Archibald Jones & The Benzie Co. River Improvement Co.

16 Pages·2015·6.99 MB·English

AARrCcHhIiBbAaLlDd J OJNoEnS e s
&
&
THE BENZIE CO. RIVER IMPROVEMENT CO.
The Benzie Co. Riv er Improvement Co.
DEDICATION OF HISTORICAL SITE MARKER

DEDICATION OF HISTORICAL SITE MARKER
CRYSTAL LAKE OUTLET, BENZIE COUNTY, MI
CRYSTAL LAKE OUTLET, BENZIE COUNTY, MI

SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST 2015, 10 A.M.
SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST 2015, 10 A.M.

ArcAhricbhAiblaldd JJoonnese (1s4 ( S1e4p s 1e81p1 -1 8151 1M -a y1 518 M90A) y 1890)

President of the Benzie County River Improvement Company,
president of the benzie county river improvement company,
and responsible for the enterprise that resulted in
and responsible for the enterprise that resulted in
the lowering of Crystal Lake in August, 1873. (*)
the lowering of crystal lake in August, 1873. (*)

The man who (allegedly) pulled the plug at Crystal Lake.
The man who (allegedly) pulled the plug at crystal lake.

“He builded better than he knew.”
“he builded bet ter than he knew.”
[(*) Original ink drawing by Glen Wolff, 2014,
based on[ a(* p) h Ootroiggrianpahl ,i nBke ndzriae wBianngn beyr 3G6le(4n6 W), 6o l(ff16, 2J0u1l 149, 31).]
based on a photograph, Benzie Banner 36(46), 6 (16 Jul 1931).]
ExCERpT FROM THE LUSIAD
“… Long thus, and various, ev’ry riv’let strays,
Till closing, now, their long meand’ring maze,
Where in a smiling vale the mountains end,
Form’d in a crystal lake the waters blend:
Fring’d was the border with a woodland shade,
In ev’ry leaf of various green array’d,
Each yellow-ting’d, each mingling tint between
The dark ash-verdure and the silv’ry green.
The trees, now bending forward, slowly shake
Their lofty honours o’er the crystal lake; …”
- - The Lusiad of Luís Vaz de Camões, Book IX
KNOw SOMETHING
“Why aim such blows at the mercurial Celt ?
Is he not useful in the shops of trade ?
Does he not pave the roads with iron bars,
And link the lakes and rivers with the sea, …”
“Here sunbrowned toil with shining spade,
Links lake to lake with silver ties,
Here builds huge palaces of trade
And heaps the granite to the skies.”
-- Samuel R. Phillips (1824-1880), Know Nothing, 1854.
“From lake to lake these wondrous waters flow,
As human love from heart to heart should run,
Uniting them with ties as bright and true
As those which bind in peace the pure in heart.”
-- Samuel R. Phillips (1824-1880), Nebraska, 1854.
2
pROGRAM
wELCOMING REMARKS
INTRODUCTION OF CONTRIBUTORS
THE “TRAGEDY” AND THE “COMEDY”
DEDICATION
THE pULLING OF THE pLUG
THE wEDDING OF THE wATERS
3
wELCOMING REMARKS
Good morning and welcome to all as we celebrate this We are gathered here today to dedicate an historical site
historic occasion. One hundred forty-two years ago at marker to acknowledge Archibald Jones, President of the
this very location (*) our forefathers experienced an event Benzie County River Improvement Company, and to
unique among all inland lakes of northern Michigan. commemorate his accomplishments that initiated this event
The dramatic and precipitous lowering of Crystal Lake that has so transformed our local environment.
was seemingly ill-fated in its beginning, but fortuitously
evolved into a serendipitous conclusion of becoming a [(*) The Crystal Lake Outlet Dam controls the level of
fortunate happenstance with a pleasant surprise. - known Crystal Lake to enhance recreational interests in the summer,
colloquially as the “Tragedy” / “Comedy” of Crystal Lake. to minimize shoreline damage in the winter, and to regulate
downstream flow to minimize streambank erosion and sediment
Leonard Case, a passionate promoter of local history, took redeposition in the Betsie River and Betsie Bay.]
an especial interest in attempting to determine the original
level of Crystal Lake:
“The event was so epochal in its nature and has such a
permanent bearing on the subsequent development of
Benzie County that it is rightly considered as one of the
major incidents of the county’s early history.”

