The man knows me well.
Background first. My great grandfather, Henry, was -- I learned, in my genealogy studies -- the secret my grandfather never shared. He was an inmate at the Northern Michigan Asylum in Traverse City, Michigan, from 1900 until he died in 1913, only a few days after my aunt, Iris -- the oldest of her sisters -- was born. In a long (and ongoing) journey through records, I was able to land my hands on his commitment papers. (Three months later and they would have been sealed.)
I've wanted to visit this place ever since I learned about Henry. And I was so grateful I could share that experience with Rick.
I'll post more about the site itself separately. But I can say that if I had to have a relative in an asylum in the early 1900s, I'm glad he was here. In fact, it could have been a very happy place to spend one's last years. It was that innovative for the time.
But our day wasn't just the asylum!
We enjoyed champagne and dinner at the Apache Trout Grill in Traverse City and it was delicious.
Our table had a view of the bay and it was a perfect blue-sky day.
Then we drove out onto the Mission Peninsula. Many of the vineyards from the Grand Traverse region are located here. (Don't bet the farm on the reds.)
But it is gorgeous territory. I'd never been out on the peninsula before so it was a wonderful experience.
Great old buildings as well as the water views and the hilly vineyards.
At the tip is a lighthouse. Well, you know I'm a sucker for lighthouses!
There's also a restored log cabin, similar to the kind the early settlers would have had. It wasn't open but we got a good peek at early life through the windows.
There were loads of people there, especially considering that we were approaching dusk. Lots of families were enjoying the water.
And of course, there was lovely woodland.
This is what 67 looks like.
Very, very happy.
A wonderful end to a wonderful day.
Linking with: Share Your Cup / Let's Add Sprinkles
47 comments:
Glad you had a good day.
Oh, wow! What was his story? Are you going to write about it?
My kind of day.Sent you a personal e-mail.
Now that is a perfect day!
Can't wait until you write about the asylum. Our senior center took a tour bus there last year and really enjoyed it. I had a similar thing turn up in my family genealogy. Turned out my great-great, etc. was hit with a bullet in the head during the Civil War and was in and out of a military asylum for the rest of his life.
Happy Birthday!!! You look fabulous!
It's that lighthouse that really draws my attention.
Happy Birthday!
Well 67 is the new 47, and you don't look a day more than 47.
Looks like a great birthday . . .
Lovely post Jeanie . . .
Happy Birthday!
A very happy birthday to you, Jeanie! I think you must be the only person I know who celebrates his or her birthday at an asylum! Now I'm very curious. Sixty-seven is looking pretty good! -Jenn
Looks like an excellent day!
Jeanie, you wear 67 beautifully. What a fun day you had. I can’t wait to hear more about the asylum.
happy belated birthday Jeanie. Looks like you actually had a beautiful sunny day and what a great day out. The view from the restaurant is gorgeous and I will say, 67 looks pretty gorgeous too. Hope you loved your birthday as much as your post makes it look like a wonderful day. Hugs-Erika
Happy birthday Jeanie. So glad you got to spend it just how you like it. The waterfront scenes are gorgeous. I look forward to learning more about the progressive asylum in a future post.
That's a great place you visited, glad you were able to see where your great grandfather was cared for. Hugs, Valerie
You're looking great Jeanie.
How wonderful that you managed to find out about your great-grandfather and managed to visit the asylum.
That lighthouse is quite different from the usual ones.
You look FAB at 67, Jeanie! Oh, what fun... so glad you've had a grand time celebrating your birthday... and find out more about your family! :))) Happy Days ((HUGS))
Gotta love getting to pick how you spend your birthday and your husband goes along with it all!! Happy Birthday. It looks like the perfect day. You look fabulous!
67 looks super happy!
Good for you..that's the best.
It is great to pick what you want to do..fun day!
You know... Taken out of context, your birthday request sounds a little... Well, I don't think unusual quite covers it. Haha!
It sounds like you really enjoyed your birthday though. Great that you were able to do something you've been wanting to do for a while to celebrate. Plus, you got to go see a new to you lighthouse, which is great.
Happy Birthday sweet friend! You are so beautiful and yes....67 looks very happy! (and younger than me!) But you know I smile all the time too so I'm happy to be older....like your big sissie! Hugs and smiles, Diane
Looks like a wonderful way to spend your birthday. Such lovely scenery and history. A wonderful beach and lunch, so pretty. And Jeanie, you rock 67! You’d never know........Happy Belated Birthday!!!!
GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS 67!!! Oh Jeanie, have a super duper birthday! YOU have a lot to share with us; how interesting about your family member...tell us more. In the mean time, live it up my friend.
67 looks fabulous on you! What a perfect birthday.
67 looks wonderful! I see lots of painting subject matter in those great photos from your trip!
