Drier’s  Meat Market has been a cornerstone of 3 Oaks, Michigan serving the community as a family owned butcher shop for.over 150 years.

     Lakeside Inn was established in the early 20th century in Lakeside, Michigan.  It is a historic hotel overlooking. Lake Michigan, recognized for its architectural charm and cultural significance.

     Early History

     The Lakeside In is located at 15251 Lakeshore Road in Lakeside, Michigan. The property was first purchased in 1844 by Alfred and Mary Ames, Vermont natives who settled in the area. By the 1890’s,Lakeside had become a popular summer resort destination for visitors, particularly from Chicago, benefiting from its scenic location and good railroad connections.

     Establishment of the Inn

     In 1901 , John J. and Nancy Aylsworth acquired land including the site of the current  Inn.  The Inn was constructed around the early 1910’s with the first documented operations by 1915.  Initially, several cottages were built alongside the main inn. After John’s death in 1917, Nancy transferred the Inn to their son Arthur Aylsworth who.added significant expansion. By 1930 the Inn offered recreational amenities such as golf, tennis, swimming, and was temporarily renamed the Lakeside Park Country Club, requiring membership.    

     Cultural Significance

     During the 1930s and 1940s, Lakeside Inn hosted Chicago orchestras and became a hub for entertainment in the region. The Inn once featured its own zoo and extensive gardens.  Fromn 1968 to 1994, the building was repurposed as the Lakeside Center for the Arts, attracting artists nationwade.

     Restoration and Modern Era

     In 1995, Devereux Bowly restored Lakeside Inn to its 1920s appearance, reviving its historic charm while maintaining it as a functioning hotel. Today , it is owned and managed by Bowly’s family.and continues to.operate with 31 guest rooms, and a grand ballroom., and a 100 foot porch overlooking Lake.Michigan, and  private beach.

     Architectural and Historical Recognition.

The Wilkinson Heritage Museum preserves the history of Wilkinson family and the Lakeside area in.1850 historic  building originally built by John.Wesley Wilkinson.

     Origins and Founding

The Wilkinson Heritage Museum is located at 15300 Red Arrow Highway in.Lakeside, MI.and is housed in a historic building dating back to.1850. The structure was originally a trading post.built by.John Westley Wilkinson, the founder of Lakeside reflecting. the early settlement and commercial activity in the region.  The building  retains its original hand-hewn beams and mortise  and tenon construction showcasing 19th century craftmenship.

     Museum Collections

     The museum collection focuses on both Wilkinson family legacy and the broader heritage of Lakeside.  Exhibits include early photographs of the area, Civil War letters, period dolls, furniture, clothing and jewelery, providing a tangible connection to the lives of early settlers. These artifacts highlight the social, cultural, and economic history of the region, offering visitors insight into the daily life in the 19th and early 20th century.

     Historical Significance

    The museum not only preserves the Wilkinson family legacy but also emphasizes the interrelationship between the area’s people, land and waters, including the recognition of the Anishinaabek/Odawa and Ojibwe communities.  It serves as a center for learning and appreciation of local history, promoting awareness of the region’s settlers and indigenous heritage.

     Preservation and Community Role

     Operated by the Wilkinson Homestead Society, a nonprofit organization, the museum relies on memberships and donations to maintain and restore the historic building and its collections.  It functions as both as a historical site and an educational resource, hosting exhibits and programs that celebrate Lakeside’s past.

 

Michigan City’s minor league baseball history is centered on the Michigan City White Caps, a franchise that played in the Midwest League from 1956-1959 and featured Juan Marichal , A future Hall of Famer..

     Overview

     Michigan City, Indiana briefly hosted a professional minor league baseball in the late 1950’s.  The city’s baseball team was the Michigan City White Caps.  It competed in Midwest League from 1956–59.  The minor league team.in Hannibal, Missouri ( the Hannibal Citizens/Stags) faced financial collapse in 1955.  The player manager Al Shinn, whose in laws lived near Michigan City, Indiana proposed moving the team there.  On November 28, 1955,the league directors approved  Michigan City as a new franchise for the 1956 season.