-- Leonard L. Case, A Bicentennial Reader, 1976.
INTRODUCTION OF CONTRIBUTORS
Through the intervening years many persons within and Members of the Greater Crystal Lake Community
beyond the confines of Benzie County have contributed to
the success of this event. Benzie Area Historical Society
Beulah Boosters
Honorary “Stockholders” (Past & Present, 2010 – 2015)
Benzie Conservation District
The Jones, Case, Hubbell, Bailey, and Torrans Families Crystal Lake & Watershed Association
Florence E. Bixby Friends of Betsie Bay
Harold & Linda Saffron Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail
Joe Evancho Friends of Point Betsie
William Milliron Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
Harold R. Bruning Benzonia Public Library; Darcy Library of Beulah;
Alfred M. Beeton Benzie Shores District Library
“Doc” Stuart Shapiro Village of Beulah; Village of Benzonia;
Jim Laarman City of Frankfort
Meredith and Robert “Bob” McNabe The Littorians of Crystal Lake
Edith Overlease The Citizens and Visitors of Benzie County
Governmental Officials
Dedication Committee (Archibald Jones Day Committee)
Village of Beulah
Dr. Stacy Leroy Daniels (Master of Ceremonies);
Village of Benzonia
Al Bryant; Vicki Carpenter; Dr. Louis Yock
Crystal Lake, Lake, and Benzonia Townships
Land & Lake (Erection of the Marker);
Benzie County Drain Commissioner
Jon Mead (Photography); Olivia Buzzell (Recording)
Benzie County Road Commission
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
4
THE “TRAGEDY” AND THE “COMEDY”
Why to we celebrate a singular esoteric event like the “Tragedy” Benzie Co. River Improvement Company. Stock was subscribed
/ “Comedy” of Crystal Lake? All northern Michigan lakes share with enthusiastic support of local citizens, Dredging of the
commonalities of geological histories, physiological features, Betsey River commenced and continued up to the Outlet of
hydrological behaviors; climatic influences, visual beauties, and Crystal Lake.
recreational pursuits. Our visions are of clear waters and bright
On the very morning when he intended to square hue timber
sunshine glittering from gentle waves lapping against pristine
and drive spiles to construct permanent locks at the Outlet, the
beaches ringed by wooded hillsides scented of pine and, exuding
worst storm of 1873 blew over the Lake and a temporary dam
a spirit of place. We escape the congestion and “hustle-bustle”
was washed away. “ The waters of the lake had at last gotten the
pace of our cities by vacationing at our special lake to experience
upper hand of any and all of its would-be human masters and the
carefree living, roughing it, returning to the simple life, and
tragedy was truly appalling.” For several weeks, the flood poured
communing with nature.
downstream into the swamps and washing clean the harbor at
Peculiar to Michigan in the 19th Century were needs to improve Frankfort, The shore line continued to widen as the level of the
the land-locked entrances of drowned river mouths along the Lake lowered until finally the fury of the torrent was spent.
eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan (the West Coast of MI) by
Case concluded, “By this time the water was many feet lower
creating “harbors of refuge” for shipping, and inland waterways
than at the present time and its whole appearance was strangely
to access the interior of the State. Other “improvement projects”
changed.” “All around the lake where the water is now shallow,
included canals, dams, locks, docks, and/or other appurtenances
there was a wide waste of bleaching sand and rock.” “And so it
for transporting timber, powering saw- and grist-mills, and
was – that this one time beautiful Crystal Lake was quickly shorn
irrigating newly cleared fields. Many natural river outlets were
of her glory and became for a time at least, just a desolate looking
straightened and new channels dredged to navigable depths
common inland lake or mill pond.” “With a sense of total failure
to connect nearby inland lakes by “slack-water” canals to Lake
in what seemed to them a worth-while enterprise, most of these
Michigan. These included: Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven,
pioneer boosters went to their final account, little thinking that
Muskegon, White Lake, Pentwater, Ludington, Manistee,
in an entirely different way they were giving a great public service
Portage, Frankfort, Charlevoix, and Petoskey. The attempt to
to the next generation.”
connect a canal from Frankfort Harbor to Crystal Lake proved to
be the most ambitious of all.
The Rev. Harlow Spencer Mills, an astute observer of the Benzie
community, wrote a thoughtful introduction to the “Tragedy”.
The “Tragedy” / “Comedy” is a well-known story of the lowering
