The Official Ten Best Events in the Sault in 2008

The Official Ten Best Events in the Sault in 2008-At Least According to Me!
These are not in any particular order. They were all great fun.

1. Class Reunions-Every year many classes from Sault Area High School hold reunions in the Sault drawing classmates from all over the country. This year was my 40^th reunion (1968-best class ever!) and we had a great time renewing old friendships, finding classmates who live close to us and just having fun.

2. Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service My husband and I attended the service to commemorate the sinking of the Fitz in 1975. It was very moving. You can read an account of this at Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service.

3. LSSU Fish Hatchery Visit-Taking my grandchildren to visit on the Open House Day during Engineer’s Day wasn’t enough for our family. My son called the manager of the hatchery and set up a personal tour for our family. A LSSU student explained the process they use to raise salmon and release them in the St. Marys River. My son and his family are still talking about it.

4. Engineer’s Day at the Locks- The last Friday in June is always open house at the Locks. This free event is great fun for boat enthusiast because you get an up-close look at how the Locks work.

5. EUP Learning Center Grand Opening & Reading Club-The Brimley-based business opened a Sault location this past summer. I also read a favorite book to their reading club. There is nothing I like better than reading and sharing with other people who like to read.

6. Professional Walleye Tournament-What I liked about the tournament was the evening the fishing teams brought their boats onto Ashmun Street. They then stood around and talked about fishing. Their passion for fishing was evident and made this so enjoyable.

7. Chippewa County Fair-I love going to the fair for the food, the friends we always see, and watching the Bell’s Belgium & Clydesdale horses.

8. Summer Concert in the Park-The weekly free concerts at the Locks Park qualify as ‘the perfect summer evening.” Can’t beat this for relaxing and seeing friends from town.

9. Susan & David-Susan Askwith and Dave Stanaway perform at the John Johnston house every Tuesday and Thursday during the summer. Being in the Johnston’s house while hearing their great music is an experience I repeat several times every summer, especially whenever we have out-of-town guests.

10. Blizzard of Jan. 29-I was scheduled to leave after a winter visit and that had to be delayed because of the weather. It was great fun spending the time with my parents but I struggled with being completely cut off with my Internet world.

I found the following article on-line at www.freep.com. If any of you have pictures of snowmobiles on the streets, I would appreciate you sending them to me so I can post them. Thanks,
saultboatwatcher@gmail.com

Soo welcomes snowmobiles

A new ordinance in Sault Ste. Marie allows snowmobilers to drive downtown.

That should benefit the city and tourists. Many visitors use the extensive snowmobile trails right outside of town, and the new rule allows them to drive in on most city streets for shopping and dining, says Linda Hoath of the Soo's visitors bureau.

The Soo hosts the International 500 snowmobile race every February, so the town has been identified with snowmobiling for a long time. Still, even snowmobile lovers need their sleep -- there's a curfew from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. every day. Shhh. (www.saultstemarie.com)

Ten Best Events in the Sault in 2008

I'm starting to read year-end lists that look at the events during the past year. It got me to thinking about the best events that happened in the Sault during the past year. I have a few things to put on the list such as Engineer's Day at the Locks, 4th of July fireworks and the blizzard of January 2008. But I would like to hear from you. I'll compile a list plus publish all your comments.

Let It Snow

I'm away from the Sault right now but with the Internet I am able to keep up with some facets of life there. I love to see what I am missing or avoiding.

I just found a new web address to keep up with the snowfall and the amount of snow on the ground.

Sault Weather Data

Please share any web resources you use to keep up with life in the Sault. I'm sure there are many other great websites.

Brenda bbenedict07@gmail.com

Aerial Photography of the Great Lakes

I discovered a wonderful website where you can see outstanding photos of the Great Lakes shoreline. The photos can be seen at: Great Lakes Aerial Photos.

I do not know the photographer but he/she does wonderful work. Take time to click on the photos that say 'Click to See' to see additional photos.

If any of you have photos of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, please send them to me and I will post them here.

Thanks,
Brenda
saultboatwatcher@gmail.com

Santa Arrives in the Sault

Santa Claus arrived in the Sault last Friday night in the Annual Santa Parade. The beautiful winter weather makes it a great place for Santa because he can land his reindeer on the snow. Also, the Sault city streets are open for snowmobilers, so I'm sure that means that Santa can drive his sleigh right down Ashmun Street!

