Sooner or later everyone takes a picture of this bridge. It’s perhaps the single most recognizable emblem of Elk Rapids. Katherine and I were documenting the recycled art projects on display last week, so she took a picture of Dorothy in her ruby slippers and I took a picture of both of ’em.
Cross the bridge and you’ll find a path and a steep staircase leading up to this house.
Edwin Noble bought the five-acre sandpile in the Elk River in 1866, capped it with clay, hauled in loamy topsoil, planted some pines and built a house. Not everyone in town thought this was such a great idea, but Edwin persisted and the Noble family certainly enjoyed the place. When this picture was taken the bridge was wide enough to accommodate the carriages that brought visitors to the house. Logs still floated in booms on the river.
Vintage photo courtesy of Jackie Weber, Elk Rapids genealogist
The setting is lovely at every time of year. The kids today call this stretch of the river The Chute, and in July they’ll be swimming here.
It’s a long tradition in Elk Rapids. Fashions have changed a bit of course.
Vintage photo courtesy of Jackie Weber, Elk Rapids genealogist
The house itself has become the prettiest little library you ever saw.
Once upon a time the rooms were filled with the Smart Young Set of Elk Rapids. Here they are celebrating New Year’s Eve in 1898. (Judging by the number of surviving photos of picnics on the floor, the Noble kids were a fairly unconventional bunch.)
Vintage photo courtesy of Jackie Weber, Elk Rapids genealogist
Today the Smart Young Set was reading stories while their smart parents were choosing books, using the free wireless internet on the porch overlooking the harbor, or taking Japanese lessons downstairs.
They were also working on an Environmental Art project on the library grounds, but that’s another post entirely.
And, um, so is all the bit about who Edwin Noble was and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his departure from the firm of Dexter and Noble, and the loss of the house–which is how it came to be given to Elk Rapids to begin with. I think Edwin was a bit of a financial finagler along the lines of certain 21st Century Financiers. How could I omit all the good stuff?!? I ran out of time. The Cowboy ate my homework. My mouse died. I have writer’s block. Take your pick.
OK, and then on top of it I forgot to mention that this is my contribution to Scott Thomas’s Hometown History Assignment. See, this is one of those Pride Goeth Before a Fall deals. When I accepted the assignment I wrote, I will sneak up on you with a story that even the most history-averse among your readers will be unable to resist. Stealth history. And then I was really stealthy. I left out the story altogether. How stealthy is that? Very.
Torch Lake Views 
isathreadsoflife
May 26, 2011
I love, love your post, Gerry. You know how to tell a story indeed ! Love the vintage photos too. The juxtaposition of the two pictures: Noble kids picnic and Smart Young Set is simply fabulous 🙂 A beautiful setting for this house/library and a great piece of history. I really enjoyed reading it and imagining those times gone by. Thank you.
Gerry
May 26, 2011
Thank you, Isa. I am still smarting from my pride-fall, so it was good to have comforting words. I made some more corrections this morning. Sigh.
Joss
May 26, 2011
Hey, I looooove that library. And the young librateers footwears too! Feel with toes in, we haven’t had here yet. I’m looking forward to seeing this trend cross the Atlantic.
Gerry
May 26, 2011
I like those shoes too. I may have to have a pair. I found the Librateers very engaging (and I like your name for them). They said the library was a cool place to read. I am gratified that they say cool.
uphilldowndale
May 27, 2011
Hey Joss, those shoes are over here in the UK, I’m told some runners wear them, but speaking as someone who can’t stand even the toe post of a pair of flip-flops between her toes, I’ll leave it to the young ones…
Those picnics look like they might have been rather riotous!
Gerry
May 27, 2011
I can’t wear flip-flops either, but I just love toe socks, and I think I might like these. I know I would have enjoyed the indoor picnics at the Nobles’ house. I half suspect my grandmother of having way more fun in her youth than she ever admitted in later years. Way more fun.
Jess Clifton
May 26, 2011
I think I’ve decided this is my favorite spot in all of Michigan 🙂 So glad you featured it! We’re moving all the way from Atlanta, GA to Travers City this weekend!!!!!!
Gerry
May 26, 2011
You’ll be surprised how close Atlanta is. Nevertheless, I am glad to have received independent verification that you are bringing your mittens. There are so many things to do and see and live in this region that you will hardly know where to begin. Good to have Da Yute of Da Nation moving up here. My knees are getting cranky and I need someone to raise a nice family of nearby kids bearing snow shovels. Note: do not panic. The snow shovels will not be needed until sometime in November or December. Probably.
Maryanne Jorgensen
May 26, 2011
My grandmother and mother hosted my 16th birthday party at the Library/House! That makes me sort of in between those stylish couples and the youngsters and forever grateful to have bloomed where I was planted.
Gerry
May 26, 2011
That must be a wonderful memory! I love the house and the library inside it and the river around it. I always leave there richer than when I arrived. How many places give a person that?
Robin
May 26, 2011
Wonderful post! And what a beautiful place.
Stealth history. I like that. 🙂
Gerry
May 26, 2011
Well thank you. Stealthily yours . . .
P.j. grath
May 26, 2011
You may think you “left out the story,” Gerry, but this is a lot more than I knew about the pretty little library on the island. Thank you!
Gerry
May 26, 2011
Oh good. It is a pretty wonderful place. I like working out on that porch.
truels
May 26, 2011
What a great history about this wonderful library – very interesting. My library is in the middle of a larger shopping center in a neighbor town….
Gerry
May 26, 2011
Thank you truels. I can imagine a historian a century from now writing about the quaint old structure–the “shopping center”–where people used to go to buy clothing and borrow books. “Can you imagine,” the historian will marvel, “that people used to be able to borrow books! Any books they wanted!”
Bruce Laidlaw
May 26, 2011
Very nice. I know I have been there, but I don’t know if I went inside. I will. Too bad the Cowboy ate your assignment.
Gerry
May 26, 2011
It is nice, and well worth a visit. As for the Cowboy, I suppose I should just hope that he doesn’t regurgitate the assignment on a future essay exam.
Wendi
May 27, 2011
The Noble kids still are, and you gotta love em! Great photos.
Gerry
May 27, 2011
But of course. This is the North Country. We favor the unconventional so long as it does not frighten the horses.
Kathy
May 29, 2011
This was really enjoyable, Gerry, for many reasons! First, because of the fascinating history and the story-less story. Second, because I’ve been in Elk Rapids. Third, because my best friend’s last name in elementary school was Noble, although perhaps she’s not related to this family. Good job, history sleuth!
Gerry
May 29, 2011
I specialize in story-less stories. Your Noble probably is part of the family. They’ve been pretty busy all around the state for 150 years.
Dawn
May 30, 2011
I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to read this, but it was wonderful! You sure can tell a story, even when you’re not!
Gerry
May 30, 2011
Hmm. Maybe I should try the technique more often. I could do a bookless book of storyless stories. It might lead to a movieless deal.
Nye
June 2, 2011
Gerry, are those ladies wearing swimsuits? 😉 Spring finally arrived in your hometown and you are not kidding when you said May.
Gerry
June 2, 2011
They are–or at least the ones splashing around in the water are! We’re a little less conservative in our approach these days.
We are indeed having spring–oh wait, it’s gone. Now it’s summer. Sort of. Suddenly it’s very green. I like that in a place.