Page 20 - 2018 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine

SeAessPaauglteo3n4tfhoer Itshleand

STRAWBERRY and Jim Potter frequently
ISLAND PART I: boated Lake St. Clair. In
1953, Bud happened to

Present Day be boating by Strawberry

After boating many years on Lake Island and noticed a For
St. Clair, I was lucky last season to Sale sign, called the num-

find someone who

knew the Straw- Strawberry Island early 1970’s - Strawberry Island 2017
berry Island res- High water cycle at that time too.
idents. I was so

excited to finally with the State Of Michigan. After leas-
visit the island ing the property since 1953, the Potter
for the first time and Pekarek’s successfully attained a
and spend an af- property deed from the State of Michi-
ternoon to see gan in 2010.
what it’s like to be
looking out at the In 1971, after the kids spent many
many boats that summers in a 16’x16’ single room with
congregate there
#1 #2 #3 #4

on the nice sandy

frontage all sum-

mer. ber, and purchased
Here is this families’ story of their memo- the cottage #4. The
following year his
ries of Strawberry since 1953.... Long time brother-in-law Jim
Detroit residents, fishermen, duck hunters, Potter bought cot-
and brother-in-laws....Elmer (Bud) Pekarek

tage #3.

The cabins were

all originally rent-

als at only 16’x16’

(except for the

Pekarek cabin #4)

which was the big

one at 16’x20’!

Bud’s daughters - now in their 60’s Earlier visitors a curtain, the Potter family added onto
- Margaret & Carol on Strawberry’s brought tents to camp on the island their cabin #3, going from 2532ft to its
and purchased bait at the Strawberry present 7682ft and is now owned by
beach. The brick is an outdoor Island store which was at the back of Jim’s son Tom Potter.
fire pit built by Adam Czuprenski, the island. The store was closed and in
a dilapidated condition by the time the And about that same time, Bud Pe-
previous owner of house #1. Potter and Pekarek families arrived. karek also built a new cottage in front
of the original, and once completed,
The families bought the land from Continued on page 30:
Les Malesky, originally a 99-year lease
Page 20
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