Pentwater Pride Past • Present • Promised!

W I N T E R N E W S L E T T E R W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

P E N T WAT E R M E M O R I E SBy Claudia Schlick Goudschaal

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Claudia Schlick Goud-schaal is the grand-daughter of Erva Schlick and daughter of Claude Schlick. Pentwater has been an important part of her life. Her grand-mother Erva had the Bass Lake hotel and cot-tages from just after WW I,

giving them to Claude who had them until 1972. Erva bought the property from Margaret McKee when she and her husband Tom decided to leave Chicago after the flu of 1918 in favor of a healthier life in Michigan.She read in the newsletter that we were inter-ested in having stories and photos of Pentwater,

Claudia Schlick Goudschaal 1928 - 2009

ysisterandIspentchildhoodsummersatBass Lakewheremygrandmother,ErvaSchlick,had aresortontheUS31sideofthelake.ItwasasmallhotelwithahugediningroomandscreenedporchwithtwelverockersalaMackinac’sGrandHotelandeightcottages.Pentwaterwasoursuppliestownandtheusualentertainmenttreatdestination.

GOI NG TO TOWNWhena“want”listwaslongenoughwepiledintothe1929peagreenFordwitharumbleseatandwent“totown”.Whilemygrandmother,mom,dadorauntshoppedatMyersandthehardwarestore,wedasheddowntothecornerdrugstoretobuyasmallturquoiseandsilverringandasailorhattomakeoursummercomplete.Were-turnedtoMyerstowatchMr.Myers.Hewastallandhadthepinkestcheekswe’deverseenonaman.WewonderedifheusedrougelikeouroldercousinMarymae.Whenwewereolderwelearnedhecarriedmanyafamilyonhis

so she wrote these little bits about her own early days in Pentwater.A cousin, Myrtle Lovell Disbrow lived in town for many years, first in Jenny Wren and then several blocks farther north on US 31. Another cousin, Marymae Hale, spent summers in Pentwater until her death about 3 years ago.Another cousin, Chris Dunn, still has her mater-nal grandmother’s old cottage on Bass Lake a few doors north of the former Schlick property. They are so happy that he has maintained it very much as when it was built, probably around 1910. In-stead of remodeling it to today’s standards he built an apartment over the garage for winter use with all of the modern comforts. The original cottage is used for warmer weather and preserves so many memories.

Meet The Author

chargelistforlongperiodsuntiltheycouldpay.WhenmygrandmotherreceivedherfirstdepositsandrentsforcottageseachspringshewentatoncetoMyerstoproud-lypayofftheaccountshe’dlivedonpartofthewinter.Hergenerationwasnotonetobebeholdentoanyone.Thehardwarestorewasonthecorner,adarkandmyste-riousplacetouswithallkindsofthingsforbuildingandrepairs.Itwasaserious,nononsenseplaceforchildrenbutweenjoyeditanyway.Ialwayswasfascinatedbythebuilding’sarchitecturetoo.BackacrossthestreetwepeekedintoChet’s,thetowngarage.Itwasalwaysinter-estingwithclangingnoises,hissingnoisesandallkindsofworkgoingonwithallkindsofdifferentcars.Thetinyofficeupfrontwasofflimits.Weknewthatwithoutbeingtold,foritwasforpayingbills,nolittlethingintheGreatDepression.WewentgingerlypastMr.Kent’sfuneralparloralthough

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ifwesawhim,westoppedtovisit.Welikedhimforhewasn’tastallastheothermenandworeabowtie.Aftertrottingwithouradultssouthdowntheblockpastthebakeryandotherstorestothepostofficeandtheinevitablevisitswithpeoplethere,wewererewardedwithasodaoricecreamconefromtheSodaBarofthedrugstore.Some-timesdadlookedinatBillyGray’sAntlerBarforaminutetovisittoo,althoughheneverstayed.

