The Ghost at Bower’s Harbor

 
Just north of Traverse City is a long finger of land that juts out into Grand Traverse Bay called the Old Mission Peninsula. This eighteen mile long strip of rock and earth is a breathtaking and unusually beautiful place and it is no surprise that Chicago lumber baron J.W. Stickney and his wife, Genevive, chose this spot as a place to build a house…. a house that remains haunted to this day.

The legacy of Bowers Harbor Inn captures a time of leisure and grace. J.W. Stickney built the historic inn in the 1880’s as a family retreat. The mansion befitted a millionaire with its high ceilings, dramatic designs and elegantly decorated rooms. Genevive Stickney preserved peaches and made jams, wines and brandies on the estate. An eccentric and mysterious character, Mrs. Stickney lived in such fear of having her precious brandies stolen that she kept them buried on the property. She was an obese and jealous woman. Extremely self-conscious, one of her prized possessions was a gilt-edged trick mirror in her bedroom that made her appear thinner as she approached it.

As Genevive advanced in years it became necessary to install an elevator so that she could move between floors. Around this time Mr. Stickney engaged the service of a nurse for his wife, although it was no secret that Genevive detested the woman. Perhaps sensing opportunity, the nurse also became Mr. Stickney’s mistress. Growing estranged, Mrs. Stickney developed a paralyzing fear that her husband would bequeath his riches to his mistress. Her premonition came true -— he left his money to his lover, and only the summer retreat to his devoted wife.

The situation drove Mrs. Stickney into a severe depression that eventually led her to hang herself from the rafters of the elevator shaft. The history of the Inn was infused with ghostly stories from that moment on.

After the Stickneys passed away, the historic building changed hands many times. In 1959, the Stickney’s summer retreat was renovated and converted into a restaurant that is still known today as the Bower’s Harbor Inn. Early owners of the establishment were already complaining of strange events like lights turning on and off, glass breaking and objects moving when no one was near.

Clairvoyants, and even disbelievers, describe the apprehensive chills of Mrs. Stickney’s presence. Lights suddenly turned on, mirrors and paintings toppled to the ground. An unnoticed blurry figure has appeared suddenly in photographs when developed. During one bizarre episode, Audrey Scharling, former owner of the Inn, was going over her bills downstairs in the bar. The elevator began to move and, thinking one of her children was awake, she ran upstairs to investigate. Bruce Towner, friend of Scharling, also witnessed the elevator going up and down. Yet, they found all the children asleep and the elevator empty.

In 1964 a patron rushed downstairs shaken, her face ashen. She had been standing before Genevive’s gilt-edged mirror. “I was alone in the hallway and noticed another woman looking in the mirror too.” Her hair was pulled back in a tightly fit bun, just as Genevive had worn hers. Audrey Scharling stated, “I assume this must be Mrs. Stickney. The image in the mirror fits the tintypes we have of her.” Since that time, many other people claim to have seen the phantom woman’s image in the mirror.

Strange phenomena has continued in the building over the years, from rapping sounds on doors, walls and the inside of empty closets to locked doors opening and closing on their own. Customers claim to have encountered J.W. Stickney himself in the old elevator and although it has been out of operation for many years, occasionally it will start up by itself and slowly move from one floor to another.

Sally Jidge, a former resident, recalled when patrons were gathered in the dining room, but no one was standing near the salad bar. “Suddenly,” she said, “a bowl of food flew off the table and shattered, exactly as though it had been thrown deliberately.” Former manager, and a disbeliever in ghosts, Ernest Hall had an eerie experience. “I finished checking the women’s restroom, turned off the light and started toward the door, when it slammed shut. What’s odd about this specific door is that opening it was very difficult, since it stuck to the new carpeting. It also had a self-adjusting arm, the kind found on a screen door. There is no way a human could slam that door shut.”

Many believe Genevive’s restless spirit still walks the halls of her beloved home in search of her husband’s lost love. If you feel her presence, be kind, for she has surrendered to an eternity of discontent and sorrow.

Clues…

Past the home of Genevieve
A little white cross you will see
Along the north shore of the bay
Where Bohemian spirits lay
From the tree behind the tree
Take a read of 90 degrees
Down; Right-Left-Repeat.
Now look beneath your feet.

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.

Wine Country I: Old Mission

 
You must complete the Wine Country Word Puzzle to get the location of this letterbox. Once you know the location, follow the clues below to find the box.

| Click here to open the Wine Country Word Puzzle in Adobe .PDF format |

Clues…

If you encounter Ms. Blossom, you’ve gone the wrong away, but don’t be concerned as the trail is a loop. 70 paces down Luann’s Trail find the box in the end of a hollow log.

| Click here for Wine Country II Letterbox |

Old Mission Point Light

History…

The Old Mission Point Lighthouse, which is positioned precisely at the 45th parallel between the Equator and the North Pole, sits in a Township park at the end of the Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City. The lighthouse was built in 1870 and is an exact duplicate of the Mama Juda Lighthouse built on the Detroit River in 1866. The lights of the 30-ft tower were eventually replaced by automated offshore lights and the lighthouse was deactivated in 1933.

The lighthouse is now owned and maintained by Peninsula Township and the keeper’s dwelling serves as a private residence for the park manager. The park and lighthouse grounds are open to the public year around, and also contain the Hesler log home, circa 1856. There are a series of hiking trails in the woods off to the east of the lighthouse, many of them providing access to the beach.

Getting There…

Follow M-37 north out of Traverse City onto the Old Mission Peninsula. The Mission Peninsula, originally named for the Peter Dougherty Mission, divides Grand Traverse Bay into its east and west arms. At many of the higher vistas during your drive up the peninsula you can see both arms of the bay. The Traverse City area is one of the largest cherry producers in the nation and you will notice many cherry orchards on the peninsula. There are also several vineyards and wineries along the peninsula, a few of which offer tasting rooms. When you see the sign for “Old Mission” pointing to the right, continue straight to the lighthouse. Turning right will bring you into the town of Old Mission where you will find a quaint old General Store, which is worth a stop on your way back down. M-37 ends at Lighthouse Park.

An alternate route up to Old Mission is to take Peninsula Drive, which is a little longer, but a very scenic drive along the bay. If you go this way, make some time to stop and dine at either Bower’s Harbor Inn (fine dining) or the Bowery (casual pub style). They have a wonderful selection of custom entrees and local wines (try the Traverse City cherry wine). Legend has it that Bower’s Harbor Inn, the former home of lumber baron, J.W. Stickney, is haunted and periodic reports of strange noises and phenomena continue to this day. Customers have reported seeing silhouettes in period clothing and the elevator is rumored to have a mind of its own, starting and stopping at whim, even when empty.

Clues…

This box has been pulled for maintenance; replacement is anticipated in spring 2008.