooded uplands, and on open beaches and dunes —
and all result from the many interactions of geological forces and the
living forces of the plants and animals that have lived there.
The Grande Mere Area is rugged in the sense of withstanding the
constant violences of nature such as wind, waves, ice, heat, and cold.
However, the Grande Mere Area is also fragile in the sense of the
delicate balance of a living entity. The natural forces follow a pattern
tending toward a dynamic stability of the area; man-induced forces
tend to disrupt the pattern, producing an instability which likely
would destroy the living entity, the Grande Mere Area, itself.
Through the efforts of the Grande Mere Association, a group of
people truly dedicated to the single task of preventing the destruction
of this special place, people hopefully will be assured of the highest
use of the Area, namely, as a natural education-recreation area.
This booklet is meant to introduce you to the Grande Mere Area by
describing it and relating people to it so that its value and its need for
protection will become more apparent and important. You are
especially invited to visit and enjoy the Nature Study Preserve, a
22-acre portion of the Area, purchased by the Kalamazoo Nature
Center with funds donated primarily by members of the Grande Mere
Association. Guided tours of the nature trails are conducted
occasionally by members of the Association and by staff of the
Nature Center.
Please do what you can to help keep this a very special place for
people.
Acknowlegments
Significant amounts of time, effort, talent, and money were needed to
produce this booklet. These were supplied generously by the Grande
Mere Association as a group and by individual members.
Walter Booth, Juniata Cupp, and Max Medley wrote the various
sections.
Art work and Photography
Lucille Bowman
Juniata Cupp
Mildred Glueck
Eugene Kenaga
Dorothy Miller
Michigan Department of
Natural Resources
Special assistance
Department of Natural Resources
Atty. Samuel Kipnis
R.W. Doerr & Associate
Warnock Photography Inc.
Dorothy Gilbert
Monica Evans
A special thank you to the typists
Evelyn Hren
Esther Piehl
Janet Wach
vii
Benefactors
Dr. Dean Asselin
Baroda PTA
Berrien Community Foundation
Blossomland Garden Club
Mr. and Mrs. A. Edward Brown
R.W. Doerr
William A. Gast
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Goy
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kerley and Starks Funeral Home
Mr. and Mrs. Dwight McKay
New Products Corp.
Patterson Printing Company
The Prairie Club
Ada K. Rew
Shoreham Garden Club
Emil Tosi
Tiscornia Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Upton
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Upton
Mrs. Elizabeth Upton Vawter
M.R. Wollin
Anon.
Dedication
This book has been written to acquaint our readers with the various
and sundry aspects of the Grande Mere Area. To some, Grande Mere
is a nebulous bit of geography on the map, an area of unanswered
questions. To some who know it best, it presents an engrossing ever
present array of natural phenomena which impels them to frequent the
remote bogs or woods, or climb the highest dune in search of a rare
plant or stalk an elusive bird, Others are content to walk slowly through
trails to encounter whatever may be present at that moment.
This book is meant to provide reference material for the serious student
of the many earth sciences, while at the same time, others may find the
chapters devoted to lighter subjects much to their enjoyment. Our
primary purpose of putting it all in one small volume is to bring the
Grande Mere Area just a little closer to your appreciation of one of
Michigan’s most valued natural resources.
This book is dedicated to the perpetuity of the Grande Mere Area as a
preserved natural resource and to the future generations who will
appreciate it.
The Authors
Contents
Page
VtROCUGTION® 52 ss i ee tee ees Vv
by H. Lewis Batts, Jr.
Geologic History ........ 6. ce cece cece rte e ete nen eee eeneneeess 3
by Max E. Medley
Habitats and Communities ......... 0.0 e eee eee teens 5
by Max E. Medley
Vascular PlantS.< 00. .63 ce cee gece eee gece eee 21
Amphibians and Reptiles ..
Birds: = hs ee ae exe Sys ee ee 28
by Walter M. Booth
Mammals 3. es ee eee 33
The: Early Days ses os aie se sn en ee 35
by Juniata Cupp
The Indian Era <<. ieee es ee er ee 35
Early Settlers and Afterwards .......-.. 0. sees eee renee nee 42
The Day of the Passenger Pigeon ........-- see eee e eee e ees 47
Memorabilia: 6. cc es ee ee 49
by Juniata Cupp
The'GranberryBog. ..0. 20... os cee oe ese ete 49
Waverland Beach ........ 0... c cece ener e eee eee ne enes 54
As told by Marilyn Walker
IGG Utting. aes es is ee 53
As told by Louis P. Ueck
Stories and Folklore ........-. 0.00. e escent eee eet 54
Recipes for Herbs and Teas ......... 0... s eee sence eee eens 59
Chronological Record of Attempt to Save Grande Mere ..
Suggested References and Supplemental Reading ............--. 99
Stereo Map of the Grand Marais Embayment ....... :
1
Geologic History
by Max E. Medley
The geologic formation of the Grande Mere embayment took place
during and since the retreat of the Wisconsin ice sheet — the last
glacier to cover this part of the country. The Lake Michigan lobe of
this ice mass gouged out the basin that is now known by that name.
The old Grande Mere embayment lies between the present shore of
Lake Michigan and the covert ridge, which is a part of the lake-border
morainic system. (See Map, p. 103.) The embayment and the dune
complex associated with it is about 16 miles long and roughly % mile
wide, starting at the north end near Glenlord Beach and extending
southward to the vicinity of Lakeside in Berrien County, Michigan.
As the ice melted and retreated northward, the basin gouged by the
ice filled with its meltwater and formed a complex lake which
continually became larger as the glacier receded. The water eventually
found an outlet near the present city of Chicago and emptied into the
Mississippi River system until another outlet was opened farther
north by the melting ice and the water drained through the eastern
great lakes. As the different outlets were opened and deepened, the
lake went through progressively lower levels until it was lower than
it is now but eventually filled in to its present level. Each lake level
left its own shore formations. Beaches, dunes, or formations of some
type are found for five different lake stages in the Grande Mere Area.
The oldest and the highest of these levels was the Glenwood stage of
Lake Chicago, which left its dunes and beaches about 55 or 60 feet
above the present lake level. This was followed by the Calumet stage,
about 35 feet above the present level.
As the Straits of Mackinac were opened and the lake started draining
eastward, the lake level dropped to 20 feet above the present level
and the stage known as Lake Algonquin was formed. Lake Nipissing
followed Lake Algonquin and was about 15 feet above the present
level. The Algoma Beach is the last stage and was the result of a post-
Nipissing drop of the water level to about 10 feet above the present
level of Lake Michigan.
Evidence of the Tolston stage, which was of short duration between
the Algonquin and Nipissing levels, is not found in the area of the
Grande Mere embayment.
During late Algonquin times, a compound recurved spit of sand
formed northward across the entrance of the bay and became the base
for the large Nipissing dunes, which later formed on it. At the same
time a shorter, smaller spit was forming southward across the
entrance to the bay. In post-Algoma times, these two spits eventually
joined and cut off the embayment from the rest of the lake.
As the impounded waters gradually filled in, the embayment became
a series of five small lakes, of which three remain at the present time.
The others, the two southernmost lakes, have filled in and have
become wooded swamps.
_~Note: See map on last page (foldout).
Habitats and Communities
by Max E. Medley
The habitats and communities of the Grande Mere Area are varied
and in many ways unusual. Lake Michigan warms slowly in the spring,
keeping the region cooler longer, thus preventing buds from opening
too soon during early spring warm spells and from freezing when the
temperature drops again.
In the fall the waters of Lake Michigan retain much of their summer
warmth for some time because water is slow both to absorb heat and
to give it up. Because of these buffering effects in the spring and fall,
a narrow strip of land along the shore of southeastern Lake Michigan
is capable of growing plants that are not winter-hardy elsewhere in
the area. A number of species from the southeastern part of the
continent have been found growing in or near this buffered area and
some of them occur nowhere else within hundreds of miles. One of
these plants, the cranefly orchid, found a few miles south of the
Grande Mere Area, has been reported but not yet authenticated for
Grande Mere.
The natural communities of the Grande Mere Area are especially
interesting because there is a mixing of northern and southern
elements, both florally and faunally. These are described briefly
below in eight categories ranging from xeric sandy habitats of the
dunes to aquatic habitats in the land-locked lakes.
Beach and Non-forested Sand.
Living communities start at the edge of Lake Michigan, where little
but simple forms of algae grow due to wave action in summer and ice
abrasion in winter, and extend in places up into the dunes. As the
high-water line is passed, rooted plants appear, starting with sea
rocket, bugseed, and seaside spurge. Slightly farther inland other
plants appear: beach wormwood, marram grass, sand reed, little
bluestem grass, Canada wild rye, beach pea, dune foldenrod, sand
cress, hairy puccoon, and bastard toadflax. These plants occur not
only on the upper beach but on the foredune and other places of open,
non-forested sand throughout the dunes.
5
Deep blow-out of sand dunes as seen from the air. Lake Michigan at top of picture.
Other plants occurring typically on the foredune and also at times
in other open dune areas are the dune willow, blue-leaved willow,
sand cherry, round-leaved dogwood, wafer ash, and cottonwood.
Some of the other typical plants of the open sandy areas and their
edges are bittersweet, poison ivy, starry false solomon’s seal, red-
osier dogwood, gray dogwood, common juniper, and lombardy
poplar, which unfortunately has become naturalized in places in the
dunes. *
Gulls, terns, and sandpipers are some of the more common birds of
the beach portion of this habitat. Other birds observed along the
beach occasionally are herons, Common Grackles, six species of
swallows, and other migrants including birds of prey and waterfowl.
One of the most interesting birds of this habitat is the Prairie Warbler,
a bird with the bulk of its breeding range farther south. It builds its
nests in shrubs in the non-forested sandy areas, especially along the
foredune and just in the lee of it. It is the most characteristic breeding
bird of the community and at least formerly was quite common and
easily observed there.
Young box turtles and a pale form of the American toad often
frequent the open sandy areas — the toads along the beach and
foredune and the box turtles farther up in the dunes.
Some of the typical invertebrates are sand spider, burrowing spider,
white tiger beetle, maritime grasshopper, long- horned grasshopper,
and digger wasps.
Ladybird Beetles
sunning on an old
log in October
Hairy Puccoon
growing on the
dry dunes.
In the fall there appears to be a migration of some insects along the
shore — occasionally large numbers of monarch butterflies can be
seen and ladybird beetles appear by the hundreds of thousands along
the beach strand. Many other species of insects can be found in lesser
numbers. Crayfish are found in the shallow water of Lake Michigan
just off the beach.
Wooded Dunes.
Although black oak dominates this habitat, most of the tree species
typical of this region are found in the forest on these dunes. One of
the more interesting trees on the dunes is Hill's oak. However, some
botanists feel that populations of this tree in our area are not distinct
from the scarlet oak. Hill’s oak often occurs on the tops of dunes and
dune ridges.
Two species of serviceberry, the June berry, and Allegheny shadblow,
are very attractive throughout the high dunes, especially in early
spring when they put out showy white blossoms, but also in winter
when their silvery striped bark and clump-like habit are very striking.
8
Some of the ferns and flowering forbs of this habitat are marginal
woodfern, Christmas fern, grape fern, wild sarsaparilla, white
baneberry, columbine, bigleaf aster, Canada mayflower, and prince’s
pine. Trailing arbutus and trailing groundpine (a clubmoss) often
appear on north-facing slopes.
Some of the characteristic breeding birds of this habitat are Yellow-
billed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo, Great Horned Owl, Screech Owl,
Whip-poor-will, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Great Crested Flycatcher,
Eastern Wood Pewee, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, White-
breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Thrasher, Red-eyed
Vireo, and Scarlet Tanager.
Since 1970, Summer Tanagers have been seen in the wooded dunes
during May, June, and July every year and Worm-eating Warblers
have been seen every year but two since 1964. Since 1970, one or
more Worm-eating Warblers have been observed showing
A portrait of
a Box Turtle.
territoriality at the same place in the Grande Mere Area and have
stayed well into the summer. Both of these species are typically
southern birds but may be breeding in Grande Mere now or in the
near future.
Black-throated Green Warblers, a northern species, have been
observed in the summer months of some years in the wooded dune
hollows.
Mammals of this habitat include whitetail deer, raccoon, red fox,
skunk, opossum, weasels, fox squirrel, red squirrel, southern flying
squirrel, white-footed mice, meadow jumping mice, and shrews.
The most conspicuous reptiles and amphibians in the wooded dunes
are box turtles; and in the spring Blanding’s turtles and painted
turtles can be found laying eggs in the dunes. American and Fowler's
toads are easily observed in the wooded dunes along with garter
snakes, black rat snakes, and eastern hognosed snakes. Spring
peepers appear after they finish their courtship and egg laying in the
nearby marshes and ponds.
A few of the typical invertebrates are digger wasps, antlions, flatbugs,
six species of grasshoppers, wireworms, and at least one species of
snail. If one visits the area on a hot summer day the mosquitoes and
deerflies will never be forgotten.
Wooded Lake Bed.
Just behind the dunes lies an area of old lake bed that at one time was
a bay before it was cut off by the sand spits in Algonquin times. Part
of this area is still occupied by the three remaining small lakes. The
land not covered with lake water is low and some of it is swampy,
characterized by red maple, white ash, and speckled alder. In the
drier areas there is much flowering dogwood, sassafras, and some
black gum and red oak. Scattered here and there are a few hemlock,
white cedar, and tamarack.
The herbaceous flora of this complex group of communities is not
distinctive but is made up of many of the wild flowers and ferns
indigenous to non-specialized communities of this part of the country.
Only three of these will be mentioned here. The showy orchis is found
scattered in the drier areas; and wherever there is sufficient moisture
and light the royal fern grows profusely. There is a small colony of
bead lily in one spot.
Breeding birds include Veery, Wood Thrush, Yellowthroat, American
Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Rufous-sided
10
Towhee, and Song Sparrow. White-eyed Vireos, Black-and-white
Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, and Magnolia Warblers have been
observed here in summer without further evidence of nesting.
Mammals found in this habitat include those mentioned above in the
wooded dunes plus the eastern mole, starnose mole, mink, eastern
cottontail, and possibly some species of mice and shrews not found in
the dunes.
Reptiles and amphibians include blue racer, black rat snake, garter
snake, milk snake, American and Fowler's toads, spring peepers,
western chorus frog, tiger salamander, spotted salamander, and red-
backed salamander.
Invertebrates are extremely numerous and an attempt to name even
the common ones would be too lengthy. It will suffice to say that most
of the major phyla, orders, and families can be found represented in
the various communities of this habitat.
Hemlock Swamp.
This habitat, although also occupying an ancient lake bed, is more
specialized than the wooded lake bed. There are two areas of this
habitat found in Grande Mere. One is in what was once the fourth lake
Bluebead likes
it’s feet wet.
41
of the five-lake complex that developed in the later stages of the
filling of the Grande Mere embayment. The other hemlock area lies
between I-94 and the covert moraine forming the east boundary of
the embayment.
These two areas are dominated by hemlock and contain fairly large
numbers of white pine, tamarack, and white cedar. The soil remains
cool even in mid-summer and supports a flora containing many
species that one might find in the Upper Peninsula and the northern
portion of the Lower Peninsula. Growing here are star-flowers,
bunchberry, goldthread, bead lily, purple avens, moccasin flower,
yellow ladyslipper, clubspur orchid, Loesel’s twayblade, twin flower,
and shining clubmoss.
Many of the plants that one expects to find in a moist forest
community anywhere in this region are here also: Jack-in-the-pulpit,
swamp Saxifrage, violets of several species, golden groundsel, tufted
loosestrife, Indian cucumber root, large-flowering trillium, marsh
marigold, mitrewort, and a great many others. Scattered here and
there where they can find enough sun are a few depauperate
specimens of pitcher plant.
Two of the most characteristic bird species of the hemlock swamp and
the area surrounding it are the Canada and Hooded Warblers.
Several pairs of Canada Warblers breed here every year and can be
observed easily from Wishart Road, which runs along one side of the
fourth lake hemlock swamp. This is a northern species and has not
been found nesting anywhere else in this part of the state.
The Hooded Warbler, a southern species, apparently breeds
irregularly in the same portion of the Grande Mere Area as the
Canada Warbler; and both are examples of species breeding at the
extremes of their geographical distribution. The Hooded Warblers,
however, can be found nesting in several other swampy areas within
a few miles.
Mammals most likely to be seen in the hemlock swamp are whitetail
deer, red squirrel, and southern flying squirrel.
Prairie-like Areas.
There are two prairie-like areas in Grande Mere. The first one is a
calcareous panne just behind the low dunes in the north end of the
embayment. It was largely destroyed during construction of an
apartment complex but a portion of it still exists. Growing there are
fringed gentians, grass of parnassus, nodding lady's tresses, tall
coreopsis, Riddell’s goldenrod, rough goldenrod, big bluestem grass,
12
Nodding Lady’s Tresses.
little bluestem grass, sand reed, several other species of grasses, and
a number of sedges.
This area is penetrated by a dirt road and the association just
described is on the north side of it. On the other side there is a pond
filled with rushes and a brushy area.
The eastern massasauga, a rattlesnake, was formerly a member of
this community.
The second prairie-like area is just south of Notre Dame Road
between the middle lake and Thornton Avenue and is surrounded by
scrubby second- or third-growth timber. It consists of a weedy oldfield
situation but contains several prairie elements such as the nodding
lady’s-tresses, tall coreopsis, big bluestem grass, little bluestem grass,
several other grasses, sedges, and rushes. Rose pink, a member of the
gentian family and not considered a prairie species, is unusual
enough in this area to merit mention.
Several sparrows, Yellow Warblers, and the Yellowthroat nest in this
area.
Most of the mammals of the area probably pass through this habitat
13
but among the ones that actually live there are mice, shrews, and
moles. These are preyed upon by the larger carnivorous mammals,
snakes, and birds of prey.
The red Fox is still
seen in Grande Mere.
Cranberry Bog.
The cranberry bog surrounded the south lake and was developed as a
commercial enterprise. Formerly it had areas of sphagnum moss with
cranberries, pitcher plants, and marsh St. John’s wort.
Since its commercial abandonment the bog has reverted almost
entirely to its original lake form due to rising water tables, and large
portions have been invaded by swamp rose and other marsh
vegetation.
Ducks, geese, coots, and occasionally Sandhill Cranes use this lake
and marshy bog in the spring and fall and Yellow Warblers, Yellow-
throats, Song Sparrows, and other small birds nest in the shrubby
vegetation.