WereturnednorthupthestreetpastEstherDempsyintheprettytinywhitegazebothathousedthechamberofcommerce.Wecheckedoutwhatwasonatthemovietheaterandusuallyknewwe’dgetthereonenighttoseeit,sometimesinvitedtoaccompanyresortguestsandtheirchildrenalthoughwepaidourownwaywithpride.Ourgrandmotherhadtheonlytelephoneandmailboxonthewestsideofthelakeandweweredispatchedtorundownthebacklanetotheothersevenoreightcottageswithmailforthemorwhensome-onewaswantedonthephone.Forthiswewereusuallygivenanickelordimeandthiswasourmovieandtownmoneyfund.WhenaTarzanmovieplayedwetriedtoseeitseveraltimes,forwe’dcreatedourownjunglewithropesandbucketstohaulupanddownthemapleandbeechtreesinourwoodsandwerealwayslookingfornewideas.

Ialwayswantedtogodowntotheyachtclubandthedocks,indulgingeventheninalifelongloveofboatsstillasintenseasever.Sometimeswhenfamilycametovisitwe’dgotothebeach,drivingpastNickersonInnandtheCoastGuardstation.Bothwerealwayssprucedupandglisteningwithwhitepaintamidlovelylandscaping.IhopedonedayI’dgrowuptoliveinPentwaterinacottagealongthechan-nelorinoneoftheoldsquare,graciousGeneralGrantstylehomesonthestreetsbehindthemainstreet.

COMING OF AGE IN PENTWATER Pentwaterexperiencedasayoungadultwasstillafunandhappyplacetobealthoughitsometimesprovedembarrass-

ingtoo.Atsixteen,wellintobeingthefamily“gofor”Iwasdispatchedtothelumberyardforsomebuildingmaterialsdadneeded.Drivingproudlyuptotheentrance,Istoppedandsaidinaveryfirmvoice,“I’mheretopickupthreeshitsofsheetrockforMr.Schlick.”AfterexplodinghelplesslyinlaughterhewavedmeonbacktotheloadingyardwhileI,redfaced,wantedonlytogetthewretchedmaterialsand

getout-fast.ForyearsI’ddreamedoftheCommodore’sBallattheyachtclubandwatchedoldergirlsastheyalightedinformalgownsfortheoccasion.WhenatlastIwasinvitedtogo,Iwasecstaticandcelebratedbygoingtothebeachwithfriends,whereIfellasleepwhiletheytookafinaldip.Iawokewithaparboiledlobsterappearancewhentheyreturned,andalthoughweworkedhardwithpancakemakeupandpowder,Ihadthechoiceoflookinglikeaclowninwhitefaceoranonlyslightlypalersunburnedcastaway.Saidcastaway

wentanyway.Mydatewaskindenoughnottobeobviouslyupsetwithhispartner,andaftermyinitialqualmswedidbothenjoytheeveninganyway.

AsteensmysisterandIbothlandedjobsatthePentwaterDairyBar.Ourfamilysaidwe’dsoonbesickoficecreambutsomehowthatneverhappened.Weworkedwithseveralothergirlsandsoonweremakingmalteds,sundays,sodas,fizzydrinksandlightlunches.Leftaloneindullmomentsweinventedexoticcombinationsforourownmaltedsandsundays,combiningthemanyflavorsoficecreamwiththevarietyofsaucesandalwaystoppedwithnutsandwhippedcream.OnceIwentabsolutelyblankwhenamanorderedaneggsandwich.Icouldn’tfigureouthowarunnyeggwouldstayonasandwich,butoneoftheoldergirlssaid,“WellyouFRYtheeggfirst.”I’dneverheardofafriedeggsandwichandhe’dleftoutthewordFRIEDinhisorder.Later,asacollegestudent,IspentafewdayssharingaroomatMr.Sayers’withJenDuncanjustbeforeshebe-cameBillDuncan’swife.Ihelpedoutwiththeicedeliveries

Claudia played the role of ship’s cook on the schooner Inland Seas based at Suttons Bay and volunteered at the Inland Seas Education Assocation.

