Chandler Township Tree Nursery
(Referred To As "Hardwood Nursery")
(Referred To As "Hardwood Nursery")
Michigan State Tree Nursery
Economic Aspects of Forest Destruction on Northern Michigan ~ 1929
Michigan's millions of idle acres. Written by P.S. Lovejoy ... and Fred E. Janette ...Published 1920
Economic Aspects of Forest Destruction on Northern Michigan ~ 1929
Michigan's millions of idle acres. Written by P.S. Lovejoy ... and Fred E. Janette ...Published 1920
The 37 acre Hardwood Nursery was located in Section 33
on the 1938 Michigan Department of Conservation Field Administration Division map.
on the 1938 Michigan Department of Conservation Field Administration Division map.
The 2013 gridded tree lines shown above and below are in the very area of where the tree nursery was located in the mid 1900s.
The location is close to the intersection of Chandler Hill Road which runs east/west, and Slashing Road which runs more north/south.
A sand pit is located between the Hardwood Nursery and Chandler Hill Road.
The location is close to the intersection of Chandler Hill Road which runs east/west, and Slashing Road which runs more north/south.
A sand pit is located between the Hardwood Nursery and Chandler Hill Road.
Photo Credit: Odalaigh
By 18 October 1956 (article below) The Hardwood Nursery was being named as a landmark
for locating a new Ski Resort in Charlevoix County named Thunder Mountain...
So, obviously the location of The Hardwood Nursery was well known in 1956.
Manager of The Hardwood Nursery in Chandler Township Charlevoix County MI
~ Arthur W. "Art" Overmyer ~
21 August 1896 ~ 16 November 1976
Wife - Ruth L. Overmyer
17 April 1903 ~ 30 September 1985
Art and Ruth were buried in the Boyne Valley Cemetery Boyne Falls MI.
~ Arthur W. "Art" Overmyer ~
21 August 1896 ~ 16 November 1976
Wife - Ruth L. Overmyer
17 April 1903 ~ 30 September 1985
Art and Ruth were buried in the Boyne Valley Cemetery Boyne Falls MI.
In 2013 Jane Overmyer tells that she and her family were living in Fife Lake in the 1930s. Her father Arthur "Art", mother Ruth (17 April 1903-, and Emma "Jane's" brother Eugene "Jeep" (1924-1954), along with Emma Jane, were listed on the 1930 census record as follows:
1930 United States Federal Census about Arthur Overmyer
Name: Arthur Overmyer
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1898
Birthplace: Ohio
Race: White
Home in 1930: Gerrish, Roscommon, Michigan
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Ruth Overmyer
Father's Birthplace: Ohio
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: Laborer State Forestry
Household Members: Name Age
Arthur Overmyer 32
Ruth Overmyer 26
Emma Jane Overmyer 9
Eugene Overmyer 6
Art Overmyer moved up from the Fife Lake MI area to the Boyne Falls MI area, near Chandler Township, in the mid 1930's and was manager of The Hardwood Nursery in Chandler Township Charlevoix County MI, until it closed. Jane Overmyer Denise remembers that some of the local Chandler Township workers at the nursery were: Lew and Rose Barnes, Connie Gallop and Gustie Penfold.
1930 United States Federal Census about Arthur Overmyer
Name: Arthur Overmyer
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1898
Birthplace: Ohio
Race: White
Home in 1930: Gerrish, Roscommon, Michigan
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Ruth Overmyer
Father's Birthplace: Ohio
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: Laborer State Forestry
Household Members: Name Age
Arthur Overmyer 32
Ruth Overmyer 26
Emma Jane Overmyer 9
Eugene Overmyer 6
Art Overmyer moved up from the Fife Lake MI area to the Boyne Falls MI area, near Chandler Township, in the mid 1930's and was manager of The Hardwood Nursery in Chandler Township Charlevoix County MI, until it closed. Jane Overmyer Denise remembers that some of the local Chandler Township workers at the nursery were: Lew and Rose Barnes, Connie Gallop and Gustie Penfold.
Marion Mackie Wood, longtime Chandler Township Charlevoix County resident wrote October 7, 1950 to her daughter Isabelle Wood Oldham in Chicago:
"Connie & nearly the whole bunch at the nursery were to lay off this P.M. and go to see Bud’s cattle sold. Stewarts are selling 40 head too. Did I tell you Ash, Frank, Zella and I think, the two youngest kids are going to Florida for the winter? Joanne & Kenny are going to run the farm, & I fancy Johnnie will stay too- he’s in the 6th grade now, & they bus him into Petoskey- this year. Our 7th & 6th grade- pretty soon they’ll take ‘em all, & I’m wondering if we’ll still have to pay a teacher 250.00 a month for just sitting in the empty school house?"