Snow in the Sault

November 19, 2008 The Soo received several inches of beautiful snow today. Thought you would like to see the pictures. What a winter wonderland.

St. Marys River is a Fish Boutique

Technology helps me keep up with what is going on in the Sault. I use Google News Alert. Everyday, Google sends me an email with all the news articles where Sault Ste. Marie is mentioned. You can have any subject sent to you as often as you would like. I really like it.

I found the following article this morning, Fishing in the Sault.

The article is about fishing on the St. Marys River right now. The author tells how the St. Marys River is such a great place to fish. "our boutique fishery, and I wish we could get more people to take advantage of it."

"If you'd like a preview of the kind of fishing that is available on the St. Marys, take a look at Lake Superior State University's underwater Webcam at the school's aquatics research laboratory in the Soo Edison electric generating plant.

The Atlantic salmon fishery in the St. Marys is the result of a decades-long effort by LSSU, and an online visit to www.lssu.edu/arl/fishcam offers proof of its success.

Our family enjoys watching the webcam. It is even possible to observe lamprey on salmon which is a concern.

This is where the webcam is located.

My family learning about the LSSU Fisheries hatchery last summer.

Shipwreck Victim from Sault Honored

Harold Mullen, from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, lost his life on November 11, 1940 in the sinking of the William B. Davock. He was one of 33 men lost in the terrible November storm. His son, Harold, commemorates the occasion every year. You can read the story at Son Honors Father.

Do any of you have remember this man or this ship?

November in the Sault

Closed for the Season

Many places in the Upper Peninsula do close for the winter for one of two reasons. Either the upcoming weather will make the activities impossible such as Four Mile Beach shown in the above photo. Or there may not be enough customers to sustain the business when people tend to travel less.

There is lots going on in the Sault however. The Locks are still in operation. The Pullar has a new sign, shown here, and there is lots of hockey there as well as at LSSU.

I attended a lecture last Friday at the Chippewa County Historical Society. Dr. Karl Hele from Sault, Ontario told us about the early church missions here and especially the work of Charlotte Johnston McMurray. Charlotte, daughter of John & Susan Johnston, is not as well-known as her older sister Jane Schoolcraft, but she was equally as gifted and used her gifts to minister in the Anglican Church.

There are several annual crafts shows going on, including Pickford this weekend. I'm not much for that as I'm trying to downsize my belongings to fit into my little cabin on the river full-time. It will be quite a big job since my home nowo has 4 bedrooms and many rooms full of my 'stuff.'

This was the view on Scenic Drive yesterday. There is such beauty in winter. The first two pictures were taken last Thursday and this snow-globe scene was just taken 6 days later.

Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service

Next Monday, November 10, is the 33rd anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I remember that night because my husband and I were returning from a trip downstate. We got to the Mackinac Bridge and found it closed because of the high wind.

There is an Annual Fitzgerald Memorial Service on Monday at 7 PM at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point. It is open to the public and free to attend.

You can see more details at Annual Fitzgerald Memorial Service.

Share with us if you have memories about the time the Fitzgerald sunk.

Are any of you planning to attend?

Famous Visitor & Early Boat Tour

Last summer, we took our family on the Soo Locks Boat Tours and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Yesterday I read of an earlier visitor on a sight-seeing trip.

In 1832, Sault Ste. Marie had a visit from the French writer Alexis Tocqueville. His reactions to the Great Lakes shows his amazement at this wonderful area.

According to the itinerary for Tocqueville's trip, "While in Detroit, they visited the nearby Michigan territory's prison. Changing their plans, Tocqueville and Beaumont turned around heading once again for the northwest. As they boarded the ten-year old touring steamboat,, the "Superior". The vessel was taking on the first sight-seeing cruise to Ssault Sainte Marie so passengers could view Lake Superior.

I learned about this as I am reading an interesting book by Jerry Dennis called The Living Great Lakes. Dennis is a Michigan author who writes eloquently about our area and the Great Lakes.

