Wednesday, September 12, 2018

2018 Camping Post #3 - A Sad Story

 Last Friday I told you about the first half of our second day of camping, when we visited the Iron County Historical Museum in Caspian, Michigan. From there, we drove to one of the saddest places I’ve ever been to.

 Chicagon Lake and Pentoga Park.
 Without rewriting the entire story, I’ll tell you just that this is the site of ancient Indian burial grounds. In 1891, the chief sold the land when he and his tribe moved. The county ended up with it in 1924 and decided to make a park there on the banks of beautiful Chicagon Lake..
 Not only does that seem disgraceful to the Ojibway members buried there and to their descendants -
 But can you imagine pulling up to your campsite with your RV, ready to set up your camp for the night and you see all these graves right behind your site?
 Very morbid I think. I grew very sad at this place. Sad for the Ojibway tribe and for all the other Native tribes who have suffered at the hands of the White Man.
 Driving down a back road after leaving Pentoga Park, this momma and her babies graced us with their presence.
 I guess maybe it is always about the Circle of Life.
 Speaking of life, this little town of Alpha didn’t have much.
  Even in its mining heyday, it’s hard to believe that the area needed this big of a high school.
  Or maybe they did just for the basketball team.
 What do you think, Dino? Ready to get back among the living?

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