Marion Mackie Wood had written in her diary about the nursery superintendent buying a pile of manure from Marion, as follows:
August 23, 1952:
Mr. Overmier wants to buy the manure pile $1.50 per cubic yard. I hope he takes it.
August 27, 1952:
Mr. Overmier’s men are here this morning to move the manure pile to the nursery. 1/50 a sq. yard. They are away with a load at 9:30 A.M. 2nd load away 5 min. to 11....Lordy, it’s hot... The nursery men stopped working at 3:30 P.M.
August 28, 1952:
The nursery men came at 8:25 A.M. to work on the manure pile. Jean O. [Eugene Overmier] said they might have 10 loads out by nite.
August 29, 1952:
Men are here at 8:30. Guess they’ll finish the manure job to day... The manure loaders said they had 2 more loads to take tomorrow.
August 30, 1952:
The men came with the truck after 8 A.M. The job’s about done- The old barn is so rotten where the pile was so long- I am tempted to take it down entirely. They are away at 10 A.M. all done - now I can’t wait to get the check. 17 loads -$1.50 a cubic yard- 27 cubic feet. They told the boys they hauled 4 yards at a load.
September 1, 1952: Connie says I will not get my check for the manure pile for a month.
September 4, 1952: Mr. Overmier came this morning to have me sign his expense roll for the manure pile, - @102.00 (oh my soul!) It’s found money- all right.
"Connie & nearly the whole bunch at the nursery were to lay off this P.M. and go to see Bud’s cattle sold. Stewarts are selling 40 head too. Did I tell you Ash, Frank, Zella and I think, the two youngest kids are going to Florida for the winter? Joanne & Kenny are going to run the farm, & I fancy Johnnie will stay too- he’s in the 6th grade now, & they bus him into Petoskey- this year. Our 7th & 6th grade- pretty soon they’ll take ‘em all, & I’m wondering if we’ll still have to pay a teacher 250.00 a month for just sitting in the empty school house?"
Marion Mackie Wood had written in her diary about the nursery superintendent buying a pile of manure from Marion, as follows:
August 23, 1952:
Mr. Overmier wants to buy the manure pile $1.50 per cubic yard. I hope he takes it.
August 27, 1952:
Mr. Overmier’s men are here this morning to move the manure pile to the nursery. 1/50 a sq. yard. They are away with a load at 9:30 A.M. 2nd load away 5 min. to 11....Lordy, it’s hot... The nursery men stopped working at 3:30 P.M.
August 28, 1952:
The nursery men came at 8:25 A.M. to work on the manure pile. Jean O. [Eugene Overmier] said they might have 10 loads out by nite.
August 29, 1952:
Men are here at 8:30. Guess they’ll finish the manure job to day... The manure loaders said they had 2 more loads to take tomorrow.
August 30, 1952:
The men came with the truck after 8 A.M. The job’s about done- The old barn is so rotten where the pile was so long- I am tempted to take it down entirely. They are away at 10 A.M. all done - now I can’t wait to get the check. 17 loads -$1.50 a cubic yard- 27 cubic feet. They told the boys they hauled 4 yards at a load.
September 1, 1952: Connie says I will not get my check for the manure pile for a month.
September 4, 1952: Mr. Overmier came this morning to have me sign his expense roll for the manure pile, - @102.00 (oh my soul!) It’s found money- all right.
The article below from the
Otsego County Herald Times ~ Gaylord, Michigan, Thursday, June 14, 1956
tells that most of the nursery's trees were shipped to Southern Michigan Farms.
The article also addresses a deer problem the Chandler Township nursery faced.
In 2013 the "deer and rabbit proof fence area" is still visible (see in two photos below); it is father south past the nursery, on Slashing Road... located just as the Chandler Township line is passed, is a two-track to the right. About a half mile down that two-track on the right is the "rabbit proof fence". |
Deer And Rabbit Proof Fence For The Hardwood Nursery
(Two Photos Below)
(Two Photos Below)
Article Below: Access additional information about the CCC Camp Wolverine
on this same web site by clicking HERE.
on this same web site by clicking HERE.
