The pages of this 1925 travel journal present a rare gift: The chance to see what the open road was like 85 years ago. This is the fourth in a series. The journal entries are presented here just as they were written, with no changes or corrections.
The famous locks at Sault Ste Marie are the most wonderful of anything we saw on our trip. They are the longest in the world, two of them each being 1,350 feet long and 80 feet wide.
The locks are built in St. Mary’s River, which is the outlet from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. We saw the Harvester go down and James McDonald go up. While there, we saw twelve boats. We also saw a hydroplane.
Monday morning, September 14, we left Sault Ste Marie for Newberry. Drove miles and miles over burnt overland. Road winding and turning around charred logs and stumps, blackened trunks of trees of all heights were proof of the awfulness of forest fires.
Passed a broken down car in the plains on a sand hill—two men and two small girls. Man said he had driven miles on a flat tire. The drive shaft was broken so we could not help them.
After driving more miles through desolate uninhabited territory, we passed a small depot called Rexford. Later we came to an oil station where we got 5 gal of gas for $1.05.
Before reaching Newberry, we passed the Michigan State Hospital. A beautiful place, the buildings, yards and fields were all in perfect order. Orchards of apples, peaches and plums—fields of corn, grain, potatoes and cabbage lined each side of the road.
On account of a flat tire, we reached Newberry 25 to 2, after their dinner hours so we had lunches ($.40). After lunch we found a Red Front store and bought supplies. $2.30. Before leaving, got 1 qt. of oil, $.30.
The lighting system in Newberry is rather unique. Down the center of the streets is a double row of poles each equipped with round white globes. We drove out of town just a short distance to see the Tahquamenon River.
We then drove across the bridge, turned around and started toward home, but not rejoicing as all wanted to go still farther north. On our way back to St. Ignace, we drove through the little towns of Hendrick, Garnet, Rexton, Scotties Place, Millers Camp, Moran and Allenville.
Arrived in St. Ignace just a little too late to get a boat across the strait so looked for a campground for the night. We were told road to State Park was very bad and no accommodations there whatsoever.
So we found a woods near the water and our tents were put in a grove of hemlock tree—the prettiest location of anyplace on the trip.
Mr. Swartz was up early next morning. Saw fishermen hauling in their nets and he bought fish for breakfast. While waiting for the boat, Lillie, Frank, Henry and Swartz fished off the R.R. dock. Caught lots of perch. Janette and I rode in and around St. Ignace.”
Click to view notes 8-10 (of 14), or view the entire set at our Flickr page. Be sure to click “All Sizes” for a closer view!
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