He doubted the appropriateness of calling it a “tragedy” i.e. “a
of Crystal Lake, in Benzie Co., MI. Archibald Jones founded
melancholy event in which human lives, or human interests are
the Benzie County River Improvement Co. in 1873, to improve
sacrificed”. The lowering of the lake resulted in no sacrifice of
water-lots on Crystal Lake, remove obstructions and construct
human life, and it is doubtful to those of us now living that any
slack-water canals between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan,
“human interest” really suffered.
and build a steamboat to facilitate shipping of settlers and goods
to and from the interior of the County to the nearby port of
Rev. Mills also suggested a repository of “Crystalana” to preserve
Frankfort. Ensuing events were unique among large inland lakes
the history, literature, and traditions of Crystal Lake. “I suppose
of NW Lower Michigan. The dramatic lowering of a very large
that every community has an interesting history, if only it were
inland lake and the ensuing creation of a perimeter of sandy
fully known and truly told—a history that would be well worth
beach insured the future of Crystal Lake as a prime recreational
recording because the community is composed of human beings,
area.
and every human life is fraught with intense interest. But it
would seem that for some reason this Crystal Lake region has
William L. Case, a boy of 18, witnessed and later chronicled
more than its share of charming scenes and attractive localities,
the event in a classic pamphlet, “The Tragedy of Crystal lake”
and that in its early settlement and its succeeding history there
in 1922.
has been an unusual number of stirring events. Perhaps it seems
He began his story by describing the appearance of Crystal Lake so only because we know about them, but be that as it may, they
during early settlement days when the level of the water was are well worth describing and recording.” [“The Benzie Book”.
much higher. “Almost its entire circumference it reached to the Benzie Banner 28(12), 1 (16 Nov 1922); Ibid, “Crystalana”, BB
woods and the foot of the hills that surround it, so that for the 29(36), 1-2 (04 Aug 1927).
greater part of the distance, one could not walk dry shod between
“It is true that the lake must have presented a scene of sylvan
the water and the overhanging trees.” (Case, p5)
beauty as the high bluffs dipped their feet in its clear waters, and
He then described the arrival of Archibald Jones, “a man of the overhanging trees were mirrored in its crystal depths. But the
patriarchal appearance with a long white beard and endowed with sandy beach with which it is now bordered, affording a road bed
boundless energy and enthusiasm”. During a chance encounter for the rail road, and space for the fine stone boulevard which is
with the Rev. James Barr Walker, a founder of the Benzonia such a favorite with the automobile riders, is practically much
Colony, he was convinced to move north, where he conceived an more useful, if not more beautiful. I am sure we should all prefer
ambitious plan for an inland waterway from Frankfort Harbor Crystal Lake in its present condition rather than as it was in the
through the Betsie River, to Crystal Lake, and beyond through early days, before it was lowered, though in some places the beach
Long and Rush Lakes to the Platte Lakes, He organized the is wider than either beauty or utility require.”
5
But what of the man who inspired the event? Was he to and increased both uniquity and commonality for Crystal
be cast as a scapegoat for the “complete failure” of an “ill- Lake. In 1873, the level of Crystal Lake was dramatically
advised project? lowered in an attempt to construct a slack-water canal
between it and Lake Michigan. Most other canals had
The role of Archibald Jones, “the man who (allegedly)
differences in level of only a few feet, while the original level
pullBeudt twhhea tp olfu tghe a mt aCnr wyhstoa iln sLpairkeed” t,h ein evvoenlvt?e dW tarsa hvee ltso boef caa tsty apsi ac ascla pegoat for the “complete failure” of an “ill-advised project?
of Crystal Lake was 38 feet above Lake Michigan which
Am erican family in the 1800’s, searching for opportunities,
The role of Archibald Jones, “the man who (allegedly) pulled the plug at Cmryasdtael iLta eksep”, eincviaollvlye da ttrtarvaeclts iovfe a ftyopri caa lc Aanmaelr.i c aUnn fafmoriltyu inn athtee l1y8,0 t0h’se,
experiencing adventures, and facing vicissitudes posed by
searching for opportunities, experiencing adventures, and facing vicissituwdehs iptoesceadp b yw tahvee osp oenf iCngr yofs tthael LAamkeer iwcaans Mheiddw oeustt. Aa t “eTmragpeodrya”r dye dpiacmts
the ao ppreontaignogn iostf otvheerc Aommee bryic saunpe Mrioird fowrcees to.r cAir c“uTmrsatagnecdey; a” “dCeopmicetdsy ” depicts a laughable person involved in a blunder without pain or disaster.
