Saturdays were busy all day with sail boat races. Before there were any regular, scheduled races, it was quite easy to pick up and informal race with someone. The Orchard Lake Yacht Club was formed, and rules and regulations drawn up. Of course, a course was laid out and buoys placed. The Yacht Club had among its members many prominent men-some, I think, had never been in a sail boat-Will Ward, Forrest Campbell, A. D. Noble, of course, and Frank Eddy, President of Morgan and Wright, Arthur Pack, President of Pontiac Motors, James Wilson, Clarence A. Black, and the Stoepel boys, among them. The first year or so, the races were between the ordinary pleasure craft-Forrest Campbell in the Islander, Will Ward’s Tantalizer, A. D. Noble’s Ellen Marie, the Beath boys’ Irene G., and Loos’ Urania. Most, if not all, were built by Chas. Plass, Oak Grove. Pennants were awarded for the first three. A launch served as a judges’ boat. From Campbell Harvery Manuscript
Willis Ward’s Electric boat Launch and sailboat Tantalizer (1895).
Object ID: 1980-001-106
Date: 1895
Collection: Apple Island, Biography, Orchard Lake, WardSubjects: postcard
Ceremony Presentation of Apple Island Deed to West Bloomfield School District, 1970
Object ID: 1980-001-105
Date: October 11, 1970
People: Strong, Frederick Smith
Collection: Apple IslandSubjects: photographic, print
Brigadier General Frederick S. Strong, Jr. (right) presents the deed to Apple Island to the West Bloomfield School District. Michigan Governor William Milliken is behind Strong.
The last private owners of Apple Island were Marjorie Ward Strong and Harold Lee Ward. Upon Ward Strong’s death in 1970, and in accordance with her wish as expressed to her husband, Brigadier General Frederick S. Strong, Jr., the island was deeded by members of her family to the West Bloomfield School District. Apple Island was dedicated as Marjorie Ward Strong Woodland Sanctuary on October 11, 1970. The proclamation made that day was:
“This historic island is given to the West Bloomfield School District in memory of Marjorie Ward Strong, its principal owner and faithful conservator for half a century, whose last request was that it be preserved in its natural state as a permanent woodland sanctuary, that the children of this favored land of lakes and forest may, as young students, learn to cherish, understand, and guard the priceless gifts of nature.”
The Harvey Cottage on Apple Island.
Object ID: 1980-001-098
Collection: Apple Island, Biography, Orchard LakeSubjects: house, MMA, photographic, print
Among the prominent relatives of the Campbell Clan was the Harvey Family. Here is their cottage on Apple Island a few hundred feet northwest of Smoke-Tree Inn. One of the Harvey children and grandaughter of Colin Campbell, Mrs. Neil Bentley, still maintains a summer residence on the shores of Orchard Lake.