      The team name “White Caps” referenced the white created waves of Lake Michigan

     Ames Field.

     Ames field was constructed in 1939 as a 4,000 seat multipurpose stadium with a capacity of 4,000.  It was built by the WPA in the Great Depression. It quickly became a focal point for local athletic activities.  It hosted the inaugural Michigan  City High School.Devils football game on September 15, 1939.  It also supported  semi professional baseball including the Michigan City Clubs in the 1990’s.

     Ames field became the home of the White Caps.  The field was renovated for the minor league team.  A new press box was built, as well as a new score board.  Foul ball screens and fresh paint was added. .

     

     The Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City is widely believed to be.the.only zoo in the state completely designed .and landscaped by the WPA during the Great Depression.      The Washington Park Zoo.Observation Tower is one the most iconic features of the Zoo and Park, built during the Great Depression as a part of the New Deal Public Works.      During the 1930’s the zoo and park underwent major major development under the Works Progress Administration and its predessors Federal Emergency Relief.Administration and  the Civil Works Administration. These programs provided jobs and funding for public projects and the Washington Park and Zoo is believed to be the only zoo inIndiana  completely designed and landscaped by the WPA and its agencies.      The Observation tower was constructed in 1937 on top of a sand dune east of the zoo, offering panoramic views of the park and Lake Michigan.      It is an 80 foot, 4 story Art Deco style structure made from.a steel railroad tower ( from.the South Shore Line).  It was faced with limestone and topped with a spherical ornament said  to be a compression chamber from the city’s first fire engine.                 Monkey Island was created in 1934.  The island featured a center moated design with exterior wall and an access tunnel connecting the animals with indoor quarters. It housed primarily former pets and injured wild animals  It was part of initiative to improve the zoo using recycled and donated material.  Workers often scavenged  for broken concrete, surplus stone and other materials locally to construct the islsnd, reflecting both necessity during the Great Depression and innovative design under limited resourcof .      Monkey Island.and other zoo structures were primarily funded through New Deal programs such as Federal Emergency Relief Administration, Civil Works Administration and WPA.  These programs not only provided employment during the Depression but also enabled  the creation of enduring public recreational facilities.     Monkey Island stands as an imaginative example of 1930’s zoo.construction integrating both functionally and aesthetic appeal within a naturalistic environment.      

   

  Washington Park in Michigan City, Indiana once featured amusement attractions including thrill rides, concessions and entertainment facilities, making it a popular destination throughout the early to mid 20th century.

     Early Recreational Development.

    .     Washington Park.was founded in 1891 along Lake Michigan to provide recreational space.  By 1913, the South Shore Amusement Company operated entertainment amenities such as a dance floor, skating rink, bath house,.boat rentals, concessions and Thrill Rides.  This effectively made it an amusement destination for locals and visitors coming from nearby cities like nearby cities like Chicago

     New Deal Enhancements

     During the 1930’s, federal.programs like the WPA and its predessor agencies built new park structures and features.  These included the observation tower, the monkey island, and brick shelters for animals, picnic shelters, a rock.garden, tennis courts, and pathways connecting these attractions.

     The zoo and landscaped areas added whimsy, resembling an amusement style park, while providing  public recreation and entertainment.

     Mid 20th Century Amusement Activity

     Video records and home movies from the 1950’s and 1960’s confirm that thrill rides and beachside amusement attractions were active in Washington Park during that period.  Short 8mm film.clips show rides, concessions and family entertainment, indicating the park functioned as a seasonal amusement location down by the beach.

     Legacy and Modern Status

     Many of the historical amusement features no longer operate today, but significant  WPA-ERA structures like the observation tower, rock gardens,  and zoo facilities remain. Modern.Washington Park.coninues as a public park with a beach, playgrounds,marina, zoo, picnic areas and historic landmarks, pserving the legacy of its past entertainment offerings.