Over a cup of coffee (1/2 regular and 1/2 decaf) In the kitchen of Marcella Norton’s Victorian home in Georgetown, Colorado she casually suggested Pat and I visit her the coming August in Escanaba, MI. Of course, she added, I’ll put you to work when you get there--adding “It is a beautiful time of the year in the UP--upper peninsula to us non Michiganders.
We thanked her for the invitation and wondered to ourselves how, when, and where, and maybe why? Out came the maps and discovery of the best route. to that part of Michigan, our northernmost venture in that part of the mid west having been Green Bay.
But look it is not too much further to our old stomping grounds--Chicago land. Maybe we should stretch this trip to a few days in the Windy City--well, maybe.
I digress to a blustery March day in 1951 when the two of us departed the site of our nuptials, headed for the first act of our 55-year marriage drama. We spent that night at a vintage 1920’s Hotel Baker in Aurora, Illinois. I mention this memorable occasion only because on this road trip to the UP, it was a close as we got to Chicago. For old time sake, as they say, we returned to the scene of the crime and checked out to Baker to see how much it had changed, if at all. And yes there were some marked but few changes. The dining room had been transformed from a glamorous 1940’s glass block dance floor illuminated from below by colored lights to something more acceptably 1970’s Neo-Mediterranean villa. Again giving into a bit of nostalgia we had lunch suitably spiked with the waitress’s story of her times at the Baker as well as ours.
As if that were not sufficient time spent in Memory Lane, we headed for the little historic Illinois City named Galen. The name means “tin” for which it at one time was a financial center and port, since the days the river silted up and the city has slept quietly, except for its other claim-to-fame. It is the home of General U.S. Grant. We had reserved a room at a B and B perched on the side of the hill that sloped down to city center and what had been the tin boats docks on the Fever River, a tributary of the Mississippi.
Galena has grown into a tourist haven and a very charming historic old place, if you happen to be a history buff. We enjoyed scoping out the museum, post office of Civil War note, appropriate restaurants and bars. But the real highlight of our pre-work/vacation in Escanaba was that first morning at the bit of Victorian splendor when we made it downstairs in time for breakfast.
Our hostess inquired if we had rested well as she served us a very nice breakfast of fresh fruit, coffee, and quiche Lorraine. Our reply was positive, and exclaiming that the bed could have been one of Mr. Lincoln’s but much more comfortable. She smiled and returned to the kitchen.
As a matter of fact we finished our breakfast, went upstairs and back to bed.
So much for Escanaba.
© 3 February 2014
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