Read More Here: Looking Back (petoskeynews.com)
‘going to the ravine to look for diamonds.’
Looking Back – David Miles Charlevoix Historical Society
It’s the end of another summer, and we wish our resorters a fond farewell while we look forward to their arrival again next year.
Looking Back now looks back at an event that took place on the Belvedere decades ago, the exact date unknown.
“The Belvedere bridge is a work of art, of the rustic order, and a credit to its builder.” — Charlevoix Sentinel, Oct. 8, 1908.
In the middle of the first decade of the 20th century, a local man named John Lynn had been making a name for himself with his unique creations built of cedar harvested from throughout the area.
He had established the Rustic Furniture Company in 1896 with his brothers and associates, then changed the name to the Rustic & Decorative Company in 1907, with 15 people employed.
Lynn was known as the “Rustic Man” for his extremely talented work in wood.
In 1908, the Charlevoix Summer Home Association, later to be known officially as the Belvedere Club, commissioned him to build this rustic bridge across the ravine near the resort’s south end.
During the off-season, local residents were allowed to wander the resort at will, and many Charlevoix residents still remember walking and bicycling across this unique structure that stretched in total over 200 feet.
A great story regarding the bridge has come down in the form of a letter from member G. E. Hollingsworth of Jackson, Michigan, to Bernice Wexstaff, who wrote for the Courier, more than 50 years ago.
Following is a portion, exactly as written: “I can remember many choice bits about Belvedere that of course cannot be a part of any history.
The two famous families the August Busch Sr. (of the St. Louis brewing dynasty) and the Schubert family (Mrs. Busch and Mrs. Schubert were sisters).
Lilly Schubert was a most beautiful woman — in fact, she was crowned in those years a Miss America.
Beautiful Lilly was married to Schlangley — then Troll — during one of her marriages, she and her spouse went for a stroll over the old rustic bridge.
Just about the time they reached the middle, right over the ravine (the portion seen here), an argument reached the boiling point.
Lilly stripped off her some $100,000 in diamonds, earrings, rings, and the works, and threw them into the brush of the ravine.
Of course, many domestics, coachmen, grooms, etc. of the two families, with lanterns recovered the loot.
However, when the young fries of the Belvedere were asked ‘Where (are you going) to today?’, the answer for the rest of the summer was — ‘going to the ravine to look for diamonds.’
This is a true but UNPRINTABLE story — that can be vouched for by many that I can name. Unquote.” How great would it be to see this masterpiece of rustic engineering appear in Charlevoix once again?