before a permanent canal could be completed. The level of
a prTohtea lgoowneirsintg o ovfe Crcryosmtale L bakye s huaps eerleiomre nfotsr ocfe b ootrh c-i rac suermioustsa bnegcien;n ain g with a happy ending with perceived foibles of human nature and realized
the Lake dropped precipitously by 20 feet and 76 billion
uninteBnudte wdh caotn osfe tqheu menacne ws hoof binoslpdir vede nthtue reev. ent? Was he to be cast as a scapegoat for the “complete failure” of an “ill-advised project?
“Comedy” depicts a laughable person involved in a blunder
gallons of water poured irretrievably from the Lake down its
without Tphea rionle oof rA rcdhiisbaasldt eJro.n eTs, “hthee mlaonw wehroi (nalgle goedfl yC) pruyllsetda tlh e Lplaukg eat Crystal Lake”, involved travels of a typical American family in the 1800’s,
In summary: the story of the“Tragedy” / “Comedy” of Crystal Lake seemOedu dtelestti n(eadn dto ubencnomotei cae sainbgluyl arra eissointegri tch eev elnetv, e blu ot fi nLstaekaed iMts uicnhiqiugiatyn
searching for opportunities, experiencing adventures, and facing vicissitudes posed by the opening of the American Midwest. A “Tragedy” depicts
has healse bmeceonmtes aonf obbjoetcht le-s saon s teor iboeu esx tbraepgoilnatneidn tgo owthiethr l aak ehs.a pUpnyiq uity of opportunity brought Archibald Jones to Crystal Lake. The Benzie
a protagonist overcome by superior force or circumstance; a “Comedy” depbicyts 0a .la2u gohfa balne p ienrsconh i!n)v. o lv eTdh ine a cbalunnadle rs wyisttheoumt p waina osr ndiesavseterr . realized,
endCinogu nwtTyih teRh lio vpweree rrIimcngep iorvfo eCvderym fstoeanil btL aClekose. hoimafs p ehrluoemvmeednat nsu op fno bnao ttNhu a-r teau sraeenr,i odaun srd be eianglicinzrneeiandsg e wdi tbho at hh aupnpiyq eunitdyin agn wdi tcho pmermceoinveadli ftoyi bfloers oCf rhyusmtaaln Lnaatkuer.e aInn d1 8re7a3li,z etdh e level of
Crystal Lake was dramatically lowered in an attempt to construct a slabcuk-t wthatee rl ocwanearli bnegt woefe tnh iet aLnadk Lea ekxep Moiscehdig aa n2. 1 M-mosti loet hpeerr ciamnaeltse hr aodf
unintenduenidn tcenodnedse cqonuseeqnucenecse so off bbooldl dve nvteunret. ure.
differe nces in level of only a few feet, while the original level of Crysstaanl dLyak be ewaacsh 3 w8 hfeeerte anboovnee L haakde Mpricehviigoaun swlyh iecxhi smteadde. Tit hesips emciaaldlye
In sauttmracmtIniva seru ymfo:m r a arty hc: aethn eas lst.t oo rUryyn o ffo otrhfteu “ntTharatege“elydT,y rt”ah /ge “e Cwdohymi”tee dc/ya ”p “o Cfw Caorvymestsae lod Lf yaC”kre y ossetfea ml eLdpa dokesesst iiwnbealdseh t:oe t dbh eoecuo mft oeau atn esimdngipunolgraar roeysfo dtteahrmiec eVbveeifnloltra, e bg uaet pionefstr eBmaaedn uitelsna uthn ci,q atunhiatyel ccooumldi nbeg
complheates db.e cTohmee l aenv eolb ojefc tth lees Lsoank teo dbreo epxptreadp oplaretecdip tiot oouthsleyr lbayk e2s.0 Ufeneiqt uaintyd o 7f 6op bpiolrltiounni tgya bllroonusg hotf Awractheibr aplodu Jroende si rtroe Ctrriyesvtaalb Llya kfero. mTh teh Be eLnazikee down its
CryOstuatll eLtC a(oakunnedt y su eRnenivmoetrie cIdmea pdbroleyvse trmianeisneitnd gC totoh. ie mb lpeervcoevole modf ueLp aoakn es Ni Mnatgiucurheli, gaaarn nde bsinoyc t0ree.2arsi oecdf abnoo tihnf cuthnh!i)eq. u rTitahyie la rcnoadna cadol,m s iymnsotsentamalil wtlyaa tfsoi onr eCnvr eyorsft r aetle aLllaeizkgeedr. a, Ibpnu h1t8 ta7hn3e,d ltoh twee ellerevipneglh oooff n thee l iLnaekse,
evenext,p o bseCudrt ya si tn2a1ls -tLmeaakildee wpitaessr idumranemtieqartu icoiaft lyslya nhlodawyse brbeeedac cionh m awn hea etatreenm npootbn teoje chcoatnd slt erpusrcsetov ain os ulasclkyd- eewvxaietsetlroe dcpa. mnTahlei sbn emtt wadeoeefn p ilto asasknibde lsLeia:d ktehe e M rfioecushonigdratinns. g, M ocof ostth noets htVerriu lclcaatngiaeol sno hf aBdoe fu la1h,,1 t0he0
differences in level of only a few feet, while the original level of Crystal Lake was 38 feet above Lake Michigan which made it especially
to bceo meixntgart aotrpfa tcohtlieva ert aefoidlrr oata ocd a,on iantlhs. t eaUrlln alfoatirkotunen soa.ft e tlUeyl,e ntghireqa wuphhiti tayen cdoa pft ewoleappvpehsoo onrfet Cu lirnnyiesttsay, ld Leavkceeolo wtptamasgheeendst ,oo ufa tl laalk tecesmoidpneon rraeerscyo trdetasdm, c obbneysfot rrauen cat ipoiennr mforfaa 1ns,e1t0nrt0u c ccaotnutatlra ecgo euosl, dfa lblpe c eorninmecetteedr
by an infrastructure of perimeter roads and trails - the multitudinous benefits that we all share today.
brought coAmrpclehtiebd.a Tldhe lJeovenl eosf thteo L aCker dyrsotpaple dL parekceip.i to uTslyh bey 2B0 efenezt iaen d 7r6o baildliosn agnaldlo nst roaf iwlsa te-r ptohuere dm irrueltrtiietvuadbliyn foroums t hbe eLnakeefi dtosw nth itas t we all

