1945 Opening Weekend

This was the first Opening Weekend at Meadowbrook on the Pine. Herm and Norm had purchased the property from Louis Kempf in the fall of 1944. We have no pictures of this weekend but the following paragraph was taken from the photo albums that Norma Schwarze put together that now sit on the mantle in the lodge.

"Seeing it was during World War II it was hard to save enough gas stamps to drive that far. Between gas and tire rationing it was a problem. So, on Opening Weekend of Trout Season in 1945, we took Ralph's car, put on good tires from Herm, Fred and Carl's cars, pooled our A stamps, and took off for the North. The group consisted of Fred and Cleo, Carl Hilty, Ralph, Herm and Norma. The car was so overloaded with 'gear' that the overloaded back end sent the front headlights high up into the treetops. Betty and Earl drove up from Big Rapids to help on the first clean-up weekend."

........and so began the great tradition we now know as Opening Weekend at Meadowbrook on the Pine.

1945 Guest List

Herm & Norma Schwarze

Carl Hilty

Fred & Cleo Schwarze

Ralph Schwarze

Earl & Betty Horan