Page 30 - 2018 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine

Pekarek and Pot- played and discovered a root cellar.
That house is now gone, consumed by
2018 Waterfront Fireworks ter children (now in high water and completely taken back
their late 50’s early by nature.
The island cottages have sur-
around Lake St. Clair, 60’s) understood vived two floods and have been raised
how lucky they twice. They experienced many storms
with no storm shelters. Carol recalled
the St. Clair River & Detroit River were to have the being on the island on her 12th birthday
opportunity each during a tornado in September 1960.
In different conversations, they
June 21 New Baltimore - Anchor Bay weekend to vaca- were very proud of several things as
June 25 Detroit /Windsor - Detroit River tion on the island kids. They remember the day where
with their siblings a “hand pump” was installed in the
kitchen to provide water from the lake,
June 29 St. Clair Shores - Veteran’s Memorial Park and cousins; and no more bringing in buckets of water.
They were also proud of the separate
June 29 Algonac - St. Clair River now, the 2nd and “mens” and “womens” outhouses,
July 4 Belle Maer/MacRay Marinas - Anchor Bay 3rd generations
July 4 St. Clair - St. Clair River continue to appre- eventually replaced with modern
ciate the island. bathrooms and showers when
septic fields were installed. They
They all re- still bath with fresh lake water.
Because of the great distance,
Cont. from page 20: STRAWBERRY member a much larger beachfront as there is no traditional electricity to
Strawberry Island and they do not
ISLAND PART I - Present Day kids. They also remember being told anticipate it ever being installed.
The families use propane, gener-
the original cabin #4 was torn ators, and have been using solar
power for the past 7 years.
down. His cottage is now owned In 2017, Jim Potter celebrated
his 94th birthday and is pictured
by daughters Carol and Margaret. Probably the below with the family on the day
Probably one of the most most recognized I met this very warm and friendly
recognized cottages on Lake St. house on group. His brother-in-law Bud at
93 (below right), was there the day be-
Clair, the old brown house #1 is Lake St. Clair - fore.
now owned by Jim’s son Ken Pot- The old brown Continued Page 38......
ter. A 2nd story was added in the house on

1960’s and still sports the original Strawberry
exterior. (Cabin #2 was torn down Island

in 1993.)

The interiors of the homes

remain rustic since most time is

spent out-of-doors observing the

many boats that come here to

swim, BBQing family meals, watching about the original house of the Sch-

fabulous sunsets, and enjoying camp- weikart family on the southern shore

fires into the night. (STRAWBERRY PART III page 44,)

Each of the first generation with a beautiful beach, where they

Elmer (Bud) Pekarek

Pictured Left to right are Ed Verhaege, Ella Potter, Ken Potter, Jan Potter, Tom Potter, Donna Potter,
Donna Svendsen, Carol Verhaege, Margaret Jones, Trisha Wojciechowski, Colleen Jones,
Randy Wojciechowski and James Potter front and center.

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