Outlet (and unnoticeably raising the level of Lake Michigan by 0.2 of an inch!). The canal system was never realized, but the lowering of the Lake
County eRxpiovseerd aI m21-pmriolev peemrimeentetr oCf" Lsoai.fn ed iiyms baep tarrcaohgv ewedhdye rweu hnpeoonne ns eh eaNnd ipanrt ecuvlorioesue,s -luy pes,x hbisuatetr dea. cTtohomids emadyay.d ein p loosnsigb-les:h tohte." f o -u-n Cdihnga rolfi eth Ceh Vaiplllaigne of Beulah, the
coming of the railroad, installation of telegraph and telephone lines, developmen t of lakeside resorts, construction of 1,100 cottages, all connected
by an infra“stLruicfteu ries oaf pterr“aiTmgheeetde lroy rn ogwa dahsn aednn tdh tserea seihlnso - r itthn oef cmmluoylt sliietfu-edu hinpao,su hsb abudetn i etasfi ttcsr aothgmaetd ewidee sya al lin sndh a ilrtoes nctoogdm-asyeh.d ioets..”” – “-A- .JC.” h(Aarrclhieib Calhd aJponliens)

"Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot." -- Charlie Chaplin
“The long and the short of my Wlifhee hn ashso huladd l iitttosr itarnasg beed pieust iann adn oiltds- cfoolkms heodmiees ?.” – “A.J.” (Archibald Jones)

Fill up their lake. Offer a teaspoon, teacup, and bucket.
“The long and the short of my life has had its tragedies and its comedies.” – “A.J.” (Archibald Jones)
Ask them to empty their lake.
When should littorians be put in an old-folks home ?