Aquatic Areas.
There are three remaining lakes in the Grande Mere Area, including
the one in the middle of the cranberry bog. They are connected to
each other and to Lake Michigan by the Thornton Valley Drain.
The emergent vegetation of these aquatic habitats includes cattails,
14
Grande Mere
supports about
50 deer in the
wilderness area,
according to the DNR.
A friendly raccoon.
arrowhead, arrow arum, pickerelweed, yellow pond lily, and various
rushes.
Some of the floating-leaved plants are white water lily, watershield,
some of the pond-weeds, and small duck-weed.
The submerged vegetation is composed mostly of hornwort, pond-
weeds of several species, slender naiad, water milfoil, elodea, and an
abundance of algae.
15
Pied-billed Grebes, Mallards, coots, rails, Least Bitterns, and Black
Terns use the lakes (especially Middle Lake) and their margins for
breeding; and ducks, geese, swans, herons, eagles, and Ospreys use
the lakes for feeding during migration.
Mink and muskrats are the only mammals that use the aquatic habitats
regularly, but deer and raccoon feed along the shores of the lakes.
Several species of turtles including the painted turtle, Blanding’s
turtle, and snapping turtle are in the lakes. Northern watersnakes
can be found around their edges along with green frogs, bullfrogs,
leopard frogs, pickerel frogs, spring peepers, and cricket frogs.
A few of the fish in the lakes are northern pike, grass pickerel,
largemouth bass, bluegill, rockbass, sunfish, and mud minnows.
Some of the aquatic invertebrates are water boatmen, backswimmers,
giant waterbugs, whirligig beetles, various spiders, crayfish, and a
great many others.
Interstate-94 Right-of-way.
This is a relatively recent habitat in the Grande Mere Area and
probably has not yet reached its full development. There are shrubs of
several species, including willows, along the fences. In the wet spots
rushes and cattails predominate and grasses cover large portions in
other places.
Some of the more showy ‘‘weedâ€â€™ species form large colorful patches
when in flower: Cardinal-flower, great blue lobelia, cone flowers,
joe-pye weed, boneset, goldenrods, and rose pink. Although rose pink
was first found in 1971 in one of the prairie-like areas, it was found
along the I-94 right-of-way about four years earlier; and whether it
colonized the highway right-of-way from there or was brought in with
some of the soil used for fill for the highway and then migrated to
prairie areas from there presents an interesting problem in dispersal.
This latter possibility appears to be the more likely but more work
needs to be done.
Meadowlarks and other field and meadow species nest in these grassy
areas along with shrews, mice, and meadow voles. :
The plant and animal associations mentioned for the eight habitat
groups obviously are not complete for each community. See the lists
of species for a more complete tabulation of the vascular plants,
amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals in the Grande Mere Area.
16
SPRING COMES TO GRANDE MERE
y
aks
Adder’s Tongue Fiddleheads of Ferns
17
Field Trip Volunteers
Pussy Willow
Buttonbush Bottlebrush Grass
18
May Apple
Bottle Gentian
Solomon’s Seal Wild Roses
Wood Betony Blue Flag
20
Equisetum arvense
Equisetum hyemale
Lycopodium lucidulum
Lycopodium clavatum
Lycopodium flabelliforme
Selaginella apoda
Botrychium multifidum
Botrychium virginianum
Osmunda regalis
Osmunda cinnamomea
Onoclea sensibilis
Dryopteris spinulosa
Dryopteris intermedia
Dryopteris marginalis
Phegopteris hexagonoptera
Polystichum acrostichoides
Athyrium Filix-femina
Athyrium thelypterioides
Adiantum pedatum
Pteridium aquilinum
Taxus canadensis
Tsuga canadensis
Larix laricina
Pinus strobus
Vascular Plants
These vascular plants are known to have been recorded from the
Grande Mere Area between 1959 and 1973. Undoubtedly many more
species of plants live there and, hopefully, will be identified and
included in subsequent lists.
The scientific names are, except for the ferns, those in “‘Gray’s
Manual of Botany†(Merritt Lyndon Fernald, 1950, American Book
Co.). Fern names are from ‘The Fern Guide†(Edgar T. Wherry, 1961,
Doubleday & Co., Inc.). Common names are from various sources.
Those indicated by an * are probably escaped or even introduced
forms. Those indicated by a ¢ should not be picked.
Horsetail
Tall Scouring Rush
tShining Club Moss
+Running Ground Pine
tTrailing Ground Pine
Meadow Spikemoss
Leathery Grape Fern
Rattlesnake Fern
Royal Fern
Cinnamon Fern
Sensitive Fern
Spinulose Wood Fern
Intermediate Wood Fern
Marginal Wood Fern
Broad Beech Fern
Christmas Fern
Lady Fern
Silvery Glade Fern
Maidenhair Fern
Bracken Fern
American Yew
Hemlock
Tamarack
White Pine
21
Pinus resinosa *
Pinus banksiana *
Thuja occidentalis
Juniperus communis
Juniperus virginiana
Typha latifolia
Typha angustifolia
Potamogeton pectinatus
Potamogeton crispus
Najas flexilis
Alisma subcordatum
Sagittaria latifolia
Elodea canadensis
Bromus tectorum
Poa pratensis
Dactylis glomerata
Triodia flava
Elymus canadensis
Hystrix patula
Ammophila breviligulata
Calamovilfa longifolia
Muhlenbergia glomerata
Andropogon scoparius
Andropogon Gerardi
Red Pine
Jack Pine
White Cedar
Common Juniper
Red Cedar
Common Cattail
Narrow-leaved Cattail
Comb Pondweed
Curly Pondweed
Slender Naiad
Common Water Plantain
Common Arrowhead
Common Waterweed
Downy Brome
Kentucky Bluegrass
Orchard Grass
False Redtop
Canada Wild Rye
Bottlebrush Grass
Marram Grass
Sand Reed
Marsh Wild Timothy
Little Bluestem Grass
Big Bluestem Grass
Andropogon virginicus
Carex pensylvanica
Carex stricta
Carex plantaginea
Arisaema atrorubens
Peltandra virginica
Symplocarpus foetidus
Lemna minor
Tradescantia ohiensis
Pontederia cordata
Juncus tenuis
Juncus balticus
Uvularia grandiflora
Allium itricoccum
Hemerocallis fulva *
Lilium michiganense
Yucca filamentosa
Asparagus officinalis
Clintonia borealis
Smilacina racemosa
Smilacina stellata
Maianthemum canadense
Polygonatum pubescens
Polygonatum canaliculatum
Medeola virginiana
Trillium recurvatum
Trillium grandiflorum
Smilax lasioneura
Smilax ecirrhata
Smilax rotundifolia
Smilax tamnoides
Sisyrinchium
Iris virginica
Cypripedium calceolus
Cypripedium acaule
Orchis spectabilis
Habenaria clavellata
Calopogon pulchellus
Spiranthes cernua
Goodyera pubescens
Liparis loeselii
Salix nigra
Salix glaucophylloides
Broom Sedge
Pennsylvania Sedge
Sedge
Plantain-leaved Sedge
tJack-in-the-Pulpit
Arrow Arum
Skunk Cabbage
Small Duckweed
+Spiderwort :
Pickerel Weed
Roadside Rush
Lake Shore Rush
Bellwort
Wild Leek
Orange Day Lily
tMichigan Lily
Yucca
Asparagus
{Bluebead
Feathery False Solomon's
Seal
Starry False Solomon's
Seal
Canada Mayflower
Downy Solomon's Seal
Smooth Solomon's Seal
Indian Cucumber Root
tRed Trillium
tLarge-flowered Trillium
Commom Carrion Flower
Upright Carrion Flower
Green Brier
Bristly Green Brier
tBlue-eyed Grass
{Blue Flag
tYellow Lady's Slipper
tMoccasin Flower
tShowy Orchis
t¢Clubspur Orchid
+Grass Pink
tNodding Lady's Tresses
{Downy Rattlesnake
Plantain
tLoesel’s Twayblade
Black Willow
Blue-leaved Willow
22
Salix syrticola
Salix candida
Populus tremuloides
Populus grandidentata
Populus alba *
Populus deltoides
Populus nigra *
Juglans cinerea
Juglans nigra
Carya cordiformis
Ostrya virginiana
Carpinus caroliniana
Alnus rugosa
Fagus grandifolia
Castanea dentata
Quercus alba
Quercus muehlenbergii
Quercus rubra
Quercus ellipsoidalis
Quercus velutina
Ulmus rubra
Ulmus americana
Urtica procera
Laportea canadensis
Comandra richardsiana
Asarum canadense
Rumex verticillatus
Rumex orbiculatus
Rumex crispus
Rumex obtusifolius
Rumex acetosella
Tovara virginiana
Polygonum aviculare
Polygonum pensylvanicum
Polygonum scandens
Cycloloma atriplicifolium
Chenopodium album
Phytolacca americana
Mollugo verticillata
Claytonia virginica
Stellaria media
Cerastium vulgatum
Agrostemma githago
Lychnis alba
Silene cucubalis
Saponaria officinalis
Dune Willow
Hoary Willow
Quaking Aspen
Large-toothed Aspen
White Poplar
Cottonwood
Lombardy Poplar
Butternut
Black Walnut
Bitternut Hickory
Hop Hornbeam
Blue Beech
Speckled Alder
American Beech
Chestnut
White Oak
Chinquapin Oak
Red Oak
Hill's Oak
Black Oak
Red Elm
American Elm
Stinging Nettle
Wood Nettle
Bastard Toadflax
Wild Ginger
Swamp Dock
Great Water Dock
Curly Dock
Bitter Dock
Field Sorrel
Woodland Knotweed
Common Knotweed
Pennsylvania Knotweed
Climbing False Buckwheat
Winged Pigweed
Lamb’s Quarters
Pokeweed
Carpet Weed
tSpring Beauty
Common Chickweed
Field Chickweed
Corn Cockle
White Campion
Bladder Campion
Bouncing Bet
Dianthus armeria
Ceratophyllum demersum
Nuphar advena
Nymphaea tuberosa
Brasenia schreberi
Ranunculus abortivus
Ranunculus
septentrionalis
Thalictrum dioicum
Thalictrum dasycarpum
Anemonella thalictroides
Hepatica americana
Hepatica acutiloba
Anemone virginiana
Anemone quinquefolia
/sopyrum biternatum
Caltha palustris
Coptis groenlandica
Aquilegia canadensis
Actaea Pachypoda
Podophyllum peltatum
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Berberis thunbergii
Menispermum canadense
Liriodendron tulipifera
Asimina triloba
Sassafras albidum
Lindera benzoin
Sanguinaria canadensis
Dicentra cucullaria
Lepidium virginicum
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Cakile edentula
Nasturtium officinale
Barbarea vulgaris
Dentaria laciniata
Cardamine bulbosa
Cardamine douglassii
Arabis lyrata
Arabis laevigata
Sarracenia purpurea
Saxifraga pensylvanica
Mitella diphylla
Parnassia glauca
Ribes cynosbati
Ribes americanum
+Deptford Pink
Hornwort
+Yellow Pond Lily
White Water Lily
Water Shield
Small-flowered Buttercup
t+Swamp Buttercup
Early Meadow Rue
Tall Meadow Rue
Rue Anemone
tRound-lobed Hepatica
t+Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Tall Anemone
Wood Anemone
False Rue Anemone
tMarsh Marigold
Goldthread
{Wild Columbine
White Baneberry
May Apple
Blue Cohosh
Japanese Barberry
Moonseed
Tulip Tree
Pawpaw
Sassafras
Spicebush
t+Bloodroot
t+Dutchman’s Breeches
Common Peppergrass
Shepherd's Purse
Sea Rocket
Water Cress
Yellow Rocket
Toothwort
Bulbous Cress
Purple Spring Cress
Sand Cress
Smooth Bank Cress
{Pitcher Plant
Swamp Saxifrage
Mitrewort
Grass of Parnassus
Prickly Wild Gooseberry
Wild Black Currant
23
Hamamelis virginiana
Platanus occidentalis
Physocarpus opulifolius
Spirea alba
Amelanchier arborea
Amelanchier laevis
Crataegus crus-galli
Fragaria virginiana
Potentilla palustris
Potentilla recta
Potentilla norvegica
Potentilla simplex
Potentilla anserina
Geum rivale
Rubus pubescens
Rubus idaeus
Rubus occidentalis
Rubus hispidus
Rubus allegheniensis
Agrimonia gryposepala
Agrimonia parviflora
Rosa palustris
Rosa carolina
Prunus americana
Prunus pumila
Prunus pensylvanica
Prunus serotina
Prunus virginiana
Cercis canadensis
Lupinus perennis
Trifolium arvense
Trifolium pratense
Melilotus officinalis
Melilotus alba
Medicago sativa *
Wisteria sinensis *
Desmodium canadense
Desmodium paniculatum
Lathyrus japonicus
Lathyrus palustris
Apios americana
Strophostyles helvola
Amphicarpa bracteata
Oxalis stricta
Geranium maculatum
Ptelea trifoliata
Witch Hazel
Sycamore
Ninebark
Meadowsweet
June Berry
Allegheny Shadblow
Cockspur Hawthorn
Wild Strawberry
Marsh Cinquefoil
Sulphur Cinquefoil
Norway Cinquefoil
Common Cinquefoil
Silverweed
Purple Avens
Dwarf Rasberry
Red Rasberry
Black Rasberry
Swamp Dewberry
Common Blackberry
Tall Agrimony
Swamp Agrimony
Swamp Rose
Pasture Rose
Wild Plum
Sand Cherry
Pin Cherry
Black Cherry
Choke Cherry
Redbud
tWild Lupine
Rabbit-foot Clover
Red Clover
Yellow Sweet Clover
White Sweet Clover
Alfalfa
Wisteria
Hoary Tick Trefoil
Panicled Tick Trefoil
tBeach Pea
Marsh Vetchling
Ground Nut
Trailing Wild Bean
Hog Peanut
Common Wood Sorrel
Wild Geranium
Wafer Ash
Ailanthus Altissima
Acalypha rhomboidea
Euphorbia corollata
Euphorbia polygonifolia
Euphorbia maculata
Rhus typhina
Rhus copallina
Rhus vernix
Rhus radicans
Hex verticillata
Euonymus obovatus
Celastrus scandens
Acer saccharum
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharinum
Impatiens capensis
Parthenocissus
quinquefolia
Vitis aestivalis
Vitis riparia
Abutilon theophrasti
Hypericum perforatum
Tree of Heaven
Three-seeded Mercury
Flowering Spurge
Seaside Spurge
Spotted Spurge
Staghorn Sumac
Shining Sumac
Poison Sumac *
Poison lvy
+Winterberry
Running Strawberry Bush
+Climbing Bittersweet
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Spotted Touch-me-not
Virginia Creeper
Summer Grape
Riverbank Grape
Velvetleaf
Common St. John’s Wort
24
Hypericum kalmianum
Hypericum virginicum
Viola striata
Viola rostrata
Opuntia humifusa *
Decodon verticillatus
Nyssa sylvatica
Epilobium angustifolium
Epilobium coloratum
Circaea quadrisulcata
Myriophyllum exalbescens
Aralia nudicaulis
Hydrocotyle umbellata
Sanicula gregaria
Sanicula trifoliata
Osmorhiza longistylis
Cryptotaenia canadensis
Daucus carota
Cicuta maculata
Cornus canadensis
Cornus florida
Rue anemone.
Kalm’s St. John’s Wort
Marsh St. John’s Wort
+Striped White Violet
tLong-spurred Violet
Prickly Pear
Swamp Loosestrife
Common Evening Primrose
Fireweed
Cinnamon Willow Herb
Enchanter’s Nightshade
Spiked Water Milfoil
Wild Sarsaparilla
Marsh Pennywort
Clustered Black Snakeroot
Large-fruited Black
Snakeroot
Smooth Sweet Cicely
Honewart
Wild Carrot
Water Hemlock
+Bunchberry
+Flowering Dogwood
Cornus stolonifera
Cornus rugosa
Cornus obliqua
Cornus racemosa
Cornus alternifolia
Chimaphila maculata
Pyrola elliptica
Chimaphila umbillata
Pyrola asarifolia
Monotropa uniflora
Epigaea repens
Gaultheria procumbens
Vaccinium angustifolium
Vaccinium corymbosum
Vaccinium macrocarpon
Lysimachia nummularia
Lysimachia thyrsiflora
Lysimachia ciliata
Lysimachia lanceolata
Trientalis borealis
Fraxinus americana
Indian pipes.