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whilesomeonewasgone,astherewerefewboysormenavailableduetothewar,andIwasbigandstrong.Al-thoughitwashardworkwehadfuntoo,especiallyintheLudingtoniceplantwhilethetruckwasbeingloaded.

IrememberStuffyGwilliaminhislittleyellowCrosleywagonandadmiredbothhishomeandtheoctagonhouseonthesouthendoftown.Itwasatthemarinaneartherethat,yearslater,myhusbandandIfoundour1967Chris-Craft.Afteratourofitmygrandmothersaid,“It’snice,dear,butwherearetheoarlocks?Ididn’tseeany.”

MygrandmotherspentwintersintheEndershomeuntilshesoldherresortandcametoliveinPentwaterwithmydadabout1972.Mycousins,DrFrankandMyrtleLovell,boughtJennyWrenandwesometimesstayedthereonweekends.HewasactiveintheMasons,andshefoundfriendsintheMethodistchurch.Later,afteryearsasawidow,shebecameMrs.DisbrowandlivedinahomeonUS31atthenorthendoftown.Later,stillanothercousinfromSt.Louisspentsummersinherlittlewhitecottagewithabigyardabout5blocksfromdowntown.Allaregonenow,butmemoriesremain.

IlivequitehappilyinahomeoverlookingLakeMichiganhalfwaybetweenLelandandNorthportbut,alongwithBassLake,Pentwaterwillalwaysbethehomeofmyheart.

Claudia wrote this in September of 2009, but sadly, she passed away November 14, 2009.

NEWMEMBERS

Zane Nietiedt Michael & Jill Stenberg Ellen Brown Larry Christensen Pam & Tony Sisson Sue Grace Linda Eisenlohr Lewis (Bud) Stenberg Carla Fisher Cal Levich Tom & Cindy Ringwald Mary McDonald Audrey Newton Jim & Robin Walicike Sandra Strong Cathy Sibley Jerry & Sheryl Wygant Charles Smith Gordon Veldman Oliver Stanchfield Don & Dee Becke Bill & Diane Gardy

NEWLIFEME MBERRobert & Greta MacKeough

CONVERSIONOFEXISTINGMEMBERTOLIFE Dan & Teri Filius Francis & Donna Mills Janet Nelson Fredrick Immer Dean & Maureen Gustafson Kathleen B. Cox

DEATHS Barbara Cross Carol Hale George Buchner Fred Jobbin

DONATIONS PentwaterYacht Club Michael Stenberg John Franke

THE PENTWATER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

SPRING DINNERWednesday, May 26, 2010

Social Hour 6:00pm (BYOB) Swiss Steak or Chicken Dinner 6:30pm

Karen Urick will give a Special Presentation on Genealogy!

At The Pentwater VFW Hall This event open to the public.

Enjoy this social and educational eventONLY $13.00

(Must be obtained by noon, May 22)

TICKETS ON SALE AT:

•Society Officers •The Pentwater Township Library •Durand’s Wine Shop

On the upper floor oftheVillage/TownshipHall, the“old”basketballcourt serves as a storageareaforrecordsandbackissues of old Pentwaternewspapers.Threeseniorstudents,JessicaCarlson,Amanda Deuling and Megan Wilicki, along with BobChilders,DeloresSturrandNancyGrantwenttoworkorganizingandfilingthenewspapersonCommunitySer-viceWorkDayonMay4,2009.Theyhadagreat timeandenjoyedreviewingtheoldpapersandreadingsomeofthecontents.

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ow that we are in the depths of winter, being preoccupied with keeping close tabs on the thermometer and snowfall amounts, how easy it is to slip back into the memories filled with the beauty of summer’s flowers. And who can think about flowers with-out thinking about The Garden Club of Pentwater. Organized in July of 1930 and becom-ing federated in August of 1932, it is officially ‘80 years “young” this year! Mrs. Francis J. Diner was the first president. She encouraged sev-eral others to join her as the group pulled weeds, planted flowers and began a “beautification project” which the club of today continues. The current club is known for its successful plant sale at Bell Park on Memorial Day weekend, its color-ful Garden Walk in mid July, the planting and maintaining of three gardens in town, helping the school children plant their playground

