Beyond Shingle Diggin's
- Dorothy Stark Cannell
- Jul 25, 2024
- 4 min read
Published August 30, 1995
Mystery of the Indian village at Forest Beach
After the “Fourth” weekend, in 1907, the Record reported big crowds at Paw Paw Lake. Among other places, they mentioned that at Forest Beach skating and bowling and the Indian village were attractive features and well-patronized.
The Hartford Day Spring was more specific: “Resort crowd breaks all records at Paw Paw Lake” said the headlines. “Sunday’s throng was estimated at 30,000 people around the shores of the lake, as great as the entire population of Van Buren County.” It accounted for some of the crowds by mentioning that the K.L.S.&C. Railway Company had completed the tracks and run its first excursion train from Kalamazoo through Toquin and Hartford to the north side of Paw Paw Lake. But, it said nothing about the Indian village or the drama at Forest Beach. The next entry I found was in the Day Spring July 17th issue: “On Friday night of last week unknown parties broke into the Indian village established by C. H. Engle at Forest Beach and stole the Indian costumes and the entire stock of souvenirs. About $100 worth of goods were taken.” At the end of the article it said, “Property was later recovered at one of the boat docks.” But that’s the last entry I could find about the project.
July 25th Day Spring reports that Mr. Engle had dropped into the Day Spring office and was talking about Hartford when he had come there 50 years before, yet no mention of his Indian project on Paw Paw Lake.
August 31 carried the news that Mrs. C. H. Engle was in Petoskey for a month and in a Sept. paper, Mr. Engle tells Don Cochrane, Day Spring editor, about a wigwam which had been erected on his lawn-the finest white birch bark wigwam of its size in America. On the corner of Main and Maple, it had been made especially for him by Chief Black Hawk of northern Michigan. “It is a decagon,” the article continues, “cone shaped, with a 16 ft. base and 21 ft. high and containing 1,000 square feet of birch bark. No one can see this remarkable wigwam and doubt an Indian’s ability in the realm of art.” (Incidentally, this wigwam was later sold or given to Eastern Michigan University and placed at the entrance to the Science Building).
But no more was said about “Queen of the Woods” or the Indian village and the year or so after the Beechwood Pavilion met the fate of so many places built on the lake in those days and burned to the ground. Mr. Ollinger rebuilt his roller rink into a dance floor. Apparently the Indian village did not work out, at least on a long-term basis. If anyone else can solve the mystery or knows anything more about it I, for one, am curious.
That doesn’t stop my dreaming, however. I could see a big production of “Queen of the Woods” put on in the open in an amphitheater by the lake or the river, with talent from the area, both white and Indian, like Cherokee, or the Passion Play at Spearfish, South Dakota, or Oberammergau. How much more inspiring, educating, and entertaining that could be than a gambling casino!
I am sure there are many readers who will remember Bertha Woodward as their eighth-grade teacher. She often described her dream to us. It was of a musical drama of the area’s history, using the natural amphitheater in the ravine behind the Wesco station in Coloma, with seats built into the hillside, looking out on the river and Interurban trestle and woods as a background. True, I can’t even find a copy of the play “Queen of the Woods” any more but I still have the book. I also have a full-page review of the production in the Chicago Chronicle, published May 15, 1904:
REDSKINS IN DRAMA
Indian Play Given by Michigan Young People
Descendents of Pottawatomies Act in Beautiful Story
Chief Simon Pokagon’s Book Dramatized On Stage
Tale of Exiled Band Has Dramatic Possibilities
Weird Music and Strange Ceremonies of the Past Are Revived
I know three people who were not Indians in this original play: My dad, Allen Stark, played the part of Leopold’s father; Mrs., Fay Humphrey Dunnington, who played the part of Leopold’s wife; Fred Place, a friend of my dad’s who played General Tipton. Perhaps you will recognize other names: Otho Ford, Mildred Leach, R. S. Yeckley, Adeline Humphrey, Margery Engle, Max Dean, Howard Wilson, Earl Adams, and Charles Pokagon.
Great projects begin with dreams, continue with trials, some success and some failure, and finally succeed with leadership and much cooperation. Look at the Glad-Peach Festival as an example. It was thrilling to see all those people having fun. I remember when that had trouble getting off the ground.
Coloma Public
Library news
Bookmark Contest
The Coloma Public Library is still accepting entries for the Summer Reading Bookmark Contest through this Saturday, July 27. Entry forms are available at the front desk.
The Sentinels of The Rose
combat reenactment
All ages are welcome to watch the professional combat reenactment group duel with swords and tell tales of adventure! Two showings will take place at Randall Park on Saturday, July 27. First showing is at 10 a.m. Second showing is at 12 p.m. Take a chair and get ready for some medieval fun.
Campfire Stu performance
Gather around in this family friendly event with local author/ singer-songwriter, Mike Struwin. The Campfire Sing-a-long transports the audience to a campsite in the woods! Show will be Wednesday, July 31 at 10:30 a.m.
Family STEM Program
This grant funded educational and fun program on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 5:30 p.m. is designed for families with children ages 4 - 8. Dinner will be provided. Registration is required. Call 269-468-3431, email readcoloma@gmail.com, or FB message the library.
Book Club
The public is invited to join the Coloma Public Library Book Club every other Thursday in the Community Room at 4 p.m. The date of the next session is Aug. 8. The title is “A Study in Scarlet Women” by Sherry Thomas.
‘New Romantics’ Book Club
Adults who love reading romance will want to join the New Romantics Book Club! Next session is Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m. The title to read is “The Seven Year Slip” by Ashley Poston.
Program schedules are on the calendar at: colomapubliclibrary.net. Contact staff at 269-468-3431 or readcoloma@gmail.com for more information.