The Wegaus

 
This letterbox is located in Old Mission Point Park, located near the town of Old Mission, north of Traverse City. This little known park is a true hidden gem. Nicely groomed trails wind through miles of meadowland, old orchards and hardwood stands, offering spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and the bays on either side of the peninsula. The Old Mission Point Park trail network does connect to the trails located at Peninsula Township Park (where the Old Mission Point Lighthouse is located), so you can make a day of it if you are looking for a longer hike and some additional letterboxes.

The forested areas of this park are a letterboxer’s dream with an abundance of fallen logs, rotting stumps, scarred trees and scattered rocks. If you are looking for a place to plant a letterbox out on the Old Mission peninsula, this place could support a couple more and you won’t have a problem finding a spot here. Just be careful when walking off-trail because much of the wooded area is a carpet of wildflowers in the spring.

A Brief History of Old Mission…

The early inhabitants of the Old Mission area were the Ottawa Indians. In 1838 the Presbyterian Church sent Rev. Peter Dougherty to the area to open a school and set up missions. For several years the village of Old Mission grew and new homes and businesses were built. Then due to impending displacement under the Removal Act of 1830, Peter Dougherty and the Indians became suspicious of government intentions and they moved across the west bay to a new mission at Omena, on the Leelanau Peninsula. By 1852, the village of Old Mission was nearly deserted.

Slowly settlers began to move into the area again and new businesses were established. In 1853, Grand Traverse County and Peninsula Township were organized and a school district was formed. At that time there were 3 stores at Old Mission — one of which, the Lewis Miller store, stood where today’s General Store stands on Mission Road. In 1864 Perry Hannah built the first dock, known as “The Big Dock,” located where Haserot Beach is today. Old Mission, with its deep water harbor was readily accessible by schooners and steamers. Farm products could be shipped to any of the Great Lakes ports. Settlers were moving in at a rapid pace and in 1859, the Old Mission School reported 44 students.

By the 1870’s the quiet natural setting with clean air and water and desirable climate began to attract summer residents and tourists. At that time nearly all travelers and supplies came and left by water making the “Big Dock” the heart of the establishment. Another popular landmark near the dock was a little ice cream store known as “The Wegaus,” the Indian name for cherry, an apt name considering the proliferation of cherry orchards in the Old Mission region.

Around the turn of the century, several inns in Old Mission provided accommodations for tourists and vacationers. The Old Mission Beach Resort was described in 1891 as “a diversified woodland with nearly three quarters of a mile of hard sandy beach with southerly exposure upon a land locked harbor… confessedly the most attractive and healthful locality on Michigan waters.” It is little wonder that a prominent visitor was inspired to write,”Perhaps the greatest gift that Old Mission has for those who return each year is a sense of belonging to one familiar spot of earth which does not change, and which one’s family has know for generations.”

Getting There…

Head North out of Traverse City on M-37. At the fork with Peninsula Drive, continue on M-37, or Center Road as it is called locally. Near the tip of the peninsula, follow the signs to the tiny town of Old Mission, which consists of little more than a General Store, the Old Mission Church and remnants of another time. Follow the main street (Mission Rd.) through town to its end at Swaney. Turn right onto Swaney and you will come to Haserot Beach, the former site of the “Big Dock”. It was also near here where the little ice cream store known as “The Wegaus” was located.

Across from Haserot Beach, turn left onto Bay St. and follow it to Woodland (a seasonal road). When Woodland ends at Brinkman, take a right. Head north to the end of Brinkman. Jog left and the trailhead is located on your right.

Clues…

Between five and three
What a view you will see
From a vista up high
A bay on either side.

When you reach Evan’s place
The west bay you must face
Between two young cherry trees
A log lies at 280 degrees.