ST. MARTINS POINTERS ASSOCIATION, INC

FALL 2010 NEWSLETTER

PO Box 26    

  Hessel, MI 49745

    2010/2011 BOARD MEMBER

                 President: Rich Gray

                 Vice-President: Rev. Duane G Thon 

                 Secretary: Marilyn Kraft

                 Treasurer: Sue Deaner

                 Marina/Park Team Leader: Jay Hills

                 Social Team Leader: Jo Kurlonko

                 Environmental Team Leader: Phil Milan

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Editor of Newsletter: Rev. Dorothy J Thon

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

RICH GRAY rhgray@comcast.net 906-484-2301 248-652-8109 winter number

I want to thank the Board for their vote of confidence in electing me to the office of President and I want to share my thoughts relative to the SMP Association and why I am willing to spend the time working with the SMP Association either as a member on the Board or as an active member supporting the Association. First, I should point out that with the exception of a sheriff supported neighborhood watch program in the early 80’s I have paid the dues but not been activelyinvolved in neighborhood associations where we have lived. The reason is that these have been the only two home owner associations that resulted in an improvement in the quality of life for my family. The neighborhood watch, after a few successful captures, brought an immediate end to the vandalism our neighborhood was experiencing, therefore the need for the neighborhood watch.

The SMP Association is different because we have property and assets that we need to at least maintain and improve upon over time for the benefit of the membership. Looking back on the last 18 years I have seen the following improvements as a result of the efforts of the membership, the Board and people making a difference with energy effort and money:

1) Concrete pads at the marina launch site - yes it used to be all sand.

2) Several dredging initiatives at the marina - I think we should consider it maintenance.

3) Decorative metal gate at the entrance - I still have hats that Jean Sommers sold to support the

fund raising.

4) Log siding over the brick columns at the entrance gate.

5) The swing set, the log swings, and the sand box that helped transform the marina into The

Marina Park at Mead’s Landing.

6) The dock at the launch site.

7) The new sign and improvements at the gate to Search Bay.

8) The signage at the entrance gate and the marina.

I am sure I have forgotten a few improvements and of course our road and these items are all being

maintained. I think we can feel good about the accomplishments and recognize that we have an excellent home owners association.

So, where do we go from here? We have several projects and initiatives that we will be working on this year:

1) The Pavilion at Mead’s Landing will soon be under construction. Years of planning and fund

raising will result with the completion of the structure - roof and electrical this October!

We are still short approximately $1000.00 to complete the ceiling and trim which is planned for the Spring of 2011 and we will need and additional $2000.00 for the future concrete floor We plan to recognize the current members, all additional donations and the construction volunteers with a plaque on the building. In addition, we plan to have a name plate posted on the building for donations of $100.00 or more. Please send your initial or additional donations to:

SMP Association P.O. BOX 266, Hessel, MI 49745

OR DROP IN THE GREEN BOX AT THE MARINA

We plan to recognize the current members, all additional donations and the construction volunteers with a plaque on the building. I want to thank Dave Sheldon for taking the lead on the final design and construction. We would not be able to build this year without Dave. Oct 15, 2010 is the target date to construct the pavilion. Put it on your calendar – come out and help with the build.

2) Dredging - Please contact Jay Hills if you would like to support this initiative.

3) Zoning - Deed Restrictions - and Code of Conduct - As in the past the SMP Association and therefore the Board does not have (and I would not want) ANY enforcement authority. However, I was recently involved in a situation which has convinced me that the Board does have a responsibility to make sure that the membership is informed so that they can make appropriate decisions to avoid or resolve issues.

4) Planning a future circle drive and parking across the road and ditch from the marina.

5) Planning a future nature walk on the property across the road from the marina.

If you have additional projects and initiatives please contact a Board member to become part of the Team to complete the project.

In closing my report, I trust you agree that the SMP Association has delivered by maintaining our Association property and implementing improvements that can be enjoyed by all members and their guests. I encourage members to continue to actively support the Association with your annual dues, additional donations for projects that you support, and your input and effort to maintain and improve our Point. I also must remind those few property owners that are not current with their annual dues to pay their dues by September 30, 2010 so they can enjoy the use of the Marina - Park at Mead’s Landing and the Gate to Search Bay.

