Grew up in the 60s at lake Columbia helped my grandpa build two cabins there always had dairy queen before going back to Westland grandpa would only swing for a 25 cent cone
Loved the tour through Brooklyn. Wished you would have shown the stone building that used to be the Library.. When I was a 9-month-old baby and right up until I turned 14 yrs old, my family camped ALL summer long at Vineyard Lake County Park. Such wonderful memories were made there. Of course, the wonderful people who lived around Vineyard Lake, (we called them cottagers due to the fact that the majority of the people lived in cottages around the lake in the summer, although there were some permanent residents that live on Vineyard Lake too.) The county park, otherwise known as Vineyard Lake County Park had camping sites. There were people who camped on what we call the hill (which to your right when you drive into the park) and other people camped in the park some close to the boat launch. We had such fun there as children and my parents made a lot of awesome friends as well. My sisters and I all have our first boyfriends during the summer. A lot of the campers were from Ohio, and others were from Michigan. We all had such a great time. Back then it was rare that you have a self-contained trailer (with a toilet etc). The county park had restrooms and the campers all called the restrooms "The Green House." Everyone saved Clorox Bleach Bottles through the winter and spring so their families could go get fresh water at the end of the restroom building. Many people had little red wagons so that they could fill up their "water" (bleach) jugs and the wagon made it much easier to transport the water back to camp. We kids all had great friends. The teenagers had a dance every Friday night at the Pavillion....I remember one year my sister had a boyfriend who's family (they were from Ohio) camped at the park and my sister's boyfriend had a band! A few times the band came up to the park and we were lucky enough have LIVE Music !!! All the kids (young kids, Teens etc. all had a great time. The kids that were 14-16 yrs all were able to take their family's boats out and the teens would learn to ski. One time Chrysler Corp. bought an inboard boat with a huge engine and asked all the kids that were good skiers to see how many skiers the boat could pull at one time. That was amazing. Those kids sure were talented and all. Then the people that lived around the lake started complaining about the "Campers" They didn't like looking at all the campsites, etc. Those people who lived around the lake finally Biotched enough and Jackson County Parks Commission started closing all the county parks. We were all heartbroken!!! The county park held so many awesome memories for everyone....and those cottagers who lived around the lake, finally got their way, and Vineyard Lake County Park was closed. I hope those cottagers really enjoyed looking at the park after it was closed to campers. The park soon became an eyesore, tall grass....they tore down the restrooms and now have porta-potties. It was an amazing place to go to in the summer....and the cottagers ruined it all....and I hope they were thrilled with the way the park looked afterward....it looks terrible. If anyone was a camper during the late 1950's to the beginning of 1970's and remember going to the park during those years...PLEASE make a comment and tell me who you are, and when you and your parents camped there. I am thinking about doing a reunion if I get enough of the "old campers" (it would be the kids that camped there....now, as I am sure most of the adults that camped there are probably deceased by now.) My dad's name was Jack and my Mom's name was AlJay. (My dad wore a flat top haircut back then.) My oldest sister's name was Skip. If anyone would like to contact me just leave a comment.
Very Nice Video-I will be in Brooklyn Mi Tuesday July 17 to take pics for my blog. I have pics now of Grass Lake, Concord, Hanover Horton, Albion, Jackson[where I live], Michigan Center. Will also take pics of Napoleon and Clark Lake. I like the train depots, post offices, librarys, courthouses, city halls and lions clubs not to mention the wonderful detailed old homes. Hope to get hillsdale,coldwater, jonesville and stockbridge, maybe find some old rootbeer n hotdog drive-ins. Thanx again Jimio
James Stockham...when you get all the photos for your vlog....please come back and post a link. I would be curious to see the photos you took. ( I live in Michigan Center) Are you going to take some photos of the Cascades Falls too? Anyway, would love to see your vlog /photos.
Ok A few things to say. I grew up in Brooklyn, Moved to Florida in 1989. First job was at the Big Boy at M-50 and M-124. I am glad to see Swiss Swirl is still in business. I was surprised to see Jimmy's Filling Station still around. I remember when that was an Arco Gas Station when I was a kid. If you kept going the direction you were when you stopped filimg you were well on the way to my old house. I loved on Lake Columbia, so all you needed to do was take Jefferson to Weach Rd then turn onto Castlewood drive. Also, what are you driving? Looks like a late 60's-early 70's Pontiac (Bonnivlle maybe?) Anyway. Great video. Brought back lots of memories.
Since this video Jimmy's Filling Station has turned in to a Mexican restaurant. We lived on Holiday Drive in the Bay View Shores area of Lake Columbia. The car is a '66 Cadillac Convertible.