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

GEORGE H. CLUCHEYGolden Glove Champion,

Professional Boxer & Deep Sea Diver oumightknowGeorgeCluchey,butfewpeopleare awareofhismanytalentsandlifetimeachievements!It wasarealpleasuretointerviewGeorgeasmysubjectforthe2010PHSWinterNewsletterPresident’sMessage.Once again, I am amazed to find another Pentwater person that

isatrueexampleofdedication,spirit, intestinal fortitude, andone who possess unique abili-tiesandskills.At93yearsofageand still going strong, Georgehas lived a full and rewardinglife. Many years of George’snine plus decades have beenrighthereinPentwater!AsforfamilyhistoryhisGrand-parentswerePaulandSavannaCluchey.Georgeisthe2ndson

of Michael from Pentwater and Emma (Christian) from Mears.Hisparentsweremarriedin1910attheWeareSt.JosephChurch.GeorgewasbornonNovember17,1917inPentwater,Michigan.NowdeceasedarehisolderbrotherDonandyoungersisterEvelan.Includedinthefamilyarethefollow-ing step brothers and sisters: Ha-zel, Izora, Rose (Peacock), Beatrice,Louis,Edward,Clinton,MitchelandLadoreallofwhomarefromhisfa-ther’sfirstmarriage.In1936,Georgegraduated from Ludington HighSchoolandhisfamilymovedfromafarmintoLudingtonforemploymentreasons.After graduating George attendedtheUniversityofMarquetteinMil-waukee for the next year and a half.On May 26, 1943 George married Helen Sterns of Ludington,Michiganandtogethertheyraisedthe followingchildren: CheriwasbornattheAirForceBase,GoodfellowField,TexaswhileMi-chaelandJudywereborninnearbySanAngelo,Texas.Colleenand

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A portrait of George during his fighter pilot days during WWII.

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George H. Cluchey

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In Our Towngarden and another in front of the school and 3rd grade classroom, as well as other activities.Each month the club selects a garden in town to be honored as the “Garden of the Month.” Here are but a few samples for you to enjoy.

The Garden Club Members

Visitors (& new members) are always welcome to the organization’s interesting monthly meetings and field trips, which are held from March to early December, on the third Tuesday, 1:30 in the afternoon, usually at the Pentwater Friendship Center. The president for 2010 is Linda Osborn. She can be reached at 869-4122 for further information.

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PatrickwerebothborninPentwater,Michigan.Asyoucansee,thefamilywasonthemoveasGeorgefollowedhiscareerandlivelihoodasadeepseahardhatdiver.

Physical Fitness to Champion BoxerGeorge’sboxingcareerstartedin1928andendedin1940.At eleven years of age he joined the Wolverine Athletic

Club in Ludington. Theclub was sponsored bythe Ludington Elks andwas located above thepost office. Both Georgeand his brother Don be-cameinterestedinboxingand began their train-ing by running from thefamily farm, located overfivemilesfromLudington.George honed his box-ingskills throughfrequentcoachingbyRogerBernardofFlint,Michigan,whowasthentheJuniorLightweight

WorldChampion,wheneverhewasintheLudingtonarea.In1934,GeorgeenteredtheGoldenGlovesTournamentintheFlyweightDivisionat112poundsandwontheWest-ern Michigan Regional Championship. His last GoldenGlovesTournament was in 1935, and he won theWest-ernMichiganRegionalChampionshipLightweightTitleat135pounds.In1936,Georgetrainedinagymnasiumlo-catedon66thStreetinChicago,Illinois,withJohnnyCou-lonwhowasaWorldBantamWeightChampion.Alsointhisyear,Georgefoughtinanumberofeliminationtour-namentsinChicagothroughtheCYOandwonChampi-onships.GeorgewonaboutagainstAndyScrivaniwhichqualifiedhimtoparticipateasamemberoftheU.S.Olym-picBoxingTeam.TheOlympics were heldin Berlin, Germany.Unfortunately, Georgebroke his right wristtrying to jump a chainacross a walkway inJackson Park, whileon a training run, andwas replaced by AndyScrivani as a representative to the United States OlympicBoxingTeam.From1934through1936,Georgewon36outof43boxingbouts. In1938 through1940,GeorgewasaprofessionalLightweightBoxer,winning20outof23box-ingmatches.DuringtheseyearsheboxedinMuskegonand

GrandRapids,Michigan;alsoinChicago,Houston,SanAn-tonioandinRoswell,NewMexico.