Thanks for your SUPPORT

Your President,

Rich Gray

A WORD FROM THE Vice-President

Rev. Duane G Thon djthon@hotmail.com

Hello Friends and Neighbors. I am now coming to you as Past President and now as your Vice President. I am pleased that the new Board is committed to continue the “team concept” that we have been working under for the past four years. We have high expectations of doing “good work” for you in 2010-2011. The Annual Meeting went well and considerable positive participation took place mostly

concerning the proposed revised By-laws, which were passed and approved by the membership present.

My major role will be membership and to encourage more property owners to join the Association. Please continue to renew each year, and meet new residents with a warm welcome. I will also have some small gifts to share. I plan to work closely with our “Welcome Team.” So, please be an active “Pointer” this year and have a “good one!”

Rev Duane G Thon

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Marilyn Kraft MAKIronside@aol.com 906-484-2476

Pres. Duane Thon welcomed new Board Member Marilyn Kraft, and thanked Rev. Dorothy Thon for her service on the Board. He then moved swiftly to the election of new officers then turned the meeting over to the new President – Rich Gray.

Rich Gray gave his Secretary’s report from the previous meeting. He mentioned the Marina Pavilion described later in the meeting. He commented on the positive direction of communications through Dorothy Thon heading up the Newsletter and once again thanked her. He said the annual garage sales were held July 10^th weekend with 8-10 cottages participating with thanks to Bob Kraft for heading it up.

Sue Deaner gave the Treasurer’s report, stating all money is accounted for, with corrections.

Sue also gave the Road report. She stated that all bills are paid and new Township tax money will come in Jan. 2011.

Jo Kurlonko, as head of the Social Team mentioned that there was too much meat left over from last year’s annual Point Picnic and that we might want to consider a more conservative attendance count. The gathering at Sunset will also take place in the fall.

Sue Deaner stated the Gate Comm. added mulch and manure. Weeding had been done. Because the balance on that account was around $3, she submitted a request to the Board for $200 from the general fund be given to the gate comm. and it was approved.

Jay Hills, unable to attend the meeting, gave his Marina Comm. report via speaker phone. Jay is being assisted by Nick Saur, who has shown interest in being a part of the Association Board, especially in regard to the Marina dredging and boat access.. Jay is taking care of more dredging, as the water is up.

Phil Milan reported that the owner of Creekside Herbs would be coming out to our Point to do a check on any invasive plant life. He said future interests are the development of a nature path. Phil has also taken on an additional role as the AssociationArchivist.

The Welcome Team will be Sue Deaner, Lee Milan and Duane Thon. Should the need for clarification on protocol of the meetings arise, the Board willseek the advice of Leo Parsails.

Old Business concerned the opening of easements and warning residents to please refrain from helping themselves to the four piles of gravel reserved for road use.

New business concerned the Marina Pavilion to be built in the fall.

The last order of business was to encourage all on the Point to join the Association in support of the positive results the Board is trying to achieve for its residents.

Marilyn Kraft

TREASURE REPORT

Sue Deaner susandeaner@yahoo.com

Here are the balances as of 8-16-2010

CD 1                    1055.47
CD 2                    1055.47

Gate                      162.52
Gen Fund             2029.72
Dredge Fd              710.00
Pavilion Fund        2758.00
Marina Savings       489.24
Marq Twp Rd Fund3041.03

I urge everyone who has an extra $5, $10, or $20 to contribute to the Pavilion Fund. As of today, we have 57 paid memberships.  If each member were to donate an additional $20 to the fund, we would be able to complete all the building scheduled for this year.  Rich Gray and his Team has put in a tremendous amount of work into the planning of this structure and have come up with very reasonable costs for this marina/park improvement at Mead’s Landing.  Help this dream become a reality!

Sue Deaner

SOCIAL DIRECTOR REPORT

Jo Kurlonko,  906-484-3288

Our Point social season started off with the marina cleanup in June: beautiful weather, coffee and donuts, and a lot of hard work and fun.

