Flowing Waters, Michigan

The constantly flowing stream was one reason that this special property was the site of one of the first homesteads on our road. This 20 acres of rolling hardwoods with spring fed stream and 6 ponds has has been owned by only 3 familys. It has been in our family since 1976, 42 years. The first pond was dug by a walk behind, ox drawn scraper bucket and a small water wheel was installed and used to power a small apple mill or press. In the 60s more ponds were dug by a drag line crawler crain to attract more wildlife and also for raising trout and other fish. Starting in 1976 my father and I reopened and added acess trails through the hilly woods. A couple of the original trails date back to when Michigan's virgin forests were logged off around 140 years ago. In the wet cedar swamp there are the remains of some stumps and logs of the large virgin evergreen forests. The largest stump I've found and measured would have been around 450 years old at the time it was cut. There remains a small area of old virgin hemlocks along that the loggers didn't take. It is located along the stream and between 2 of the ponds we call this special area "The Grove". The Grove is my favorite spot to camp out.