United States ArmyOn April 17th, 1941, George became a member of the126thRegimentofthe32ndRedArrowInfantryDivision.In 1943, George was transferred to theArmyAir Corpswhere he became a Tech Sergeant pilot flying P-40 andP-51FighterAircraftfortheArmy.AsanArmyPilot,hewasstationedatKelly,RandolfandGoodfellowAirfieldsinTexas.DuetoanexcessnumberofFighterPilotsandhisknownqualitiesforfitness,GeorgewasthenassignedtothePhysicalEducationDepartmentasan instructorofAvia-tionCadetsforthenexttwoyears.GeorgealsobecametheChiefFlightDispatcherattheAirfield.Hewasdischargedfrom military service in December of 1945. During theaforementionedtimeperiod,GeorgecontinuedhiseducationwithtwoyearsofstudyinBusinessAdministrationattheSanAngeloCollegeinWestTexas.

Professional Deep Sea Diver As forbecomingaCommercialMarineHardHatDiver,Georgewasintroducedtowhatwouldbehisworkingca-reer field as a youngeleven year old boydoing general workduties for his father’sbusinesscalledM.O.Cluchey CommercialMarine Constructionout of Ludington,Michigan. In 1940,George became aHardHatDiverwithassignments of inspecting off shore Cribbing and IntakeWaterLineSystemsintheGreatLakes.In1948,hejoinedhisbrotherDonintheMarineConstructionbusinessanddid deep sea diving in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.Someofthecompany’sworkwasfortheU.S.Coastguardinspectingandrepairingboatlaunches,docksandvariouswaterrelatedfacilities.In1950through1954,GeorgejoinedtheRaymondPileCompanyoutofChicagowherehedidpiledivingforbuildingsanddocks.Georgestayedwiththiscompanyforatenyearperiod. FromJune1954through1956, he worked for the firm of Merritt Chapman andScottasadiverandriggerwhichincludeddeepdivingworkontheMackinawBridge. In1956,GeorgewasinchargeoftakingconstructionbargesforwinterstorageinChicagodownLakeMichiganandalongtheWisconsinshorelineinharrowingweather.George left thisfirmin1958andbe-cameafreelancehardhatdiverformajoroilcompaniesandwasemployedtodounderwaterburning,weldingandpho-

George at 11 years old in 1928.

George as a champion boxer in 1938.

George as a deep sea diver.

EDBIGLOW President

PENTWATER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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Bob’sCornerbyBobChildres

Totheladiesofouraudience;Iknowyourfirstquestionforme,yourfashioneditor,willbe,“Justwhatarewegoingtobewearingthisfallseason.Whatkindofnewhatsareavailable?Whyhasittakenyousolongtowriteaboutthisveryimpor-tant issueofours?”Ohyeeof little faith.Doyouhonestly

thinkIwouldletyoudown?Ithoughtnot.TocorrectthisoversightItraveledALLthewayupfrommyspring,sum-mer,fallandwinterestateouthereontheedgeofthePent-waterPlains,ALLthewayuptodowntownPentwaterjusttovisitthefashionsalonsofourfaircity.InalaterissueIwillcoverthewintercoatsanddressesyouwillbewearing.Ipersonallylikethepictureintheupperrightcorner.Itlookslikeshefoundabranchofanoaktreeandstuckitinherhair.