Red Osier Dogwood
Round-leaved Dogwood
Silky Dogwood
Gray Dogwood
Alternate-leaved
Dogwood
Spotted Wintergreen
tLarge-leaved Shinleaf
Prince's Pine
tPink Shinleaf
tindian Pipe
tTrailing Arbutus
Wintergreen
Early Low Blueberry
Highbush Blueberry
Large Cranberry
Moneywort
Tufted Loosestrife
Fringed Loosestrife
Lance-leaved Loosestrife
tStarflower
White Ash
25
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Ligustrum vulgare *
Sabatia angularis
Gentiana crinita
Gentiana andrewsii
Bartonia virginica
Apocynum
androsaemifolium
Asclepias tuberosa
Asclepias incarnata
Asclepias syriaca
Convolvulus arvensis
Cuscuta gronovii
Phlox divaricata
Lithospermum arvense
Lithospermum croceum
Lithospermum canescens
Verbena urticifolia
Verbena hastata
Scutellaria lateriflora
Nepeta cataria
Prunella vulgaris
Green Ash
Common Privet
tRose Gentian
tFringed Gentian
t+Bottle Gentian
Screwstem
Spreading Dogbane
{Butterfly Weed
tSwamp Milkweed
Common Milkweed
Field Bindweed
Common Dodder
Blue Phlox
Corn Gromwell
tHairy Puccoon
tHoary Puccoon
White Vervain
Blue Vervain
Mad-dog Skullcap
Catnip
Self Heal
Leonurus cardiaca
Monarda fistulosa
Monarda punctata
Motherwort
Wild Bergamot
Horse Mint
Pycnanthemum virginianum Common Mountain Mint
Lycopus americanus
Solanum dulcamara
Solanum americanum
Solanum carolinense
Physalis heterophylla
Verbascum thapsus
Chelone glabra
Gerardia purpurea
Gerardia flava
Melampyrum lineare
Pedicularis lanceolata
Pedicularis canadensis
Epifagus virginiana
Conopholis americana
Utricularia vulgaris
Utricularia intermedia
Phryma leptostachya
Plantago major
Plantago rugelii
Plantago lanceolata
Galium aparine
Galium circaezans
Galium concinnum
Galium asprellum
Mitchella repens
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Lonicera tatarica
Lonicera canadensis
Lonicera dioica
Linnaea borealis
Viburnum cassinoides
Viburnum lentago
Viburnum acerifolium
Sambucus canadensis
Campanula americana
Campanula rotundifolia
Campanula aparinoides
Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia siphilitica
Lobelia kalmii
Vernonia altissima
Eupatorium maculatum
Common Water Horehound
Bittersweet Nightshade
Black Nightshade
Horse Nettle
Clammy Ground Cherry
Great Mullein
Turtlehead
Purple False Foxglove
Smooth False Foxglove
Cow Wheat
Swamp Betony
Wood Betony
Beech Drops
Cancer Root
Great Bladderwort
Flat-leaved Bladderwort
Lopseed
Common Plantain
Red-stalked Plantain
English Plantain
Annual Bedstraw
Wild Licorice
Shining Bedstraw
Rough Bedstraw
Partridge Berry
Buttonbush
Tartarian Honeysuckle
American Fly Honeysuckle
Red Honeysuckle
+Twinflower
Witherod
Nannyberry
Maple-leaved Viburnum
Elderberry
Tall Bellflower
tHarebell
Marsh Bellflower
+Cardinal-flower
+Great Blue Lobelia
Bog Lobelia
Tall lronweed
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
26
Eupatorium purpureum
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Eupatorium rugosum
Solidago caesia
Solidago racemosa
Solidago nemoralis
Solidago ulmifolia
Solidago rugosa
Solidago riddellii
Solidago graminifolia
Aster macrophyllus
Aster sagittifolius
Aster lateriflorus
Aster umbellatus
Erigeron canadensis
Antennaria plantaginifolia
Ambrosia trifida
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Xanthium strumarium
Rudbeckia hirta
Helianthus divaricatus
Coreopsis tripteris
Bidens cernua
Bidens frondosa
Bidens coronata
Achillea millefolium
Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum
Artemisia caudata
Artemisia ludoviciana *
Cacalia Atriplicifolia
Senecio aureus
Arctium minus
Cirsium vulgare
Cirsium muticum
Cirsium arvense
Cichorium intybus
Krigia virginica
Krigia biflora
Tragopogon pratensis
Taraxacum officinale
Lactuca canadensis
Prenanthes racemosa
Prenanthes alba
Hieracium aurantiacum
Purple Joe-Pye Weed
Common Boneset
White Snakeroot
Blue-stemmed Goldenrod
Dune Goldenrod
Oldfield Goldenrod
Elm-leaved Goldenrod
Rough Goldenrod
Riddell’s Goldenrod
Grass-leaved Goldenrod
Big-leaved Aster
Arrow-leaved Aster
Side-flowering Aster
Flat-top Aster
Horseweed
Pussy Toes
Giant Ragweed
Common Ragweed
Cocklebur
Black-eyed Susan
Woodland Sunflower
Tall Coreopsis
Nodding Bur Marigold
Common Beggar's Ticks
Tall Swamp Marigold
Yarrow
Ox-eye Daisy
Beach Wormwood
White Sage
Pale Indian Plantain
Golden Ragwort
Common Burdock
Bull Thistle
Swamp Thistle
Field Thistle
Chicory
Dwarf Dandelion
False Dandelion
Goat's Beard
Common Dandelion
Wild Lettuce
Glaucous White Lettuce
White Lettuce
Orange Hawkweed
Amphibians and Reptiles
These amphibians and reptiles are likely to be found in the Grande
Mere Area. Those indicated by an * have not been observed in Grande
Mere. Names used are from A Field Guide to the Reptiles & Amphibians
of Eastern North America (Roger Conant, 1958, Houghton Mifflin Co.).
Plethodon cinereus *
Ambystoma tigrinum
Ambystoma maculatum *
Diemictylus viridescens
Bufo americanus
Bufo woodhousei
Acris crepitans
Hyla crucifer
Hyla versicolor *
Pseudacris triseriata
Rana catesbeiana
Rana clamitans
Rana pipiens
Rana palustris
Chelydra serpentina
Clemmys guttata
Terrapene carolina
Graptemys geographica
Chrysemys picta
Emydoidea blandingi
Trionyx spinifer *
Natrix sipedon
Natrix septemvittata *
Storeria dekayi *
Thamnophis sirtalis
Thamnophis sauritus *
Heterodon platyrhinos
Coluber constrictor
Elaphe obsoleta
Lampropeltis doliata *
Sistrurus catenatus
2h
Red-backed Salamander
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Spotted Salamander
Red-spotted Newt
American Toad
Fowler's Toad
Cricket Frog
Spring Peeper
Gray Tree Frog
Western Chorus Frog
Bullfrog
Green Frog
North American Leopard Frog
Pickerel Frog
Snapping Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Eastern Box Turtle
Map Turtle
Painted Turtle
Blanding’s Turtle
Spiny Soft-shelled Turtle
Common North American
Water Snake
Queen Snake
Brown Snake
Eastern Garter Snake
Eastern Ribbon Snake
Eastern Hognosed Snake
Blue Racer
Black Rat Snake
Milk Snake
Eastern Massasauga
Birds
by Walter M. Booth
The Grande Mere Area is a virtual sanctuary for birds and is a favorite
area for local bird-watchers. Because of a variety of natural hibitats —
deciduous woodlands, brushy areas, dunelands, boglands, coniferous
woods, and large watery areas — many different kinds of birds have
been recorded there. The location of the Grand Mere Area under a
heavily traveled bird migration route along the eastern shore of Lake
Michigan enhances the attractiveness of the area to students and
other observers of bird life. For many years bird-watchers have found
there a wide and interesting assortment of birds. The accompanying
list of birds identified in the Grand Mere Area includes 235 species
and the list should certainly continue to grow.
Exploration along the trails of the portion known as the Nature Study
Preserve during several consecutive summers has resulted in the
discovery that the Worm-eating Warbler and the Summer Tanager may
both appear regularly in summer. These southern songbirds are of
extremely infrequent occurrence in Michigan and have been recorded
more often in the Grande Mere Area than at any other locale in the
state. They share the area with the more northern Black-throated
Green Warblers and Canada Warblers. Occasionally other warblers of
northern affinities have been discovered here in summer.
During the seasons of migration the Grande Mere Area is regularly
visited by many individuals of numerous species. From spring thaw
into April, and again from October until freeze-up, the lakes attract
many ducks, particularly Redheads, American Widgeons, Ring-
necked Ducks, and Buffleheads. The ducks share the lakes with other
water birds, such as Horned and Pied-billed Grebes, American Coots,
Herring Gulls, and Ring-billed Gulls. An occasional Common Loon or
a few Whistling Swans or Mute Swans may also be there.
Migration of songbirds is at its peak between late April and late May
and again from mid-September into October. During these seasons
many flycatchers, wrens, thrushes, kinglets, vireos, warblers, orioles,
finches, and sparrows swarm through the treetops, understory, and
shrubs migrating by night and feeding and resting during the day.
28
During these peak seasons of migration probably more species of
songbirds can be identified at Grande Mere in a day than at any other
locality in Berrien County.
Great hordes of birds of other species migrate by day, either above the
lakeside dunes or out over Lake Michigan. Early spring, from mid-
March to 20 April features tremendous flights of blackbirds. When
conditions are right for such migration it is not at all unusual to see
between 20,000 and 50,000 individual birds in a single day. The
blackbirds are accompanied by much smaller numbers of other
species, including Robins and Yellow-shafted Flickers. In early and
mid-May great flocks of Blue Jays, accompanied by many American
Goldfinches, Baltimore Orioles, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and others
pass through. Late May brings Cedar Waxwings by the thousands. In
some years many hawks may be seen in diurnal migration between
mid-April and mid-May and again between mid-September and early
November.
Early October witnesses the return flight of thousands of Blue Jays
and American Goldfinches. The main feature of fall migration,
however, is the great movement of gulls, terns, and ducks. On favored
days thousands of birds may be observed in southward flight:
Common Terns from mid-August to mid-September, Ring-billed Gulls
from mid-August into October, Herring Gulls from late September
into December, and ducks from early October to mid-November.
When duck flights are at their peak it is not at all unusual to see 5,000
to 20,000 individuals in a morning. Most of these seem to be scaup
and Ring-necked Ducks, but birds of numerous other species
accompany them. Horned Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, jaegers,
and shorebirds frequently participate in these migrations, but usually
in very small numbers.
By late December or early January winter stability has been achieved
among the birds. Gone are the ducks, coots, loons, and grebes from
ice-covered lakes. Leafless trees no longer shelter or provide song
perches for warbler, vireo, flycatcher, or thrush. To be sure, birds
are still there, but not very many. Downy Woodpeckers, Brown
Creepers, and White-breasted Nuthatches search the tree trunks for
dormant insects; Slate-colored Juncos, Tree Sparrows, and American
Goldfinches swarm through weedy areas devouring the seeds; an
occasional hawk patrols the sky overhead; and Cardinals, Black-capped
Chickadees, and Tufted Titmice whistle their cheery songs to each
other. During some winters small numbers of boreal finches — Pine
Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, crossbills, and Common Redpolls — may
also be found.
29
Spring returns again, or at least momentarily, with the first Canada
Geese and blackbirds in late February or early March. These are
followed by Robins, Common Crows, and ducks, and as warm weather
becomes established, by swallows, warblers, thrushes, orioles, and the
others.
The Oronoko Bird Club, with headquarters at Andrews University
at Berrien Springs, schedules several field trips annually to the
Grande Mere Area.
These birds have been observed in the Grande Mere Area between
1935 and 1973. Common names are those used in “A Field Guide to
the Birds†(Roger Tory Peterson, 1947, Houghton Mifflin Co.).
Species marked with an * probably nest or have nested there. Species
marked with a + have been observed to nest there.
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Horned Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe *
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron *
Cattle Egret
Common Egret
Black-crowned Night Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Least Bittern *
American Bittern *
Mute Swan
Whistling Swan
Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Blue Goose
Mallard f+
Black Duck
Gadwall
Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal *
Cinnamon Teal
American Widgeon
Shoveler
Wood Duck *
Redhead
30
Ring-necked Duck
Canvasback
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Oldsquaw
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Surf Scoter
Common Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-Breasted Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk *
Red-shouldered Hawk *
Broad-winged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Bald Eagle
Marsh Hawk
Osprey
Peregrine Falcon
Pigeon Hawk
Sparrow Hawk *
Ring-necked Pheasant *
Sandhill Crane
Virginia Rail *
Sora *
Common Gallinule *
American Coot
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
American Woodcock +
Common Snipe
Upland Plover
Spotted Sandpiper *
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Sanderling
Parasitic Jaeger
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Little Gull
Forster’s Tern
Common Tern
Caspian Tern
Black Tern +
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove +
Yellow-billed Cuckoo *
Black-billed Cuckoo *
Screech Owl *
Great Horned Owl *
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Whip-poor-will +
Common Nighthawk *
Chimney Swift *
Ruby-throated Hummingbird *
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-shafted Flicker +
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker *
Red-headed Woodpecker *
31
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker f+
Downy Woodpecker f+
Eastern Kingbird *
Great Crested Flycatcher +
Eastern Phoebe *
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Traill’s Flycatcher *
Least Flycatcher *
Eastern Wood Pewee t+
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow *
Bank Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Purple Martin
Blue Jay f¢
Common Crow *
Black-capped Chickadee t+
Tufted Titmouse +
White-breasted Nuthatch f+
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren +
Winter Wren
Carolina Wren
Long-billed Marsh Wren *
Short-billed Marsh Wren
Mockingbird *
Catbird +
Brown Thrasher t+
Robin +
Wood Thrush *
Hermit Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Veery +t
Eastern Bluebird *
Blue-gray Gnatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Cedar Waxwing *
Water Pipit
Starling ft
White-eyed Vireo *
Bell's Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo +
Solitary Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo +
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo +
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Parula Warbler
Yellow Warbler +
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Myrtle Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler *
Cerulean Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler +
Palm Warbler
Ovenbird *
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Yellowthroat +
Yellow-breasted Chat *
Hooded Warbler +
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler +
American Redstart *
House Sparrow +
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark +
Red-winged Blackbird +
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole +
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle +
Brown-headed Cowbird f
Scarlet Tanager +
Summer Tanager *
Cardinal +
Rose-breasted Grosbeak +
Indigo Bunting +
Evening Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch = +
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Rufous-sided Towhee_ f
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Slate-colored Junco
Oregon Junco
Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow *
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow *
Harris’ Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow +
Snow Bunting
Note: Since the type was set for this book,
the Golden Eagle has been observed in Grande Mere.
32
Mammals
These mammals probably can be found in the Grande Mere Area or
have been found there in the past. Names used are from Mammals of
the Great Lakes Region (William H. Burt, 1957, The University of
Michigan Press). Those indicated by an * are no longer found there.
Didelphis marsupialis Opossum Citellus tridecemlineatus Thirteen-lined Ground
Scalopus aquaticus Eastern Mole Squirrel
Condylura cristata Starnose Mole Tamias Striatus Eastern Chipmunk
Sorex cinereus Masked Shrew Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Red Squirrel
Blarina brevicauda Shorttail Shrew Sciurus carolinensis * Eastern Gray Squirrel
Myotis lucifugus Little Brown Myotis Sciurus niger Eastern Fox Squirrel
Myotis sodalis Indiana Myotis Glaucomys volans Southern Flying Squirrel
Lasionycteris noctivagans __Silver-haired Bat Castor canadensis * Beaver
Eptesicus fuscus Big Brown Bat Peromyscus maniculatus Deer Mouse
Lasiurus borealis Red Bat Peromyscus leucopus White-footed Mouse
Lasiurus cinereus Hoary Bat Synaptomys cooperi Southern Bog Lemming
Ursus americanus * Black Bear Microtus pennsylvanicus Meadow Vole
Procyon lotor Raccoon Pitymys pinetorum Pine Vole
Mustela frenata Longtail Weasel Ondatra zibethica Muskrat
Mustela rixosa Least Weasel Rattus norvegicus Norway Rat
Mustela vison Mink Mus musculus House Mouse
Lutra canadensis * River Otter Zapus hudsonius Meadow Jumping Mouse
Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk Erethizon dorsatum * Porcupine
Vulpes fulva Red Fox Sylvilagus floridanus Eastern Cottontail
Canis lupus * Gray Wolf Cervus canadensis * Elk
Felis concolor * Mountain Lion Odocoileus virginianus Whitetail Deer
Lynx rufus * Bobcat Bison bison * Bison
Marmota monax Woodchuck
"
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Pat
33
The Early Days
by Juniata Cupp
The Indian Era
The Grande Mere Area lies in close proximity to one of the principal
Indian routes, the Great Sauk Trail, which passed through the south
end of Berrien County. Since the St. Joseph River was one of the
Indian's favorite waterways, many a red-man passed through Grande
Mere to reach this stream, perhaps at the time when it was called the
River of the Miamis. It is believed that the Miami tribe of Indians
preceeded the Pottawatomis.
With the coming of the explorers, this area was visited by a number of
white men; La Salle, with three friars, ten Frenchmen, and a Mohican
hunter in four canoes skirted the lower end of Lake Michigan and
passed through Grande Mere on their way from Green Bay, Wisconsin,
to the mouth of the St. Joseph River (where La Salle built Fort Miami)
in November 1679.
Grande Mere was on the route taken by many settlers and travelers.
Historically, Grande Mere thus lies close to the crossroads of early
travel activity.
The St. Joseph River accommodated the various tribes of Indians, but
the earliest was believed to be the Miamis. That tribe left the area in
1681 but returned some dozen years later, only to be driven away
again by the Pottawatomis who seemed to be taking possession of this
area and who ultimately made it their homeland for many years to
come.
Pottawatomi means ‘‘People of the Place of Fire†or perhaps another
interpretation indicates that they were a ‘‘Nation of Fire Blowers.â€
Both the Miamis and Pottawatomis camped along the shores of Lake
Michigan as well as at Niles and Berrien Springs, and evidence of
their campsites has been uncovered in numerous spots. It has been
reported that the Pottawatomis were known to be courageous and
hardy warriors. They mingled with the white man and got along well
with the early settlers, particularly the French.
35
History also indicates that a small tribe called the Musquakees, a
branch of the Fox Tribe, was located for a short time on the St. Joseph
River. The Ottawas and the Chippewas also lived in the St. Joseph
River Valley until all were driven out by the stronger of the tribes.
The Indians of this region spent at least part of each year living in
small villages or campsites in locations sheltered from cold north and
west winds, and always near a source of water. A location near a
cattail marsh was almost a necessity, since their huts were made of
mats woven from the cattail leaves. These marshes were valuable
sources of food also. Roots of cattail and arrowhead (duck potato) are
excellent boiled or roasted. Deer provided meat and hides for clothing
and winter protection for their huts. Beaver and muskrats provided
meat and fur; fish, frogs, turtles, and waterfowl, too, were always
plentiful.
One can easily imagine the activities of the Indians when they camped
in Grande Mere; however, most of the evidence of their having lived
there has been erased. A well-defined campsite existed on the east
side of the |-94 Highway between Grande Vista and the Stevensville
Road, until it was destroyed almost entirely by the removal of sand for
use in highway construction.
Fairly extensive campsites, one between North Lake in Grande Mere
and Lake Michigan, and another south of Dunham Dunes, were
discovered some years ago and scattered evidence of still another
could be seen south of South Lake. The top of the ridge on the east
side of Grande Mere, where |-94 is now located, seems to have been a
favorite camping place. Two local archeologists, Louis P. Ueck and the
late Harvey Franz, discovered a number of remnants of the site in
1942 but left everything intact.
Louis P. Ueck and the late
Harvey Franz at an Indian
site in 1942.
36
Indian artifacts.
'
Projectiles found
in Grande Mere.
37
The most extensive Indian campsite found in Grande Mere was
discovered just west of South Lake and southwest of Dunham Dunes
as recently as ten years ago. Another spot where Indian artifacts have
been found is on the Smietanka farm near North Lake. Finding
potsherds, fragmentary parts of pots made by the Indians, gave rise
to speculation that Indians congregated in these particular areas.