When should littorians be put in an old-folks home ?
Fill up their lake. Offer a teaspoon, teacup, and bucket.
Fill up their lake. Offer a teaspoon, teacup, and bucket.
Ask tAhske mthe mto to e emmpptyt yth etihr elaikre l. ake.

A normal littorian would use the bucket.
A normal littorian would use the bucket.
It’s bAig ngoermr tahl alintt othriea ns pwooounld o ur steh teh ete bauccukpet. . Right ?
It’s biggIte’sr b itghgaern t htahne th sep spoooonn o ro trh et theeac utepa. Rciugpht. ? R ight ?

No. A nNoor. mA anlo rlmitatlo lrititaonri awn owuoludld j juusstt ppuulll tlh teh pel upgl !u g !
No. A normal littorian would just pull the plug !
Do you want a bed near a window overlooking the lake ?
Do you wDoa ynotu wa abnte ad b ende naera ra a wwiinnddowo owve orlovoekrilnogo thkei lnakge t?h e lake ?

6
DEDICATION
It is fitting that we hereby dedicate this historical site marker: DEDICATION

To Archibald Jones: “the man who (allegedly) pulled the plug at Crystal Lake”, and to his family, and to his contemporaries,
It is fitting that we hereby dedicate this historical site marker:
the pioneer settlers of Benzie County, without whom there would be no story;
To Archibald Jones: “the man who (allegedly) pulled the plug at Crystal Lake”, and to his family, and to his contemporaries, the pioneer settlers of
To the Case’s: William L., Walter F., Alden B., Leonard L, & their descendants; and to the Hubbell’s and the Bailey’s, and
Benzie County, without whom there would be no story;
to the Rev. Dr. James Barr Walker, and others, for keeping the story “alive”;
To the Case’s: William L., Walter F., Alden B., Leonard L, & their descendants; and to the Hubbell’s and the Bailey’s, and to the Rev. Dr. James Barr
To many Individuals: who provided “new” story facts and suggestions to the whole of the story; Walker, and others, for keeping the story “alive”;

To the Citizens of Benzie County: who made suggestions and continue to support the story;
To many Individuals: who provided “new” story facts and suggestions to the whole of the story;

To the Visitors to Crystal Lake: who appreciate the consequences of the story; and
To the Citizens of Benzie County: who made suggestions and continue to support the story;

To you the Friends of Crystal Lake: who have participated in living the story.
To the Visitors to Crystal Lake: who appreciate the consequences of the story; and

THE PULLING OF THE PLUG
To you the Friends of Crystal Lake: who have participated in living the story.

“I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel – a
THE PULLING OF THE PLUG
solution of why Democritus laughed and Heraclitus wept.“ -- Horace Walpole, letter to Horace Mann (1769) .

"I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel – a solution of why
Let us now symbolically “pull the plug the historical site marker:
Democritus laughed and Heraclitus wept.“ -- Horace Walpole, letter to Horace Mann (1769) .

(Unveiling of the Historical Site Marker.)
Let us now symbolically “pull the plug the historical site marker:
THE wEDDING OF THE wATERS
(Unveiling of the Historical Site Marker.)
Archibald Jones, having been a toiler on the Clinton ditch (Erie Canal) in his boyhood, saw a fine opportunity to make a
THE WEDDING OF THE WATERS
slack-water canal between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan via the Betsie River. Perhaps he sought to emulate the earlier

creation of the Erie Canal as a water link between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. On
Archibald Jones, having been a toiler on the Clinton ditch (Erie Canal) in his boyhood, saw a fine opportunity to make a slack-water canal
November 4, 1825, Governor DeWitt Clinton poured water from Lake Erie into the ocean at New York in a ceremony
between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan via the Betsie River. Perhaps he sought to emulate the earlier creation of the Erie Canal as a water link
celebrating the “Wedding of the Waters”. It is most fitting, therefore, that we echo this same spirit in wedding the waters
between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. On November 4, 1825, Governor DeWitt Clinton poured water from Lake
of Crystal Lake with the waters of Lake Michigan. Erie into the ocean at New York in a ceremony celebrating the "Wedding of the Waters". It is most fitting, therefore, that we echo this same spirit in
wedding the waters of Crystal Lake with the waters of Lake Michigan.
This is a story of an epochal event that occurred at a lake of crystal waters:

This is a story of an epochal event that occurred at a lake of crystal waters:
Where its waters commenced;

When its waters were transported;
Where its waters commenced;
How its waters rose and fell; When its waters were transported;
Whether its waters are tending; and How its waters rose and fell;
What its waters have effected in myriad quintessential ways, Whether its waters are tending; and
What its waters have effected in myriad quintessential ways,
by affecting myriad individuals, perchance
a few times, with dashing whitecaps; by affecting myriad individuals, perchance
sometimes, with lapping waves, but a few times, with dashing whitecaps;
sometimes, with lapping waves, but
oftentimes, with subtle ripples.
oftentimes, with subtle ripples.