CCC Pond and Previously
a Water Supply For The Hardwood Nursery
a Water Supply For The Hardwood Nursery
Two Photos Above:
"The DNR [CCC] pond and water supply for The Hardwood Nursery (years ago) is located above Slashing Road across from the Nursery area in 2013. A 6" pipe used to be buried from the pond overflow to the nursery. In the right photo above the end of the 6" pipe is still sticking out from the dam.
About twenty years ago a group of convicts dug up and salvaged the pipe.
Someone now has installed new boards in the dam opening and secured them. I remember when we would install the boards and come back later when the pond would be full and then remove the boards. It would cause quite a rush of water all the way to Slashing Road."
~ Dennis Howard
The 29 May 1941 article below in 4 sections, from the Otsego County Herald Times stated about the DNR Pond:
"Five years ago this nursery was started in a valley, with thick scrub oak, weeds, etc., everywhere. This has all been cleared out and now the 37 acres are open.
First the men went into the hills and built a dam 81 feet above the valley along a small stream. The water was then piped down to the project, providing 45 pounds of pressure, and with an overhead pipe sprinkling system the young tree shoots are kept moist and helped grow."
"The DNR [CCC] pond and water supply for The Hardwood Nursery (years ago) is located above Slashing Road across from the Nursery area in 2013. A 6" pipe used to be buried from the pond overflow to the nursery. In the right photo above the end of the 6" pipe is still sticking out from the dam.
About twenty years ago a group of convicts dug up and salvaged the pipe.
Someone now has installed new boards in the dam opening and secured them. I remember when we would install the boards and come back later when the pond would be full and then remove the boards. It would cause quite a rush of water all the way to Slashing Road."
~ Dennis Howard
The 29 May 1941 article below in 4 sections, from the Otsego County Herald Times stated about the DNR Pond:
"Five years ago this nursery was started in a valley, with thick scrub oak, weeds, etc., everywhere. This has all been cleared out and now the 37 acres are open.
First the men went into the hills and built a dam 81 feet above the valley along a small stream. The water was then piped down to the project, providing 45 pounds of pressure, and with an overhead pipe sprinkling system the young tree shoots are kept moist and helped grow."
~ Workers At The Hardwood Nursery ~
(Please e-mail any other names known to have worked at the nursery.)
(Please e-mail any other names known to have worked at the nursery.)
Barnes/Lew & Rose
Gallop/Connie (14 years)
Glazier/Alva
Howard/Marion Bush
Overmyer/Arthur (Nursery Superintendent)
Overmyer/Ruth
Penfold/Gustie
Spaniak/Katherine A. Howard
Spaniak/Esther
White/Don (Foreman in charge of the CCC Juniors)
Gallop/Connie (14 years)
Glazier/Alva
Howard/Marion Bush
Overmyer/Arthur (Nursery Superintendent)
Overmyer/Ruth
Penfold/Gustie
Spaniak/Katherine A. Howard
Spaniak/Esther
White/Don (Foreman in charge of the CCC Juniors)
The 30 July 2014 aerial view photo below was taken by Charles Dawley.
It clearly shows the squared plantings of the location of the Hardwood Nursery.
It is interesting too, because the location of the previous Thunder Mountain Ski area,
which was a part of the land belonging to the State of Michigan
as mentioned in the article farther below, is seen in the background of the same photo, top right area.
It clearly shows the squared plantings of the location of the Hardwood Nursery.
It is interesting too, because the location of the previous Thunder Mountain Ski area,
which was a part of the land belonging to the State of Michigan
as mentioned in the article farther below, is seen in the background of the same photo, top right area.
Photo Credit: Odalaigh
~ The Old Nursery Site along Slashing Road ~
Six 8 June 2023 Photos Below all taken from a vehicle on the Slashing Roadway:
Peeking back through the old nursery's roadside hedge-way for a long distance, the trees are down... GONE.
What is going on? The DNR owns this property.
Six 8 June 2023 Photos Below all taken from a vehicle on the Slashing Roadway:
Peeking back through the old nursery's roadside hedge-way for a long distance, the trees are down... GONE.
What is going on? The DNR owns this property.
Thunder Mountain Ski Area land was once a part of the State Hardwood Nursery
Thunder Mountain Ski Area land was once a part of the State Hardwood Nursery as noted in the 10 November 1958 article below: "On the 200 acres of land which Behse [First owner of Thunder Mountain] originally got in a land trade from the state - originally a part of the State Hardwood Nursery - the developers with the original guidance of Al Almon have taken full advantage of the sweeping slopes."
The MILSAP (Michigan Last Ski Areas Project) has a webpage filled with interesting information about Thunder Mountain.
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Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some highlighted words may access additional information.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.