Next came the annual meeting with a fairly good turnout, a lot of business taken care of, and again beautiful weather (although extremely windy).  Plans for the new pavilion were discussed and we had a guest speaker, Lynn Brown, who told us about the plans for a walking/bicycle trail from I-75 to Cedarville that will cross St Martin’s Point and will be handicapped accessible.

Unfortunately our big event of the summer, the annual point picnic, didn't work out so well.  The morning of the picnic was cloudy and windy, with severe thunderstorms in the forecast.  The Board members discussed the situation and we decided to cancel. The last two years we have had less than optimal weather, and this sounded like a disaster in the making.  Of course the opposite happened and by one o'clock the day was perfect, but too late to get it all together again.  Next year we will have our pavilion and no weather worries!

Our next planned event will be the "sunset at the marina" on October 2nd, and I hope we will have the cooperation of weather and sunset to make it a success.  Everyone will bring their own drinks, and in the past some very nice hors d'oeuvres were made.  Hope to see everyone there

Jo Kurlonko

Environmental and Archival / Archivist is a new Board designation for a committee member to recover and pass on the history of the Point and this area.

Phil Milan &n=995232171">madphil@lighthouse.net

Invasive plants are still prime concern of the Les Cheneaux Watershed, and their location and disposition is being addressed by Wendy Wagoner for the whole Les Cheneaux Area.

History and stories relevant to St. Martins Point, Alton Mead, Virgil Hostetler, the " Harrison" influence on the Point, the Old Portage Road referred to in the Black Letter Press (now out of print) and its location through St. Martin’s and Pontchartrain Points, some of the early settlers on the Point, and other stories we'll get together and pass on to you in future Newsletters.

I've been coming to the area since 1946 and will share a lot of info with you. Jim Cornwall (the old paratrooper) also has been around here a long time and I'll drag some stories out of him to pass on.

Some excitement on the Point last week. One of my boys and a granddaughter were sailing our Rebel sailboat in the Bay late in the afternoon when the Foremast stay parted and the mainmast collapsed. They didn’t come back for an unusual amount of time so Jim Cornwall, Stan Kownacki, and Bob Smith saddled up their rigs and went looking for them. The Coast Guard was also alerted and they were found just before dark on Little Saint Martins in good shape. Jim brought back the kids and Stan and Bob towed back the sailboat. All ended well. I had thrown in a set of oars before they parted which enabled them to make Little St. Martin.

But-----It's best to have a set of oars, a small aux motor and a cell phone on board when free sailing (or motoring) and no one knows where you're going. Best put the cell phone in a waterproof bag, they usually end up immersed and useless.

So much for parenthood!!!!                    

Phil Milan

ROAD REPORT

Rich Gray rhgray@comcast.net 906-484-2301

Our road was recently graded and we will be signing the contract for snow removal in the next few weeks. Please contact me if you have questions or concerns about our road.

I must also cover the old topic of our road gravel being taken from the storage piles along the road. First let me clarify that the gravel is purchased with funds distributed by the Township funded by the road tax assessment that you pay in your tax bill. So, the gravel SHOULD only be used on the dirt road that we drive on. Please call me if you see a need for additional gravel on a section of the road. And if you have previously taken gravel from these piles (that was not used on the dirt road) please repay the SMP Association either by mail or at the drop box at the marina.

Rich Gray

MARINA REPORT

Jay Hills jhills5272@aol.com248-804-5670

Some 31 years ago, my wife Sharon and I drove north from Mackinaw City on the 3rd morning of our honeymoon, with no destination in mind. We turned east on M-134 the first place we stopped was Nuns Creek. We walked a bit along the shore and were taken back by the beauty of St Martin’s Bay. It never entered our mind then that one day we would have a place here; what a jewel we have found. Even as I just started writing this report I look up and ten white swans are swimming by.

Can’t believe summer is winding down and we will be winterizing boats soon.

Winterizing tip: fall winterizing is a good time to inspect the impeccable’s: fire extinguishers, dates on flares, contents of first aid kits, etc. This way, come spring we’re not surprised by eager early summer DNR officers, and deals on boating gear are easier to come by in the fall and winter.

For those unfamiliar with our marina while entering the channel we have a sunken barge and rock reef on the north side. The best visual aids to align are the narrows of the channel out to Rabbits Back Peak (that’s the sharp protruding hill you see between big and small St. Martin Islands on the west side of the bay) with the deepest water tight to the reef.