Many people believe that it was the Pottawatomis who settled in
Grande Mere. Their pottery was called the woodland type distinguishing
it from that of the western plains Indians who used prairie sources
for their pottery materials along with crushed granite for reinforcing
material. The woodland type was always decorated in some fashion
with distinctive scratches and markings, some made by a cord-
wound paddle drawn across the moist clay of the vessel.
One local archeologist believes that remnants of Indian fire-pits could
still be found if certain areas were carefully probed. It is believed that
the one that remains east of I-94 dated back to between 1670 and
: 1700. Stone projectiles (arrowheads) and axes were found throughout
the area in earlier years but vegetation covers the most likely places
now. Few stone projectiles were made in the area after the white
man’s introduction of guns. The Indians had so many of their primitive
weapons stored in their “trading posts†there was no need to continue
making them. Also, the Indians became extremely eager to acquire
the more effective fire-arms and would go to any length to obtain them.
It would prove interesting to ascertain just what activities the Indians
were involved in while camping in Grande Mere. Surely the braves
and squaws taught their children the art of living off the land: the
building of garden-beds having almost the appearance of formal
gardens; primitive methods of trapping and fishing; and signs of
weather conditions. For example, when smoke isn’t rising straight
up (due to lowering of atmospheric pressure), rain would not be far
off; and whistles would sound louder and clearer before rain. They
noticed also that leaves would turn their backs before a rain; and
when crows would swoop and roll in the air, high winds could be
expected. When Field Sparrows would splash around in puddles, rain
could be expected.
Indians knew that when the wind was in the south good fishing could
be expected but when the wind blew in from the north fishing was
poor. Children were taught how to make secret trails or to bend
saplings for trail markers — some still are found in Berrien County;
how to stalk birds and other animals; how to make and pack a canoe;
and how to cook over an open fire.
38
Mr. Ueck apparently believes that the cooking pots used in Grande
Mere were large clay vessels that were placed in a deep hole in the
sand, with the brim exposed just a few inches, and filled with water.
Stones were heated to a white heat on a nearby fire and dropped into
the water causing it to boil. Meat to be cooked would be put into the
water, and then the procedure of removing the cooling stones and
replacing them with newly heated ones would continue until the
cooking was completed.
Indians of all tribes were excellent trappers and hunters because they
were familiar with the ways of the wild creatures of the air, the land,
and the lakes and streams; they recognized where different mammals,
birds, and fish lived at different seasons of the year, what they ate,
and how the different species reacted to different situations — trapping
only for their immediate needs for food or clothing.
The Indians in Grande Mere must have had to use all their ingenuity
to evade white men when they attempted to take all the tribesmen
west in 1838-1840. Those Indians who successfully eluded the
soldiers sent here to round them up lived for years without detection
in secluded spots. No one knows with certainty where the hideouts
were but several have been suggested by local archeologists. Of all
these places, Grande Mere would have been one of the most favorable
and probably one of the most secluded.
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39
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Indian hut.
Indian Usage of Some Wild Flowers and Other Plants
Club Moss Medicine—spores to stop bleeding
(Ground pine)
North American Lotus Food—roots were important food when
baked, seeds when roasted
Michigan Holly Medicine—bark steeped and drunk for
fever
Ladyslippers and Medicine
Orchids
Trillium (all species) | Medicine—asthma and bleeding
Wild Columbine Medicine—root brewed for stomach
trouble
Jack-in-the-pulpit Food—after acid is removed from the roots
Pitcher Plant Medicine—to ease childbirth
Twin Flower “Squaw Medicineâ€
Clintonia Medicine—poultice for dog-bite
Starflower Smoking mixture—to attract deer
Shinleaf Charm—tea drunk for good luck in
hunting
Bellwort Medicine—liniment
Blue Flag Medicine—poultice and cathartic, charm
—piece carried to protect from snake
bite
Hepatica Medicine and yellow dye
Canada Anemone “Medicine-lodge root’’ chewed to clear
throat to sing well in Medicine-lodge
ceremony.
Bloodroot Medicine—sore throat; dye for painting
the face
Violet Medicine—blood purifier, heart disease
Dwarf Dogwood Medicine—root tea for babies’ colic
False Lily-of-the-valley Medicine—kidneys, headache, sore throat
Spring Beauty Food—roots used as emergency food
Yellow Rocket Food—used as greens
Fire-weed Medicine—exact use not clear
Common Milkweed Food—tender shoots for greens. Charm—
juice put on deer call
Healall Medicine—kidney trouble and vermifuge
40
Amanita-Muscaria.
“Not Edibleâ€
Joe-Pye Weed
Daisy Fleabane
Aster
Black-eyed Susan
1
Medicine—solution of root used to wash
babies to give them strength
Medicine—smoke dried flowers for head-
cold. Smoked to attract birds and deer.
Smoked to attract deer when hunting.
Medicine—root tea for cold. Dye—disc
florets boiled with rushes
for yellow dye.
Spiderwort.
Early Settlers and Afterward
As long ago as 1827, old records show that the first white man to settle
in Lincoln Township on a large tract of land was Major Timothy S.
Smith, a teacher at the Carey Mission — the hub of many educational,
social, and religious activities. It is reported that Major Smith laid out
on paper quite a ‘‘village’’ just west of the three Grande Mere lakes, to
lie along the Lake Michigan shoreline. In 1837, three St. Joseph men
plotted a number of lots at the outlet of these three lakes for a village
site to be named “‘Liverpool.’’ The proposed project was to use the
outlet as power for manufacturing purposes, primarily to cut the solid
forests of white pine; however, the owners’ objectives never
materialized.
Very few roads lead into Grande Mere. The trail that is now Wishart
Road skirted South Lake, joined another trail near Middle Lake, and
followed the southern border of Middle Lake out to what probably
was the county road but it also meandered around the west side of
Middle Lake, cutting through between it and North Lake. This scenic
road is, for the most part, in the same location and condition as it was
in 1887. It is also interesting to note that the railroad that passed
through western Lincoln Township was the Western Michigan and
Chicago, which later became the Pere Marquette, and is now the
Chesapeake and Ohio.
In 1884, Lincoln Township was considered the youngest township in
the county. Until 1867 it constituted a part of Royalton Township.
One of the earliest settlements in Berrien County was in Lincoln
Township and again it was Major Smith who settled in Section 1 near
the mouth of Hickory Creek.
Among the pioneers who succeeded Major Smith were Martin
Lounsbury and Samuel Davis, who settled in Sections 24 and 25,
respectively, in 1842. Gould Parrish settled in Section 36 in 1843 and
about the same time Harrison and John Nash settled in Section 34;
and Leonard Archer settled in Section 36 in 1845. Among other early
settlers were Stephen Lamoin, Alonzo Spear, Stephen Bonnell,
Alexander Wilbur, Andrew and Isaac Smoke, Dr. J. N. Purcell, James
Dunham, Hiram Brown, and William Walworth. Other pioneers in the
eastern part of the township were Jacob Fikes, John Bort, Orin Brown,
Chester Phelps, John Graham, Artemus Walker, Henry Evans, William
Brown, George Martin, and T. W. Dunham. In 1887, Mr. Dunham was
the largest land owner, holding title to everything west of the three
lakes along Lake Michigan (the bulk of Grande Mere), with the
exception of the southwest corner, owned by A. Thornton. Another
small area was owned by Hattie B. Piersma, and at the far end of
42
Milkweed.
North Lake several parcels were owned by L. D. Smith, Enos Dunham,
and James Dunham.
Many of these names still appear among present-day residents who
are the fourth and fifth generations. The name Dunham is still closely
identified with memorable activities in Grande Mere by those living
in the Stevensville area today. Several generations held title to large
tracts in Grande Mere, but this land was finally divided among a
number of purchasers who attempted farming and other efforts, all
of which failed. It is said that the western part of Lincoln Township,
Grande Mere, was the last to be settled because of the sterile
appearance of the soil. Actually, it was all sand dunes and most
settlers gave preference to more profitable areas.
In 1884, the population of the town of Stevensville, directly to the east
of Grande Mere, was 117. In 1884, the population of the Township
was 1,684. Today, the population of Lincoln Township, including
Stevensville, is 11,007.
Mr. Dunham started a sawmill on the northwest shore of Middle Lake
in 1867, subsequently developing an enormous lumber business on
the Grande Mere lakes. To facilitate shipment of lumber, Mr. Dunham
erected “Dunham Pier†in Lake Michigan, from which schooners were
loaded for lake crossings. This pier was just west of the sawmill and
until a few years ago the weathered pilings could still be seen just
above the surface of the lake and may again when the water level
drops in years to come. Should one look very closely, it is possible to
detect a huge pile of sawdust at this point despite the fact that
vegetation has almost obliterated it.
Mr. Dunham was fully aware of the effect the prevailing lake winds
had on fruit growing. The cold atmosphere retarded the swelling of
early fruit buds in the spring and in the late fall retained the acquired
warmth, modifying a cold snap, thereby preventing an early killing
frost. After the lumber business declined, Mr. Dunham planted an
orchard of peaches on a sheltered spot northwest of the South Lake.
To this day, locally, some refer to the area as ‘Dunham's Peach
Orchard.†The orchard was planted on what had once been an Indian
village site — long since buried by the sands shifted by that same
westerly wind that was thought to be so beneficial. The recent dune
just west of this site has been formed since the peach orchard days
and is already 100 feet above the lakes.
The well-known Dunham Dune which lies northeast of this site rises
to a height of more than 150 feet. Just southwest of this area is “Bald
Top,’ a dune 170 feet or more above the lake level. “Johnson Duneâ€
43
southeast of ‘Bald Top†rises to a height of 180 feet above the present
lake level (760 feet above sea level). This is the highest point in the
entire Grande Mere group of dunes.
While the Grande Mere Area had other activities, none was better
known than the Dunham Resort, located on the Lake Michigan shore
northwest of Middle Lake. Social groups staged all-day affairs at this
popular place. Sunday school outings were always sure to be held there.
The Dunhams “took in summer boarders,†many coming from
Chicago and other cities to spend a month or more. The main building
accommodated the dining room and kitchen, while just a few yards
away another building was used for sleeping quarters. Older residents
of the area can still remember today how gracious the Dunhams were.
The local boys were allowed to use the outside stairway up to the
second floor, actually an attic, where they could shed their clothes and
put on their short-sleeved, knee-length cotton “bathing suits†to go
swimming in Lake Michigan.
Dorothy Coleman Rhode likes to recall some of the early events
occurring in Grande Mere, especially the activities at the Dunham
resort. She remembers the advertisement that appeared in the
newspaper when Mr. Dunham launched his resort business. It read:
Grande Mere Resort September 24, 1910
James R. Dunham is platting about 14 acres west of Stevensville and
will call the plat “Grande Mere Resort.†The plat contains some 60
lots and already 20 are spoken for. Mr. Dunham expects ready sale for
the entire plat and when these lots are disposed of he will plat more
ground. The lots are selling for $50.00 to $75.00 per lot but an advance
will be made later on.
44
Mrs. Rhode also remembers the popularity of the old Grande Mere
Inn when on weekends Chicago people alighted from the old Pere
Marquette train at the old railroad station in Stevensville, where
Tommy Walton would transport them down to the Inn. She says the
process was reversed on Sunday evenings and often the passengers
would get out and walk up the steep hill into Stevensville to make the
trip easier for the horse. She said, ‘‘many of us walked to town each
day and my father and | always walked from the railroad station,
carrying our luggage and other parcels, and never once did we think
it a hardship. One of my favorite walks at Grande Mere was
through the woods to the old “ice house.’’ | remember when Dunham
Avenue was just a path. Some of the customers of Grande Mere Inn
enjoyed the narrow paths through the woods for there were no other
roads but the wagon trail to the Inn.â€
The resort business flourished in these beautiful surroundings, but as
the automobile became faster and more reliable, resorters traveled
farther away for more exciting things to do. Finally the Dunham
Resort was no more. The old 11-room Boarding House still stands
nestled in the dunes and has literally withstood the sands of time,
having had a number of owners who have used it for one purpose or
another. It is currently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Davis. The
William Dunhams still own a house in the Grande Mere Area.
Parcels of land were being bought in Grande Mere and during the
twenties and early thirties several local residents attempted to convert
the Grande Mere Area once more into orchards and nurseries. Fruit
farming and nurseries all gave way to land speculation, but with the
present emphasis on ecology it becomes more important that Grande
Mere be preserved as a natural area.
It has been found that many cultivated plants simply will not survive
in Grande Mere, but wild flowers, shrubs, and trees will thrive there in
abundance. For decades, many people just took Grande Mere for
granted. They roamed the winding roads, climbed to the top of the
highest dunes and fished from the tiny jewel-like lakes. Many from
Lincoln Township enjoyed the solitude for years; next came people
who wanted to live amid the beauty of Grande Mere and who therefore
built their homes on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Over the years, however, college professors brought their classes to
Grande Mere. Botanists, zoologists, ornithologists, archeologists, and
photographers found Grande Mere the epitome of outdoor classrooms.
In the Grande Mere Area the study of such varied subjects can be
pursued to the fullest. Time and ‘progress’ brought the I-94 super-
highway, which not only disturhed the Indian campsites and scarred
45
some of the dunes for sand removal but altered some of the most
significant natural areas. However, along I-94 and especially along
Thornton Drive, colorful and rare plants are again beginning to make
an appearance. Large quantities of rose gentians grow in this area,
as well as the brilliant cardinal-flower and the great blue lobelia. The
woodcock builds its nest adjacent to the Exit 22 Interchange.
By 1965 nearly 1,000 acres in Grande Mere had been purchased by
three out-of-state land developers. Sandmining seemed to be the fate
of the beautiful Grande Mere Dunes. THEN CAME APRIL 1965 (see
pages 63-97).
46
The Day of the Passenger Pigeon
Hatch’s Woods was the area along the side of the hill lying between
1-94 and what is now known as Red Arrow Highway; and from just
north of John Beers Road to Grande Vista’on the Red Arrow. It is all
rolling terrain and not too many people are aware.of its ecological
significance. It is almost inaccessible now because of private owner-
ship and isolation by 1-94. Before |-94 was constructed, there was an
abundance of towering oak trees which extended westward meeting
beech and maple.
Hatch’s Woods, because of these tall trees, was excellent habitat for
huge flocks of Passenger Pigeons migrating from. their southerly
wintering grounds. The birds had probably been coming to Grande
Mere for a thousand years. Each’spring would see the recurrence of
this awesome sight when for a full day the sky would be blackened by
the great flocks. The Indians witnessed many millions at times and
would harvest some in‘their:primitive way and dry them for winter
food or render them for, fat.:The numbers of the beautiful pigeons
were so great that their wings ‘made the sound of a thunderstorm as
they alighted in the great oaks and beeches.
These pigeons, unlike many other birds, paired for life. Soon after
courting and nest-building two eggs would be laid, and the male and
female would alternate sitting on them until the tiny squabs were
hatched. Their nests were crudely constructed in every possible spot
on branches and in the forks of the great trees. The adults, in search
of food, would travel great distances — as far as 50 miles or more.
They would eat seeds, such as grain or acorns, insects, and grubs,
storing them temporarily in their crops for mixing with “pigeon milkâ€
and later regurgitation into the mouths of the young.
Because of the great quantities of insects eaten by the Passenger
_Pigeons, Indians and oldtimers held them in high esteem — they
literally eliminated insect pests.
The Passenger Pigeon has been described as a very timid bird that
existed in the eastern part of North America in countless numbers,
47
but owing to the activities of ruthless market-hunters, it is now
extinct. The passengers were beautiful rose-gray creatures, about 15
inches long with delicately tinted plumage, small heads, and long tails
and wings, making them the aristocrats among pigeons.
Sometime, somewhere, the white man acquired the yen for breast of
pigeon or squab, a real delicacy served in fancy restaurants in New
York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. The killing of these beautiful
birds became not only a pastime, but a full-time commercial operation
for professional hunters.
By the 1800's, professional pigeoneers came by the hundreds, snaring
thousands of birds from salt- and grain-baited wet areas. They brought
them down with shotguns and were heard to complain when they
didn't bag at least a half dozen birds with one shot. They clubbed them
until the huge flocks would be decimated and many of the young were
left to die in or drop from their nests.
Dressed out, the pigeons were sent in large barrels from Stevensville
to Chicago or New York where they sold for 50¢ a dozen when
plentiful but finally the price reached 10¢ each — the equivalent of
an hour's pay in those days.
The same slaughter was going on all over the country, so that by the
time citizens became concerned at their dwindling numbers, it was
too late. The annihilation of this particular species was complete —
by about 1900 none could be found in Grande Mere or anywhere else
in Michigan. Some flocks retreated to remote areas such as the
Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia or in strange cliffs in the sides of
mountains ineffectively fleeing the market-hunters and their guns
and clubs.
Insects returned to the area. All too late, man lamented the loss of the
Passenger Pigeon — a species which had existed for thousands of
years vanished within 50 years. '
48
Memorabilia
by Juniata Cupp
The Cranberry Bog
Before the turn of the century, cranberry cultivation was big business
in Grande Mere. South Lake was devoted exclusively to the cultivation
of cranberries for distribution throughout the midwest. Hundreds of
pounds of the delicious fruit were shipped from Stevensville each fall
to markets in Chicago and other cities. Local people stocked their
cellars with crocks filled with the berries immersed in cold water for
use throughout the season. There was no need to preserve them in
any other way.
Cranberries are creeping shrubs rooted in floating mats of sphagnum
moss in the bog. At times they would be overgrown with brambles
from the summer's crop of wild roses which would have to be cleared
away to accommodate new cranberry plantings in the fall. Preparation
for winter began with damming the stream feeding South Lake in
order to flood the bog before it became frozen. After the ice was solid,
wheelbarrows of sand were hauled from the nearby dunes across the
old wagon trail, now Wishart Road. The sand was distributed fairly
evenly as top-dressing, and as spring thaws came it would work its
way down to the roots, thus reconditioning the marsh.
No one remembers the exact ownership at the time, but a Mr. Rich
of Chicago was the manager of the Cranberry Bog. Neither does
anyone seem to remember when the old original wooden dam was built
in later years but it must have been back around the turn of the century.
Remnants of the old bridge and the concrete dam can still be found.
The marsh level was easily controlled for winter protection, which
was of vital importance for a good crop of berries. As recently as 1950,
however, cranberries were found in abundance growing wild without
any special protection.
During the height of the cranberry harvest in the years of 1900 to
1912, nearly 500 people could be found picking cranberries, moving
slowly across the bog in a kneeling position, in long unbroken lines.