I wonder if there was someone in the Sault to make fudge for the visitors in 1832?

Marion Strahl Boyer Exhibit

The month of October features an exhibit of the photographs of a Soo resident, Marion Strahl Boyer. A story of her work recently ran in the Grand Rapids Press, U.P. Photo Pioneer.

Marion Boyer's work offers a look at the UP during Great Depression but it has much more than that. She was hired by Life Magazine as one of the magazine's first women photographers. She was assigned to Life's Hollywood bureau and then transferred to New York. This gave her an opportunity to photograph some of the biggest stars and political figures of the time.

Soo residents will remember Mrs. Boyer as a English teacher at Sault High but she had an exciting career before coming to the Soo.

There will be a Meet-the-artist Reception at the Alberta House on October 11.

Studebakers Restaurant

You won't miss Studebaker's Restaurant if you drive down the I-75 Business Spur. The yellow Studebaker out front will easily catch your eye.

Our family has a tradition of Sunday morning breakfast there. Often after our church services, we head to Studebaker's. Their breakfast buffet is a favorite of my husband. I like to order off the menu and my favorite is the Heavy Chevy. The menu items names are automobile related. Studebaker's is clean with good food reasonably priced. Their move to smoke-free makes the entire restaurant open for seating.

I recommend Studebaker's for dining at any meal. I believe they have a buffet for lunch and dinner as well.

Wind Farm on the St. Marys River?

Wind Farm on Lake Superior at Gros Cap

I am down in Grand Rapids right now and found the St. Marys River mentioned on the front page of the Grand Rapids Press on Thursday, Sept. 25. In a story titled "That's one long extension cord" the Press tells about a Holland-area business man who owns 1,500 acres of property on the banks of the St. Marys River in DeTour and Raber townships.

The property could be home to a $140 million wind farm to generate energy for the Holland Board of Public Works.

The article goes on to say that Holland Mayor Al McGeehan and other city leaders could meet with Chippewa County officials next week to discuss the project while they are up north for a Michigan Municipal League convention.

With the Gros Cap wind farm fresh in our minds, it is important for Chippewa County residents to be aware of what is being proposed.

Historical Gems

John Johnston's Burial Site-Riverside Cemetery-Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

The Sault has a rich history that rivals that of any other community. But sometimes you just have to seek it out on your own. The Sault sometimes doesn't brag enough about the importance this area has played in the history of our state and country.

One such story is the John Johnston family. Their home is open during the summer with programs to introduce you to their story. Recently, I took my granddaughters to see the burial spot of John & Susan Johnston. They are buried in Riverside Cemetery. Take the first driveway and go to the back-in the northwest corner.

Burial site of Susan Johnston-Riverside Cemetery-Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Sugar Island Ferry Ride to School

I took my granddaughters to Rotary Island to play today. They are visiting us from down state. While there, we watched a school bus from Sault Area Schools load onto the Sugar Island ferry.
The Sault Schools run a bus to Sugar Island daily.

The thought of having a ferry ride every day to get to and from school was very exciting to a Kindergarten and 4th grader.

It even looks fun to me. Think of it-seeing what's going on in the river and having the excitement of a ferry ride.

Did any of you readers have a bus ride from Sugar Island? We'd like to hear about it.

St. James Episcopal Church

One of the most beautiful buildings in the Sault is the St. James Episcopal Church on Bingham Street. These pictures do not do it justice. I was focusing on the gardens when I took these pictures. The gardens are spectacular all summer. I don't know who maintains them but the gardens are certainly worth a visit.
There is a great description of the church on Hunt's Guide to the Upper Peninsula. This building is a significant architectural building. We attended a concert there where Bob Aldrich gave us a brief history of the church and its beautiful stained glass windows.
The tower contains a carillon. I was able to visit it in 1968 with a classmate who was learning to play it. It still operates daily and I enjoy listening while visiting my parents over on Hursley Street.

My daughter and I have made a hobby out of researching the architecture of the Sault. I wrote to Michigan architectural historian Kathryn Eckert who wrote Buildings of Michigan and asked her why there are so many stunning buildings in such a small town as Sault Ste. Marie. Eckert responded that at the turn of the century (1900) the logging industry was in full force. This meant there was lots of money in Sault Ste. Marie and that is reflected in the public buildings and private residences that were built during that time.