“The smallest bark on life’s tumultuous ocean
"The smallest bark on life's tumultuous ocean
Will leave a track behind for evermore;
Will leave a track behind for evermore;
The lightest waves of influence set in motion,
The lightest waves of influence set in motion,
Extend and widen to the eternal shore:
Extend and widen to the eternal shore:
We should be wary, then, who go before We should be wary, then, who go before
A myriad yet to be; and we should take A myriad yet to be; and we should take
Our bearing carefully, where breakers roar Our bearing carefully, where breakers roar
And fearful tempests gather; one mistake And fearful tempests gather; one mistake
May wreck unnumbered barks that follow in our wake.” May wreck unnumbered barks that follow in our wake."

-- Burton Rensselaer Jones, “Incidents in the Life and Labors of Burton Rensselaer Jones, 1909, Preface Chap. 1, page 13. -- Burton Rensselaer Jones, "Incidents in the Life and Labors of Burton Rensselaer Jones, 1909, Preface Chap. 1, page 13.

Thank you for your attendance and kind attention. Thank you for your attendance and kind attention.

(Conclusion of the Dedication)
(Conclusion of the Dedication)
7
AppENDICES
William L. Case (1856-1933), a local businessman Bruce Catton (1899 - 1978), the renown historian, raised
and former state representative, masterfully told what in Benzonia, also wrote eloquently of Crystal Lake, and
was believed to be the authentic story based upon his of development:
recollections made almost 50 years after witnessing the
“Crystal Lake will always be something special for me,
event as a 17-year old boy (*).
because it symbolizes an emotion that goes beyond time
“As far as the writer knows there is no written or printed and space.” … “It (Michigan) is wood and water, golden
record of the tragedy of the lowering of Crystal Lake in sand and blue lakes, emptiness and memories and the sort
1873 and of the enterprise and activity of the Betsie River of isolation which it is hard for a city man to come by,
Improvement Company in connection with it. It is now these days.” … “This is good country to come from and
almost half a century since those events occurred and this it is even better to go back to. It is a land of memories
chronicle is prepared from information furnished by a and also a land of escape; a place where you can be utterly
few old timers that were living here then, and by careful idle in more pleasant ways than any other place I know.”
digging into the personal recollections of the narrator.” –
– Bruce Catton, The Real Michigan, Holiday
William L. Case, 1922
Magazine 22(2), 26-39 (Aug. 1957).
[(*) Case, William L., “The Tragedy of Crystal Lake, with
“Crystal Lake is a noble body of water, eight miles long by
Some Sidelights, By a Survivor”, 1st Ed., J.W. Saunders,
two or three miles wide, … so crystal-clear that you can
Beulah, MI, 1922, 17pp; 2nd Ed., 1947, 23pp; 3rd Ed.,
count pebbles on the bottom where it is twenty feet deep.
1962; reprinted, 1976, 22pp.; reprinted, 2007, 24pp.
It is surrounded by low green hills, and when the sun is
Special editions), 1941, 22pp; 1978, 28pp.]
out its color is a breathtaking, incredible, picture-postcard
Stacy Leroy Daniels (1937 - ), a Frankfort native and long- blue; spring-fed, it is deep and cold, and only the hardiest
time littorian on Crystal Lake, read the “Tragedy” as a would care to swim in it at any time except midsummer,
young boy. After becoming a professional environmental but when the weather is warm to go into this water is like
engineer, he came to wonder more about the uniquity dipping into the fountain of youth. A nice beach runs all
of Crystal Lake: What caused the lowering of the Lake? the way around it, stony here and there but mostly white
Who was Archibald Jones – a scapegoat to be blamed for sand, and that beach exists because the good people of
an ill-conceived project, or a “bootstrap engineer” to be Benzonia made a profound miscalculation (sic) back in
celebrated as a hero? (**) 1873.”
“The “Comedy” of Crystal Lake, is a continuation of the – Bruce Catton, Waiting for the Morning Train, An
“Tragedy” of Crystal Lake. American Boyhood, Doubleday, Garden City, NY, 1972,
Part I. The Lowering of Crystal Lake is a critical 260pp, Chap. Three, pages, pp 49-50.
review of recorded legends, contemporary accounts,
“Development becomes compulsive. It is never possible
and historical records that include: the original Stock
to call a halt. Once you take the first step, even if the
Certificate, the Articles of Association, the Map of
last step goes straight off the edge of a precipice. It is
Proposed Improvements, and the Court Proceedings
fairly easy for man to assert his mastery over his earthly
for the Benzie County River Improvement Company
environment, but once he has asserted that mastery he
from the 1870’s.
has to go on exercising it no matter where the exercise
Part II. The Biography of Archibald Jones is
takes him. The age of applied technology has one terrible
an accounting of the accomplishments of an
aspect – each new technique has to be exploited to its
entrepreneur and “bootstrap engineer” enjoined in
absolute limit, until man become the victim of his own
the settlement of a new territory filled with challenges
skills. The conquest of nature cannot end in a negotiated
and opportunities.” – Dr. Stacy L. Daniels, 2014
peace.”
[(**) Daniels, Stacy Leroy, The “Comedy” of Crystal Lake,
– Bruce Catton, Waiting for the Morning Train,
I. The Lowering of Crystal Lake; II. The Biography of
An American Boyhood, Doubleday, Garden City,
Archibald Jones, Being a Summary Chronicle with Many
NY, 1972, 260pp. Chap. One, page 5.
More sidelights, written in Two Parts, of a seemingly Ill-
Fated Historical Event, so epochal in its nature as to have
had a permanent bearing upon the development and future
of Benzie Co., Northwest Lower Michigan, together with
myriad viewpoints of its diverse characters and sundry locales,
&c, &c., Flushed With Pride Press, 2015, 496pp. ISBN
978-0-692-21715-3.]
8
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p Showing Sources and CShowing Sources and Courses of he Benzie County River Iany, Benzonia, MI, drawn for the onia, Mich.”, ca. 1873.
“Ma“Map for tompCBenz
9
HISTORICAL SITE MARKERS
HISTORICAL MARKER SITE
In 19H7IS6T,O LReICoAnaLr SdIT EL M. ACRaKseE,R pS roposed a project “to definitely Conservation Department staff, and members of the Benzie
deter mine the original level of the lake as nearly as possible, to Area Historical Society, were unveiled in ceremonies on August (Location: Crystal Lake Outlet at Mollineaux Road,
identInif 1y9 7it6 , wLeitohna srdu iLt.a Cbalese ,a pnrodp opseedrm a parnoejenctt “mto adrekfienriste luyp doente rwmihniec thh e or2ig7i,n a1l 9le7v8el. o fT thhee lyak aer aes nloeacraltye ads paots s(ib1l)e , dtoo iwdennttoifwy int wBitehu sluaitha bolne the Benzie Co., Crystal Lake Twp, T26 N R15 W, Sec 29. 44.636222,-86.147203 ) http://goo.gl/maps/h1YYh
and permanent markers upon which suitable inscriptions could be engraved, and to set them up at several locations on the lake’s shore”. Three
suitable inscriptions could be engraved, and to set them up at SE shore of Crystal Lake, (2) the corner of Crystal Drive and
identical historical site markers were located by the County Surveyor, Soil Conservation Department staff, and members of the Benzie Area
severHali sltoorciacatilo Snocsi eotny, wtheere l uankvee’si lsehd oinr ec”e.r e Tmohnrieees oind Aenutgiucsatl 2 h7i, s1t9o7r8i.c Tahl ey aWrea lrorceante dR aot a(1d) ,d oownn ttohwen BNeuEl ashh oonr teh eo SfE Cshroyrest oafl C Lryasktael, Laanked, (2(3) ) in
site tmhea crokrneHersIrS oTfwO CReryrICest AallL oD ScrIaTivEtee M danA dRb WKyE aRrtrShe ne RoCaod,u onn ttyhe NSuE rshvoeryeo orf, C rSyostial l LaBkee,l alonwd (s3 )P ianr Bke ollonw tsh Pea rSkW on tshheo SrWe oshfo Crer oyf sCtaryl sLtaalk Lea.k e.

In 1976, Leonard L. Case, proposed a project “to definitely determine the original level of the lake as nearly as possible, to identify it with suitable

and permanent markers upon which suitable inscriptions could be engraved, and to set them up at several locations on the lake’s shore”. Three
identical historical site markers were located by the County Surveyor, Soil Conservation Department staff, and members of the Benzie Area
Historical Society, were unveiled in ceremonies on August 27, 1978. They are located at (1) downtown Beulah on the SE shore of Crystal Lake, (2)
the corner of Crystal Drive and Warren Road, on the NE shore of Crystal Lake, and (3) in Bellows Park on the SW shore of Crystal Lake.

