Read Online Sugar House (9780991192519) by Jean Scheffler - Free Book Online
Authors: Jean Scheffler
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stop at a small depot in the city. The railroad
brings hundreds to Detroit every day. Some passengers stop farther
south in a town called Flat Rock, just a few miles from here.
There's a unique place there called the Huron River Inn. It sits
five feet from the railroad tracks. When a train roars by the
barkeep rings a bell above the bar and a shot of whiskey only costs
five cents. It's more tavern than inn, and I must confess I had one
too many whiskey specials one night and had to rent a room for the
night. Maybe that's the master plan for making a profit. The Grand
Hotel however, is for a more respectable crowd from what I've
heard. Not much more to see from here on out on this side, Joe.
Let's walk to the other side of the boat."
Before turning to cross the deck, Joe noticed
a large area of trees and grass with several elaborate bridges
elegantly crossing over canals. "Hey Vic, what's that? A park?"
"Nope. It's owned by Elizabeth Slocum
Nichols. She inherited it from her parents, and she owns the whole
small island. Her father owned a couple of those shipyards we saw
on the way down here. Now, come on. We are almost to Boblo and I
want to show you one more thing." On the other side of the ship,
Joe saw another island, but this one was a lot larger.
"That's Grosse Ile, or Big Island in French.
You can take a train from there and cross over to Canada. They
built a train track on the other side of the island and it crosses
over part of the river. Then you take a ferry the rest of the way.
Took it myself a year or so back. Stopped and wandered about the
island a little. Not much to see; only has a horse stable, a small
marina and one market on the whole island; but I caught a fifteen
pound large-mouth bass right there off that little dock," Vic said,
pointing to a small dock reaching out into the river. Behind the
dock a large home with many windows and a wide covered porch
overlooked the river.
"You know who owns that house?" asked
Joe.
"No, don't think he was home. Lotta those
guys only use those homes in the summer. They got big houses in
Detroit too, but when it gets too hot in the city they come and
stay on the island where it's cooler. They build a big old house to
stay in for the summer. Man, the good life must be really good."
Vic stared at the mansions sitting on the water and became quiet
for the first time that morning.
The orchestra started playing "Let Me Call
You Sweetheart," and the instruments became louder, signaling to
the crowd that the ship was nearing its destination.
"Nice to have met you, Vic. Thanks for
telling me all that stuff. You sure know a lot. I gotta go find my
mother and brother now, OK?" Joe put his cap back on and turned to
leave.
"Sure, kid. Have fun. I'll see you around
sometime." Vic waved as Joe walked off to find Matka.
He found his family sitting on the bench
where he had left them.
"Well, there you are Joe. Thought you went
overboard," his father joked, patting him on the head. "Having fun?
I think we're almost there."
"I hope so," Joe replied. "I can't wait to
get there! Yes, I see it, Ojciec." Joe pointed at the island, which
was peppered with small buildings. "We're here!"
Chapter
Seven
As the great steamboat rounded the south end of
Grosse Ile and headed into open water, the family descended the
ladder to the bottom deck. When they reached the promenade deck,
Joe saw many couples dancing on the large hardwood dance floor. Men
and women floated over the floor, stepping in time to a waltz as
the Zickels orchestra played. All aboard were in high spirits.
Joe observed one young couple dancing
differently than the others on the floor. With their elbows bent at
shoulder height, they circled each other and came together again,
embracing with their arms held high. Joe pointed them out to his
mother, saying the couple looked like a couple of dancing bears. A
moment later, a uniformed employee approached the couple, saying
they must stop the odd dance. The man who had been
brings hundreds to Detroit every day. Some passengers stop farther
south in a town called Flat Rock, just a few miles from here.
There's a unique place there called the Huron River Inn. It sits
five feet from the railroad tracks. When a train roars by the
barkeep rings a bell above the bar and a shot of whiskey only costs
five cents. It's more tavern than inn, and I must confess I had one
too many whiskey specials one night and had to rent a room for the
night. Maybe that's the master plan for making a profit. The Grand
Hotel however, is for a more respectable crowd from what I've
heard. Not much more to see from here on out on this side, Joe.
Let's walk to the other side of the boat."
Before turning to cross the deck, Joe noticed
a large area of trees and grass with several elaborate bridges
elegantly crossing over canals. "Hey Vic, what's that? A park?"
"Nope. It's owned by Elizabeth Slocum
Nichols. She inherited it from her parents, and she owns the whole
small island. Her father owned a couple of those shipyards we saw
on the way down here. Now, come on. We are almost to Boblo and I
want to show you one more thing." On the other side of the ship,
Joe saw another island, but this one was a lot larger.
"That's Grosse Ile, or Big Island in French.
You can take a train from there and cross over to Canada. They
built a train track on the other side of the island and it crosses
over part of the river. Then you take a ferry the rest of the way.
Took it myself a year or so back. Stopped and wandered about the
island a little. Not much to see; only has a horse stable, a small
marina and one market on the whole island; but I caught a fifteen
pound large-mouth bass right there off that little dock," Vic said,
pointing to a small dock reaching out into the river. Behind the
dock a large home with many windows and a wide covered porch
overlooked the river.
"You know who owns that house?" asked
Joe.
"No, don't think he was home. Lotta those
guys only use those homes in the summer. They got big houses in
Detroit too, but when it gets too hot in the city they come and
stay on the island where it's cooler. They build a big old house to
stay in for the summer. Man, the good life must be really good."
Vic stared at the mansions sitting on the water and became quiet
for the first time that morning.
The orchestra started playing "Let Me Call
You Sweetheart," and the instruments became louder, signaling to
the crowd that the ship was nearing its destination.
"Nice to have met you, Vic. Thanks for
telling me all that stuff. You sure know a lot. I gotta go find my
mother and brother now, OK?" Joe put his cap back on and turned to
leave.
"Sure, kid. Have fun. I'll see you around
sometime." Vic waved as Joe walked off to find Matka.
He found his family sitting on the bench
where he had left them.
"Well, there you are Joe. Thought you went
overboard," his father joked, patting him on the head. "Having fun?
I think we're almost there."
"I hope so," Joe replied. "I can't wait to
get there! Yes, I see it, Ojciec." Joe pointed at the island, which
was peppered with small buildings. "We're here!"
Chapter
Seven
As the great steamboat rounded the south end of
Grosse Ile and headed into open water, the family descended the
ladder to the bottom deck. When they reached the promenade deck,
Joe saw many couples dancing on the large hardwood dance floor. Men
and women floated over the floor, stepping in time to a waltz as
the Zickels orchestra played. All aboard were in high spirits.
Joe observed one young couple dancing
differently than the others on the floor. With their elbows bent at
shoulder height, they circled each other and came together again,
embracing with their arms held high. Joe pointed them out to his
mother, saying the couple looked like a couple of dancing bears. A
moment later, a uniformed employee approached the couple, saying
they must stop the odd dance. The man who had been
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