Strict foremen would supervise the operation and at the sight of a few
overlooked berries would tap the picker on the shoulder with a cane,
49
ordering him back to correct the oversight. Pickers were not allowed
to take leads or pull away from their neighbors, thereby retaining a line
that was truly a sight not easily forgotten. Standard measure
containers or grape baskets were used and many would ‘‘dish-in’’ the
sides of the baskets in order to reduce the measure, because pickers
were paid for baskets that appeared full. The baskets were then
dumped into ventilated crates and transported to Stevensville by
horse and wagon. For working on the marsh, the horses were shod
with a special set of demountable wooden muck-shoes to prevent
bogging down.
At Stevensville the crates were stored in Purcell’s Drug Store building,
which was a two-story frame structure standing at the corner of John
Beers Road and the present St. Joseph Street, across from the bank.
Local men were employed at this location, manually operating a
fanning machine to blow out the stems and leaves before shipment.
These men could earn $1.00 per day while the pickers, who were
mostly women and children, could earn 75¢ to $1.00.
The Cranberry Bog activities wound slowly to a halt around 1912
when other states started to cultivate cranberries in a more convenient
and economical manner.
50
Waverland Beach
As told by Marilyn Walker
The site of the Grande Mere Nature Study Preserve was once the
Fox-Lind subdivision of Lincoln Township. It was founded by James A.
Fox, a real estate broker, and Frederick Lindquist, an architect. The
Chicagoans found the area around 1908 and subsequently built
beach-front homes, some of which still can be seen today. The
subdivision comprised over 60 acres. The Preserve today looks as it :
did in 1910 when man’s last intrusion upon the wilderness was to
bisect the area with a road for easier access to the beach-front homes.
The name Fox-Lind was changed to Waverland Beach, condensed
from Wave Over Land.
Fox was the son of a captain in the British Army during the reign of
Queen Victoria and later enlivened many a Waverland Beach bonfire
party with stories of his early youth in faraway India.
Lindquist had a natural love for the sea, having been born in Stockholm,
Sweden. He was a young man when he arrived in this country and
settled in Chicago, where he pursued his education and subsequent
career in architecture. He was the son of a professional engineer.
Many a happy memory has been evoked from his family about the
times, around 1911, when he would go on the beach shaking his fist
or sometimes waving a gun at the “sandsuckers†yelling, ‘You're
ruining my beach — get away from here!’’ Lindquist became an early
conservationist because of the ‘‘sandsuckers’’ — barges with derricks
attached to them taking sand from the bottom of the lake for shipment
to various foundries in other states. He continued his vigilance
through the years until the sandmining in the lake finally stopped.
Childhood memories grew into happy adult memories for the Lindquist
and Fox families as a few more homes were built and the lure of
Waverland Beach called family and friends to the great outdoors.
Time marched on and the young adults began their own families,
subsequently taking them to Waverland Beach to be with grandfather
and grandmother for the summer. Some came hundreds of miles to
savor the front yard beach and the blueberry picking in the forest. The
seeds of love for Waverland Beach were implanted in the young and
now they in turn are teaching their children the saga of Waverland
Beach for their entertainment as well as for the lessons it teaches,
thanks to the Grande Mere Nature Study Preserve.
51
Ice cutting at the
turn of the century.
North Lake
activities—1973
Ice cutting at the
turn of the century.
52
Ice Cutting
In the days before refrigeration, housewives, ice cream companies,
butcher shops, and fresh-produce markets depended entirely on stored
ice put in specially constructed ice houses. The typical icehouse was a
spacious, partitionless room generally built with extra-thick walls well
insulated with sawdust.
From the turn of the century and up into the twenties, putting up ice
was an annual event at Dunham’s Icehouse, located on North Lake.
Much preparation for this undertaking was necessary. The repairing
of the ramp, or escalator, was of the utmost importance because the
entire crew depended on the ramp for a continuous operation. Up to
50 local workmen were hired and each man was assigned to a specific
job.
First, surface snow was cleared with a horse-drawn snowplow. Then
came a sharp-shod horse pulling a plow-type ice saw — a special,
heavy, single sawblade about 6 feet long, guided by typical plow
handles — which scored or cut the surface in long strips to a desired
depth depending upon the thickness of the ice. These long strips were
then cut crosswise to the regular block dimension. Next, hand saws
were used to cut out a couple of long strips which were then taken out
of the water. This opened up a long channel leading to the ramp into
the icehouse. A workman with a “spud†separated the long floating
blocks, at the same time guiding them with a long pike pole toward the
ramp. A row of blocks was then pulled up the ramp by a hook, rope,
and pulley by a team of horses near the icehouse. As the blocks entered
the house, they were guided into position by long pike poles until
every available bit of space was utilized. The upper and last layer was
covered with a heavy application of sawdust for final insulation. The
cakes of ice were not disturbed until summer when they were
distributed to local consumers.
53
Stories and Folklore’
Ray McClure of the South Bend, Indiana, 7ribune writes that ‘‘old-
timers around the Grand Mere Area say that on any summer evening
when the wind naps out on the lake, you can hear the oars of a canoe
splash rhythmically toward Waverland Beach. They relate that if you
are a brave soul and follow the sound you will see an Indian pull a
canoe up on the sand and disappear over the ridge toward Brinkman
Dune.
“This is one of the many stories of Grande Mere. Like all unique areas,
Grande Mere has its colorful history, but as in all colorful history there
is some fiction. Undeniably, Grande Mere is mysterious, lonely, and
beautiful in a raw and rugged way. To area residents, Grande Mere is
basically a feeling — a sensation — and because it is, it kindles the
imagination into a blaze of sight and sound that has sometimes turned
history into folklore and folklore into a tall tale.
“The story is told that on a certain fall evening when the breeze softly
slides across South Lake you can hear a chorus singing in the marshes.
Or how on a February night when the wind screams across Wilkins
Dune, you can hear the sound of sawing out on North Lake.
“It is a mixture of history and folklore, combined with a wild beauty,
that prompted a long effort to preserve the Grande Mere Dunes in
their original state — to keep safe the nesting place of many species
of birds, and an untrampled garden for hundreds of wild flowers.
In his writings, Dr. Alton A. Lindsey of Purdue University and
President of the Indiana Academy of Sciences states, ‘This Grande
Mere Area is a remarkable duneland. We consider this area is much
more valuable for a park and nature preserve than for commonplace
one-shot commercial use. It is within my professional field as an
ecologist to judge the quality of lands from the former viewpoint. |
am personally very familiar with Grande Mere and can vouch for the
great importance of saving this exceptionally fine tract for the highest
public uses in perpetuity.
“And so does the lonely Indian just after dusk on a summer evening
when the wind naps out on the lake.â€
Although Grande Mere has been referred to as mysterious and lonely,
it is not like Gene Stratton Porter's ‘‘Limberlostâ€â€ — a swamp and
quagmire in Indiana which was supposed literally to suck down into
its depths any unwary individual. As far as anyone can recall, none of
54
the three inland lakes of Grande Mere has ever claimed a life.
There is the story told, however, about the gentleman who, in an
attempt to gain recognition and publicity, tried to cross Lake Michigan
in a most unusual manner. He had rigged an elaborate waterproofed
encasement resembling a hugh canvas football or cocoon. Through
the center of this odd contraption he had secured a long 2-inch pipe
from which hung a chair-like hammock. Placing himself upon this
hammock and sealing himself in, he set about to cross the lake by
means of strong westerly winds. Had he tried this venture during the
summer, the story would not have had such a sad ending but he chose
to embark from Chicago in the cold days of November. On a bitterly
cold day toward the end of that month, a Mrs. Koehler, who lived in
Grande Mere, was walking along the beach near the North Lake outlet
in search of driftwood for her heating stove when she came upon the
frozen body of the hapless adventurer. Notifying the authorities of her
find was not a small chore, for it was in 1905 when telephones were
few and far between. Eventually, however, the body and his ‘‘fool-
killer,†as the townpeople called it, were brought by horse and wagon
by a man known as “Jap†Wall to the Town Hall. There the body was
placed on an old work bench alongside his contraption for all the
population of Stevensville to view for several days before relatives
from Illinois arrived to claim the body. There were those who
conjectured that he would have made it to the beach and survived had
he not been snagged by one of the old piers out in Lake Michigan near
Dunham’s abandoned sawmill. It is believed that it was at this point
that his “coffin†began to take in water and the struggle began;
finally emerging from it he was barely able to crawl to the beach and,
because of the freezing weather, was unable to go further. His body
was found just north of the outlet where the dam now stands.
A box was found inside the ‘‘cocoon†hanging from the 2-inch iron
pipe. It contained his source of food — a few bits of hard candy. It
was later learned that he had said that if he made this trip successfully
he would try it over Niagara Falls. oe
Another twice-told tale is the legend of the horse-thief who was hanged
in Holmes’ Hole. Holmes’ Hole was a deep blow-out of dunes west of
Middle Lake, several hundred feet from Lake Michigan. It sometimes
filled with water and was a good hide-out area for those fleeing from
the law and where one of them met his “Waterloo.â€
55
Louis P. Ueck tells the following story.
How well | remember the last towering tree | helped to cut down in
Grande Mere! It was a beautiful specimen — a 60-foot, straight white-
wood or tulip tree — and it was to be used for the ice game of Flying
Dutchman.
Few remember this sort of recreation, | dare say, and | would like to
tell you about it. We would sink a 6-foot cedar post in Middle Lake to
about 4 feet above the ice surface. The post would be allowed to
freeze firmly into place and would support the long white-wood pole
later. Into the top of this sunken post we would drive a 12-inch iron
bolt to form an axle. This axle post was to support the longest possible
pole this frozen area could handle.
When the Dunham’s gave up the business of ice cutting in Grande
Mere, Frank Mielke took it up and it was from him | had to obtain
permission to cut this huge specimen for the 60-foot pole. Stripping
it of all branches, we soon made it ready for the adventure. A single
hole was drilled through the butt and placed over the iron axle for
our Flying Dutchman.
To the tip of the pole we fastened a specially built round-runner sled.
The sled had to be well anchored at the front and the rear. The Flying
Dutchman was now ready to be swung into action, manually turned
ae ° ~—]
Middle Lake
56
by husky fellows who had previously cut notches into the ice fora
foothold at the base of the pivoted post. The butt end of this long
turning pole was elevated chest high, lessening the danger of falling
beneath it if any did slip — the pole would pass over without injury.
No one except the pushers were allowed into the ring area. Strong
boys could spin a sled around at about a hundred miles an hour (at
least it seemed that fast). There were many eager to try for the
never-to-be-forgotten thrill. | remember when a neighbor boy by the
name of Clarence Bartz came over to our Flying Dutchman. He took
plenty of time to anchor himself at the knees and at the feet, as well as
his hands — all to no avail! When the rotating sled reached the
centrifugal force too great for the mittened hands, it was too late to
make any adjustment. It was apparent that he was slipping! The first
thing we knew, Clarence was skittering across the snow half-way up
the hillside on his own momentum.
57
THE JOURNAL ERA, Berrien Springs, Mich.
OFF THE
COURTHOUSE RECORD
BERRIEN COUNTY
HISTORICAL COMM.
One of the place names of
Berrien County mentioned in
last week’s column was
Grand Marais (Grand Mere),
that sand and marsh area
near Stevensville which has
been the recent battle ground
of sand merchants and con-
servationists. The latter’s in-
terest in it is because it still
is a large natural area.
On August 31, 1850, Da-
rius Cook, one of the county’s
pioneer newspapermen,
wrote a description of Grand
Marias as it was when it was
a primeval wilderness. Cook
and some friends went there
for a few days of hunting.
The Niles editor’s party was
made up of four Berrien
Springs men George Kimmel,
C. F. Howe, Julius Brown and
Jim Watson and a Chicago
man named Deniston.
“Our load,†he wrote, “con-
sisted of one tent, buffalo
robes and blankets, axes,
pots and tea kettles, potatoes,
bread, crackers and cheese.
pork, ‘pakles’, etc., etc., suf:
ficient for a ten day cam-
paign for six men, two horses
and three dogs besides two
full bottles of medicine for
the sick and afflicted.
“At 4 p.m. the sound of our
voices echoed among the sand
hills of the Grand Marais
pitching our tent and_ it
should be borne in mind that
this is the greatest deer and
bear country in all North
America and, in the way of
variety, an array of ravens,
turkey buzzards and crows
58
which throng the beach feed-
ing upon the numerous dead
deer that float lifeless to the
shore having been driven into
the lake by wolves.â€
Cook’s article is full of typi-
cal hunters’ dialogue, practi-
cal jokes and exaggerated
shooting performances, but
his description of the area is
that of true wilderness.
“Pursuing an easterly
course, we came to what is
properly named ‘the Dev-
il’s Hole’, said to be impas-
sable for men or beast at this
season of the year. Either this
must be crossed or we must
round it some miles.
“Who dare cross this?â€
said Capt. Howes.
‘We dare follow youâ€, was
the answer.
No quicker said than the
lead was struck. The high
grass, the dense thicket of
the briary bushes, the high
bogs, the small deep pools of
water and the fallen tamarack
rendered it the most difficult
place to enter imaginable.
Penetrating to its center, we
found a_ miary, sluggish
stream. Here a bridge was
necessary which was soon
built of fallen tamaracks.
This over, our passage seem-
ed even more difficult, but
after more than an hour’s
hard struggle with briars,
brambles, grass, bogs and
water, we reached an im-
mense cedar swamp and
might have been seen upon a
log resting our weary limbs
and wringing our stockings
MARCH 1973
while ten thousand ‘galley-
nippers’ or musketoes, so old
they have become bald head-
ed, were sticking their half-
inch bills into our veins. A
specimen of these musketoes
we carefully preserved for
Griswold’s museum.
“This cedar swamp is quite
extensive and would be of
immense value were it near
civilization. It may be easily
approached on the ice and
over the marais in the winter.
The cedar stands very thick
and many trees are over two
feet through. Those who
understand it have a road on
the backside and it is, indeed,
found by a few to be a good
place to cabbage cedar which
is used to good advantage in
vessels.â€
In 1867 civilization reached
this little pocket of wilder-
ness when a saw mill began
cutting the timber which was
shipped by schooners loaded
at a pier built nearby into
Lake Michigan.
The bear, wolves and ra-
vens and the big trees are
gone, but the three lakes of
Grand Mere still mark the
place the French called the
“Big Marsh†and where Cook
swatted the big “Musketoesâ€.
Recipes for Herbs and Teas
Grande Mere is the habitat of many plants that were once used for
medicinal purposes or in cooking purely for the enjoyment of eating.
Some of the following uses and recipes may prove not only interesting
historically but perhaps somewhat humorous.
One is for the tea Grandmother always made in the springtime —
sassafras tea, an all-around cure-all.
Sassafras Tea (Sassafras albidum)
A teaspoonful of the bark of the root, cut very small or granulated, to
a cup of.boiling water. May be drunk either hot or cold. Sugar added
if desired. Some boil the scraped bark until the water becomes a bright
orange-red tea. It is supposed to thin the blood.
May-apple or Mandrake (Podophy//lum peltatum) Cathartic
A teaspoonful of the root, cut small, to a pint of boiling water. Take
one teaspoonful at a time as required.
Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) for Skin Irritation
Two teaspoonfuls of the root to a pint of boiling water. Drink cold, 2
or 3 tablespoonfuls 6 times a day.
Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyeara pubescens)
The fresh leaves are steeped in milk and applied as a poultice to
bruises, bites of insects and skin irritations. The leaves may be used
whole if preferred.
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Petals were used as a remedy for sore throats and mouth ulcers for the
peasant class. Violet petals dried and made into syrup were used for
the same purpose by the gentry.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) was used for tea by the early settlers and the
Indians believed it induced sound sleep.
Rue (Thalictrum) was thought by the Greeks and Romans to protect
them from diseases and over the ages this herb has become symbolic
of repentance.
Wood Avens (Geum)
The bitter juice of the long, black, woody root was excellent for
stomachache.
59
Adder’s Tongue (Erythronium americanum)
The fresh leaves can be crushed and used as a poultice.
European Alder (A/nus glutinosa)
The bark and leaves may be used as an astringent.
Aloe (Agave americana) may be used as a diuretic.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) stimulates the digestive organs.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Leaves are excellent for purging.
Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota)
Roots and seeds may be used as a Stimulant and diuretic.
Candytuft (/beris amora)
The whole plant was used by the ancients for gout and rheumatism,
and is now used for spasms of asthma and bronchial irritation.
Chicory (Chicorum intybus)
Tea made from roots is good for sour stomach. In some areas it is still
used as a coffee substitute.
Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
Roots may be used as a tonic, and when mixed with fennel seed, make
an excellent eyewash.
Nightshade (Solanum americanum)
Leaves are somewhat narcotic and sedative.
Gentian (Gentiana /utea)
Roots make a tonic for improving the appetite and promoting digestion.
Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea) is said to protect from harm those
who use it. The leaves, blossoms, and stems steeped in boiling water
make a tea for a stimulant, heartburn, and colic.
Wake Robin (7ri/lium recurvatum)
Roots may be used for an astringent or poultice for insect stings.
60
Milkweed (Apocynum androsaemifolium)
Roots make a tonic and laxative.
Ladyslipper (Cypripedium pubescens)
Plant is used for a tonic and gentle nerve stimulant, and is beneficial
for ordinary nervous headaches.
Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegiodes) serves as a gentle stimulant.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) was considered by wise men of old to
be one of the nine sacred herbs that were thought to counteract the
nine causes of disease. Greek mythology tells us that the knowledge of
fennel came to man as a coal of fire in a stalk of fennel, directly from
Mount Olympus. An old legend mentioned in Shakespeare says that
he who eats fennel will enjoy clear vision.
The following are recipes found in Mrs. Catherine Bishop’s
great-great-grandmother’s cook book (Mrs. Catherine Snider Miller).
Cancer Syrup
Burdock 2 pound
Sasparilla /2 pound
Dandelion % pound
Yellow dock (narrow leaf) /2 pound
Pound fine, put in a tin pan, add 5 quarts of water, boil down to 2
quarts, strain it and add /2 pound loaf sugar and ¥2 pint Holland gin
or best whyskey. Dose: one Tablespoon before meals three times a day.
If your roots are green, take % pound of each.