Speaking of Rabbit backs peak, did you know that French Explore LaSalle sailed into St. Martin’s Bay? That’s right. This summer my son John, while reading about the many ship wrecks in the Great Lakes, came across a passage that spoke of French explorer LaSalle sailing into St. Martin’s Bay on his way to Wisconsin and anchoring under the rock bluffs of la rabbit. Any ways ( history lesson over) I think I have perfected my buoy system and hopefully next year will have a clearly marked channel from the begining of the season.

We continue to make progress on the theme that Bob Kraft and Stan Kownacki set in motion, to maintain and improve our marina. Most of our attention this summer has been on our new pavilion. Rich Gray with his natural leadership and organizational skills is doing a fantastic job on keeping this project on track. We have a construction date of Oct.15^th to start (extra hands needed).

The most recurring job at the marina is keeping it mowed and Phil Milan has been faithful to that all summer. Thanks Phil! And as always the Marina Team came through again this past week in preparing the site for the pavilion.

. I’m stilling looking for the perfect idea for a Mead’s Landing sign and/or marker. Call me with any artistic ideas - Jay 248-804-5670.

The interest in the marina continues to grow and as new members come in we want you to feel welcome and to take an interest. I was especially surprised when it came from a young Mr. Nick Saur. Nick spoke to me about his love for the Point and his vision for the marina, as well as the length of years he hopes to launch in her. Nick, I look forward to working with you, good luck in your study’s this fall.

Happy Boating

Jay Hills

P.S. I just heard tonight that congratulations in order to Gary and Jim for the 1^st place steelhead in Hessel’s Fishing Tournament. Way to go Guys!

GATE REPORT

Marilyn Kraft MAKIronside@aol.com 906-484-2476

Perennial plants and new soil were added in front of the gate. Other Team members will be contacted to clean and stain the columns, paint the black gates, and be assigned to holidays for the tree by the gate. The sign for the Point needs some minimal touch up. A sign post is being made on which to post bulletins.

Marilyn Kraft

EASEMENT TEAM

Sue Deaner

I have some great documents given to me from past Board member Jim Carpenter.  We have some plans to mark/flag the easements yet this fall.  We will be contacting adjoining property members as we make progress. 

By the way, do you know what St. Martin Pointers’ Association Board and the Supreme Court have in common?  Both have 3 women serving!  Marilyn Kraft and Jo Kurlonko are talented, creative and artistic - they are both a tremendous asset to the Board.

See you on the Road, Neighbors!
Sue Deaner

POINT HISTORY STORIES

By: Helen Heintz, of Harrison, Michigan

History of the Carpenter Cabin - The very first cabin on St. Martin’s Point (1946) now known as the Heintz/Wheeler Cabin.

The following account of St. Martin’s Point in the early days is told by Ralph Carpenter of Harrison, Michigan. He is the man who built the original cabin.

St. Martin Pointe had been land locked for many years and it was like moving 100 years back in time. The only way in or out was by boat and old trail that first went through a neighbors land with a padlocked gate.

I had bought a bulldozer (which I knew nothing about running) and picked out a nice heavily wooded lot to build a cabin. My Dad owned the land. My job then was to clear a path for our own road in and to build a cabin for Audry and myself.

So I hired Reeve Bond (an old drinking buddy) and Willard Higgins and showed them how I wanted a cabin built. We cut all the trees for the cabin within 500 ft. of the cabin and we started peeling and sizing the logs. Reeve knew what he was doing and he got the roof up on the top and the floor down below, and then placed the peeled logs where they belonged with windows and doors and everything.

I had a 1932 16 cylinder Cadillac that we used to haul supplies to the cabin. This was the first cabin built on the Pointe (1946). My Dad’s (now Spenny’s) was built shortly after.

Then I arranged to have our furniture moved to the Pointe and drove back to Harrison to bring Audry up to our new home. Audry got there OK; but the furniture, cookware and other stuff didn’t, so we had a shell home with nothing in it. For a place to sleep the first night, I went into the woods and cut arm load after arm load of cedar limbs and piled them on the floor for a bed. We laid on the boughs for several days –we didn’t sleep—it was like trying to sleep on a picket fence. When our bed finally arrived we more than loved it and it was nice to have a stove to cook on instead of a campfire, and a table and chairs.

