Duck Lake School - Go to: http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=L2157.htm for more information and a map.

Do You Ever Think About The Day That The Ice Goes Completely Out Each Year? Following is a table compiled by June Garfield and the late David A. (Bunk) Garfield

Date The Ice Went Out	Date The Ice Went Out	Date The Ice Went Out
March 31, 1962	April 10, 1978	March 24, 1994
March 31, 1963	March 29, 1979	March 20, 1995
March 15, 1964	April 5, 1980	March 22, 1996
April ? 1965	March 26, 1981	March 21, 1997
March 17, 1966	April 13, 1982	February 26, 1998
March 31, 1967	March 6, 1983	February 22, 1999
March 21, 1968	March 31, 1984	March 2, 2000
March 20, 1969	March 17, 1985	April 4, 2001
April 10, 1970	March 27, 1986	March 13, 2002
April 6, 1971	March 9, 1987	March 28, 2003
April 4, 1972	March 24, 1988	March 23, 2004
March 9, 1973	March 25, 1989	April 2, 2005
March 8, 1974	March 13, 1990	March 13, 2006
March 29, 1975	March 12, 1991	March 22, 2007
March 3, 1976	March 9, 1992	April 2, 2008
March 22, 1977	April 8, 1993	March 11, 2009
		March 20,2010

News about Duck Lake in the 1890s, from the Springport Signal. These were given to June Garfield by Helen Hyatt. (Posted 10/03/07)

November 24, 1893 – A new store has been opened at the foot of Duck Lake with Monroe & Andrews as proprietors.

February 23, 1894 – Oren Andrews is Duck Lake postmaster.

June 29, 1894 – Elmer Miller, who is working for Jim Monroe, went with others, last Sunday, bathing and was taken with cramps. Had it not been for the others, he would have surely drowned, as he was unable to save himself.

July 13, 1894 – Mr. and Mrs. William Leonard have moved a part of their goods back to the lake and are living in the little school house.

July 27, 1894 – Duck Lake is getting quite noted as a resort, it is reported that boats were so thick on the lake Sunday that it was almost impossible to pass without side tracking.

Ad – Monroe and Andrews Duck Lake general store. Dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, groceries, sporting goods, candy, tobacco and cigars. Also, Oliver chilled plow. Special attention given to ordering goods not in stock. Our wagon will be on the road five days each week, to take your butter and eggs for which we always pay the highest market price. When at lake give us a call.

July 27, 1894 – Ad – Mr. Wm. Leonard, who has charge of the camping ground at the North end of Duck Lake, is equipped to handle his many visitors in the best of style this season. Among the many improvements is an excellent outfit of boats. He has accommodation for 60 horses and carriages, in case of a storm. He carries a fine line of fishing tackle and bait in season. Meals on short notice and soft drinks, candy, nuts, cigars, tobacco and cigarettes at the stand.

Where can you spend a more pleasant day than at this popular resort? The campgrounds are free and no exorbitant rates are charged. Remember the place, the North end of Duck Lake. William H. Leonard, proprietor.

August 24, 1894 – The grounds at the North of Duck Lake look like and Indian village, so many tents scattered around. There are campers form Albion and Springport and with the coming and going it makes things lively over there.

January 6, 1899 – Fred Starks met with a painful accident last Sunday. He and Jay Wise had a collision, cutting an ugly gash over his eye. He lay senseless until picked up and soon recovered consciousness.

Early Days at Duck Lake, by June Garfield (posted August 2007)

I have been thinking about the changes at Duck Lake during the past century. My husband, David A. Garfield Jr., (better known as "Bunk") was born in 1909. That year his parents built a cottage on what is now North Shore Drive. At that time there were only four or five cottages on this landing. There was a well and hand pump at the top of the hill, shared by the cottage owners.

The Garfields lived in Albion in the house that they purchased from Jesse Crowell. Later it was sold to the Albion College and eventually torn down. The girl’s dormitory was built on the site. Bunk’s father, David A Garfield Sr. and his mother Marian, had four children. In the spring, when it came time to move to the lake they would hire a team and a wagon to bring their things out for the summer. Mother Garfield cooked on a kerosene stove and had an old ice box. There was a store, boat office, and boat livery on the beach. Wm. H Leonard ran this operation. He was married to Betsy Munroe, one of the heirs of Doctor Stephen Munroe who built the historic schoolhouse. In later years the store was moved across the road, due to high water eroding the foundation. I still have Wm. Leonard’s National Cash Register with his name on the lid.

There was an ice house across the road from the beach. Each winter the ice was harvested from the lake when it became thick enough. Several men and a team of horses accomplished this job and big blocks were put in the top of the ice house and covered with sawdust and marsh hay. Years later, when Bunk and I operated the store, I remember Bunk putting the ladder to the top door, cutting off what he hoped was 25 pounds, or 50 pounds, carrying the ice down the ladder, carrying the ice with tongs to the lake, rinsing it off and putting it on the running board of the customer’s car. I don’t know for sure, but I’ll bet Bill Leonard delivered ice. I read one of his ads saying his wagon would be delivering groceries.