At last I have found some photos of Brookwood! I knew they were around here somewhere! In this first 1959 photo you find a pj clad chubby little Dawn seated at the kitchen booth enjoying some green grapes. On the wall above her is a photo identification guide to mushrooms. That was there as long as I can remember!
The second photo shows a 1959 version of the kitchen at Brookwood. Not much changed there. There was still the old refrigerator and old white kitchen cabinet, the kitchen sink setup was the same (although in this photo you can’t see the red pump from which water was drawn). There was a yellow painted Hoosier cabinet next to the stove. The little white cabinet that you see next to the range had an open front. We stored kindling in there which we fed to the burners.
There is also a photo of the view as seen from just outside the front door of the cabin looking out toward the creek. You can see the roof of the generator house in the foreground on the right, and then the wooden surface of the bridge where Dad had built his water wheel. There is a wide expanse, almost pond-like of the creek surrounded by split rail fence and you can almost see the bridge over the creek that leads to Wash-Out Trail in the back of the photo. The hilly dune that contained the Smoke Jump and the Fox Hole would be to the left of that bridge as you are facing it.
My favorite photo of the bunch is probably that of the cozy living room/dining room combination. I always loved the colorful Indian rugs that covered the floors and the day bed along the right wall. You can see the chintz covered couch of which I was so fond (although positioned differently so that the photo could show off more of the room). The two stools were made by family members. The one with the sloped seat is called a saddle stool and was to mimic the saddle used by camel riders. It was a Victorian piece. It the left corner you can see two lamps fashioned from natural wood, also family made pieces. I think Dad made the small one in the corner. In the right corner next to the cheval mirror you can somewhat see the beloved oak wall phone hanging against the exterior bedroom wall. Of course you can also see part of the large oak dining table used daily when we visited. Family castoffs and hand me downs fill the space making it feel warm, cozy and well loved. Of course all these items are antiques. Most went missing when the cabin was burgled by snowmobiliers one winter. The piece my father mourned the most I think was the scale model of the logging “big wheel” that sat atop the fireplace mantel.
I loved that room so much. I wish it could be transported through time and space to my home today, for then I would truly feel at home once more!
Uncle Carl used to tell us there were black bear in the woods around Brookwood. As kids we all thought that was a silly scare tactic- after we got over being scared that is! Today, it is my understanding that it is true, there ARE bear in the Irons area.
Cold weather. Getting snowed in unless you snowshoe, ski or snowmobile. Well, to be honest I don’t mind snow or cold weather. We don’t get that much snow here in the Chicago area, but we used to get a fair amount and with my 4 wheel drive it doesn’t bother me. If I didn’t have to worry about getting in and out of the house to get to work it probably wouldn’t be too bad. They do make snow blowers and plows. And I don’t mind hefting a snow shovel.
I look out to the creek and there I can see the spots along the bank where the rushing of the creek has undercut the snow bridges at the edge.
I’m a dog person. Always have been. I love my dogs. When I was young we always had a dog. I most remember 2 dogs in our family, Mini Ha Ha- a mutt who had been purchased as a miniature manchester terrier (we called her Minnie) and Bonnie Lass, a collie. I don’t remember taking Bonnie to Michigan, perhaps we acquired her after the land had left the family. But Minnie was a family fixture for most of my childhood.