Cough Syrup
1 oz. horehound
1 oz. elecampane
1 oz. skunk cabbage
1 oz. spikenard
1 oz. dandelion
1 oz. comfrey
1 oz. licorice stick
Boil in 5 quarts of water down to one quart. Add one pound of loaf ©
sugar, one pint molasses, one pint brandy or whyskey. Cork and keep
in a cool place.
61
Worm Medicine
1 quart of liquor
1 ounce aloes
1 ounce oil of juniper
1 ounce oil of anice
a little asafetida
Linament
1 oz. oil of wormwood
Y% oz. oil of Organum
Ye oz. oil of white cedar
Ye oz. oil of amber rectified
Ye oz. oil of hemlock
Y oz. oil of Balsam fir
1 pint alcohol
Cough Syrup
Take one handful of wild cherry tree bark, one of dogwood bark, one
of white wood bark, one of comfrey root, and one of spignut root.
Poot it in two quarts of water and boil down to one quart. Add % pound
of loaf sugar, one gill of brandy, and a little saltpeter. Dose: one
teaspoonful three times a day as a stomack will bare.
Linament
Take of olive oil, 2 0z.; oil or oreganum, 1 0z.; camphor gum, 1 0z.;
Age ammonia, 1 oz. Shake well together.
62
63
Chronological Record of Attempt
to Save Grande Mere
April 1965 to April 1973
At Grande Mee s: ssesr. sien, monssy, Apri 26,1965
Herald-Press
Assemble 1,200
Acres For Factories
And Businesses
A major assemblage of a
substantial land area for
sizeable industrial and com-
mercial development has
been put together in the
Grande Mere section of Lincoln
township.
The property includes some
1,200 acres lying between 1-94
and the Lake Michigan shore-
line and running two miles from
the freeway’s John Beers road
intersection south two miles to
Linco road. Liuico road is the
dividing line between Lincoln
and Lake townships.
Immediately beyond Linco
is a 500-acre’parcel which the
the Indiana & Michigan Electric
tompany started to acquire
quitely 10 years ago as the site
of a generator plant.
Harry Gast, Jr., Lincoln town-
ship supervisor, plans to outline
the Grande Mere development
tonight to a meeting of the Lake-
shore Chamber of Commerce at
Snowflake motel.
Active in marshalling part
of the acreage has been Bun
Baldwin, Bridgman realtor,
working as purchase agent
for one of the three partners
in the enterprise.
His clients are Manley Broth-
ers, headquartered at Chester-
ton, Ind. Members of this part-
nership are Russell Manley and
a South Bend, Ind., business-
man, Fred Davis.
Another part of the Manley
interests is the Manley Sand
company, a subsidiary of the
American-Marietta corporation,
which operates a large sand pro-
cessing plant north of Bridgman.
The product is sold primarily to
foundries.
The other two partners in the
promotion are Victor Peters, a
Chicago attorney, and Philip
Shapero, just recently made a
circuit judge in the Cook coun-
ty (Chicago) court system.
Baldwin is expected to repre-
sent the three members as their
64
primary agent in selling the
property to industrial acd bus-
iness prospects once the syndi-
eate has completed its develop-
ment preliminaries.
This development work di-
vides into four principal steps:
1. Rezoning the area from
its present residential status to
industrial. Unless neighborhood
objections should pose unfore-
seen problems, this is regarded
as a formality. The Lincoln
township board members al-
ready have expressed full ac-
cord on the project.
2. Bringing a railroad spur
line into the area. This calls
for I&M cooperation because of
the location of its future plant
site and its adjacency to the
C&O’s main track lines. In ef-
fect, the quicker the I&M moves
on its generator plans the fast-
er the Grand Mere complex be-
comes a reality.
3. Dredging, grading and oth-
erwise changing a wilderness
into useable space. The area
contains two of the three Grand
Mere lakes, a bog aud a dune
bridge.
4. A water supply in sizeable
volume. This requirement is a
part of the thinking which has
gone into the Lake Michigan
Shoreline Water Authority pro-
posal to be voted upon May
10th.
A special meeting Friday
afternoon between the Lin-
coln board, Baldwin, Davis,
C&O agents, an I&M right
of way agent, and Harris K.
Miller, from the Michigan
Department of Economic Ex-
pansion roughed out an out-
line for the area’s develop-
ment,
This meeting suggested a
commercial section, including a
marina possibility, and an in-
dustrial park with a minimum
individual sale of 30 acres for
plant purposes. Should there be
any “left over†space, this
could go for housing purposes.
Grande Mere, French for
“large lake,†is a term descrip-
tive of any of the five Great
Lakes and the origin of whom
applied it to the shoreline area
from Bridgman to Stevensville
has long been lost.
Early settlers timbered it and
some eked out a living in farm-
ing parts of it, but through most
of its area and to most local
people it has been an unofficial
wildlife preserve; and if it is
converted to civilized process-
es, the best duck and small
game hunting ground in the
vicinity will become just a
memory.
Its present unproductive state
to the contrary, the price for its
land sustains the thinking of
people as to values of shoreline
property.
The revenue stamps on the
deeds picked up by Baldwin for
his clients show acreage prices
ranging from $1,100 to $2,500.
The total acreage divides ap-
proximately “375 to Judge Sha-
pero, 500 to Atty. Peters and 325
to Manley Brothers.
Peters’ holding comes out of
what in the 1920s was known as
Stevensville Syndicate No. 1 and
No. 2.
This was a group of Chicago-
ans who bought the property
with the thought of subdividing
it for luxury homesites.
The 1930 depression stifled
that thought and sent most
of the syndicate members
through the financial wring-
er; and as some were un-
able to pay their ownership
assessments, those more for-
tunate took up their shares.
Two of those survivors, now
deceased, were related to Bish-
op Fulton J. Sheen, the Catho-
lic clergyman noted for his ra-
dio and TV lectures. They were
Arthur W. Fulton, a brother-
in-law, and Joseph J. Sheen, a
nephew, both lawyers in Chi-
cago.
This newspaper article left many readers with mixed emotions. Those
who were aware of the ecological significance of Grande Mere were
stunned. Almost overnight, interested persons came forth and a
meeting was called on April 30 where it was decided to invite
naturalists to visit the area for the purpose of making an ecological
appraisal.
1965
MAY 12. A meeting is held by Lincoln Township where ‘‘plansâ€â€™ for
Grande Mere are revealed. Newspaper headlines read:
GRANDE MERE BATTLE LINES DRAWN
Industrial Use Advantage Told
Will the Grande Mere area of Lincoln Township become a site of
industrial, commercial and recreational facilities or will it remain a
preserve for the birds and animals of the area?
The 100 persons who attended the presentation of possible utilization
of the Grande Mere area were divided into two camps...
MAY 13. Those from the “‘neighborhoodâ€â€™ and other conservationists
get together and decide to form an organization to ‘‘Save Grande
Mereâ€! Officers are elected, by-laws adopted, and the crusade is
started. Public meetings are held and people from all walks of life and
all parts of Michigan respond. Soon several hundred dues-paying
members form the backbone of what is now known as the Grande
Mere Association.
Reams of printed material begin to appear in newspapers, including
the Chicago Tribune and the Detroit Free Press. Writers dig out old
historical facts for interesting reading about Grande Mere. College
professors in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois begin writing articles
extolling the natural virtues of Grande Mere. The first public hike
through Grande Mere is conducted on a very cool Sunday afternoon
by Gene Morgan, Biology Instructor at Lake Michigan College, Dr. Asa
Thoresen, head of the Biology Department of Andrews University at
Berrien Springs, and Dr. William Ashbey of Southern Illinois University.
gh Grand Mew Souday
nby, professor, Southers Ufine's U
logy ae parons University, | 2
CARO ; les Witkowske, Benton High
4 thun, Lakeshore High school bilogy (oi
| “SECTION TWO-8 PAGES
~ |THE HERALD-PRESS
Grande Mere Long
Target Of
Grande Mere has long been
the target of developers
In the early part of the 2oth
century §, Ella Dunham, pro:
prietor of Grande Mere ‘park,
Fwrote a descriptive and histori
al sketch describing that part
fof the development lying be
tween’ Stevensville and Lake
Michigan.
‘The name Grande Mere has
been spelled in various ways
Dut some historians believe the
“Grande†is French for great
and mere would mean mother
which was handed down from
the Indians who populated the
area and considered the fertile
area between the St. Joseph
iver and Lake Michigan and
66
especially the wilderness along
the lake as their mother Iode—
the source of their food and
cfothing.
it's translation would be
ee
Michigan.
‘The Berrien County Audubon
society has focused consider-
Abie interest on the Grande
Mere area after it was anpounc-
ed developers have their eye on
itas the site for light industry
‘and recreational and resort fa-
cities
‘The account of the park by
Ella Dunham is illustrated with
street, Pine street, Pe
Tee sireet and Orchard street.
"The account of the park and
the Dunham estate is as fol
lows:
Grande Mere
‘The Dunham estate was orig.
inally purchased by T. W. Dun.
hhami in 1885. It then consisted
fof 1,300 acres of thickly wood:
fed lands. Forests of white pine
covered the dry ground while
the swamps were dense with
cedar and tamarack and in the
marshes flourished wild gra:
and cranberries.
Tn those early days the pla
was the scene of much activity
‘THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1065
Developers
while these native products
‘were harvested. A saw-mill was
ear tracks’ were laid, a
was built into the lake and a
scow, called the M,N. Dun-
ym, was made and launched
at the pier.
‘ince then 2 great change
kas come over the land:
‘teape. Gone are almost all
trace of those monarchs of
‘the forest, The swamps and
‘marl beds are now bat ples-
parks.
AUGUST 12. Newspapers read:
ALL AGREE — GRANDE
MERE IS EXCEPTIONAL
The Lincoln Township
Board, caught in the no-
man’s land between conser-
vationists and commercial
developers of Grande Mere
has received a_ professional
planner’s report to help guide
future decisions.
The ink was hardly dry on
the 45-page report when it
came under attack by the
Grande Mere Association.
The Association is sponsor-
ing a meeting for 7:30 P.M.
Saturday at Lakeshore High
School at which time four
speakers will explore various
aspects of conservation in
general and the Grande Mere
Area in particular...
AUGUST 14. A capacity audience listens to:
“History of Grande Mereâ€
“Grande Mere Today — The Crossroadsâ€
“Regional Planning and Grande Mereâ€
“Don’t Put An Iron Curtain Along
Our Lakeshoreâ€
67
Dr. Charles Olmsted
Chairman
Department of Botany
University of Chicago
Dr. H. Lewis Batts, Jr.
Executive Director
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Donald McGrath, Architect
St. Joseph, Michigan
Member, Lake Michigan
Region Planning Council
Herbert Read, Architect
Chesterton, Indiana
Member, Lake Michigan
Region Planning Council
and Save the Dunes, Inc.
The Grande Mere Association had sent a letter to Washington inviting
dignitaries to attend this meeting and was in receipt of the following
telegram from the Secretary of the Interior, Stewart L. Udall:
WE SHARE WITH YOUR ASSOCIATION CONCERN RE:
POSSIBLE LOSS OF THIS IMPORTANT SCENIC AND
RECREATION SOURCE. RECREATION AND SCENIC
VALUES OF GRANDE MERE — LAKE MICHIGAN DUNES
HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR MANY YEARS. URGENT
NEED TO PRESERVE SUCH OUTSTANDING SCENIC
RESOURCES IN YOUR HIGHLY POPULATED REGION IS
WELL ILLUSTRATED IN PRESENT EFFORT TO PRESERVE
THE INDIANA DUNES TO THE SOUTH OF GRANDE
MERE DUNES. WE AGREE THAT AN ADEQUATE STUDY
OF THE SCENIC, SCIENTIFIC AND RECREATIONAL-
VALUE OF THE GRANDE MERE DUNES SHOULD BE
COMPLETED BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN TO REZONE
THIS AREA FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES. I COMMEND
YOUR DESIRE FOR LONG RANGE TOWNSHIP AND
COUNTY PLANNING. SUCH PLANNING CAN PREVENT
IRREVERSIBLE ACTIONS WHICH MAY BE REGRETTED
BY FUTURE GENERATIONS.
SEPTEMBER 1.
The long newspaper article that led the Grande Mere Association into
thinking of obtaining state assistance:
COULD BUY LAND FOR $500,000
Conservation Group Hopes for Millage Vote.
Grande Mere’s Dunes... Grande Mere Association
wooded trails... good water- said the 1,200-acre wilder-
fowl and small game hunting ness gem has a market value
... lonely beaches... unique of $1 million and that federal
plant life and myriad wild legislation makes it possible
birds can be saved by Berrien for a county to acquire land
County voters if they are by purchase or condemna-
willing to pay $500,000 it will tion with the Federal Govern-
cost to purchase the land ment paying 50% of the acqu-
from its present owners. Paul _ sition costs through the Land
Armbruster, Chairman of the and Conservation Fund...
SEPTEMBER 28. It becomes obvious that the Chamber of Commerce
endorses the rezoning of Grande Mere for commercialization. A
meeting and debate between conservationists and commercialists
points out the wide difference of opinion. The battle is, by this time,
in full armor. Bumper stickers saying ‘SAVE GRANDE MERE†begin
to appear on automobiles throughout the area.
68
NOVEMBER 18. An editorial in The News Palladium written by the
late Stanley R. Banyon:
Unique Grand Mere
Should Be Preserved
Today brings forth a new chap-
ter in the fight to save the scenic
beauty and wonder of Stevens-
ville’s Grand Mere area from
commercial development. Paul
Armbruster, chariman of the
Grand Mere Association, says
that $1,000,000 — half from the
U.S., half from local sources —
can save this dunes tract on the
shore of Lake Michigan.
It’s too early to tell whether
this new approach is practical.
It seems to depend on determin-
ation of actual land costs and
public reaction.
But, certainly, there should be
some way to preserve the unique
attraction of Grand Mere for fu-
ture generations.
Every 24 hours Ameriea loses
over 8,000 acres of natural land to
development. This amounts to
about one million acres a year go-
ing into such things as urban ex-
pansion, housing subdivisions,
shopping centers, highways and
so on.
Fewer and fewer children to-
day have the benefit of first-
hand, intimate experience with
the wonders and beauties of land
in its natural and unexploited
state.
The Twin Cities have already
69
lost many of the dunes for which
they once were famed. Highways
and parking knocked out Jean
Klock Park dunes dear to the
heart of childhood only 20 to 30
years ago.
Geologists and botanists have
described Grand Mere as a unique
natural wonder of the world. It
holds myriads of animal and plant
life. Once gone, its lakes, dunes
and marshes could never be re-
placed.
The private owners of the land
in question cannot be expected to
hand over title without just com-
pensation. A first step in any
successful effort to save the
dunes must begin with determina-
tion of a fair price.
Less consideration can be giv-
en to the drive by some local of-
ficials to commercialize Grand
Mere for the economic benefit
to surrounding property. There
is plenty of other property in the
vicinity, property not possessing
the unique natural characteristics
of Grand Mere.
The entire state, even the
whole nation, has an interest in
preserving areas like Grand Mere,
The Grand Mere Association de-
serves support from far and wide
in its efforts to save a bit of Na-
ture for generations yet unborn.
ALNV38 3434 ONVYD 3AVS NVD ALNNOD
S96T ‘81 UAMNAAON ‘AVGSUNHL “HOIN ‘HdaSOL “LS
wey SSUud-dIvadH AHL =
70
During this interval there is much dialogue concerning the rezoning
of Grande Mere but the Township Board has not yet received a formal
request for rezoning by the owners. Sandmining is still being carried
on on Wishart Road in Grande Mere, although on a limited scale. The
Grande Mere Association protests this activity to the Township
Board. Nothing much can be done inasmuch as there is no sandmining
ordinance in force. Immediately, the Grande Mere Association starts
to work toward ordinances to control further strip mining. The
Township Attorney is asked to work on such an ordinance. The first
time many people hear of the word “‘ecology’’ is when it appears in the
local papers in ‘‘Letters to the Editor†in relation to the need to save
Grande Mere.
NOVEMBER 22. The State becomes interested in Grande Mere. Three
officials tour the area, including Freshman Representative Floyd
Mattheeussen (D) of Benton Harbor; Norman Smith, Chief of the
Michigan Department of Conservation’s Recreation Resource
Planning Division; and Jim Wickes, a staff member of the Planning
Division. Smith said, “The Conservation Department has been interested
in the Grande Mere area for more than thirty years but the price asked
has always been more than we can afford.â€
At this point Rep. Mattheeussen starts to promote legislation toward
obtaining $500,000 for the purchase of Grande Mere.
DECEMBER 13. Commercialists request rezoning the Grande Mere
Area for industrial and commercial application.
An application to change
the zoning of a large portion
of the Grande Mere Area
from residential to industrial
and commercial has been pre-
sented to the Lincoln Town-
ship Planning Commission.
The application is signed
by Russell E. Manley, Fred
N. Davis, Victor S. Peters and
Mildred _ Peters, property
owners. Property owned by
the Grand Marais Corpora-
tion in the Grande Mere Area
is not included in the rezon-
ing request.
DECEMBER 16. The first organization to endorse the purpose of the
Grande Mere Association is the St. Joseph Valley Audubon Society.
Garden clubs and other groups are taking up the banner. The Indian
Hills Garden Club sends $1,000 to further the cause.
71
1966
JANUARY 6.
GROUP PROTEST
REMOVAL OF SAND AT
GRAND MERE
Members of the Grande
Mere Association plan to
gather in force at the LincJIn
Township Hall to protest to
the Township Planning Com-
mission the removal of sand
from Grande Mere by one of
the land owners of that 1,200-
acre wilderness tract. The
Manley Sand Company last
week started removing sand
with bulldozers and is truck-
ing it to its processing plant
at Bridgman. The firm has
cleared trees from 30 acres of
dunes at the southern end of
the area.
FEBRUARY 17. A public hearing is held and the sandmining
ordinance is discussed at great length. Very little action is taken.
FEBRUARY 28. Headlines in The Detroit Free Press:
BILL WILL URGE
CREATION OF THE
GRANDE MERE DUNES
PARK. SEEKS TO
PROTECT NATURE
REFUGE
Benton Harbor — Rep. Floyd
Mattheeussen (D) said that
this week he will introduce a
bill asking for a special ap-
propriation to buy the 1,200-
acre Grande Mere Sand
Dunes near Stevensville for a
State Park.
MARCH 3. The State of Michigan places a million-dollar price on
Grande Mere.
MARCH 4.
BRIEF HEARING HELD ON GRANDE MERE CONTROVERSY ...