I would someday like to put together a tour of these architectural significant buildings in the Soo.

Penny's Kitchen

Penny's Kitchen is one of my favorite spots to stop for lunch. But I also go there when meeting with a friend, or to have my book discussion group. But when I have a precious hour or two to sit by myself and write, Penny's Kitchen wi-fi and wonderful atmosphere make it a great place to be creative and get inspired.

The menu includes pasta, sandwiches and great desserts. You order at the counter but the food is then delivered to your table. They don't seem to mind when I sit there for several hours but I only do that if there are more tables available for other customers.
This is Penny, the owner, who kitchen is the source of the delicious food served there.

Professional Walleye Fishermen

Last night we went into the Sault to see the boats on display from the Professional Walleye Tournament that is going to be held later this week.
Local fisherman Shawn & Stan Bowerman attended the fishing seminar to learn some tricks for bigger and better fish.
Several of the fishmen had fun license plates.
The boats were fantastic with huge outboard motors. We saw several 300 horsepower.
The tournament is going to be held this weekend with a kid's fishing day on Saturday. The boats were out in the river yesterday getting in some practice.

Professional Walleye Tournament

There is lots of activity out in the St. Marys River this morning. I read in the Evening News that there is a professional walleye tournament in town this week starting Wednesday.

However, it looks like many of the fisherman are getting a few days of practice in here. It is fun to see their beautiful boats. They seem to be congregating down at 9 Mile Point on the river. Hope I'm not giving away any secrets!

Tonight, they are displaying the boats on Ashmun Street and I'll be there to see these big, fancy fishing boats.

I found a link for the Professional Walleye Tournament information.

Exploring the Sault

While surfing the web for information on the Sault, I came across an interesting web site to share with you. It is Hunt's Guide to the Upper Peninsula-On-line Version. I have long enjoyed the Hunt's Guide print version and used it on a motorcycle trip across the Upper Peninsula and found many great stops because of Hunt's recommendations.

The on-line version gives you a good recap of local history and information but the best feature is the links to several web sites for more specific information.

I'm learning so much about blogging this summer and just discovered a new web feature this morning. Daylife is a compilation of web news. But the best feature was the Search where I found several interesting news articles about the Upper Peninsula. I registered for the site which allows me to personalize my page. Do any of you have experience with the type of site? Let us know what works for you. Thanks

Soo Institution Closes

Antlers Restaurant has announced that it is closing after today. They have been in business for 60 years and they were a favorite of locals and visitors. The Antler's have been owned by the Kinney family since 1948 according to the newspaper.

The announcement came in an advertisement in the Sault Evening News.

The restaurant will be reopening in the future under new management.

This happened so quickly that many people did not get an opportunity to visit for one last time.

Please share with us your memories of Antlers either by commenting here or sending me an email at bbenedict07@gmail.com.

I will post all replies that I receive.

Farmer's Market

Last Wednesday I shopped at the Farmer's Market and found some wonderful produce. But that wasn't all.
There was a sense of community as shoppers talked to vendors and all seemed to be having a good time. There was a lot of fresh produce, flowers and other related products.

Pleasant live music was provided which added to the atmosphere.

I purchased a tray of basil which is my favorite herb. With our busy summer, I never had time to plant any, so there hasn't been any pesto this summer. The tray of basil was $5 which is very reasonable plus it came with good advice on when to pick it and how to keep it growing all winter from the seller.

Farmer's Market is every Wednesday from 5:15 - 7:00 PM at the corner of Ashmun and Maple. It runs through October 21. I'll put a link for the information on this site.

First Day of School

It is back to school for most Michigan school children today. As I was out for my morning's exercise, I was greeted by a new sight- a school bus. This is probably a welcome sight for some and an unwelcome morning greeting for others.

This is my first fall in the Soo in many years. Because I don't have to go back to school this year, I can stay and enjoy the beauty of fall here.

One thing I have already noticed. The Canada geese have moved out of the city. No geese on the golf course, at Clydes or Rotary Island this morning. It probably has something to do with the opening of goose season on September 1.

I would like to hear how the first day of school went for you.