Excerpts taken from ““Perry” Experiences of A Pioneer” by Perry Whiting.
Ryerson and Melissa Whiting moved from Lapeer County Michigan to Charlevoix County in 1870 with their son Perry who was born April 28, 1868. Ryerson worked as a teamster for the lumbering company and purchased 160 acres on the shores of then Pine Lake (now Lake Charlevoix) about a mile from Advance where he built a 12 x 24 home for his young family. Unfortunately Rye died at the age of 24 and Perry was sent to live with his grandfather and a number of other families over the years. By the time Perry was married he had already learned how to take care of himself and although he learned the ropes the hard way, was good at making money. At an early age, he moved to Grand Rapids and then to Chicago and finally to California. In California, he became involved in a number of businesses and was married three times. He made the majority of his money in the wrecking business in California as well as buying and selling properties.
In 1901 his mother left Grand Rapids and agreed to sell the Old Homestead on Pine Lake to one of her brothers for eight hundred dollars letting him pay for it as he could. He moved into the place and in the first winter cut and sold all the good timber. He then wrote to Melissa in Los Angeles, wanting to throw up the original bargain and give her two hundred dollars for the forty acres that the house and improvements were on. Melissa asked Perry’s advice as to what to do. He told his mother that her brother could not have any portion of it, that although Perry could not afford it at that time, for the sake of the memory of his Father, Perry would give Melissa the eight hundred dollars, which she needed and keep the Old Homestead in the family. He paid her the money and she gave Perry the deed to the place. Perry then notified his uncle to move. His uncle did move and even dug up the orchard he had planted and sold the trees to another brother. Perry paid the taxes for about twenty years costing about three thousand dollars. At the time Uncle cut and sold the timber, he only cut the nice straight solid trees, leaving all those with defects standing, so that not a log of the original timber was left on the place. Then the neighbors began cutting the remaining timber for firewood, and to prevent this, Perry made a deal with his Uncle Ben Healey to put a woven wire fence around the whole property, which cost a thousand dollars.
Perry made a deal by letter with John Haden, who was the neighbor when they lived on the farm, to lease it to him for pasture for twenty five dollars per year. The first year he sent Perry seventeen dollars and fifty cents, but nothing after that for five years. Ada (Perry’s first wife) and himself made a trip back there to see the place and visit old friends and relations. They hired a team and buggy and drove over from East Jordan. John Haden owned a farm just across the road, back of the Old Homestead. Perry and Ada intended to go by his place and try to collect the four or five years pasture bill he owed. It was Sunday afternoon that they arrived at his place. John had not seen Perry since he was about fifteen years old and did not know him. There were seven or eight children on the front porch of the little old house, and after Perry introduced himself, Perry asked John if all those children were his. He replied, “I guess they are.” Poor old John, the children and the farm looked so poor and destitute, Perry did not have the heart to say one word about the rent he owed, so after having a nice chat about old times, Perry bid him goodbye and drove on to Advance and Boyne City. John had the use of the old farm for many years after that, but never sent any rent.
By 1920 the small timber that Uncle had not cut, had grown to a good size, and the old woods had become most beautiful. Since all the other timber around the lake had been cut and sold the old Whiting place was, and is, the most beautiful spot in that vicinity. Perry did not wish to cut and sell the remaining timber, which had become quite valuable, for that would have ruined the beauty of the place.
Perry corresponded with W. H White and the Boyne City Chamber of Commerce, offering to give the Old Homestead to the county for a public park, with a provision that the county should spend at least one thousand dollars per year in permanent improvements, and name it Whiting Memorial Park in honor of Perry’s Father. The Boyne City Chamber of Commerce had a very difficult time getting county supervisors to accept the gift on those terms, because some of the supervisors objected to spending the one thousand dollars per year to improve the park, and in 1930 Perry believed it would sell for forty thousand dollars.
All the people in the county that wish to come, have an annual picnic there every year on Labor day. About every three years Perry made it his business to be there and meet all his old and new friends.
This park has a frontage of one half mile on Pine Lake (now Lake Charlevoix), with a fine bathing beach. Most of the Lake frontage has been bought by well to do people for summer homes, consequently the Park makes a fine playground for the settlers of the country and the tourists.
There are two clearings on the property – one about ten acres and the other about thirty. The small clearing is used for a ball park and picnic grounds and the larger for camping. If you ever happen to be in that vicinity, we recommend visiting Whiting Park.