Jeanie: Glad you had a good day and got to visit the asylum. I'm looking forward to hearing more about that. Glad to say that 67 looks good on you and I think happiness has a lot to do with it..xxoJudy
You look fantastic and like you are enjoying life. Gorgeous shots of the water and sitting areas. I do love a lighthouse.
Ann
Sounds like an absolutely perfect birthday, Jeanie! Isn't it fascinating how, as we get older, the distant past and the stories of those who came before us are of even greater interest? Your journey into family history, with some lovely sights along the way, is so engaging. I really do hope you'll write more about this!
I've often thought I'd like to be a lighthouse keeper, and that lighthouse would be a keeper! I like the old barn, too. You look fabulous, and I'm looking forward to the story of the asylum. My home town had an "Institute for the Feeble-Minded" that wasn't always a happy place, but at least it got a name change, a better director, and a better staff in time. What was interesting is that the name change was late enough that there still were people who referred to it by its original name when I was a kid. It really wasn't perjorative; it was just what it was. There was a County Home for the elderly poor, too. We used to take May baskets and such out there, and it wasn't really any different in "feel" than any assisted living facility. Interesting.
67!!!???---now way, you look about 40!! Just love the cute picture of y'all--you look so very happy. And how cool we both posted pictures with hats this time, I love the one on the post, have you worn that one yet? I enjoyed reading about your great grandfather and the issues. Alot of interesting stuff there. That tunnel looks scary tho!!
Happy, happy belated Birthday, Jeanie, you sure look fantastic!
Sounds like a great day - oh, and I can´t wait to learn more about the asylum!
I once was in an old, closed asylum, it was creepy! I was inside, the others hung on the wall, oh, we were so stupid back then ;-)
Happy very belated birthday, Jeanie. Looks like you certainly made a day out of it. I think you packed more into a single day than I could in a week. Glad you enjoyed your fun and happy looking birthday.
My aunt and uncle live at Traverse City MI now. They LOVE it there.
My grandmother had a sister who went into the asylum at the age of 14. She lived to be 104 in that horrible place. She was committed by her sisters who were nurses. I wish we could find the records so we could discover why she was put there. My cousin thinks she was acting out and the sisters, who were her guardians, couldn't deal with it.
I would say 67 suits you well! What an interesting trip. My Mom has been doing some genealogy and showing me some old old photos. We think we know where Scout got her looks from!! Happy Birthday dear friend.
I've been to Traverse City which is so beautiful. The bay is like a small ocean - gorgeous photography btw! Oh do write more of your grandfather's story and about the asylum. I've never heard of it. Happy Birthday!
You wear 67 well.
Sounds like a purrfect birthday. I'm so glad.
Hugs
Happy birthday Jeanie. I have to say I love your husband sense of humor. So glad you could visit that place. Odd things happen in our lives. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
Lovely! And I am glad that the asylum was good, kind and progressive. I have an ancestor who suffered from mental illness and never got any help, and it's painful to me to think of what happened to him even though he lived long ago and nobody I ever knew, was acquainted with him. What a beautiful place the peninsula looks. I love places that have escaped the modern world!
Oh I’m so glad you had a good time up here! It’s a beautiful place especially in the summer and fall. You did a great tour- the peninsula is a favorite. I like Brys estate winery. Bonobo is pretty new but I only went there once and I found their wines were very delicate. I didn’t like 3 Lads at all. There are so many now I can’t keep up. I’ve never wanted to tour the old State Hospital- it just seemed like a sad place but I guess they did have some innovative ideas. Perhaps I’ve watched too many scary movies that used places like that! We just ate at Apache Trout Grill ourselves and the opened the doors on the water side and we loved it! We had our son, daughter in-law and grandson all last week through Saturday. I was worn out! Happy Birthday wishes- 67 looks good on you!
That pic of you and Rick is great.
I think I got through part of this post and had to come back. What lovely views and time exploring sight. All lovely! And 67 looks just lovely on you.
67 looks great! I'm not far behind :) As I always say, the road ahead is shorter than the one behind us so we have to enjoy each and every day!
Well, I think you look great! So glad you had such a fun birthday. That is so interesting about your great grandfather and the Asylum. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
The birthday girl should get to do what she wants! I’m glad - but not surprised! - that Rick was obliging. You are so good about researching family history! I’m glad that you felt the asylum was a good place for your relative to be.
I love that picture of you and Rick! 67 sure looks good on you!!
Happy Birthday. I can’t wait to hear more of that story. Great photos of a beautiful day. Thanks for linking to Keep in Touch.
You look fantastic at 67. Congratulations on achieving the perfect age! It only gets better. (True confession: I have a couple of years on you.) I love your photos, of course. The lighthouse and especially the barn are both great.
What a perfect day you had! And btw - you have as many years as you feel you have :P
What a fascinating story. There are so many things in our own families that we don't know about. Interesting to discover more. Will probably be a good story, and at the same time knowing a little bit more about your relatives.
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