The bats loved our cabin, and being that it wasn’t too tight a cabin they kept moving in until I finally chinked up all the holes around the eaves. Many a night in the early days I had to get up in the middle of the night and kill a bat or two to keep Audry from going out of her mind.

There was no radio, TV or electricity, no water well, absolutely nothing beyond what the Indians had and to put it mildly –Audry hated it back then, but she was a good sport and put up with it well.

By now we had carved out a clearing around the cabin and one warm morning I woke up and went out to stroll about. As I opened the back door, I looked around and saw about 50 garter snakes sunning themselves. It was like a nightmare, so I got a club and started knocking off snakes and I took them back into the woods and dumped them. Later on we were sitting at the breakfast table eating and I saw a partridge in the woods acting funny, so I got my gun and shot him and when I went out to get him I found he had been trying to swallow one of the snakes I’d killed. So, I yanked the snake out of his mouth and dressed him out. I never told Audry about it until we had finished a nice supper of partridge. She almost lost hers and I had a fine laugh!

To wash clothes we were equipped with water, soap, 2 wash tubs and a wash board. Lots of work for someone who was used to a washing machine. So, I got my brain in gear and built Audry a wind powered washing machine. I used all 1”x6” rough sawn boards (all I had) for the windmill blades. Each blade was about 3ft. long. I used a big eye bolt for the fan bearing, a chunk of 3 inch diameter and 5 ft long cedar cut from a small straight cedar tree. I took the bark off and I used a crank handle at the back end of the cedar log for a bearing and eccentric so the up and down shaft would go up and down as the blades turned. I hooked a vertical shaft (shovel handle) to the crank handle and put a big funnel on the bottom side and set the contraption up so the funnel would stroke to about 4 inches from the bottom of the tub. After that nothing could be moved. We would fill the tub with water and soap – cut the big propeller loose and stood back in sheer rapture as this massive washing machine churned Hell right out of the water and clothes. Getting the clothes out when they were washed was tricky, because it took 2 men and mule to get the thing stopped! There was always a stiff breeze coming in off the lake.

I was 20 miles or so to the grocery store and we dipped our water out of the lake. Audry soon moved back to civilization as she was expecting Greg our oldest son and needed a doctor quite often. I left later on because I went broke and had to get back to the business of making a living. We went up there in 1947, came back in 1948 and sold to John Hutchinson in 1949. Marvin Heintz bought from Hutchinson in 1971.

The Hutchinson’s made improvements to the cabin. Made some partitions for two bedrooms, added a unite cable to the gable ends of the roof logs and electricity.

Marvin Heintz made an addition in 1976, making a new kitchen. To this day there isn’t a well. We draw water out of the bay and bring drinking water with us and heat with a wood stove.

The property is deeded as Heintz and Wheeler. My daughter and son-in-law spend most of the time there in the summer.

OUR SYMPATHY TO:

We extend our sympathies to Barb and Dale Scrimger whose son Lyle died this past spring.

We have two new families on the Point, so be sure to give a big Point welcome to:

John & Linda S. Fabian /  Rod and Angel Stevens and family

St. Martin Pointers Association, Inc.

P.O. Box 266, Hessel, Michigan 49745

2010/11 Membership Dues

Name(s)_________________________________________________________________________

Point Address____________________________________________________________________

Other Address___________________________________________________________________

Point Phone________________________________Other Phone___________________________

E-mail address____________________________________Lot Number(s)__________________

Please indicate what you are paying and the amount:

Dues $40 _________________ Marina/Park Donation _____________________

Pavilion Donation __________ Dredging Donation________ Gate Donation__________

Thank you for paying your 2010/11 Membership Dues

And any additional donations you have made

ST MARTIN POINTASSOCIATION. ORG

VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

www.stmartpt.org

PRESIDENT:

Rev. Duane Thon 

Vice Pres.

Rev. Dorothy Thon

ROAD COMMITTEE: 

Gary Koben and his Kubota head up the Road Committee for the point.