This card starts a series featuring the unique Legs Inn in Cross Village, Michigan. It is called this because of the stove legs used to create the crenellations on the top of the building. This photo features the founder standing in front of an earlier photo of himself when he first built the inn.
The description states:
LEGS INN CROSS VILLAGE, MICHIGAN 49723
Stanley Smolak, originator of this famous landmark, also known as Chief Whitecloud of this Chippewa settlement.
–One can safely assume that the Native American title was self-assumed, as Stanley was born and raised in Poland. This postcard dates from the 1960s.
Tag: Michigan
Kitch-iti-ki-pi Spring, Manistique, Michigan
A final view of visitors on the raft that floats over Kitch-iti-ki-pi as they gaze down through the transparent waters to the churning sand shapes forming constantly on the bottom. There is a submerged viewing port in the center of the raft all the visitors are gathered around which allows viewing without reflections. The raft itself is moved by a cable which the riders operate themselves.
The description states:
KITCH-ITI-KI-PI
The “Big Spring”
Manistique, Michigan
Known to the Indians as “The Mirror of Heaven”, the Big Spring is one of the seven wonders of Michigan. Located in the Palms-Book State Park near Manistique, there is no charge to see this magnificent phenomenon of Upper Michigan.
–This card was dates from the 1950s.
Kitch-iti-ki-pi Spring, Manistique, Michigan
This folio displays many of the interesting and unusual views from the natural spring now called Kitch-iti-ki-pi. As shown, visitors board a simple raft which floats on the waters of the spring while they look down into the depths. The spring is about 40 feet deep, but because of the fast flowing water, is completely clear to the bottom.
There is a connection from the spring to a nearby lake, and from there different types of trout frequently swim into the spring. However, there is little food because of the fast flowing mineralized water, so the spring is essentially barren and the fish rarely remain there.
The images were likely taken in black and white and manually colored. The folio most likely dates from the 1950s.
Kitch-iti-ki-pi Spring Old Boat Launch, Manistique, Michigan
We start a weekend of views of the unique fresh water spring near Manistique, Michigan called Kitch-iti-ki-pi. It is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
This view shows the old raft launch viewing area and the raft slowly moving away in the distance as the passengers view the bottom of the spring. The water flows so fast and clear that it is possible to see the bottom quite easily, and among other views are constantly shifting sands that form shapes for interpretation much like clouds.
The description states:
KITCH-ITI-KI-PI SPRING
Near Manistique, Michigan
In a land of intensely cold winters the crystal-clear waters of the “Big Spring” never freeze over. Legend has it that an Indian maiden, spurning the attentions of an unwanted suitor, fell into the spring and was changed by the magic properties of the water into a white deer.
–As can be seen by the mechanical postmarking in the sky area of the card, the postcard was used and is dated 19 July 1956.
1917 Stutz Bearcat
This is an image of the legendary Stutz Bearcat, a model built, with interruptions, from 1911 until 1934. This example appears to be from 1917, based on the step-over sides, the external gearing, and the right hand drive.
The name was considered so valuable and iconic that it was reused in other completely different designs and by other manufacturers several times over later decades. It became a car that other sporty roadsters were compared to even into the 1950s and 1960s.
This image is on a card used as a marketing promotion for the Gezon Motor Sales Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to remind customers to have their current cars serviced. This card was used, and is dated 3 January 1957.
1913 Mercer Raceabout
This sporty model is from the Mercer Car Company. It had some high powered executives, including members of the Roebling family, famous for the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The description states this model was built with a 30hp engine, while other sources indicate it was 55hp. The car was built as right hand drive with the windshield mounted in a frame on the steering wheel. The car was a very successful racer in its early years, even considering the gas tank was immediately behind the seat backs. The company was closed in 1925.
The postcard itself was used as a marketing reminder by the Gezon Motor Sales in 1957.
1912 Brush Runabout
This brightly colored two seater was built by the Brush Motor Car Company in 1912. They built these runabouts exclusively, and this one sported a 10 horsepower engine. In 1910, Brush and several other small manufacturers merged into the short-lived United States Motor Company. This company failed in 1913.
This card, like the others in this series, was a marketing tool for encouraging customers to bring their cars in for regular service, in this case every 1000 miles. The company credited below the photo, Gezon Motor Sales, is still in business in Grand Rapids, MI today.
The card is postmarked 1957.
1910 Stearns Automobile
This dazzling example of early motor car manufacture was built by Stearns. This model is the 15-30, with a 30 horsepower engine. This firm was known for building luxury cars like the one pictured, and sports cars, most notably one driven by racing legend Barney Oldfield.
The company was in business from 1898 and was sold to the WillysOverland company in 1925, In 1929 the company was liquidated.
Among other marketing information on the back of this card is the phrase: Ask for Pennzoil with Z-7…the Long Quart.
—This is a reference to how long the oil lasts in your engine, a significant issue when service cycles were as short as 1000 miles.
This card was used and is from 1957.
1910 Metz Automobile
This week features classic automobiles from the earliest years of the 20th Century. This card highlights the 1910 model from the Metz car company featuring a 23 horsepower motor. The company had a short lifetime as a result of the inability of hand-made cars to compete with the assembly-line vehicles built by Ford in this era.
This card was not a souvenir but a reminder card sent by the Gezon Motor Sales company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to remind customers to have their current car serviced. The description on the back states:
YOU SAVE MONEY
…by letting us inspect and service your car every 1000 miles. It runs smoother, safer and lasts longer! You save on gas, oil, repairs. That 1000 mile mark is important. May we see you then? Thanks for your most recent visit. Happy motoring!
–Service intervals have gradually increased since then, up to as long as 7500 miles today. Given that many cars are driven more than 1000 miles a month, it is likely that today a monthly service visit would feel very inconvenient.
This card was mailed to the recipient in 1957.
Night over Lake Michigan
The final card of the week is a colored photo of Lake Michigan from Mackinac Island, MI.
It’s not clear what is happening on the lake, but the safe guess is that there is a small steamship in the middle distance. The card has several bits of damage, including the folded lower right corner, and some very subtle mechanical cancellation in the upper center.
While it is impossible to date the photo from the picture itself, the card was mailed and has a postmark of July, 1929.