CRYSTAL LAKE MDNR
MDNR
BOAT LAUNCH
OUTLET DAM
BCRC

ThisT hoisr iogriingianla lt teexxtt wwaass f afcatucatul, ablu, t bduidt ndoti dre fnero tto raes ftehre t“oTr aagse dtyh, ed id nCort ynsatamle LAarkceh ibhaalsd bJoeennes aonr thene dBuerniznieg Ccoounnttryo vReirvseyr fImorp rmovoerme etnht an a
OUTLET CREEK
“TraCgeodmyp,a dnyid, a nndo td inda nmote c oAntracihni tbhael sdp eJcoinfice sd aotre othr oer iBgiennazl ilea kCe oleuvnelt (y*) . Imcepnlitcuartiyo!n Tthhaet t“hCe opmrojeedcyt ”w caos n“itlil-naudevsi!s]ed” and “complete failure” “in
respect to its accomplishing its original purpose” did not tell the whole story.
River Improvement Company, and did not contain the specific
In April 2013, Stacy Le roy Daniels proposed a new historical
date [(o*)r H oarroi gldi nBarlu nliankge, al kenvoewl l(e*d)g.e a b Ilem lopclaicl asutrivoeny otrh caotn ctlhudee dp rthoajet ctht e lesvietle o mf thaer kLeark”e twoa sb aet tfhuen fdooetd o fa tth teh meo nloucmaeln lte(sv) eolr ~an 6d10 e freeect tbeadse adt the PRIVATE
was u“piolln- ahdiTsv htriiass evoderil”gs iannaadnl dtoeb xst“e crwvoaamst ifoapnclste uatarelo , ubfnuadti l duthirdee n”Lo atk“ reien. f e Br rateoss epadse utchpteo n“t Toard adgiteitsdi oyn, adli dre nseota rncahm feo rA thrceh “ibCaolmd eJdonye”s, tohre t horei gBinenazli lee vCeolu onft yth Re iLveark eIm cporuolvde hmaevnet
Company, and did not contain the specific date or original lake level (*C). rImysptlaicla tLioank thea tO thue tplreotje, ctw whaes r“iell -tahdvei se“dT” raangde “dcoym” pl/e te“ Cfaiolumree” d“iyn” all
accormeapclhieshd itno gth iet sto opr oifg tihnea ml ponuurmpeonste(s”) odri ~d 6n1o5 tf eteetl. l Etihthee wr whaoyl,e t hsetroer iys. s till enough beach and enough water to be shared by all!
Establisrhemspeenctt otof aitcs caecpctoambpleli slheivnegl (ist)s foorri gCinryasl tpaul rLpaoksee” h daids bneoet nte alln t heen dwuhroinleg s bctooernygt.a r onv eornsy Afour mguorset t2h3an, a1 c8e7n3tu.r yT! Thhee n“Cewom hedisyt”o croinctainl usietse!] marker is a

[(*) Harold Bruning, a knowledgeable local surveyor concluded handsome two-sided bronze monument containing images of
[(*) Harold Bruning, a knowledgeable local surveyor concluded that the level of the Lake was at the foot of the monument(s) or ~ 610 feet based
In April 2013, Stacy Leroy Daniels proposed a new historical site marker” to be funded at the local level and erected at the Crystal Lake Outlet, MDNR
that the levuepl oonf htihs ter aLvaelks ea nwda osb saetr vtahtieo nfos oarto oufn dt h teh em Loakneu. m Beanset(ds u) poorn ~ad ditiAonraclh riebseaalrdc hJ ofonr tehse, “JCro.,m aednyd”, tthhee o rBigeinnazli lee vCel oo.f tRhei vLeakr eI cmoupldr ohavveem ent
where the “Tragedy” / “Comedy” all began on August 23, 1873. The new historical site marker is a handsome two-sided bronze monument M-115
610 cfeoentt abinairsneeagdc ihumepadog tneos t hhoife s At otrrpca hovfi ebthlasel da m nJoodnn uoemsb,e sJnertr.,( vsa)an odtri ~toh n6e1s 5B a ferenoezuti.e n E Cdito h .e tRhr iwev eaLry a,I tmkhepe.rr eo vise Csmtioelln. e,tn Croeuosg.,p hre. b,s ep a.T, c Thhh aeen tdte eexxnt otd uedgshecr swicbaretiesb rte htsoe b ptehr osehj eapcrter dao sjb eayc watle la!l ls- cao nwceeilvle-dco pnlacne ived HISTORICAL
Establishment of acceptable level(s) for Crystal Lake has been an enduring controversy for more than a century! The “Comedy” continues!]
Basedby u ap voisni o naadrdyi “tbiooonta-ls trraepse eanrgcihn e efro trh atth ree s“uClteodm ined ay m”,o stth qeu a loirfiiegdi nsuaclc essp wlaelnl wboyr tah yv oisf iaocnclaariym .“ boot-strap engineer that resulted in a most MARKER
level of the ILna Akper icl o2u0l1d3 , hStaavcey rLeearocyh eDda ntioe ltsh per otpoops eodf at hneew m hoisntourimcael nsitt(es m) arkqeru” atoli bfiee fdu nsduecdc aets tsh ew leolcla lw leovretlh ayn do efr eacctcedla aitm th.e Crystal Lake Outlet,
or ~ 615 feweth.e r eE tihthe e“rT rwagaeyd,y t”h /e r“eC iosm setdily l” eanllo bueggha nb eoan cAhu agnusdt 2e3n,o 1u87gh3. Th e new historical site marker is a handsome two-sided bronze monument
containing images of Archibald Jones, Jr., and the Benzie Co. River Improvement Co., resp., The text describes the project as a well-conceived plan
water to be shared by all! Establishment of acceptable level(s) for
by a visionary “boot-strap engineer that resulted in a most qualified success well worthy of acclaim.

The Outlet Dam (scene of The “Tragedy” / “Comedy” of Crystal Lake[Acknowledgement to David Penny,
http://www.coheadquarters.com/PennLibr/BenzieCounty/IndexBenzie.htm
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