Photographers Babs Young and Dana Vannoy led a group of intrepid amateurs on a morning adventure on Wednesday. Babs writes: I had an opportunity to photograph in Bellaire last week and took this photo of a bed and breakfast called the Grand Victorian. What a wonderful example of Victorian architecture. This home was built by Henry Richardi in the late 1800’s. He was the owner of the Richardi & Bechtold Woodenware Factory. The story that’s told says he built it for his intended bride-to-be, but they never married. Oh, well.
Isn’t that a spectacular place? It is. Now I must tell you that I was one of the intrepid amateurs. Babs showed you a glorious Victorian mansion. I will show you . . . a red drinking fountain.
Just not the same, eh? Ah well. We took pictures all over the village. Believe it or not, this glorious white pine and the little house beneath it are right in town.
We took pictures in the Glacial Hills natural area. We took pictures on the shore of Lake Bellaire. (That would be Dana in the pink shirt, and Babs in the pink shoes. Consider it a snapshot.)
Lake Bellaire is a very peaceful place, at least on the surface. Here’s a toothsome morsel both Babs and I photographed along the shore. I’m no fool. I will show you only the version by Babs:
In case you’re wondering, I am pretty sure that is the jawbone of a whitetail deer, and that it died of natural causes. Of course, they’re all natural, aren’t they? Even when we’re eaten by fierce muskies.
After all the looking and capturing and looking some more, we went out for brunch. Again the image is by Babs—I was too busy eating to take pictures:
It’s surprising how much fun you can have wandering around looking – really looking – at the world with photographers like Babs and Dana. Or maybe it’s not surprising at all.
Torch Lake Views 
uphilldowndale
September 10, 2012
What a stunning looking house, though I dread to think of the upkeep and heating costs! Maybe the bride to be didn’t like the colour? Is the building protected from modern additions? Here in the UK it would be ‘listed’
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/listing/listed-buildings/
We rarely see what is in front of us!! But that brunch did look good!
Gerry
September 10, 2012
I suspect the cost of maintenance is one reason that such confections are more likely to be B&B’s than private homes these days. There are a surprising number Around Here, though, some of them summer cottages. One, the Queen Anne style mansion of Traverse City leader Perry Hannah, has become a very dignified funeral home. (See Andrew Jameson’s photo here.) It’s on the National Register of Historic Places.
I don’t believe that outside of Mackinac Island there is any structure in all of northern Michigan that goes back to the 1700s. (I’m sure I’ll hear about it if there is.)
uphilldowndale
September 10, 2012
Confection is just the right word. One of funeral directors in this area uses a building that was once a cattle slaughter house! Sorry, that might be the sort of information that doesn’t ‘travel’ so well…
Gerry
September 10, 2012
Certainly provides ample room for creative musing.
tootlepedal
September 10, 2012
Nice fountain.
Gerry
September 10, 2012
You are too kind.
Sybil
September 10, 2012
What a wonderful-looking house. Maybe the hubby expected her to clean it. I would have headed for the hills ….
Gerry
September 10, 2012
I suspect that Mr. Richardi had people for that. And get this – the house had electricity, central heating, and indoor plumbing! Luxury! But Henry ended up living there with his widowed mother. Maybe the bride-to-be was intimidated by Mama.
shoreacres
September 10, 2012
It’s interesting and probably quite reasonable that so many of these fabulous Victorian homes – here, in St. Louis, in Galveston – were built by men with business interests related to wood in one way or another.
I saw that the factory burned in 1906 while the workers were at dinner, and the firemen didn’t do too well once they arrived. I’m sure it went quickly. In any event, it was a total loss at $20K and insured for only $12.5K, so the news report said “it will not be rebuilt at this time”. Perhaps the bride’s change of mind was related to a change in her prospects.
I think the big house is beautiful, but I would be happier, I think, in the little one.
Gerry
September 10, 2012
Makes sense. Lumbering was a powerful economic engine during the last third of the 19th century. The lumber barons in Michigan built their castles of wood, that’s for sure. And pretty much everything else, too. Then it burned. In 1905 the Richardi sawmill burned, the woodenware factory burned – but the house survived. Very dramatic pictures. Henry landed on his feet and built a power plant on the site of the former factory.
I like the little house better, too, especially as it has the white pine.
Deb
September 10, 2012
I loved being part of the photographic group. To think all these sights are right in our backyard. All you have to do is to take the time to notice!
Gerry
September 10, 2012
Hi Deb! It was a fine morning, wasn’t it. Did you post any of your photos anywhere? (Or would you like to join the fence-painters around here . . . ? Heh heh. There can never be too many fence-painters.)
Heather
September 10, 2012
That house alone is worth a trip to Bellaire, which isn’t to say that we don’t always stop for sandwiches at Short’s! (That place makes me wish I drank beer though.)
I would love to know where you enjoyed brunch.
Gerry
September 10, 2012
I am fond of Short’s. Also MOKA. We went to Mrs. Pete’s, which is out Cayuga near the fairgrounds. It is your basic breakfast place. I saw some pretty amazing pancake concoctions being delivered to other tables, but I had eggs and hashbrowns and enjoyed them. I like it when someone else makes me breakfast.
dawnkinster
September 11, 2012
I kinda like the fountain too. Love the house. And had no idea deer had that many BIG teeth!
Gerry
September 11, 2012
The better to munch all the tender little fruit trees right down to the nubbins. Deer can be pestiferous. Pretty things, though.
isathreadsoflife
September 14, 2012
What an extraordinary mansion ! It makes me think of a Faulkner’s short story I read during the holidays. Not sure of the title. I like Sybil’s comment about the bride heading to the hills and agree with Linda : I prefer the smaller house. Photos are great, so is breakfast.
uphilldowndale
September 18, 2012
I saw this and thought of the house
http://chicquero.com/2012/09/18/fallout-of-urban-sprawl/
Gerry
September 18, 2012
Mercy. I hope my Civil War veterans don’t see that. They’ll all be wanting one.
Kathy
September 25, 2012
This was really fun to see some old beloved sights. I am still sad that my brother sold the cottage earlier this year. Sigh…
Gerry
September 27, 2012
Well, see, you could have bought the cottage for your winter retreat “down south.” (I’ve often thought that I need a July getaway somewhere in the middle of the woods in the U.P.)