2007-2008 OFFICERS & TRUSTEES OF THE PENTWATER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

EdBigelow WilliamO’Donnell JimAlfredson KennethLindstromPresident V-President Secretary Treasurer

TRUSTEES:RogerBailey,MyrnaCarlinandBobChilders

MEMBERSHIPCHAIRWOMAN:KarenWay

NEWSLETTERCOMMITTEE SharonO’Donnell JimPikaart BruceBates Editor Layout/Design Photo Editor

tography. This work centered on underwater pipelinesfromoffshorewellstotherefineries.Duringthisworking

period of hiscareer Georgeand familyhad moved toMorgan City,Louisiana as acentralized lo-cationforworka s s i g n me nt swhich contin-uedinto1970.

Real Estate Broker/Appraiser and Oceana County Service

In1971,theClucheyfamilyreturnedtoPentwater.GeorgedecidedonanewcareerfieldandbecamealicensedRealEstateAssociateBroker.AsaBroker,GeorgeworkedforthelocalfirmsofOceanaRealtyinRothburyandThreeLakesRealty’sofficeinPentwater.Alsoin1971,GeorgebecameaStateofMichiganlicensedAppraiserandworkedinbothof thesefieldsuntilheofficiallyretired in2008.From1972toapproximately1982,GeorgeservedontheOceana County Planning Commission. For ten years,GeorgefurtherservedasOceanaCountyRepresentativeto the West Shore Regional Development CommissionandheldthepositionofViceChairmanfortwoyears.Nowifmymathisright,GeorgeCluchey’sworkingjour-neystartedattheageof11in1928andendedattheageof92in2008,oraspanof80years,whichtomeisabso-lutelyincrediable!!!So, as I bring George’s personal life story to a close, itis my pleasure to share with you that George Clucheyisanawesomeman,sharpasatackatage93,andade-voted, loving family man. This man has demonstratedthat believing in principals and dedicating your life tobettering yourself, is achievable and rewarding whenfoundedongoodbedrockethics. Allof these excellenttraitsGeorgehasare readilyappreciatedby thoseofushaving the privilege of making his acquain-tance and friendship. Take the opportunity tovisitGeorgeandHelenat258Thirdstreet in Pentwater and personallyexperience this truly outstandingman. George is another perfect ex-ample of people that have enrichedour Pentwater heritage. Personal lifehistory abounds around us if we arewillingtotakethetimetofindit,andofcourse,shareitwithothers!

The Cluchey Work Barge at Pentwater.

GOT PHOTOS?You may be one of the many people who have older,

historical photos of Pentwater that you would like to share. The Historical Society would like to take a look

at them and possibly preserve them by scanning or copying and then returning them to you.

U S E T H I S F O R M T O B E C O M E A M E M B E R O F T H E P E N T W A T E R H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y HOME ADDRESS SUMMER ADDRESS From To

NAME NAME

ADDRESS ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP CITY STATE ZIP

PHONE PHONE

T Y P E O F •Patron $500* •Life $125* •Sustaining $40* STATUS:

New MEMBERSHIP: •Annual $10* •Student $3 ( * Includes Spouse)

Renewal

Would you like to be contacted to participate in society activities? If so, your area of interest is:

PLEASE MAKE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: AUTHORIZED The Pentwater Historical Society, P.O. Box 54, Pentwater, MI 49449 SIGNATURE

Getting Ice in 1941Getting Ice in the ‘40’s was a strenuous occupation but a necessary way of life for many.At right, Frank and Maynard Iteen use pevys to guide the ice blocks from Pentwater Lake up a conveyor to be stored in the ice house and then sold to residents and and area business.

At far left, Ed Iteen and son George with their team of oxen and a working sleigh.

Photos courtesy of Mrs. George (Betty) Iteen of Ludington.

PENTWATERHISTORICAL

SOCIETYP.O.BOX54,

PENTWATER,

MICHIGAN49449

PENTWATER HISTORICAL SOCIETY SPRING DINNER AT THE VFW HALL WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, AT 6 PM

Frank and Maynard Iteen are cutting blocks of ice on Pentwater Lake with big ice saws while a horse-drawn scraper

cleans the snow and rough ice from the surface.