WILL BE CONTINUED MARCH 24... LAWYERS NOT YET
Lawyers Not Yet
Ready With Plans
By CHET NEWMAN
_ Staff Writer
STEVENSVILLE — Two pro-
posed amendments to Lincoln
township’s zoning ordinance re-
ceived only brief hearings
Thursday night when the town-
ship planning commission was
told attorneys were not: ready
to make their work public.
The hearing was continued to
8 p.m. March 24, again in the
township hall in Stevensville.
Attorneys representing three
groups involved in the Grand
Mere controversy said they had
worked on the ‘‘sand ° ordi-
nance†and “‘planned develop-
ment district’? documents. How-
ever, they agreed their work
was not ready to be laid before
the public.
SURPRISE MOVE
In a surprise move following
tabling of the discussion, A.G.
Preston Jr. of St. Joseph,
representing Manley Bros.,
Inc., of Chesterton, Ind., asked
that part of the firm’s rezoning
request receive the planning
commission’s endorsement.
READY WITH PLANS
Following a brief flurry of
protests from the audience,
Mrs. Christine Welch, commis-
sion secretary, said they could
not grant the request because
the rezoning application had not
received full legal hearings.
The commission will consider
Manley’s request that part of
the Grand Mere area be re-
zoned from residential to com-
mercial and industrial at the
March 24 meeting.
It was the rezoning applica-
tion that touched off the contro-
versy last year. Manley has
already started limited sand
mining operations. The firm
supplies foundry sand to plants
over much of the United States.
FIRM’S PLANS
However, sand mining is not
Manley’s only intere.. .a Grand
Mere. The firm also wants part
of the eastern side along I-94 to
be rezoned. industrial and a
relatively small plot near the
Stevensville interchange rezoned
commercial.
Preston’s request that part -of
the rezoning application be
endorsed to the Lincoln town-
ship board was based on neces-
sary haste, he told the meeting. |
‘said they would do so ajmak
Manley Bros. wants to begin
dredging Middle Grand Mere
lake in the near future or it will
have to abandon the project, at
least until next year. The firm’s
plans include development of
the middle lake into a marina
with man-made access to Lake
Michigan.
Said one membez of the
audience: “It’s best to let it
sleep another year.†eco
After Mrs. Welch told Pre{ ot
the commission could not Se
dorse the partial-rezoning e\™®
quest, he urged the commisbPOr
to consider it at the Marcluch "
hearing. Pres
LAWYERS MEET jd ne
Preston, Atty. John SpelsteP2"
and Atty. Julian Hughes set
the meeting they had met toapP@â„¢
to iron out differences in comP
amendment proposals. Th HU
before the March 24 meeting draf
Spelman represents the p\a st
ning commission and Huj\cot
the Grand Mere associat \toU
which was organized to re’
the rezoning. 4
Spelman gave a brief ‘d-\t
gress report†on the grol’s\i
work, but said much remap
The Grande Mere Association is confronted with compromise
proposals and publicly announces its stand:
NO COMPROMISE ON
74
GRANDE MERE
Because Grande Mere is
geologically unique and _ ir-
replaceable once defaced,
this area should be preserved
as nearly as possible in its
natural state, and developed
only slightly for recreational
and educational purposes for
which the Grande Mere Area
is best suited. The long-range
wisdom of such a choice is
apparent only when consider-
ation is given to the fact that
Lincoln Township still has
over 6,000 acres of undevel-
oped land available.
MARCH 25. OPTIMISTIC FOR
GRANDE MERE BILL
PASSAGE
APRIL 14.
GRANDE MERE BILL IS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
MAY 18. Grande Mere Association sponsors the first big annual hike...
JUNE 15.
ONE-THIRD OF GRANDE MERE FOR INDUSTRY?
The Township Board backs the plan to rezone 400 acres to commercial
but conservationists call it “foot-in-the-door to end wildlife.â€
THE HERALD-PRESS “=
ST. JOSEPH, MICH., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1966
ONE-THIRD OF GRAND MERE FOR INDUSTRY?
Critic Calls It
‘Foot-In-Door’ To
End Wildlife
‘The Lincoln township board
‘Tuesday night endorsed a plan
to turn over one-third of the
Grand Mere area for industrial
tise, while keeping the southern
twothirds asa recreation and
‘wildlife haven,
In explaining its stand, the
beard cited the need for an
industrial tax base to support
rapidly growing Lakeshore
schools,
But a leader of the “save
Grana Mere" campaign viewed
destroy the entire wildlife re
treat
‘The board’s action was. in
response to requests from land
gunere W'S" Peters Ir. and
fanley Bros., an Indiana sand
| mining firm.
"A request made 14 months; NEW GRAND MERE REZONING PLAN: Lincoln township board Tues-
er ce a eaten day night endorsed this rezoning plan of the Grand Mere area. Lower right
Mere, for industrial and com-) corner of marked area would be industrial with remainder commercial, in=
\This was the request that cluding a yacht basin in Middle Grand Mere lake. Lake Michigan is at left
|started the current “Grand| and 1-94 at right. All marked land is owned by Manley Bros. of Chesterton,
| Mere controversy.†Ind., and Victor S. Peters Jr. of Lincoln township.
[XSsecond request, which was | ——————————
+. |endorsed. asks for ihe rezoning
© \otcthe area. north of ‘Wishart
|toad'sand. surrounding Middle
Grand Mere lake. Most of the
- am, new request is for commercial
|S SRS al are ie
“ Ika
The request was made for the
land owners ina letter from
their attorney, A.G. Preston Jr.
of St_Joseph.
THREE POINTS 1
JUNE 30.
GRANDE MERE IS STILL A QUESTION. BILL PASSES BUT
HAS CRIPPLING RESTRICTIONS. $500,000 MAY NOT BE
ENOUGH
The amendments state that the money has to be used within six months
and that no condemnation procedures can be used, rendering it
virtually useless.
1967
JANUARY 3. The Grande Mere Association receives a telegram
from Michigan Governor George Romney, who endorses the Grande
Mere State Park plans and asks for delay in rezoning of the area.
JANUARY 6. Lincoln Township Planning Commission endorses the
rezoning of 400 acres in Grande Mere for industrial and commercial
purposes. A real blow to the Grande Mere Association. The Commission
explains how the plans submitted by the owners list the dredging of
Middle Lake for yacht basin purposes as the first step. The yacht basin
or marina plan also proposes the digging of a channel from Middle
Lake to Lake Michigan. When these plans are proposed to the Berrien
County Planning Commission, they receive a cool reception and at
least two members said, “we have a responsibility to the generations
to come and there is only so much /ake front. It should be bought by
the county and state for a park.â€
FEBRUARY 11. The final public hearing is held and despite hundreds
of protests against rezoning, the Lincoln Township Board votes to
rezone the area to ‘planned development, commercialization, and
industrialization†of Grande Mere. The Grande Mere Association has
only a few days to decide whether a referendum should be sought.
The Board of Directors meets and votes to go ahead. In two days, the
circulating of petitions results in 702 signatures — nearly twice as
many as needed to demand the referendum. The Township Board
does not announce when the election will be held until April 12,
selecting June 6 as the date. The Grande Mere Association has its
work laid out! Novices at this sort of thing, they enlist the assistance
of many knowledgeable people: engineers, ecologists, T.V. personalities,
teachers, writers — support comes from across the country. The battle
is conservationists versus commercialists. Local groups such as the
Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Jaycees line up behind the
commercialists, while many other organizations back the
conservationists. It seems to be a toss-up! This is one of the most
time-consuming, energetic operations the Grande Mere Association
has ever become involved with. Thousands of dollars are spent on
publicity; the contributions come from people in all walks of life —
the public has to be made aware of the vital issue. Grande Mere enjoys
the publicity of “being on television†when WBBM-TV produces a long
film of the area. Weeks of struggle and frustration, hope and despair,
follow.
“Nature education, natural resources use, and conservation training are rapidly
becoming a part of the general school curriculum. We now realize that many natural
features and native landscapes are irreplaceable in terms of one’s lifetime so that their
preservation takes on a far-reaching significance... The Grand Mere area is supplied
with a wealth of natural features which could contribute significantly to a program of
ecological training and education in the wise use of natural resources.â€
Paul Thompson, Past President
Michigan Natural Areas Council
“| personally consider the Grand Mere area worthy of preservation as a nature reserve
for the lessons it illustrates in both glacial and shoreline geology and in ecology. The
area as a whole still serves as a valuable outdoor laboratory for classes in geology,
botany, zoology and other field sciences. It is a relatively wild area, and one which
combines the great contrast of swamps and dunes ina delightful and interesting
manner. Its preservation is much to be desired.â€
Dr. Charles Olmsted
University of Chicago
“Remarkable... This Grand Mere area is a remarkable duneland. . . We consider that
this area is much more valuable for a park and nature preserve... than for alternative
commonplace one-shot commercial use. It is within my professional field as an
ecologist to judge the quality of lands from the former viewpoints. | am personally very
familiar with Grand Mere and can vouch for the great importance of saving this
exceptionally fine tract for the highest public uses in perpetuity.â€
Alton A. Lindsey, Ph. D.
Purdue University
Pres. Indiana Academy of Sciences
TT:
aek
‘Bluel rerry
Hil? Is
Highlight
\
o
_. NNER URGES SCIENTIFIC DEVELOP Ey,
Al Asree--Grande Mer
e Is Exceptio
CBee:
a
2 1
tag
a
toy? th ay
ie
fe
Mi hing
Nature Study Preserve
LEP EO
Sa
JUNE 6. The people of Lincoln Township have the privilege to vote.
SAVERS OF DUNES WIN IN ELECTION. ON GRANDE MERE
The battle is won, but the war is far from over.
In retrospect, just shortly before June 6 the owner of 400 acres in
Grande Mere, Judge Phillip Shapiro, died, leaving his property to his
estate. Judge Shapiro had never asked to have his property rezoned
and had expressed a dislike for sandmining.
It is about this time that the Grande Mere Association learns that 22
acres of prime duneland in Waverland Beach, Grande Mere, is going
to be sold to the sandmining company; conservationists are panic-
stricken. The owners are persuaded to allow the Grande Mere
Association time to raise the down payment for the purchase, and by
fall $20,000 is contributed toward what is now known as the Grande
Mere Nature Study Preserve.
81
AUGUST 4. Grande Mere Association becomes incorporated.
NOVEMBER 9.
GRANDE MERE GROUP
SAVES DUNE LAND —
22 ACRE TRACT IS
PURCHASED. GIVEN TO
NATURE CENTER TO
KEEP IT FROM FOUNDRY
The Grande Mere Associa-
tion has purchased 22 acres
of dune land and given it to
the Kalamazoo Nature Cen-
ter to save it from being
carted away to a foundry.
The 22-acre Preserve is a rectangular parcel of duneland. It boasts a
representative list of trees, shrubs, some very rare wildflowers, many
varieties of fungi and mosses. A small hemlock forest graces the middle
of the Preserve. The old wagon trails, used decades before, are now
made into footpaths that criss-cross the entire area. A gravel road
bisects the length of the acreage, but it is a private road for the
residents of Waverland Beach to reach their homes. Walking on this
road is permissible but outside vehicular traffic is discouraged.
Benches are placed at intervals along the trails for the convenience
of the nature lover who may wish to stop long enough to take note of
his surroundings.
The Grande Mere Nature Study Preserve has already served
thousands of students and adults, but it is only a small sample of the
Grande Mere Area. In three years contributions have made it possible
for the land to be free of indebtedness.
Although the Kalamazoo Nature Center holds title to the Preserve and,
therefore, donors may make tax-exempt contributions to support it,
the Grande Mere Association meets all maintenance costs and local
taxes and is consulted by the Center on the use of the area. The
Association maintains the trails, signs, and bulletin boards. The
Preserve is open to the public at no charge.
82
1968
FEBRUARY 6.
GRANDE MERE ZONING
CHANGE IS REQUESTED
Want 79 Acres to be
Commercial Property
Located at Stevensville
I-94 Interchange.
Plans to commercialize a
portion of Grande Mere a-
gain confronted the Lincoln
Township last night with a
request to rezone 79 acres
adjacent to 1-94 Interchange.
The Lincoln Township Plan-
ning Commission _ received
the request from Victor S.
Peters of Chicago and sched-
uled a public hearing on the
matter on March 4.
The written request sought
re-zoning of 79 acres from
residential to commercial.
What type of commercial en-
terprise is planned was not
announced.
Once more the Grande Mere Association has to decide if it should
become involved in another referendum. Referendums are costly and
this one could spell the doom for the Interchange. After several Board
meetings, it is agreed that if the township does in fact rezone the
Interchange, the Grande Mere Association will ask for a referendum.
MARCH 13.
GRANDE MERE
SUFFERING FROM CASE
OF LIMBO
No Action Taken on
Re-zoning.
Lincoln Board waits on
County...
By this time many articles are being written and many people are
discussing air pollution, water polluticn, and the need for open spaces.
Ecology is catching on and because of the eligibility of Grande Mere
being a National Natural Landmark and because many are familiar
with the Grande Mere struggle, the Grande Mere Association has high
hopes of saving the Interchange. There are many, however, who
argue that interchanges are always zoned commercial. The Grande
Mere Association thinks this one should be the exception. There are
several public meetings relating to this rezoning.
Months go by and no date is set by the Township Board for the
referendum. Conflicting reports are printed in local newspapers and it
becomes apparent that the press is no longer in the Grande Mere
Association camp. There comes a period when “‘clarification†has to
be requested in many newspaper articles, all of which causes confusion
among the general public. Winning this referendum will be rough!
83
MARCH 22.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP BOARD SUPPORT RE-ZONING OF
79 ACRES AT THE GRANDE MERE I-94 INTERCHANGE
APRIL 1. Grande Mere Association holds its first big event — the Coho
Festival — in Shadowland Ballroom — drawing hundreds of people
and swelling the treasury considerably. Members of the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources are the principal speakers.
APRIL 10.
ANOTHER HEARING IS SCHEDULED —
BATTLE OVER RE-ZONING PART OF GRANDE MERE
Shortly after the first referendum the Grande Mere Association had
applied to the Department of the Interior for a survey to be made in
order to ascertain whether the Area qualified for the status of a
National Natural Landmark. In July 1967, Dr. John Cotter and
Naturalist Earl Estes of the Department came for a two-day study of
Grande Mere. Through the interest and cooperation of Senator Phillip
Hart and Alan T. Edmunds, Midwest Director of the Park Service,
Grande Mere was receiving recognition.
MAY 10. A telegram is received from Washington that the Grande
Mere Area has been declared eligible for designation as a National
Natural Landmark. In order to qualify, an area must possess national
significance and reflect integrity; it must presert a true, accurate, and
essentially unspoiled natural example.
Grand Mere qualifies on points 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
1. Outstanding geological formations or features significantly
illustrating geologic processes.
2. Significant fossil evidence of the development of life on earth.
3. An ecological community significantly illustrating characteristics
of a physiographic province or biome.
4. A biota of relative stability maintaining itself under prevailing
natural conditions such as a climatic climax community.
5. An ecological community significantly illustrating the process of
succession and restoration to natural conditions following disruptive
change.
6. A habitat supporting a vanishing, rare or restricted species.
7. Relic flora or fauna persisting from an earlier period.
8. A seasonal haven for concentrations of native animals, or a vantage
point for observing concentrated populations such as a constricted
migration route.
84
ii KD Bu
a
—.
9. Asite containing significant evidence illustrating important
scientific discoveries.
10. Examples of the scenic grandeur of our natural heritage.
MAY 17.
LINCOLN RE-ZONES 651%
GRANDE MERE ACRES
Owner tells his plans for
site but County planners op-
pose use for shopping center.
MAY 22. Second big annual hike takes place at Grande Mere. Fund-
raising dinner is held to support the purchase of the Preserve.
JUNE 15.
GRANDE MERE
ASSOCIATION DEMANDS
REFERENDUM ON
RE-ZONING
Petitions presented to
Township Board. Township
Board still does not indicate
voting date.
The board questions the legality of the petitions and sends them to the
Attorney General. Upon receiving the reply that they are valid. . .
SEPTEMBER 17.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP WILL VOTE ON RE-ZONING
GRANDE MERE LAND VERDICT DUE NOVEMBER 5th
Grand Mere
Unit Backs |
Bond Issues
Propozed Funds
For Recreation,
» Pollution Fight
K DERRICK
‘SAVE WATER WONDERDANT
Mere assoctation ia “fats save
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The Grande Mere Association immediately sets about the task of
informing the voters of Lincoln Township of the potential of Grande
Mere. The State of Michigan will have on the ballot two bond issues —
one calling for a $335,000,000 bond for clean water and the other a
$100,000,000 bond for public land acquisition for recreational
purposes. The Grande Mere Association sends out over 1,000 letters
urging the support of these two bond issues.
OCTOBER 30. Grande Mere Association members man the street
corners handing out material relative to the bond issue. Many
organizations assist in the support of the Grande Mere referendum.
Low-key publicity is sent out in advance of this voting date. Three
thousand copies of an eye-catching brochure are sent out to residents
of Lincoln Township. It points out in brief some of the features of
Grande Mere as a natural resource. Although the battle rages it is not
as heated as the first referendum. Lincoln Township officials back the
re-zoning to the end. A humorous note is provided by Emil Tosi with
the following ad:
VOTE [f@] NO ON THE PAPER WALLOT PROPOSITION
FOR REZONING GRANOMERE
Emilio
‘quores
NOVEMBER 5
PROPOSAL TO RE-ZONE GRANDE MERE FOR
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS DEFEATED
DECEMBER 26. Mindful of the $100,000,000 the voters supported
for recreation, the Legislative Committee of the Grande Mere
Association meets with Senator Charles O. Zollar (R) of Benton Harbor,
Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, seeking his
support for assistance in obtaining a portion of this for the purchase
of at least 400 acres of Grande Mere for “educational preservation.â€
The Senator promises his support. The $100,000,000
bond money has become a political football in Lansing and when all
is said and done only 30% becomes available for actual land
acquisition for purposes of preservation.
87
1969
JANUARY 14.
EYES STATE BONDS FOR GRANDE MERE
ZOLLAR WILL URGE PURCHASE OF DUNE AREA
A long article describes how the expenditures will be made.
FEBRUARY 22.
RECREATION BONDS FAR SHORT OF STATE NEEDS
MARCH 13.
RECREATION BOND SCRAP GROWS?
GOP CHIEFS OPPOSE MILLIKEN.
Governor vows he’II fight for 3-way split.
