Miscellaneous
Historians tell us that the reason our woodlands are so pristine is because the Michigan logging era (1800s - early 1900s) passed this region by due to the difficulty of harvesting trees out of these mounds and lowlands. Today we are thankful for that.
At certain times of the year the northern lights put on spectacular displays in the sky.
I wish we could predict when this will happen, but we can't. Unbelievable beauty.
The television series Reasonable Doubt filmed one of their segments at Acorn Lodge. Here they're interviewing a witness. Following the broadcast of this show, an innocent man was released from jail until a new and less flawed trial can be formed.
Our statue of Pontiac, the Warrior Chief, was based on any and all old drawings and paintings we could find. Our woodcarver, Gary Elzerman, was the champion woodcarver of America at the time. He studied these likenesses with us, and then carved that incredible statue that stands out on our lawn now.
The Warrior Chief
This beautiful painting of Chief Pontiac was created by someone named "Granger" in the mid 1800s.
Chief Pontiac in ceremonial attire. Painting by Robert Griffing
Robert Milne, one of the owners of Acorn Lodge, visited Apple Island in Orchard Lake when his father took him on fishing trips there in the late 1940s. He heard stories about the legendary chieftain even back then. Orchard Lake is about 35 miles from the lodge. This old postcard has stayed with us over all these years.
The tribal names of Ottawa, Chippewa, Odawa, and Potawatomi are all the same tribe. According to sources, "Chippewa" was originally "Ochippewa," while "Potawatomi" actually contains the word "Ottawa" inside it. The differences in names came from English or French speaking people who wrote down what they heard in different ways. The name Ottawa is from the Indian word “adawe,” meaning "to trade." This name was appropriate because of the extensive trading with other tribes and their eventual involvement with the French.
The Lowlands at Acorn Lodge are Likely Elephant Graveyards
Over 300 Mastodon and Mammoth remains have been found in Michigan, some right here in Lapeer County.
A U/M researcher tells us, "Mastodons can stand there and look in the window. If it's looking in the upstairs window it's a mammoth."
Mastodons
Mammoth
Elephants, Mastodons, and Mammoths all get six sets of teeth in a lifetime. Their teeth replenish every ten years, making their lifespan about seventy years. When they lose their teeth they go to the swamp lands to eat plentiful grass, but no matter how much grass they eat they die standing up while eating it because of malnutrition. A photo of an aging elephant in Kenya shows how he has gone into the swamp to do this very thing. Anthropologists have told us our lowlands are very likely elephant grave yards.
Photo by R. Milne: Amboseli Park, Kenya, 2007
The Flint River Valley extends for miles in both directions. Lowlands like these are exactly the kind of areas that elephantine animals would seek out. This photo is on Acorn Lodge property.
Bugs are Inevitable in Michigan Woods
Acorn Lodge provides insect repellant at all bench and chair locations. But we also have Cedarcide available at a modest cost. Just ask us.
Your Hosts, Bob & Linda Milne
Bob Milne is a semi-retired concert pianist. Linda and his wife Linda traveled all over America and the world on concert tours for over 35 years. Bob was, and still is, one of the most famous pianists in ragtime era music.
You can find our calendar of dates available and book Acorn Lodge on either the "Contact Us" or "Book Acorn Lodge" pages.
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