All of this is of great concern to the Grande Mere Association . . . is
not the money for the Area coming from this fund? Senator Zollar,
according to print “criticizes big city grab and opposes Milliken’s
plan on recreation bonds.â€
MAY 21. A letter explaining the participation of the Grande Mere
Association in conservation was written on November 20, 1968 to the
American Motors at Detroit entering that Company’s annual
conservation award contest. On May 21, a notification is received that
the top award for the conservation organization of the year is being
awarded to the Grande Mere Association.
JUNE 1. The Grande Mere Nature Study Preserve is dedicated with a
ceremony at the entrance. Among the out-of-town dignitaries, The
Nature Conservancy is represented.
88
JUNE 21. During the annual convention of the Michigan United
Conservation Clubs convening in Petoskey, Michigan, a resolution is
passed unanimously indicating their support of the purchase “of 7,000
acres of Grande Mere by the State.â€
AUGUST 1. Mr. Fred M. G. Lehm of American Motors presents the
Grande Mere Association with a beautiful bronze plaque and a $500
check for having won the top conservation organization award.
AUGUST 21. Members of the Grande Mere Association are received
at the Department of Natural Resources in Lansing to discuss the
future of Grande Mere and the possible acquisition of at least 400
acres. The DNR people express their support.
The Grande Mere Association has a fund-raising campaign at this
time to obtain the balance of the payment for the Grande Mere Nature
Study Preserve. This is accomplished, and with the aid of The Nature
Conservancy, the final payment is made on November 1, 1969.
1970
JANUARY 17.
PLAN WOULD RESCUE
BERRIEN’S SCENIC
WONDERS
Open Land Will Soon
Be Gone
Planning consultant Jacob
Driker points to map of
Berrien County dated 1990
... Driker’s map emphasizes
continuous park systems or
parkway down the _ flood-
plains of St. Joseph, Paw
Paw, and Galien Rivers, plus
preservation of Lincoln Town-
ship Dunes (Grand Mere) . . .
This is suggested to the Berrien County Planning Commission.
JANUARY 19. Representatives of the Grande Mere Association
attend public hearing in Lansing to support HB 3055.
FEBRUARY.
Tight Money Hurting Sale of State Bonds
Grande Mere has to wait for the sale of these bonds before they can
expect any action from the DNR.
89
MARCH 11.
Lincoln Township Okays Sand Mining Restrictions
Yes, upon the insistence of the Grande Mere Association, a new
sand-removal ordinance has been adopted, but it is a weak one. It
requires only that a permit be obtained for the removal of sand. Hence,
removing is still going on.
MARCH 30. The Grande Mere Association receives a call from Senator
Phillip Hart’s office in Washington inviting them to participate in a
public hearing in Grand Rapids and to make a presentation at the
Subcommittee on Energy, National Resources, and the Environment
The Grande Mere Association complies.
APRIL. The Grande Mere Association participates in Earth Day
activities with a big clean-up campaign throughout the whole Grande
Mere Area. Tons of debris are disposed of.
MAY 9. The Grande Mere Association hosts the Michigan Botanical
Club at an all-day hike through the Area — just one of the many
groups to use Grande Mere during the month of May.
JULY 25. The Association holds a huge rummage sale that nets over
$1,000.
JULY 30.
STATE PUTS HIGH
PRIORITY ON
GRANDE MERE
Purchase of 400 Acres Be-
ing Eyed . . . Deal Not on
Legislature’s List for Action.
JULY 30. John Humke of Nature Conservancy speaks at arinual GMA
meeting.
AUGUST 28. Grande Mere Association's Vice-President, Juniata Cupp,
gives ‘Grande Mere — Is it Fact or Fiction’’ slide show to national
convention of Nature Conservancy at University of Madison, Wisconsin.
Nearly every state is represented and hears about Grande Mere.
Walter E. Scott of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,
upon hearing that Grande Mere no longer has an American chestnut
tree growing, sends three small trees that have been planted in the
Preserve.
90
NOVEMBER 2.
STATE TO BUY
400-ACRE STRIP AT
GRANDE MERE...
WILDERNESS PRESERVE
PROJECT OKAYED...
STATE SENATOR ZOLLAR
HAS INFORMED the Grande
Mere Association that a pro-
ject to establish a 400-acre
conservation-education _ pre-
serve in the wilderness tract
near Stevensville has been
approved for appropriation
. . . Zollar said the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources
has requested as high priority
$350,000 for land acquisition.
The funds, in the depart-
ment’s 1970-71 budget are in
the $25,000,000 portion of the
$100,000,000 recreation bond
issue approved by voters two
years ago.
Through recent years the
Grande Mere Association has
led a so-far successful battle
to prevent parts of the Area
from being commercialized.
1971
MARCH 20. The Grande Mere Association for the first time sends a
local school teacher to Higgins Lake Conservation School on a
scholarship.
MAY 23. The Association holds another annual hike attended by
hundreds of people.
JULY 12. A red-letter day for Grande Mere.
MILLIKEN APPROVES DUNES ACQUISITION.
GRANDE MERE ACRES WILL BE PRESERVED...
MICHIGAN TRYING AGAIN ON GRAND MERE
JULY 15. The Grande Mere Association hires its first paid Naturalist
at the Preserve. Two fine volunteers have served in this capacity during
the past two years. va
JULY 24, GROUP THANK ly thanked at a “VIP†dinner
Friday evening when Emil
SENATOR ZOLLAR Tosi, long-time member of
Senator Charles O. Zollar the Grande Mere Associa-
of Benton Harbor was formal- tion hosted a formal dinner...
91
Land Buying |
D
Firm Appraising
Grand Me
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De
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1 Minuet op
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92
JULY 30. Samuel Milstein, Deputy Director of the DNR, is principal
speaker at Annual GMA Dinner meeting. Members hear plans for
Grande Mere discussed. Mr. Millstein leaves a tentative boundary
map of the proposed area with the Grande Mere Association Board —
everything still very tentative.
OCTOBER 21. Grande Mere Association Board names its first
Executive Secretary. Heretofore, one secretary handled all business
for the group, almost a full-time job.
1972
JANUARY. Appraisers for the State are in Grande Mere
determining the fair market value of the area considered for purchase.
They are to report to the Department of Natural Resources by March
25. The Grande Mere Association becomes apprehensive — time drags.
During the next few months, the Grande Mere Association is concerned
with annual events such as another big clean-up campaign throughout
the Area on April 29, when large groups of Boy Scouts as well as
adults turn out. Tons of litter are removed and hauled away.
Up to this time very little vandalism has occurred in the Grande Mere
Nature Study Preserve, but now extensive damage is being done to
dune paths by motorcycles. Low-key warning signs are placed
throughout the Preserve, doing little good. Police and prosecuting
attorneys advise us to use strong measures. $100 reward signs are
placed on premises with apparent good results. Very little litter or
damage occurs.
GMA conducts a mini-membership campaign with good results. Many
new people join the ranks to Save Grande Mere.
MAY 21 brings out more than 300 persons to hike through not only
the Preserve but also over the Shapiro Dunes.
Legislative Committee makes frequent trips to Lansing to confer with
the DNR and to keep in close touch with Senator Zollar.
JUNE 13. HOUSE VOTES GRANDE
MERE FUNDS
The Michigan Legislature
has moved one step closer to
providing (Berrien County
with a second State Park ac-
cording to State Senator
Charles O. Zollar (R-Benton
93
Harbor). Zollar reports that
another $385,000 has been
voted by the Senate for the
development of Grande Mere
State Park, a 400-acre facility
planned for Berrien County
in the sand dunes area along
Lake Michigan near Stevens-
ville...
This announcement pleases every conservationist but arouses doubt
in some people’s minds. Some do not like the sound of the word “parkâ€
so this has to be clarified. Neither Mr. Zollar nor the DNR meant to
refer to the area as a ‘‘parkâ€â€™ so the Grande Mere Association asks for
clarification. :
JULY 2 headlines in the South Bend Tribune read:
DUNES TO BE KEPT
AS A PRESERVE
Appraisals completed, Senator Zollar asks the Legislature for another
appropriation. $385,000 has been added to the $350,000, totaling
$735,000 for land purchase in Grande Mere.
94
OCTOBER 9. Larry Miller of the Department of Natural Resources
addresses the membership of the Grande Mere Association at their
annual meeting in St. Joseph. Mr. Miller is in charge of master
planning of the Parks Division of the DNR and is familiar with Grande
Mere.
The Grande Mere Association supports legislation concerning the
Shoreline Protection Act and the Inland Lakes and Streams bill.
Fall comes to Grande Mere and many are attracted to this wilderness
Area, still much the same as when the battle to save it started some
eight years ago. With $735,000 lying in Lansing that can only be used
for the purchase of part of Grande Mere, it is still very much a question
as to when the purchase will be made. Apparently, executors of the
Shapiro estate are unwilling to sell at the price offered by the State.
DECEMBER 18.
The Berrien County Coordinating and Development Council vote
unanimously to adopt a RESOLUTION which requests the Berrien
County Board of Commissioners and the Parks and Recreation
Commission to purchase 20 acres in Grande Mere which lies
immediately south of the Grande Mere Nature Study Preserve.
1973
poate “BOYLE LAKE OFF
PARKSITE BERRIEN
NOW LOOKING AT
DUNESâ€
“the PRC did hold a closed
discussion of another park-
site elsewhere — Gebbard
instructed to query Manley
Brothers of Chesterton, Indi-
ana... if it’s interested in
selling 20 acres of duneland
in Grande Mere area.
“The query comes at the
request of Berrien County
Coordinating and Develop-
ment Council which by letter
last night asked the PRC to
buy the 20 acres — a rect-
angle south of Grande Mere’s
south lake not far from Lake
Michigan in Lincoln Town-
ship ...\to add it to a nearby
22 acre study preserve’.
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MARCH.
Parks and Recreation Commission receives letter from Manley
Brothers indicating that they are “not interested in selling 20 acres
at this time.â€
APRIL 14.
To Create Grand Mere Wilderness
Condemnation
Action Asked
BY DAVE ANDREWS
Staff Writer
LANSING — Recommenda-
tion that the state begin
preliminary’ proceedings for
condemnation of 426 acres in the
1,200 acre Grand Mere area for
use as a ‘‘natural interpretive
park’’ will be made to the na-
tural resources commission at
its April 12-13. meeting in
Lansing. °
The preliminary proceedings,
if approved by the commission,
would include notification to
owners of the property of pend-
ing condemnation action, plus
final offers for purchase.
Request for authority to begin
actual condemnation would go
to the commission at its May
meeting, according to A. Gene
Gazley, DNR director.
Gazley joined‘ Robert G.
Wood, lands division, and 0.S.
Scherschligt, in the further
recommendation that the com-
mission specifically allocate
$485,000 from the state recrea-
96
lion bond fund AS:
appropriated by the legislature
— to acquire the land.
The site “includes the best of
the area endangered — by
development processes which
have already engulfed the
northernmost two of the three
Grand Mere lakes,’’ the of-
ficials said.
The tract is now in trust under
terms of the will of the late P.A.
Shapiro of Chicago, whose cor-
poration owned the land the
DNR , said, and effective
progress toward purchase has
not been made.
Taking by condemnation is
“the only practical alternative
now before the department if
the land is to be acquired in
timely manner,’’ the depart-
ment added.
The tract, which is almost
contigous to 1-94 on the east,
includes 110 acres of lakeshore
dunes, 2,400 feet of beach, 266
acres associated with South
Grand Mere Lake and the 50-
acre lake.
The DNR said it would plan
“present and future educational
and outdoor-oriented nature in-
terpretive functions rather than
the historic park objective of
recreational uses by the general
public for the area.
Park objectives, the DNR ad-
ded, can best be served by
“continued development of the
closely. proximate | Warren
Dunes park.â€
The department noted the
inland lake and its swampy
shoreline in the tract proposed
for acquisiton “attracts a great
variety of migratory and nest-
ing marsh and shore birds.
Marsh plants, many truly rare,
grow in profusion in the shallow
waters around the lake shore.â€â€
‘The Grand Mere association,
which was organized in 1965 to
fight rezoning of the area for
commercial or industrial
development, has spearheaded
efforts since then to preserve
some 1,200 acres in the Grand
Mere area in its natural state.
PROPOSED GRAND MERE NATURE PARK: Acquisition of 426
acres in Grand Mere area for proposed nature interprative park
moved step closer yesterday with approval of Natural Resources
commission of ‘‘final offers’’ for purchase before condemnation is
launched by attorney general. The 426-acre tract would place in
state ownership most of outlined area on map, above, provided by
Mrs. F.V. Cupp, legislative chairman of Grand Mere association.
Re ante OAR OR
APRIL 1973.
“ALTERNATIVE’
IN GRAND MERE
ao Se se
Tract includes South lake, 2,400 feet of Lake Michigan frontage,
dunes. Arrowhead line marks access road proposed to interpretive
center. Negotiations are underway for state purchase of several
smaller parcels of land within outlined area on map. 1-94 runs
across top of photo, roughly parallel to Lake Michigan shoreline,
bottom. Stevensville I-94 interchange is at the top left. (Staff
Owners Face
May Deadline Or
Condemnation Suit
BY DAVE ANDREWS
— Staff Writer
LANSING — Michigan's Na-
tural Resources commission
yesterday took first steps to
acquire through condemnation
426 acres in the Grand Mere
area for a proposed nature in-
terpretive park
Commissioners authorized
notification to owners of the
97
pending resolution of condem-
nation which will be before the
commission at its May meeting
if no negotiated sale is complet-
ed by then.
Appropriation of $483,000 for
the 426-acre tract also was
approved. The funds are part of
$715,000 approved by the
legislature for Grand Mere land
acquisition and development.
photo)
The 426-acre tract is one of the
assets of the family-owned cor-
poration of the late P.A. Shapiro
of Chicago now in trust under
terms of his will and Illinois
law, according to the DNR. It
has been appraised at $483,000,
the DNR said.
Condemnation is the “‘only
practical alternative’ if the
land is going to be acquired in
“timely� manner, the depart-
ment added
Mrs. F.V. Cupp of St. Joseph,
legislative chairman of the
Grand Mere association which
has been working since 1965 to
preserve the entire Grand Mere
area of about 1,200 acres in its
natural state, said the associa-
tion and DNR are in complete
concurrence over plans for the
preposed park.
She said the association has
worked closely with the DNR
and Sen. Charles 0. Zollar over
planning and funding for the
park
The — $715,000 legislative
appropriation from Michigan's
recreation bond fund includes
money for acquisition of land,
plus development of ramps,
trails and an interpretive center
and access road, Mrs. Cupp
said.
She said no camping, pic-
nicking or vehicular travel will
be permitted in the proposed
park and “heavy usage†will be
discouraged
The proposed acquisition
includes the entire South lake —
one of three Grand Mere area
lakes — along with 2,400 feet of
frontage on Lake Michigan.
Action by the commission
provides about three weeks for
“final negotiation†before start
of formal condemnation
proceedings by the attorney
general.
The commission will meet
again in the first week of May.
APRIL 30.
Grande Mere Association having petitioned the road commission to
have Wishart Road in Grande Mere declared a scenic road, PUBLIC
HEARING to be held on May 16th at Lincoln Township Hall.
If this receives favorable decision it will be Southwestern Michigan's
only official scenic road.
So — for every disappointment comes an encouraging word and with
the tenacity of purpose the Grande Mere Association relentlessly
plods along. They are not about to abdicate their responsibilities to
the many people who have shared their faith. Instead they will work
harder to achieve their purpose. There are still high hopes of the
Department of Natural Resources reaching their goal of obtaining at
least 400 acres and who knows? Perhaps by the time this last chapter
is being read good news could come. The Grande Mere Association
will always be mindful of and grateful to the Department for their
interest in Grande Mere.
At this writing, the chapter must end with hope and perseverance
as allies. No true conservationist is going to give up at this time. The
final chapter of this history can only be written when all of GRANDE
MERE is saved for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
Please help whenever, wherever, and however you can.
98
Suggested References and Supplemental Reading
General
Champion, Ella. 1926. Berrien’s Beginnings. Berrien County
Federation of Women’s Clubs. Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Cowles, Henry Chandler. 1899. ‘‘The Ecological Relations of the
Vegetation of the Sand Dunes of Lake Michigan.†Bot. Gaz. 27:
95-117; 167-202; 281-308; 361-391.
Cunningham, Wilbur M. 1961. Land of Four Flags. Wm. B. Erdmans
Pub. Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Cupp, Juniata V. 1968. Bits and Pieces of Memorabilia. St. Joseph,
Mich. Unpublished.
1972. Historical Papers on Grande Mere. St. Joseph,
Mich. Unpublished.
Odum, Eugene P. 1959. Fundamentals of Ecology. W. B. Saunders Co.,
Philadelphia.
Tague, Glenn C. 1946. “The Post-Glacial Geology of the Grand
Marais Embayment in Berrien County, Michigan.†Occasional
Papers of the Geology of Michigan.
Ueck, Louis P. 1960. Archeological Papers on Berrien County,
Michigan. Unpublished,
Plants
Billington, Cecit. 7943. Shrubs of Michigan. Cranbrook Press,
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
1952. Ferns of Michigan. Cranbrook Press,
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Case, Frederick W., Jr. 1964. Orchids of the Western Great Lakes
Region. Cranbrook Press, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Fassett, Norman C. 1940. A Manual of Aquatic Plants. University of
Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wis.
99
|
t
|
Medley, Max E. 1972. Checklist of Plants Observed in the Grande
Mere Area. Unpublished.
Peattie, Donald Culross. 1930. Flora of the Indiana Dunes. Field
Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
Swink, Floyd, 1969. Plants of the Chicago Region. Morton Arboretum,
Lisle, Ill.
Voss, Edward G. 1972. Michigan Flora Part 7. Cranbrook Press,
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Amphibians and Reptiles
Conant, Roger. 1958. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians
of Eastern North America. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.
Hubbs, Carl L. and Karl F. Lagler. 1947. Fishes of the Great Lakes
Region. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Birds
Oronoko Bird Club. 1962-1971. Field Notes. Andrews University Press,
Berrien Springs, Mich.
Zimmerman, Dale A. and Josselyn Van Tyne. 1959. A Distributional
Checklist of the Birds of Michigan. University of Michigan Press,
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mammals
Burt, William H. 1946. The Mammals of Michigan. University of
7
Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Sheldon, V. E. 1913. Animal Communities In Temperate America.
University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
100
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